This is a list of the bird species recorded in Pakistan. The avifauna of Pakistan include a total of 793 species. The chukar (Alectoris chukar) is the official national bird of Pakistan, and the shaheen falcon is the symbolic icon of the Pakistan Air Force and Pakistan Avicultural Foundation, one bird is endemic.
This list's taxonomic treatment (designation and sequence of orders, families and species) and nomenclature (common and scientific names) generally 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. Accidental species are included in the total species count for Pakistan.
The following tags have been used to highlight several categories. The commonly occurring native species do not fall into any of these categories.
(V) Vagrant - a species that rarely or accidentally occurs in Pakistan (Ex) Extirpated - a species that no longer occurs in Pakistan but exists in other places
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 Lesser whistling-duck, Dendrocygna javanica Greater white-fronted goose, Anser albifrons Lesser white-fronted goose, Anser erythropus Bar-headed goose, Anser indicus Graylag goose, Anser anser Mute swan, Cygnus olor (V) Tundra swan, Cygnus columbianus (V) Whooper swan, Cygnus cygnus Knob-billed duck, Sarkidiornis melanotos Ruddy shelduck, Tadorna ferruginea Common shelduck, Tadorna tadorna Cotton pygmy-goose, Nettapus coromandelianus Baikal teal, Sibirionetta formosa (V) Garganey, Spatula querquedula Northern shoveler, Spatula clypeata Gadwall, Mareca strepera Falcated duck, Mareca falcata Eurasian wigeon, Mareca penelope Indian spot-billed duck, Anas poecilorhyncha Mallard, Anas platyrhynchos Northern pintail, Anas acuta Green-winged teal, Anas crecca Marbled teal, Marmaronetta angustirostris Red-crested pochard, Netta rufina Common pochard, Aythya ferina Ferruginous duck, Aythya nyroca Baer's pochard, Aythya baeri (V) Tufted duck, Aythya fuligula Greater scaup, Aythya marila Velvet scoter, Melanitta fusca Long-tailed duck, Clangula hyemalis Common goldeneye, Bucephala clangula Smew, Mergellus albellus Common merganser, Mergus merganser Red-breasted merganser, Mergus serrator 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 and jungle fowls. In general, they are plump (although they vary in size) and have broad, relatively short wings. Of most species the numbers have declined considerably over the last decade.
Indian peafowl, Pavo cristatus See-see partridge, Ammoperdix griseogularis Common quail, Coturnix coturnix Rain quail, Coturnix coromandelica Chukar, Alectoris chukar, national bird of Pakistan Tibetan snowcock, Tetraogallus tibetanus Himalayan snowcock, Tetraogallus himalayensis Jungle bush-quail, Perdicula asiatica Black francolin, Francolinus francolinus Gray francolin, Ortygornis pondicerianus Red junglefowl, Gallus gallus Himalayan monal, Lophophorus impejanus Snow partridge, Lerwa lerwa Western tragopan, Tragopan melanocephalus Cheer pheasant, Catreus wallichii Kalij pheasant, Lophura leucomelanos 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 Lesser flamingo, Phoenicopterus minor
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 (V) Yellow-eyed pigeon, Columba eversmanni Common wood-pigeon, Columba palumbus Speckled wood-pigeon, Columba hodgsonii European turtle-dove, Streptopelia turtur Oriental turtle-dove, Streptopelia orientalis Eurasian collared-dove, Streptopelia decaocto Red collared-dove, Streptopelia tranquebarica Spotted dove, Spilopelia chinensis Laughing dove, Spilopelia senegalensis Namaqua dove, Oena capensis (V) Asian emerald dove, Chalcophaps indica Yellow-footed green-pigeon, Treron phoenicoptera Wedge-tailed green-pigeon, Treron sphenurus Orange-breasted green-pigeon, Treron bicinctus Thick-billed green pigeon, Treron curvirostra
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 Pin-tailed sandgrouse, Pterocles alchata Chestnut-bellied sandgrouse, Pterocles exustus Spotted sandgrouse, Pterocles senegallus Black-bellied sandgrouse, Pterocles orientalis Crowned sandgrouse, Pterocles coronatus Lichtenstein's sandgrouse, Pterocles lichtensteinii Painted sandgrouse, Pterocles indicus Tibetan sandgrouse, Syrrhaptes tibetanus
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. Their numbers have declined considerably due to hunting.
Great bustard, Otis tarda Great Indian bustard, Ardeotis nigriceps MacQueen's bustard, Chlamydotis macqueenii Lesser florican, Sypheotides indicus 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. The Old World cuckoos are brood parasites.
Greater coucal, Centropus sinensis Lesser coucal, Centropus bengalensis (A) Sirkeer malkoha, Taccocua leschenaultii Pied cuckoo, Clamator jacobinus Asian koel, Eudynamys scolopacea Plaintive cuckoo, Cacomantis merulinus Gray-bellied cuckoo, Cacomantis passerinus Large hawk-cuckoo, Hierococcyx sparverioides Common hawk-cuckoo, Hierococcyx varius 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 Eurasian nightjar, Caprimulgus europaeus Egyptian nightjar, Caprimulgus aegyptius Sykes's nightjar, Caprimulgus mahrattensis 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. There are 9 species which have been recorded in Pakistan.
White-throated needletail, Hirundapus caudacutus Himalayan swiftlet, Aerodramus brevirostris Alpine swift, Tachymarptis melba Common swift, Apus apus Pallid swift, Apus pallidus Blyth's swift, Apus leuconyx Little swift, Apus affinis House swift, Apus nipalensis Asian palm-swift, Cypsiurus balasiensis
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 Corn crake, Crex crex (V) Slaty-breasted rail, Lewinia striata Spotted crake, Porzana porzana 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 Ruddy-breasted crake, Zapornia fusca Brown crake, Zapornia akool Little crake, Zapornia parva Baillon's crake, Zapornia pusilla
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". In this country numbers have declined as they are sought after as pet birds and hunted in the North-West in particular. The sarus crane which is found in abundant numbers in India has almost disappeared in Pakistan although a lone pair was sighted in 2011 in the tharparker area after 10 years. This decline is due to hunting.
Demoiselle crane, Anthropoides virgo Siberian crane, Leucogeranus leucogeranus (Ex?) Sarus crane, Antigone antigone Common crane, Grus grus Hooded crane, Grus monacha (V)
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.
Eurasian thick-knee, Burhinus oedicnemus 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. There are 2 species which have been recorded in Pakistan.
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 grey 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