Indonesia, with its vast islands, tropical weather and rainforests is one of the world's richest and most important countries in terms of biodiversity. In addition to the many resident birds, a considerable number of migratory species winter in the country to escape their northern breeding grounds.
The avifauna of Indonesia include a total of 1809 species, of which 786 are endemic, and 3 have been introduced by humans. 150 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 in each family account. Introduced and accidental species are included in the total counts for Indonesia.
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 Indonesia (E) Endemic - a species that is native only to Indonesia (Ex) Extirpated - a species that no longer occurs in Indonesia although populations exist elsewhere (I) Introduced - a species introduced to Indonesia as a consequence, direct or indirect, of human actions
Cassowaries and emu Order: StruthioniformesFamily: Casuariidae
The cassowaries are large flightless birds native to Australia and New Guinea.
Southern cassowary, Casuarius casuarius Dwarf cassowary, Casuarius bennetti Northern cassowary, Casuarius unappendiculatus
Magpie goose Order: AnseriformesFamily: Anseranatidae
The family contains a single species, the magpie goose. It was an early and distinctive offshoot of the anseriform family tree, diverging after the screamers and before all other ducks, geese and swans, sometime in the late Cretaceous.
Magpie goose, Anseranas semipalmata
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.
Spotted whistling-duck, Dendrocygna guttata Plumed whistling-duck, Dendrocygna eytoni (A) Wandering whistling-duck, Dendrocygna arcuata Lesser whistling-duck, Dendrocygna javanica Black swan, Cygnus atratus (A) Radjah shelduck, Radjah radjah Green pygmy-goose, Nettapus pulchellus Cotton pygmy-goose, Nettapus coromandelianus Salvadori's teal, Salvadorina waigiuensis Garganey, Spatula querquedula Eurasian wigeon, Mareca penelope (A) Pacific black duck, Anas superciliosa Mallard, Anas platyrhynchos (A) Northern pintail, Anas acuta (A) Sunda teal, Anas gibberifrons Gray teal, Anas gracilis White-winged duck, Asarcornis scutulata Hardhead, Aythya australis Tufted duck, Aythya fuligula (A)
Megapodes Order: GalliformesFamily: Megapodiidae
The Megapodiidae are stocky, medium-large chicken-like birds with small heads and large feet. All but the malleefowl occupy jungle habitats and most have brown or black colouring.
Wattled brushturkey, Aepypodius arfakianus Waigeo brushturkey, Aepypodius bruijnii (E) Red-billed brushturkey, Talegalla cuvieri (E) Yellow-legged brushturkey, Talegalla fuscirostris Red-legged brushturkey, Talegalla jobiensis Maleo, Macrocephalon maleo (E) Moluccan scrubfowl, Eulipoa wallacei (E) Tabon scrubfowl, Megapodius cumingii Sula scrubfowl, Megapodius bernsteinii (E) Tanimbar scrubfowl, Megapodius tenimberensis (E) Dusky scrubfowl, Megapodius freycinet (E) Biak scrubfowl, Megapodius geelvinkianus (E) Forsten's scrubfowl, Megapodius forsteni (E) New Guinea scrubfowl, Megapodius decollatus Orange-footed scrubfowl, Megapodius reinwardt
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.
