Birds species of Nepal

This is a list of the bird species recorded in Nepal. The avifauna of Nepal includes a total of 900 species, of which 2 are endemic, 1 has been introduced by humans, and 74 are rare or accidental. 32 species are globally threatened. This list's taxonomic treatment (designation and sequence of orders, families, and species) and nomenclature (common and scientific names) follow the conventions of Clements's 5th edition. The family accounts at the beginning of each heading reflects this taxonomy, as do the species counts found in each family account. Introduced and accidental species are included in the total counts for Nepal. The following tags have been used to highlight certain relevant categories. The commonly occurring, native, species do not fall into any of these categories. (A) Accidental A species that rarely or accidentally occurs in Nepal. (E) Endemic A species endemic to Nepal. (I) Introduced A species introduced to Nepal as a consequence, direct or indirect, of human actions. Table of contents Non-passerines: Grebes . Pelicans . Cormorants . Darters . Bitterns, Herons and Egrets . Storks . Ibises and Spoonbills . Flamingos . Ducks, Geese and Swans . Osprey . Hawks, Kites and Eagles . Caracaras and Falcons . Pheasants and Partridges . Buttonquails . Cranes . Rails, Crakes, Gallinules, and Coots . Bustards . Jacanas . Painted snipe . Oystercatchers . Ibisbill . Avocets and Stilts . Thick-knees . Pratincoles and Coursers . Plovers and Lapwings . Sandpipers and allies . Gulls . Terns . Skimmers . Sandgrouse . Pigeons and Doves . Parrots, Macaws and allies . Cuckoos and Anis . Barn owls . Typical owls . Nightjars . Swifts . Treeswifts . Trogons and Quetzals . Kingfishers . Bee-eaters . Typical Rollers . Hoopoes . Hornbills . Barbets . Honeyguides . Woodpeckers and allies . Passerines: Broadbills . Pittas . Larks . Swallows and Martins . Wagtails and Pipits . Cuckoo-shrikes . Bulbuls . Kinglets . Leafbirds . Ioras . Waxwings . Dippers . Wrens . Accentors . Thrushes and allies . Cisticolas and allies . Old World warblers . Old World flycatchers . Fantails . Monarch flycatchers . Babblers . Parrotbills . Long-tailed tits . Chickadees and Titmice . Nuthatches . Wallcreeper . Treecreepers . Penduline tits . Sunbirds and Spiderhunters . Flowerpeckers . White-eyes . Old World Orioles . Fairy-bluebirds . Shrikes . Helmetshrikes . Drongos . Woodswallows . Crows, Jays, Ravens and Magpies . Starlings . Weavers and allies . Waxbills and allies . Buntings, Sparrows, Seedeaters and allies . Siskins, Crossbills and allies . Sparrows . Grebes Order: Podicipediformes. Family: Podicipedidae Grebes are small to medium-large sized freshwater diving birds. They have lobed toes, and are excellent swimmers and divers. However, they have their feet placed far back on the body, making them quite ungainly on land. There are 20 species worldwide and 3 species which occur in Nepal. Little Grebe Tachybaptus ruficollis Great Crested Grebe Podiceps cristatus Eared Grebe Podiceps nigricollis Pelicans Order: Pelecaniformes. Family: Pelecanidae Pelicans are large water birds with a distinctive pouch under the beak. As with other members of the order Pelecaniformes, they have webbed feet with four toes. There are 8 species worldwide and 2 species which occur in Nepal. Great White Pelican Pelecanus onocrotalus (A) Spot-billed Pelican Pelecanus philippensis Cormorants Order: Pelecaniformes. Family: Phalacrocoracidae The Phalacrocoracidae is a family of medium-to-large coastal, fish-eating sea-birds that includes cormorants and shags. Plumage colouration varies with the majority having mainly dark plumage, some species being black and white, and a few being colourful. There are 38 species worldwide and 2 species which occur in Nepal. Great Cormorant Phalacrocorax carbo Little Cormorant Phalacrocorax niger Darters Order: Pelecaniformes. Family: Anhingidae Darters are frequently referred to as "snake-birds" because of their long thin neck, which gives a snake-like appearance when they swim with their bodies submerged. The males have black and dark brown plumage, an erectile crest on the nape and a larger bill than the female. The females have a much paler plumage especially on the neck and underparts. The darters have completely webbed feet, and their legs are short and set far back on the body. Their plumage is somewhat permeable, like that of cormorants, and they spread their wings to dry after diving. There are 