This is a list of the bird species recorded in South Korea. The avifauna of South Korea include a total of 593 species, of which 3 have been introduced by humans. One species listed is extirpated in South Korea. 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 South Korea.
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 South Korea (I) Introduced - a species introduced to South Korea as a consequence, direct or indirect, of human actions (Ex) Extirpated - a species that no longer occurs in South Korea although populations exist elsewhere
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.
Bar-headed goose, Anser indicus (A) Emperor goose, Anser canagica (A) Snow goose, Anser caerulescens (A) Graylag goose, Anser anser (A) Swan goose, Anser cygnoides Greater white-fronted goose, Anser albifrons Lesser white-fronted goose, Anser erythropus (A) Taiga bean-goose, Anser fabalis Tundra bean-goose, Anser serrirostris Brant, Branta bernicla (A) Barnacle goose, Branta leucopsis (A) Cackling goose, Branta hutchinsii (A) Red-breasted goose, Branta ruficollis (A) Mute swan, Cygnus olor (A) Tundra swan, Cygnus columbianus Whooper swan, Cygnus cygnus Ruddy shelduck, Tadorna ferruginea Common shelduck, Tadorna tadorna Crested shelduck, Tadorna cristata (A) Cotton pygmy-goose, Nettapus coromandelianus (A) Mandarin duck, Aix galericulata Baikal teal, Sibirionetta formosa Garganey, Spatula querquedula Northern shoveler, Spatula clypeata Gadwall, Mareca strepera Falcated duck, Mareca falcata Eurasian wigeon, Mareca penelope American wigeon, Mareca americana (A) Eastern spot-billed duck, Anas zonorhyncha Mallard, Anas platyrhynchos Northern pintail, Anas acuta Green-winged teal, Anas crecca Red-crested pochard, Netta rufina (A) Canvasback, Aythya valisineria (A) Redhead, Aythya americana (A) Common pochard, Aythya ferina Ring-necked duck, Aythya collaris (A) Ferruginous duck, Aythya nyroca (A) Baer's pochard, Aythya baeri (A) Tufted duck, Aythya fuligula Greater scaup, Aythya marila Lesser scaup, Aythya affinis (A) King eider, Somateria spectabilis (A) Harlequin duck, Histrionicus histrionicus Surf scoter, Melanitta perspicillata (A) Velvet scoter, Melanitta fusca (A) Stejneger's scoter, Melanitta stejnegeri Black scoter, Melanitta americana Long-tailed duck, Clangula hyemalis (A) Bufflehead, Bucephala albeola (A) Common goldeneye, Bucephala clangula Barrow's goldeneye, Bucephala islandica (A) Smew, Mergellus albellus Common merganser, Mergus merganser Red-breasted merganser, Mergus serrator Scaly-sided merganser, Mergus squamatus (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.
Hazel grouse, Bonasa bonasia Ring-necked pheasant, Phasianus colchicus Japanese quail, Coturnix japonica
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 Horned grebe, Podiceps auritus Red-necked grebe, Podiceps grisegena 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 (I) Hill pigeon, Columba rupestris (A) Stock dove, Columba oenas (A) Japanese wood-pigeon, Columba janthina Oriental turtle-dove, Streptopelia orientalis Eurasian collared-dove, Streptopelia decaocto (A) Red collared-dove, Streptopelia tranquebarica (A) Spotted dove, Streptopelia chinensis (A) White-bellied green-pigeon, Treron sieboldii (A)
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.
Pallas's sandgrouse, Syrrhaptes paradoxus (A)
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.
Great bustard, Otis tarda (A)
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. Unlike the cuckoo species of the North America, Old World cuckoos are brood parasites.