Ferruginous partridge, Caloperdix oculea Crested partridge, Rollulus rouloul Black partridge, Melanoperdix niger Red-billed partridge, Arborophila rubrirostris (E) Red-breasted partridge, Arborophila hyperythra (E) Roll's partridge, Arborophila rolli Sumatran partridge, Arborophila sumatrana Chestnut-bellied partridge, Arborophila javanica (E) Gray-breasted partridge, Arborophila orientalis (E) Long-billed partridge, Rhizothera longirostris Dulit partridge, Rhizothera dulitensis Bulwer's pheasant, Lophura bulweri Malayan crestless fireback, Lophura erythrophthalma Bornean crestless fireback, Lophura pyronota Salvadori's pheasant, Lophura inornata (E) Malayan crested fireback, Lophura rufa Bornean crested fireback, Lophura ignita Great argus, Argusianus argus Green peafowl, Pavo muticus Chestnut-necklaced partridge, Tropicoperdix charltonii Sabah partridge, Tropicoperdix graydoni Crimson-headed partridge, Haematortyx sanguiniceps Bornean peacock-pheasant, Polyplectron schleiermacheri Bronze-tailed peacock-pheasant, Polyplectron chalcurum (E) Green junglefowl, Gallus varius (E) Red junglefowl, Gallus gallus Brown quail, Synoicus ypsilophorus Snow Mountain quail, Synoicus monorthonyx Blue-breasted quail, Synoicus chinensis
Grebes Order: PodicipediformesFamily: Podicipedidae
Grebes are small to medium-large freshwater diving birds. They have lobed toes and are excellent swimmers and divers. Their feet are placed far back on the body, making them quite ungainly on land.
Little grebe, Tachybaptus ruficollis Australasian grebe, Tachybaptus novaehollandiae Great crested grebe, Podiceps cristatus (A)
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 Silvery wood-pigeon, Columba argentina (E) Metallic pigeon, Columba vitiensis Sunda collared-dove, Streptopelia bitorquata Red collared-dove, Streptopelia tranquebarica Spotted dove, Streptopelia chinensis Barred cuckoo-dove, Macropygia unchall Flores Sea cuckoo-dove, Macropygia macassariensis Timor cuckoo-dove, Macropygia magna (E) Tanimbar cuckoo-dove, Macropygia timorlaoensis (E) Amboyna cuckoo-dove, Macropygia amboinensis Sultan's cuckoo-dove, Macropygia doreya Philippine cuckoo-dove, Macropygia tenuirostris Ruddy cuckoo-dove, Macropygia emiliana Enggano cuckoo-dove, Macropygia cinnamomea (E) Barusan cuckoo-dove, Macropygia modiglianii (E) Black-billed cuckoo-dove, Macropygia nigrirostris Little cuckoo-dove, Macropygia ruficeps Great cuckoo-dove, Reinwardtoena reinwardti White-faced cuckoo-dove, Turacoena manadensis (E) Sula cuckoo-dove, Turacoena sulaensis Slaty cuckoo-dove, Turacoena modesta (E) Asian emerald dove, Chalcophaps indica Pacific emerald dove, Chalcophaps longirostris Stephan's dove, Chalcophaps stephani New Guinea bronzewing, Henicophaps albifrons Wetar ground dove, Alopecoenas hoedtii (E) Bronze ground dove, Alopecoenas beccarii White-bibbed ground dove, Alopecoenas jobiensis Zebra dove, Geopelia striata Peaceful dove, Geopelia placida Barred dove, Geopelia maugeus (E) Bar-shouldered dove, Geopelia humeralis Nicobar pigeon, Caloenas nicobarica Sulawesi ground dove, Gallicolumba tristigmata (E) Cinnamon ground dove, Gallicolumba rufigula Thick-billed ground-pigeon, Trugon terrestris Pheasant pigeon, Otidiphaps nobilis Western crowned-pigeon, Goura cristata Sclater's crowned-pigeon, Goura sclaterii Scheepmaker's crowned-pigeon, Goura scheepmakeri Victoria crowned-pigeon, Goura victoria Little green-pigeon, Treron olax Pink-necked green-pigeon, Treron vernans Cinnamon-headed green-pigeon, Treron fulvicollis Orange-breasted