This is a list of the bird species recorded in Kuwait. The avifauna of Kuwait include a total of 416 species, of which 8 have been introduced by humans. One species listed is extirpated in Kuwait.
This list's taxonomic treatment (designation and sequence of orders, families and species) and nomenclature (common and scientific names) follows the Official List of Kuwait Birds, which in turn follows the Ornithological Society of the Middle East Region List, with additional subspecies updates to the IOC World Bird List, Version 15.1. The family accounts at the beginning of each heading reflect this taxonomy, as do the species counts found in each family account. Introduced and accidental species are included in the total counts for Kuwait.
The following tags have been used to highlight several categories. The commonly occurring native species do not fall into any of these categories.
(A) Accidental - a species that rarely or accidentally occurs in Kuwait (I) Introduced - a species introduced to Kuwait as a consequence, direct or indirect, of human actions (Ex) Locally extinct - a species that no longer occurs in Kuwait although populations exist elsewhere (X) Extinct - a species or subspecies that no longer exists
Ducks, geese, and waterfowl Order: AnseriformesFamily: Anatidae
Anatidae includes the ducks and most duck-like waterfowl, such as geese and swans. These birds are adapted to an aquatic existence with webbed feet, flattened bills, and feathers that are excellent at shedding water due to an oily coating.
Common nameBinomial nameStatus in the countryGlobal statusTrendNotesImage Mute swan Cygnus olor A Single vagrant record from 1997 Greylag goose Anser anser N Winter visitor; subspecies A. a. rubrirostris Greater white-fronted goose Anser albifrons A ?Vagrant; subspecies A. a. albifrons Common shelduck Tadorna tadorna N Scarce winter visitor Ruddy shelduck Tadorna ferruginea A ?Vagrant Garganey Spatula querquedula N Passage migrant and winter visitor Northern shoveler Spatula clypeata N Winter visitor Gadwall Mareca strepera N Scarce winter visitor Eurasian wigeon Mareca penelope N Winter visitor Mallard Anas platyrhynchos N Common winter visitor Northern pintail Anas acuta N Winter visitor Eurasian teal Anas crecca N ?Winter visitor Marbled teal Marmaronetta angustirostris A Vagrant Red-crested pochard Netta rufina A ?Vagrant Common pochard Aythya ferina R Scarce migrant Ferruginous duck Aythya nyroca N Formerly a vagrant, now a rare established breeder Tufted duck Aythya fuligula N Rare winter visitor Long-tailed duck Clangula hyemalis R Vagrant Red-breasted merganser Mergus serrator A Single vagrant record from 1997
Pheasants, grouse, and allies Order: GalliformesFamily: 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 vary in size) and have broad, relatively short wings.
Common nameBinomial nameStatus in the countryGlobal statusTrendNotesImage See-see partridge Ammoperdix griseogularis I Introduced Common quail Coturnix coturnix N Passage migrant Chukar partridge Alectoris chukar I Introduced Black francolin Francolinus francolinus A Vagrant
Flamingos Order: PhoenicopteriformesFamily: Phoenicopteridae
Flamingos are gregarious wading birds, usually tall, found in both the Western and Eastern Hemispheres. 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, uniquely, are used upside-down. Common nameBinomial nameStatus in the countryGlobal statusTrendNotesImage Greater flamingo Phoenicopterus roseus N Common overwintering species; scarce breeder Lesser flamingo Phoeniconaias minor A Vagrant occasionally recorded, often alongside its more common relative
Grebes Order: PodicipediformesFamily: Podicipedidae
Grebes are small to medium-large 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.
Common nameBinomial nameStatus in the countryGlobal statusTrendNotesImage Little grebe Tachybaptus ruficollis N Resident Slavonian grebe Podiceps auritus A Vagrant with 2 records Red-necked grebe Podiceps grisegena A Vagrant Great crested grebe Podiceps cristatus R ?Rare passage migrant Black-necked grebe Podiceps nigricolis N ?Winter visitor
Pigeons and doves Order: ColumbiformesFamily: Columbidae
Pigeons and doves are stout-bodied birds with short necks and short slender bills with a fleshy cere.
Common nameBinomial nameStatus in the countryGlobal statusTrendNotesImage Rock dove (and domestic variants) Columba livia N Domestic variants common everywhere, wild rock doves may be found near the coast Stock dove Columba oenas A Vagrant Common wood pigeon Columba palumbus N Overwintering species European turtle dove Streptopelia turtur R Rare breeder Oriental turtle dove Streptopelia orientalis R Scarce disperser, very prone to vagrancy and often found outside its defined migratory range Eurasian collared dove Streptopelia decocto N Common African collared dove Streptopelia roseogrisea I ? Introduced; similar to the Eurasian relative; however, the tail has a different underside pattern Laughing dove Streptopelia senegalensis N Common Namaqua dove Oena capensis N Resident and scarce disperser
Sandgrouse Order: PterocliformesFamily: Pteroclidae
Sandgrouse have small, pigeon like heads and necks, but sturdy compact bodies. They have long pointed wings and sometimes tails and a fast direct flight. Flocks fly to watering holes at dawn and dusk. Their legs are feathered down to the toes.