4 species worldwide and 1 species which occurs in Nepal. Darter Anhinga melanogaster Bitterns, herons and egrets Order: Ciconiiformes. Family: Ardeidae The family Ardeidae contains the bitterns, herons and egrets. Herons and egrets are medium to large sized wading birds with long necks and legs. Bitterns tend to be shorter necked and more wary. Unlike other long-necked birds suck as storks, ibises and spoonbills, members of Ardeidae fly with their necks retracted. There are 61 species worldwide and 16 species which occur in Nepal. Gray Heron Ardea cinerea White-bellied Heron Ardea insignis Purple Heron Ardea purpurea Eastern Great Egret Ardea modesta Intermediate Egret Egretta intermedia White-faced Heron Egretta novaehollandiae Little Egret Egretta garzetta Indian Pond-Heron Ardeola grayii Cattle Egret Bubulcus ibis Striated Heron Butorides striata Black-crowned Night-Heron Nycticorax nycticorax Malayan Night-Heron Gorsachius melanolophus (A) Yellow Bittern Ixobrychus sinensis Cinnamon Bittern Ixobrychus cinnamomeus Black Bittern Ixobrychus flavicollis Great Bittern Botaurus stellaris Storks Order: Ciconiiformes. Family: Ciconiidae Storks are large, long-legged, long-necked, wading birds with long, stout bills. Storks are mute; bill-clattering is an important mode of stork communication at the nest. Their nests can be large and may be reused for many years. Many species are migratory. There are 19 species worldwide and 8 species which occur in Nepal. Painted Stork Mycteria leucocephala Asian Openbill Anastomus oscitans Black Stork Ciconia nigra Woolly-necked Stork Ciconia episcopus White Stork Ciconia ciconia Black-necked Stork Ephippiorhynchus asiaticus Lesser Adjutant Leptoptilos javanicus Greater Adjutant Leptoptilos dubius Ibises and spoonbills Order: Ciconiiformes. Family: Threskiornithidae The Threskiornithidae is a family of large terrestrial and wading birds which includes the ibises and spoonbills. They have long, broad wings with 11 primary and about 20 secondary feathers. They are strong fliers and despite their size and weight, very capable soarers. There are 36 species worldwide and 4 species which occur in Nepal. Black-headed Ibis Threskiornis melanocephalus Red-naped Ibis Pseudibis papillosa Glossy Ibis Plegadis falcinellus (A) Eurasian Spoonbill Platalea leucorodia Flamingos Order: Phoenicopteriformes. Family: Phoenicopteridae Flamingos are gregarious wading birds, usually 3 to 5 feet high, found in both the Western and Eastern Hemispheres. They are more numerous in the latter. Flamingos filter-feed on shellfish and algae. Their oddly-shaped beaks are specially adapted to separate mud and silt from the food they consume, and are uniquely used upside-down. There are 6 species worldwide and 1 species which occurs in Nepal. Greater Flamingo Phoenicopterus roseus (A) Ducks, geese and swans Order: Anseriformes. Family: Anatidae The family Anatidae includes the ducks and most duck-like waterfowl, such as geese and swans. These are birds that are modified for an aquatic existence with webbed feet, flattened bills and feathers that are excellent at shedding water due to an oily coating. There are 131 species worldwide and 34 species which occur in Nepal. Fulvous Whistling-Duck Dendrocygna bicolor (A) Lesser Whistling-Duck Dendrocygna javanica Whooper Swan Cygnus cygnus (A) Tundra Swan Cygnus columbianus (A) Bean Goose Anser fabalis Greylag Goose Anser anser Bar-headed Goose Anser indicus Ruddy Shelduck Tadorna ferruginea Common Shelduck Tadorna tadorna Comb Duck Sarkidiornis melanotos Cotton Pygmy-goose Nettapus coromandelianus Mandarin Duck Aix galericulata Eurasian Wigeon Anas penelope Falcated Duck Anas falcata Gadwall Anas strepera Baikal Teal Anas formosa Eurasian Teal Anas crecca Mallard Anas platyrhynchos Spot-billed Duck Anas poecilorhyncha Northern Pintail Anas acuta Garganey Anas querquedula Northern Shoveler Anas clypeata Red-crested Pochard Netta rufina Common Pochard Aythya ferina Ferruginous Pochard Aythya nyroca Baer's Pochard Aythya baeri (A) Tufted Duck Aythya fuligula Greater Scaup Aythya marila Harlequin Duck Histrionicus histrionicus Long-tailed Duck Clangula hyemalis (A) Common Goldeneye Bucephala clangula Smew Mergellus albellus (A) Red-breasted Merganser Mergus serrator (A) Common Merganser Mergus merganser Osprey Order: Falconiformes. Family: Pandionidae The Pandionidae family contains only one species, the Osprey. The Osprey is a medium large raptor which is a specialist