This is a list of the bird species recorded in China. The avifauna of China include a total of 1431 species, of which 57 are endemic, and 3 have been introduced by humans. Of these, 108 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 China.
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 China (E) Endemic - a species native or restricted to China (I) Introduced - a species introduced to China as a consequence, direct or indirect, of human actions (Ex) Extirpated - a species no longer found in China but found 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.
Lesser whistling-duck, Dendrocygna javanica Bar-headed goose, Anser indicus Snow goose, Anser caerulescens (A) Graylag goose, Anser anser Swan goose, Anser cygnoides Greater white-fronted goose, Anser albifrons Lesser white-fronted goose, Anser erythropus Taiga bean-goose, Anser fabalis Tundra bean-goose, Anser serrirostris Brant, Branta bernicla Barnacle goose, Branta leucopsis (A) Cackling goose, Branta hutchinsii (A) Canada goose, Branta canadensis (A) Red-breasted goose, Branta ruficollis (A) Mute swan, Cygnus olor Tundra swan, Cygnus columbianus Whooper swan, Cygnus cygnus Knob-billed duck, Sarkidiornis melanotos Ruddy shelduck, Tadorna ferruginea Common shelduck, Tadorna tadorna Cotton pygmy-goose, Nettapus coromandelianus 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) Indian spot-billed duck, Anas poecilorhyncha Eastern spot-billed duck, Anas zonorhyncha Mallard, Anas platyrhynchos Northern pintail, Anas acuta Green-winged teal, Anas crecca Marbled teal, Marmaronetta angustirostris (A) Red-crested pochard, Netta rufina Canvasback, Aythya valisineria (A) Common pochard, Aythya ferina Ferruginous duck, Aythya nyroca Baer's pochard, Aythya baeri Tufted duck, Aythya fuligula Greater scaup, Aythya marila Steller's eider, Polysticta stelleri (A) Harlequin duck, Histrionicus histrionicus Velvet scoter, Melanitta fusca (A) Stejneger's scoter, Melanitta stejnegeri Black scoter, Melanitta americana (A) Long-tailed duck, Clangula hyemalis Common goldeneye, Bucephala clangula Smew, Mergellus albellus Common merganser, Mergus merganser Red-breasted merganser, Mergus serrator Scaly-sided merganser, Mergus squamatus White-headed duck, Oxyura leucocephala
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, grouse, ptarmigan, and jungle fowls. In general, they are plump (although they vary in size) and have broad, relatively short wings.
Hill partridge, Arborophila torqueola Sichuan partridge, Arborophila rufipectus (E) Chestnut-breasted partridge, Arborophila mandellii White-necklaced partridge, Arborophila gingica (E) Rufous-throated partridge, Arborophila rufogularis Hainan partridge, Arborophila ardens (E) White-cheeked partridge, Arborophila atrogularis Bar-backed partridge, Arborophila brunneopectus Snow partridge, Lerwa lerwa Blood pheasant, Ithaginis cruentus Western tragopan, Tragopan melanocephalus Satyr tragopan, Tragopan satyra Blyth's tragopan, Tragopan blythii Temminck's tragopan, Tragopan temminckii Cabot's tragopan, Tragopan caboti (E) Verreaux's partridge, Tetraophasis obscurus (E) Szecheny's partridge, Tetraophasis szechenyii Himalayan monal, Lophophorus impejanus Sclater's monal, Lophophorus sclateri Chinese monal, Lophophorus lhuysii (E) Koklass pheasant, Pucrasia macrolopha Hazel grouse, Tetrastes bonasia Severtzov's grouse, Tetrastes sewerzowi (E) Willow ptarmigan, Lagopus lagopus Rock ptarmigan, Lagopus muta Siberian grouse, Falcipennis falcipennis Black-billed capercaillie, Tetrao urogalloides Western capercaillie, Tetrao urogallus Black grouse, Lyrurus tetrix Tibetan partridge, Perdix hodgsoniae Gray partridge, Perdix perdix Daurian partridge, Perdix dauurica Reeves's pheasant, Syrmaticus reevesii (E) Elliot's pheasant, Syrmaticus ellioti (E) Hume's pheasant, Syrmaticus humiae Golden pheasant, Chrysolophus pictus (E) Lady Amherst's pheasant, Chrysolophus amherstiae Ring-necked pheasant, Phasianus colchicus Tibetan eared-pheasant, Crossoptilon harmani White eared-pheasant, Crossoptilon crossoptilon (E) Brown eared-pheasant, Crossoptilon mantchuricum (E) Blue eared-pheasant, Crossoptilon auritum (E) Kalij pheasant, Lophura