Common nameBinomial nameStatus in the countryGlobal StatusTrendNotesImage Pin-tailed sandgrouse Pterocles alchata N Increasingly rare overwintering species Chestnut-bellied sandgrouse Pterocles exustus A Vagrant Spotted sandgrouse Pterocles senegallus N Scarce passage migrant Black-bellied sandgrouse Pterocles orientalis N Rare overwintering species
Bustards Order: OtidiformesFamily: 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.
Common nameBinomial nameStatus in the countryGlobal statusTrendNotesImage MacQueen's bustard Chlamydotis macqueenii R Formerly a resident breeder, now an irregular winter visitor
Cuckoos Order: CuculiformesFamily: Cuculidae
The family Cuculidae includes cuckoos, roadrunners and anis. These birds are of variable size with slender bodies, long tails and strong legs. The Old World cuckoos are brood parasites.
Common nameBinomial nameStatus in the countryGlobal statusTrendNotesImage Great spotted cuckoo Clamator glandarius R Scarce disperser Asian koel Eudynamys scolopaceus A Vagrant, single record Common cuckoo Cuculus canorus N Passage migrant
Nightjars and allies Order: CaprimulgiformesFamily: Caprimulgidae
Nightjars are medium-sized nocturnal birds that usually nest on the ground. They have long wings, short legs and very short bills. Most have small feet, of little use for walking, and long pointed wings. Their soft plumage is camouflaged to resemble bark or leaves.
Common nameBinomial nameStatus in the countryGlobal StatusTrendNotesImage Eurasian nightjar Caprimulgus europaeus N Passage migrant Egyptian nightjar Caprimulgus aegyptius R Rare passage migrant
Swifts Order: CaprimulgiformesFamily: Apodidae
Swifts are small birds which spend the majority of their lives flying. These birds have very short legs and never settle voluntarily on the ground, perching instead only on vertical surfaces. Many swifts have long swept-back wings which resemble a crescent or boomerang.
Common nameBinomial nameStatus in the countryGlobal statusTrendNotesImage Alpine swift Tachymarptis melba R Rare passage migrant Common swift Apus apus N Uncommon winter visitor Pallid swift Apus pallidus N Winter visitor Little swift Apus affinis A Vagrant
Rails, gallinules, and coots Order: GruiformesFamily: 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, making them difficult to observe. Most species have strong legs and long toes which are well adapted to soft uneven surfaces. They tend to have short, rounded wings and to be weak fliers.
Common nameBinomial nameStatus in the countryGlobal statusTrendNotesImage Water rail Rallus aquaticus R Winter visitor Corncrake Crex crex R Rare passage migrant Spotted crake Porzana porzana N Uncommon passage migrant Common moorhen Gallinula chloropus N Common Eurasian coot Fulica atra N Resident and winter visitor Grey-headed swamphen Porphyrio poliocephalus N ?Resident breeder White-breasted waterhen Amaurornis phoenicurus A ?Vagrant Little crake Porzana parva N Uncommon migrant Baillon's crake Zapornia pusilla N ?Uncommon migrant
Cranes Order: GruiformesFamily: 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".
Common nameBinomial nameStatus in the countryGlobal statusTrendNotesImage Common crane Grus grus A Vagrant Demoiselle crane Grus virgo A Vagrant
Stone-curlews Order: CharadriiformesFamily: Burhinidae
The stone-curlews and 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.
Common nameBinomial nameStatus in the countryGlobal statusTrendNotesImage Eurasian stone-curlew Burhinus oedicnemus N Passage migrant and overwintering
Stilts and avocets Order: CharadriiformesFamily: Recurvirostridae
Recurvirostridae is a family of large wading birds, which includes the avocets and stilts. The avocets have long legs and long up-curved bills. The stilts have extremely long legs and long, thin, straight bills.
Common nameBinomial nameStatus in the countryGlobal statusTrendNotesImage Black-winged stilt Himantopus himantopus N Migrant and breeder Pied avocet Recurvirostra avosetta N ?Common winter visitor
Oystercatchers Order: CharadriiformesFamily: Haematopodidae
The oystercatchers are large and noisy plover-like birds, with strong bills used for smashing or prising open molluscs.
Common nameBinomial nameStatus in the countryGlobal StatusTrendNotesImage Eurasian oystercatcher Haematopus ostralegus N Passage migrant
Plovers and lapwings Order: CharadriiformesFamily: Charadriidae
The family Charadriidae includes the plovers, dotterels and lapwings. They are small to medium-sized birds with compact bodies, short, thick necks and long, usually pointed, wings. They are found in open country worldwide, mostly in habitats near water.