green-pigeon, Treron bicinctus Buru green-pigeon, Treron aromaticus Thick-billed green-pigeon, Treron curvirostra Gray-cheeked green-pigeon, Treron griseicauda (E) Sumba green-pigeon, Treron teysmannii (E) Flores green-pigeon, Treron floris (E) Timor green-pigeon, Treron psittaceus (E) Large green-pigeon, Treron capellei Green-spectacled green-pigeon, Treron oxyurus (E) Wedge-tailed green-pigeon, Treron sphenurus Black-backed fruit-dove, Ptilinopus cinctus (E) Red-naped fruit-dove, Ptilinopus dohertyi (E) Pink-headed fruit-dove, Ptilinopus porphyreus (E) Red-eared fruit-dove, Ptilinopus fischeri (E) Jambu fruit-dove, Ptilinopus jambu Maroon-chinned fruit-dove, Ptilinopus epius (E) Banggai fruit-dove, Ptilinopus subgularis (E) Sula fruit-dove, Ptilinopus mangoliensis (E) Scarlet-breasted fruit-dove, Ptilinopus bernsteinii (E) Wompoo fruit-dove, Ptilinopus magnificus Pink-spotted fruit-dove, Ptilinopus perlatus Ornate fruit-dove, Ptilinopus ornatus Orange-fronted fruit-dove, Ptilinopus aurantiifrons Wallace's fruit-dove, Ptilinopus wallacii (E) Superb fruit-dove, Ptilinopus superbus Rose-crowned fruit-dove, Ptilinopus regina Coroneted fruit-dove, Ptilinopus coronulatus Beautiful fruit-dove, Ptilinopus pulchellus Blue-capped fruit-dove, Ptilinopus monacha (E) White-breasted fruit-dove, Ptilinopus rivoli Yellow-bibbed fruit-dove, Ptilinopus solomonensis Geelvink fruit-dove, Ptilinopus speciosus (E) Claret-breasted fruit-dove, Ptilinopus viridis Orange-bellied fruit-dove, Ptilinopus iozonus Gray-headed fruit-dove, Ptilinopus hyogastrus (E) Carunculated fruit-dove, Ptilinopus granulifrons (E) Black-naped fruit-dove, Ptilinopus melanospilus Dwarf fruit-dove, Ptilinopus nainus White-bellied imperial-pigeon, Ducula forsteni (E) Gray-headed imperial-pigeon, Ducula radiata (E) Green imperial-pigeon, Ducula aenea Enggano imperial-pigeon, Ducula oenothorax (E) Spectacled imperial-pigeon, Ducula perspicillata (E) Seram imperial-pigeon, Ducula neglecta (E) Elegant imperial-pigeon, Ducula concinna (E) Spice imperial-pigeon, Ducula myristicivora (E) Geelvink imperial-pigeon, Ducula geelvinkiana (E) Purple-tailed imperial-pigeon, Ducula rufigaster Cinnamon-bellied imperial-pigeon, Ducula basilica (E) Rufescent imperial-pigeon, Ducula chalconota Pink-headed imperial-pigeon, Ducula rosacea (E) Gray imperial-pigeon, Ducula pickeringii Pinon's imperial-pigeon, Ducula pinon Collared imperial-pigeon, Ducula mullerii Zoe's imperial-pigeon, Ducula zoeae Mountain imperial-pigeon, Ducula badia Dark-backed imperial-pigeon, Ducula lacernulata (E) Timor imperial-pigeon, Ducula cineracea (E) Pied imperial-pigeon, Ducula bicolor Torresian imperial-pigeon, Ducula spilorrhoa Silver-tipped imperial-pigeon, Ducula luctuosa (E) Sombre pigeon, Cryptophaps poecilorrhoa (E) Papuan mountain-pigeon, Gymnophaps albertisii Buru mountain-pigeon, Gymnophaps mada (E) Seram mountain-pigeon, Gymnophaps stalkeri (E)
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.
Australian bustard, Ardeotis australis
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. Many Old World cuckoo species are brood parasites.
Sumatran ground-cuckoo, Carpococcyx viridis (E) Bornean ground-cuckoo, Carpococcyx radiatus Biak coucal, Centropus chalybeus (E) Greater black coucal, Centropus menbeki Short-toed coucal, Centropus rectunguis Bay coucal, Centropus celebensis (E) Sunda coucal, Centropus nigrorufus (E) Greater coucal, Centropus sinensis Goliath coucal, Centropus goliath (E) Lesser coucal, Centropus bengalensis Lesser black coucal, Centropus bernsteini