fish-eater with a worldwide distribution. Osprey Pandion haliaetus Hawks, kites and eagles Order: Falconiformes. Family: Accipitridae Accipitridae is a family of birds of prey and include hawks, eagles, kites, harriers and Old World vultures. These birds have powerful hooked beaks for tearing flesh from their prey, strong legs, powerful talons, and keen eyesight. There are 233 species worldwide and 50 species which occur in Nepal. Jerdon's Baza Aviceda jerdoni (A) Black Baza Aviceda leuphotes Crested Honey Buzzard Pernis ptilorhynchus Black-shouldered Kite Elanus caeruleus Red Kite Milvus milvus Black Kite Milvus migrans Brahminy Kite Haliastur indus Pallas's Fish Eagle Haliaeetus leucoryphus White-tailed Eagle Haliaeetus albicilla Lesser Fish-Eagle Ichthyophaga humilis Gray-headed Fish-Eagle Ichthyophaga ichthyaetus Lammergeier Gypaetus barbatus Egyptian Vulture Neophron percnopterus White-rumped Vulture Gyps bengalensis Indian Vulture Gyps indicus Slender-billed Vulture Gyps tenuirostris Himalayan Griffon Gyps himalayensis Eurasian Griffon Gyps fulvus Cinereous Vulture Aegypius monachus Red-headed Vulture Sarcogyps calvus Short-toed Snake Eagle Circaetus gallicus Crested Serpent Eagle Spilornis cheela Western Marsh-Harrier Circus aeruginosus Northern Harrier Circus cyaneus Pallid Harrier Circus macrourus Pied Harrier Circus melanoleucos Montagu's Harrier Circus pygargus Crested Goshawk Accipiter trivirgatus Shikra Accipiter badius Besra Accipiter virgatus Eurasian Sparrowhawk Accipiter nisus Northern Goshawk Accipiter gentilis White-eyed Buzzard Butastur teesa Eurasian Buzzard Buteo buteo Long-legged Buzzard Buteo rufinus Upland Buzzard Buteo hemilasius Black Eagle Ictinaetus malayensis Lesser Spotted Eagle Aquila pomarina Indian Spotted Eagle Aquila hastata Greater Spotted Eagle Aquila clanga Tawny Eagle Aquila rapax Steppe Eagle Aquila nipalensis Imperial Eagle Aquila heliaca Golden Eagle Aquila chrysaetos Bonelli's Eagle Aquila fasciatus Booted Eagle Aquila pennatus Rufous-bellied Eagle Aquila kienerii Crested Hawk-Eagle Spizaetus cirrhatus Flores Hawk-Eagle Spizaetus floris Mountain Hawk-Eagle Spizaetus nipalensis Caracaras and falcons Order: Falconiformes. Family: Falconidae Falconidae is a family of diurnal birds of prey. They differ from hawks, eagles, and kites in that they kill with their beaks instead of their feet. There are 62 species worldwide and 12 species which occur in Nepal. Collared Falconet Microhierax caerulescens Lesser Kestrel Falco naumanni Eurasian Kestrel Falco tinnunculus Red-necked Falcon Falco chicquera Amur Falcon Falco amurensis Merlin Falco columbarius Eurasian Hobby Falco subbuteo Oriental Hobby Falco severus Laggar Falcon Falco jugger Saker Falcon Falco cherrug Barbary Falcon Falco pelegrinoides Peregrine Falcon Falco peregrinus Pheasants and partridges Order: Galliformes. Family: Phasianidae The Phasianidae are a family of terrestrial birds which consists of quails, partridges, snowcocks, francolins, spurfowls, tragopans, monals, pheasants, peafowls and jungle fowls. In general, they are plump (although they may vary in size) and have broad, relatively short wings. There are 156 species worldwide and 24 species which occur in Nepal. Snow Partridge Lerwa lerwa Tibetan Snowcock Tetraogallus tibetanus Himalayan Snowcock Tetraogallus himalayensis Chukar Alectoris chukar Black Francolin Francolinus francolinus Gray Francolin Francolinus pondicerianus Swamp Francolin Francolinus gularis Tibetan Partridge Perdix hodgsoniae Common Quail Coturnix coturnix Rain Quail Coturnix coromandelica (A) Blue-breasted Quail Coturnix chinensis Jungle Bush-Quail Perdicula asiatica (A) Hill Partridge Arborophila torqueola Rufous-throated Partridge Arborophila rufogularis Red Spurfowl Galloperdix spadicea Blood Pheasant Ithaginis cruentus Western Tragopan Tragopan melanocephalus Satyr Tragopan Tragopan satyra Koklass Pheasant Pucrasia macrolopha Himalayan Monal Lophophorus impejanus Red Junglefowl Gallus gallus Kalij Pheasant Lophura leucomelanos Cheer Pheasant Catreus wallichi Indian Peafowl Pavo cristatus Buttonquails Order: Gruiformes. Family: Turnicidae The buttonquails are small, drab, running birds which resemble the true quails.The female is the brighter of the sexes, and initiates courtship. The male incubates the eggs and tends the young. There are 16 species worldwide and 3 species which occur in Nepal. Small Buttonquail Turnix sylvatica Yellow-legged Buttonquail Turnix tanki