Greater coucal, Centropus sinensis (A) Lesser coucal, Centropus bengalensis (A) Chestnut-winged cuckoo, Clamator coromandus (A) Asian koel, Eudynamys scolopaceus (A) Square-tailed drongo-cuckoo, Surniculus lugubris (A) Large hawk-cuckoo, Hierococcyx sparverioides (A) Northern hawk-cuckoo, Hierococcyx hyperythrus Lesser cuckoo, Cuculus poliocephalus Indian cuckoo, Cuculus micropterus Himalayan cuckoo, Cuculus saturatus (A) 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
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-throated needletail, Hirundapus caudacutus Himalayan swiftlet, Aerodramus brevirostris (A) Alpine swift, Apus melba (A) Common swift, Apus apus (A) Pacific swift, Apus pacificus House swift, Apus nipalensis (A)
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 Eurasian moorhen, Gallinula chloropus Eurasian coot, Fulica atra Watercock, Gallicrex cinerea White-breasted waterhen, Amaurornis phoenicurus (A) Ruddy-breasted crake, Zapornia fusca (A) Band-bellied crake, Zapornia paykullii (A) Baillon's crake, Zapornia pusilla (A) Swinhoe's rail, Coturnicops exquisitus (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 (A) Siberian crane, Leucogeranus leucogeranus (A) Sandhill crane, Antigone canadensis (A) White-naped crane, Antigone vipio Common crane, Grus grus (A) Hooded crane, Grus monacha Red-crowned crane, Grus japonensis
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 (A)
Oystercatchers Order: CharadriiformesFamily: Haematopodidae
The oystercatchers are large and noisy plover-like birds, with strong bills used for smashing or prising open molluscs.
Eurasian oystercatcher, Haematopus ostralegus
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.
Black-bellied plover, Pluvialis squatarola American golden-plover, Pluvialis dominica (A) Pacific golden-plover, Pluvialis fulva Northern lapwing, Vanellus vanellus Gray-headed lapwing, Vanellus cinereus (A) Lesser sand-plover, Charadrius mongolus Greater sand-plover, Charadrius leschenaultii Kentish plover, Charadrius alexandrinus White-faced plover, Charadrius dealbatus Common ringed plover, Charadrius hiaticula (A) Long-billed plover, Charadrius placidus Little ringed plover, Charadrius dubius Oriental plover, Charadrius veredus (A) Eurasian dotterel, Charadrius morinellus (A)
Painted-snipes Order: CharadriiformesFamily: Rostratulidae
Painted-snipe are short-legged, long-billed birds similar in shape to the true snipes, but more brightly coloured.
Greater painted-snipe, Rostratula benghalensis (A)
Jacanas Order: CharadriiformesFamily: Jacanidae
The jacanas are a group of tropical waders in the family Jacanidae. They are found throughout 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.
Pheasant-tailed jacana, Hydrophasianus chirurgus (A)
Sandpipers and allies Order: CharadriiformesFamily: Scolopacidae
Scolopacidae is a large diverse family of small to medium-sized shorebirds including the sandpipers, curlews, godwits, shanks, tattlers, woodcocks, snipes, dowitchers and phalaropes. The majority of these species eat small invertebrates picked out of the mud or soil. Variation in length of legs and bills enables multiple species to feed in the same habitat, particularly on the coast, without direct competition for food.
Whimbrel, Numenius phaeopus Little curlew, Numenius minutus (A) Far Eastern curlew, Numenius madagascariensis Eurasian curlew, Numenius arquata Bar-tailed godwit, Limosa lapponica Black-tailed godwit, Limosa limosa Hudsonian godwit, Limosa haemastica (A) Ruddy turnstone, Arenaria interpres Great knot, Calidris tenuirostris Red knot, Calidris canutus Ruff, Calidris pugnax Broad-billed sandpiper, Calidris falcinellus Sharp-tailed sandpiper, Calidris acuminata Curlew sandpiper, Calidris ferruginea Temminck's stint, Calidris temminckii Long-toed stint, Calidris subminuta Spoon-billed sandpiper, Calidris pygmeus (A) Red-necked stint, Calidris ruficollis Sanderling, Calidris alba Dunlin, Calidris alpina Little stint, Calidris minuta (A) Buff-breasted sandpiper, Calidris subruficollis (A) Pectoral sandpiper, Calidris melanotos (A)