leucomelanos Silver pheasant, Lophura nycthemera Green peafowl, Pavo muticus Scaly-breasted partridge, Tropicoperdix chloropus Hainan peacock-pheasant, Polyplectron katsumatae (E) Gray peacock-pheasant, Polyplectron bicalcaratum Mountain bamboo-partridge, Bambusicola fytchii Chinese bamboo-partridge, Bambusicola thoracicus Red junglefowl, Gallus gallus Chinese francolin, Francolinus pintadeanus Tibetan snowcock, Tetraogallus tibetanus Altai snowcock, Tetraogallus altaicus Himalayan snowcock, Tetraogallus himalayensis Blue-breasted quail, Synoicus chinensis Common quail, Coturnix coturnix Japanese quail, Coturnix japonica Chukar, Alectoris chukar Przevalski's partridge, Alectoris magna (E)
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 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 Hill pigeon, Columba rupestris Snow pigeon, Columba leuconota Stock dove, Columba oenas Yellow-eyed pigeon, Columba eversmanni Common wood-pigeon, Columba palumbus Speckled wood-pigeon, Columba hodgsonii Ashy wood-pigeon, Columba pulchricollis Pale-capped pigeon, Columba punicea (Ex?) Japanese wood-pigeon, Columba janthina European turtle-dove, Streptopelia turtur Oriental turtle-dove, Streptopelia orientalis Eurasian collared-dove, Streptopelia decaocto Burmese collared-dove, Streptopelia xanthocycla Red collared-dove, Streptopelia tranquebarica Spotted dove, Streptopelia chinensis Laughing dove, Streptopelia senegalensis Barred cuckoo-dove, Macropygia unchall Little cuckoo-dove, Macropygia ruficeps Asian emerald dove, Chalcophaps indica Orange-breasted green-pigeon, Treron bicinctus Ashy-headed green-pigeon, Treron phayrei Thick-billed green-pigeon, Treron curvirostra Yellow-footed green-pigeon, Treron phoenicopterus Yellow-vented green-pigeon, Treron seimundi (A) Pin-tailed green-pigeon, Treron apicauda Wedge-tailed green-pigeon, Treron sphenurus White-bellied green-pigeon, Treron sieboldii Whistling green-pigeon, Treron formosae Black-chinned fruit-dove, Ptilinopus leclancheri 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 Pallas's sandgrouse, Syrrhaptes paradoxus Black-bellied sandgrouse, Pterocles orientalis
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 MacQueen's bustard, Chlamydotis macqueenii Little bustard, Tetrax tetrax
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.
Greater coucal, Centropus sinensis Lesser coucal, Centropus bengalensis Green-billed malkoha, Phaenicophaeus tristis Chestnut-winged cuckoo, Clamator coromandus Pied cuckoo, Clamator jacobinus Asian koel, Eudynamys scolopaceus Asian emerald cuckoo, Chrysococcyx maculatus Violet cuckoo, Chrysococcyx xanthorhynchus Banded bay cuckoo, Cacomantis sonneratii Plaintive cuckoo, Cacomantis merulinus Fork-tailed drongo-cuckoo, Surniculus dicruroides Square-tailed drongo-cuckoo, Surniculus lugubris Large hawk-cuckoo, Hierococcyx sparverioides Northern hawk-cuckoo, Hierococcyx hyperythrus Hodgson's hawk-cuckoo, Hierococcyx nisicolor Lesser cuckoo, Cuculus poliocephalus Indian cuckoo, Cuculus micropterus Himalayan cuckoo, Cuculus saturatus Common cuckoo, Cuculus canorus Oriental cuckoo, Cuculus optatus
Frogmouths Order: CaprimulgiformesFamily: Podargidae
The frogmouths are a group of nocturnal birds related to the nightjars. They are named for their large flattened hooked bill and huge frog-like gape, which they use to take insects.
Hodgson's frogmouth, Batrachostomus hodgsoni
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.
Great eared-nightjar, Lyncornis macrotis Gray nightjar, Caprimulgus jotaka Eurasian nightjar, Caprimulgus europaeus Egyptian nightjar, Caprimulgus aegyptius Large-tailed nightjar, Caprimulgus macrurus 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-throated needletail, Hirundapus caudacutus Silver-backed needletail, Hirundapus cochinchinensis Brown-backed needletail, Hirundapus giganteus (A) Himalayan swiftlet, Aerodramus brevirostris Black-nest swiftlet, Aerodramus maximus White-nest swiftlet, Aerodramus fuciphagus Germain's swiftlet, Aerodramus germani Alpine swift, Tachymarptis melba (A) Common swift, Apus apus Pacific swift, Apus pacificus Salim Ali's swift, Apus salimalii (E) Blyth's swift, Apus leuconyx