This is a list of the bird species recorded in Bhutan. The avifauna of Bhutan include a total of 760 species, of which one has been introduced by humans.
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 Bhutan.
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 Bhutan (I) Introduced - a species introduced to Bhutan 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 (A) Bar-headed goose, Anser indicus Graylag goose, Anser anser Greater white-fronted goose, Anser albifrons (A) Ruddy shelduck, Tadorna ferruginea Common shelduck, Tadorna tadorna Mandarin duck, Aix galericulata (A) Baikal teal, Sibirionetta formosa (A) Garganey, Spatula querquedula Northern shoveler, Spatula clypeata Gadwall, Mareca strepera Falcated duck, Mareca falcata (A) 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 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) Common goldeneye, Bucephala clangula (A) Common merganser, Mergus merganser
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.
Hill partridge, Arborophila torqueola Chestnut-breasted partridge, Arborophila mandellii Rufous-throated partridge, Arborophila rufogularis Indian peafowl, Pavo cristatus Gray peacock-pheasant, Polyplectron bicalcaratum Japanese quail, Coturnix japonica Common quail, Coturnix coturnix Tibetan snowcock, Tetraogallus tibetanus Black francolin, Francolinus francolinus Red junglefowl, Gallus gallus Blood pheasant, Ithaginis cruentus Himalayan monal, Lophophorus impejanus Snow partridge, Lerwa lerwa Satyr tragopan, Tragopan satyra Blyth's tragopan, Tragopan blythii Temminck's tragopan, Tragopan temminckii (A) Kalij pheasant, Lophura leucomelanos Tibetan partridge, Perdix hodgsoniae
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 (A) Red-necked grebe, Podiceps grisegena (A) Great crested grebe, Podiceps cristatus Eared grebe, Podiceps nigricollis (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 Hill pigeon, Columba rupestris Snow pigeon, Columba leuconota Speckled wood-pigeon, Columba hodgsonii Ashy wood-pigeon, Columba pulchricollis Oriental turtle-dove, Streptopelia orientalis Eurasian collared-dove, Streptopelia decaocto Red collared-dove, Streptopelia tranquebarica Spotted dove, Streptopelia chinensis Laughing dove, Streptopelia 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
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 Green-billed malkoha, Phaenicophaeus tristis Chestnut-winged cuckoo, Clamator coromandus Pied cuckoo, Clamator jacobinus (A) Asian koel, Eudynamys scolopacea Asian emerald cuckoo, Chrysococcyx maculatus Violet cuckoo, Chrysococcyx xanthorhynchus Banded bay cuckoo, Cacomantis sonneratii Plaintive cuckoo, Cacomantis merulinus 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 Lesser cuckoo, Cuculus poliocephalus Indian cuckoo, Cuculus micropterus Himalayan cuckoo, Cuculus saturatus Common cuckoo, Cuculus canorus
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.
Gray nightjar, Caprimulgus indicus 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-rumped needletail, Zoonavena sylvatica (A) White-throated needletail, Hirundapus caudacutus Himalayan swiftlet, Aerodramus brevirostris Alpine swift, Apus melba Common swift, Apus apus (A) Plain swift, Apus unicolor (A) Pacific swift, Apus pacificus Salim Ali's swift, Apus salimalii (A) Blyth's swift, Apus leuconyx Dark-rumped swift, Apus acuticauda Little swift, Apus affinis (A) 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.
Slaty-breasted rail, Lewinia striata Eurasian moorhen, Gallinula chloropus (A) Eurasian coot, Fulica atra Gray-headed swamphen, Porphyrio poliocephalus (A) Watercock, Gallicrex cinerea (A) White-breasted waterhen, Amaurornis phoenicurus Slaty-legged crake, Rallina eurizonoides (A) Ruddy-breasted crake, Zapornia fusca Black-tailed crake, Zapornia bicolor
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) Common crane, Grus grus (A) Hooded crane, Grus monacha (A) Black-necked crane, Grus nigricollis
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, Burhinus recurvirostris (A)
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 grey with a white belly, red legs, a long down curved bill, and a black face and breast band.
Ibisbill, Ibidorhyncha struthersii
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.
Pacific golden-plover, Pluvialis fulva (A) Northern lapwing, Vanellus vanellus River lapwing, Vanellus duvaucelii Yellow-wattled lapwing, Vanellus malabaricus (A) Gray-headed lapwing, Vanellus cinereus (A) Red-wattled lapwing, Vanellus indicus Lesser sand-plover, Charadrius mongolus (A) Kentish plover, Charadrius alexandrinus (A) Long-billed plover, Charadrius placidus Little ringed plover, Charadrius dubius
Painted-snipes Order: CharadriiformesFamily: Rostratulidae
Painted-snipes are short-legged, long-billed birds similar in shape to the true snipes, but more brightly colored.
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) Bronze-winged jacana, Metopidius indicus (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 Eurasian curlew, Numenius arquata (A) Ruff, Calidris pugnax (A) Sharp-tailed sandpiper, Calidris acuminata (A) Curlew sandpiper, Calidris ferruginea (A) Temminck's stint, Calidris temminckii