Barred Buttonquail Turnix suscitator Cranes Order: Gruiformes. Family: Gruidae Cranes are large, long-legged and long-necked birds. Unlike the similar-looking but unrelated herons, cranes fly with necks outstretched, not pulled back. Most have elaborate and noisy courting displays or "dances". There are 15 species worldwide and 4 species which occur in Nepal. Demoiselle Crane Anthropoides virgo Sarus Crane Grus antigone Common Crane Grus grus Black-necked Crane Grus nigricollis (A) Rails, crakes, gallinules, and coots Order: Gruiformes. Family: Rallidae Rallidae is a large family of small to medium-sized birds which includes the rails, crakes, coots, and gallinules. Typically they inhabit dense vegetation in damp environments near lakes, swamps, or rivers. In general they are shy and secretive birds, difficult to observe. Most species have strong legs, and have long toes which are well adapted to soft, uneven surfaces. They tend to have short, rounded wings and be weak fliers. There are 143 species worldwide and 13 species which occur in Nepal. Slaty-legged Crake Rallina eurizonoides Slaty-breasted Rail Gallirallus striatus (A) Water Rail Rallus aquaticus (A) Brown Crake Amaurornis akool White-breasted Waterhen Amaurornis phoenicurus Black-tailed Crake Amaurornis bicolor (A) Baillon's Crake Porzana pusilla Spotted Crake Porzana porzana Ruddy-breasted Crake Porzana fusca Watercock Gallicrex cinerea Purple Swamphen Porphyrio porphyrio Common Moorhen Gallinula chloropus Eurasian Coot Fulica atra Bustards Order: Gruiformes. Family: Otididae Bustards are large terrestrial birds mainly associated with dry open country and steppes in the Old World. They are omnivorous and nest on the ground. They walk steadily on strong legs and big toes, pecking for food as they go. They have long broad wings with "fingered" wingtips, and striking patterns in flight. Many have interesting mating displays. There are 26 species worldwide and 3 species which occur in Nepal. Indian Bustard Ardeotis nigriceps (A) Bengal Florican Houbaropsis bengalensis Lesser Florican Sypheotides indica Jacanas Order: Charadriiformes. Family: Jacanidae The jacanas are a group of tropical waders in the family Jacanidae. They are found worldwide in the Tropics. They are identifiable by their huge feet and claws which enable them to walk on floating vegetation in the shallow lakes that are their preferred habitat. There 8 species worldwide and 2 species which occur in Nepal. Pheasant-tailed Jacana Hydrophasianus chirurgus Bronze-winged Jacana Metopidius indicus Painted snipe Order: Charadriiformes. Family: Rostratulidae Painted snipe are short-legged, long-billed birds similar in shape to the true snipes, but more brightly coloured. There are 2 species worldwide and 1 species which occurs in Nepal. Greater Painted-snipe Rostratula benghalensis Oystercatchers Order: Charadriiformes. Family: Haematopodidae The oystercatchers are large and noisy plover-like birds, with strong bills used for smashing or prising open molluscs. There are 11 species worldwide and 1 species which occurs in Nepal. Eurasian Oystercatcher Haematopus ostralegus (A) Ibisbill Order: Charadriiformes. Family: Ibidorhynchidae The Ibisbill is a bird related to the waders, but sufficiently distinctive to merit its own family. The adult is grey with a white belly, red legs and long down curved bill, and a black face and black breast band. Ibisbill Ibidorhyncha struthersii Avocets and stilts Order: Charadriiformes. Family: Recurvirostridae Recurvirostridae is a family of large wading birds, which includes the avocets and the stilts. The avocets have long legs and long up-curved bills. The stilts have extremely long legs and long, thin, straight bills. There are 9 species worldwide and 2 species which occur in Nepal. Black-winged Stilt Himantopus himantopus Pied Avocet Recurvirostra avosetta Thick-knees Order: Charadriiformes. Family: Burhinidae The thick-knees are a group of largely tropical waders in the family Burhinidae. They are found worldwide within the tropical zone, with some species also breeding in temperate Europe and Australia. They are medium to large waders with strong black or yellow black bills, large yellow eyes and cryptic plumage. Despite being classed as waders, most species have a preference for arid or semi-arid habitats. There are 9 species worldwide and 2 species which occur in Nepal. Eurasian Thick-knee Burhinus oedicnemus Great Thick-knee Burhinus recurvirostris