This is a list of the bird species recorded in Nepal. The avifauna of Nepal include a total of 915 species recorded, of which one is endemic, and one has been introduced by humans. 42 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 The Clements Checklist of Birds of the World, 2022 edition. 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 Nepal.
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 Nepal (E) Endemic - a species endemic to Nepal (Ex) Extirpated - a species that no longer occurs in Nepal although populations exist elsewhere (I) Introduced - a species introduced to Nepal as a consequence, direct or indirect, of human actions
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.
Fulvous whistling-duck, Dendrocygna bicolor (A) Lesser whistling-duck, Dendrocygna javanica Bar-headed goose, Anser indicus Graylag goose, Anser anser Greater white-fronted goose, Anser albifrons (A) Taiga bean-goose, Anser fabalis (A) Tundra swan, Cygnus columbianus (A) Whooper swan, Cygnus cygnus (A) Knob-billed duck, Sarkidiornis melanotos Ruddy shelduck, Tadorna ferruginea Common shelduck, Tadorna tadorna Cotton pygmy-goose, Nettapus coromandelianus Mandarin duck, Aix galericulata (A) Baikal teal, Sibirionetta formosa (A) Garganey, Spatula querquedula Northern shoveler, Spatula clypeata Gadwall, Mareca strepera Falcated duck, Mareca falcata Eurasian wigeon, Mareca penelope Indian spot-billed duck, Anas poecilorhyncha Eastern spot-billed duck, Anas zonorhyncha (A) Mallard, Anas platyrhynchos Northern pintail, Anas acuta Green-winged teal, Anas crecca Pink-headed duck, Rhodonessa caryophyllacea (A)(Ex) Red-crested pochard, Netta rufina Common pochard, Aythya ferina Ferruginous duck, Aythya nyroca Baer's pochard, Aythya baeri (A) Tufted duck, Aythya fuligula Greater scaup, Aythya marila (A) Harlequin duck, Histrionicus histrionicus (A) Long-tailed duck, Clangula hyemalis (A) Common goldeneye, Bucephala clangula Smew, Mergellus albellus (A) Common merganser, Mergus merganser Red-breasted merganser, Mergus serrator (A)
Pheasants, grouse, and allies Order: GalliformesFamily: Phasianidae
The Phasianidae are a family of terrestrial birds. In general, they are plump (although they vary in size) and have broad, relatively short wings.
Hill partridge, Arborophila torqueola Rufous-throated partridge, Arborophila rufogularis Indian peafowl, Pavo cristatus Red spurfowl, Galloperdix spadicea (A) Blue-breasted quail, Synoicus chinensis Common quail, Coturnix coturnix Rain quail, Coturnix coromandelica (A) Chukar, Alectoris chukar Tibetan snowcock, Tetraogallus tibetanus Himalayan snowcock, Tetraogallus himalayensis Jungle bush-quail, Perdicula asiatica (A) Black francolin, Francolinus francolinus Gray francolin, Ortygornis pondicerianus Swamp francolin, Ortygornis gularis Red junglefowl, Gallus gallus Blood pheasant, Ithaginis cruentus Himalayan monal, Lophophorus impejanus Snow partridge, Lerwa lerwa Satyr tragopan, Tragopan satyra Cheer pheasant, Catreus wallichii Kalij pheasant, Lophura leucomelanos Tibetan partridge, Perdix hodgsoniae Koklass pheasant, Pucrasia macrolopha
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.
Greater flamingo, Phoenicopterus roseus (A)
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.
Little grebe, Tachybaptus ruficollis Great crested grebe, Podiceps cristatus Eared grebe, Podiceps nigricollis
Pigeons and doves Order: ColumbiformesFamily: Columbidae
Pigeons and doves are stout-bodied birds with short necks and short slender bills with a fleshy cere.
Rock pigeon, Columba livia Hill pigeon, Columba rupestris Snow pigeon, Columba leuconota Speckled wood pigeon, Columba hodgsonii Common wood-pigeon, Columba palumbus (A) Ashy wood-pigeon, Columba pulchricollis Oriental turtle-dove, Streptopelia orientalis Eurasian collared-dove, Streptopelia decaocto Red collared-dove, Streptopelia tranquebarica Spotted dove, Spilopelia chinensis Laughing dove, Spilopelia senegalensis Barred cuckoo-dove, Macropygia unchall Asian emerald dove, Chalcophaps indica Orange-breasted green-pigeon, Treron bicincta Ashy-headed green-pigeon, Treron phayrei Thick-billed green-pigeon, Treron curvirostra Yellow-footed green-pigeon, Treron phoenicoptera Pin-tailed green-pigeon, Treron apicauda Wedge-tailed green-pigeon, Treron sphenura Green imperial-pigeon, Ducula aenea Mountain imperial-pigeon, Ducula badia
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.
Tibetan sandgrouse, Syrrhaptes tibetanus (A)
Bustards Order: GruiformesFamily: 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.
Bengal florican, Houbaropsis bengalensis Lesser florican, Sypheotides indicus
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.
Greater coucal, Centropus sinensis Lesser coucal, Centropus bengalensis Sirkeer malkoha, Taccocua leschenaultii Green-billed malkoha, Phaenicophaeus tristis Chestnut-winged cuckoo, Clamator coromandus Pied cuckoo, Clamator jacobinus Asian koel, Eudynamys scolopacea Asian emerald cuckoo, Chrysococcyx maculatus Banded bay cuckoo, Cacomantis sonneratii Plaintive cuckoo, Cacomantis merulinus (A) Gray-bellied cuckoo, Cacomantis passerinus Fork-tailed drongo-cuckoo, Surniculus dicruroides Square-tailed drongo-cuckoo, Surniculus lugubris Large hawk-cuckoo, Hierococcyx sparverioides Common hawk-cuckoo, Hierococcyx varius Hodgson's hawk-cuckoo, Hierococcyx nisicolor (A) Lesser cuckoo, Cuculus poliocephalus Indian cuckoo, Cuculus micropterus Himalayan cuckoo, Cuculus saturatus Common cuckoo, Cuculus canorus Oriental cuckoo, Cuculus optatus
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.
Gray nightjar, Caprimulgus jotaka Sykes's nightjar, Caprimulgus mahrattensis (A) Large-tailed nightjar, Caprimulgus macrurus Indian nightjar, Caprimulgus asiaticus Savanna nightjar, Caprimulgus affinis
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.
White-rumped needletail, Zoonavena sylvatica White-throated needletail, Hirundapus caudacutus Silver-backed needletail, Hirundapus cochinchinensis Himalayan swiftlet, Aerodramus brevirostris Alpine swift, Apus melba Common swift, Apus apus Pacific swift, Apus pacificus Blyth's swift, Apus leuconyx Little swift, Apus affinis House swift, Apus nipalensis Asian palm-swift, Cypsiurus balasiensis
Treeswifts Order: CaprimulgiformesFamily: Hemiprocnidae
The treeswifts, also called crested swifts, are closely related to the true swifts. They differ from the other swifts in that they have crests, long forked tails and softer plumage.
Crested treeswift, Hemiprocne coronata
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.
Water rail, Rallus aquaticus (A) Brown-cheeked rail, Rallus indicus Slaty-breasted rail, Lewinia striata (A) Spotted crake, Porzana porzana (A) Eurasian moorhen, Gallinula chloropus Eurasian coot, Fulica atra Gray-headed swamphen, Porphyrio poliocephalus Watercock, Gallicrex cinerea White-breasted waterhen, Amaurornis phoenicurus Slaty-legged crake, Rallina eurizonoides (A) Ruddy-breasted crake, Zapornia fusca Brown crake, Zapornia akool Baillon's crake, Zapornia pusilla Black-tailed crake, Zapornia bicolor (A)
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".
Demoiselle crane, Anthropoides virgo Sarus crane, Antigone antigone Common crane, Grus grus Black-necked crane, Grus nigricollis (A)
Thick-knees Order: CharadriiformesFamily: 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.
Indian thick-knee, Burhinus indicus Great thick-knee, Esacus recurvirostris
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.
Black-winged stilt, Himantopus himantopus Pied avocet, Recurvirostra avosetta
Ibisbill Order: CharadriiformesFamily: Ibidorhynchidae
The ibisbill is related to the waders, but is sufficiently distinctive to be a family unto itself. The adult is gray with a white belly, red legs, a long down curved bill, and a black face and breast band.
Ibisbill, Ibidorhyncha struthersii
Oystercatchers Order: CharadriiformesFamily: 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)
Plovers and lapwings