This is a list of the bird species recorded in Taiwan. The avifauna of Taiwan include a total of 705 species, of which 30 are endemic, and 17 have been introduced by humans. Of these, 43 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 Taiwan.
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 Taiwan (E) Endemic - a species endemic to Taiwan (I) Introduced - a species introduced to Taiwan 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.
Lesser whistling-duck, Dendrocygna javanica (A) Bar-headed goose, Anser indicus (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 Cackling goose, Branta hutchinsii (A) Mute swan, Cygnus olor (A) Tundra swan, Cygnus columbianus Whooper swan, Cygnus cygnus (A) Ruddy shelduck, Tadorna ferruginea (A) Common shelduck, Tadorna tadorna Cotton pygmy-goose, Nettapus coromandelianus (A) Mandarin duck, Aix galericulata Baikal teal, Sibirionetta formosa (A) Garganey, Spatula querquedula Northern shoveler, Spatula clypeata Gadwall, Mareca strepera Falcated duck, Mareca falcata Eurasian wigeon, Mareca penelope American wigeon, Mareca americana Philippine duck, Anas luzonica (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 Common pochard, Aythya ferina (A) Ring-necked duck, Aythya collaris (A) Ferruginous duck, Aythya nyroca (A) Baer's pochard, Aythya baeri Tufted duck, Aythya fuligula Greater scaup, Aythya marila Lesser scaup, Aythya affinis (A) Long-tailed duck, Clangula hyemalis (A) Common goldeneye, Bucephala clangula (A) Smew, Mergellus albellus Common merganser, Mergus merganser (A) 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.
Taiwan partridge, Arborophila crudigularis (E) Mikado pheasant, Syrmaticus mikado (E) Ring-necked pheasant, Phasianus colchicus Swinhoe's pheasant, Lophura swinhoii (E) Taiwan bamboo-partridge, Bambusicola sonorivox (E) Blue-breasted quail, Synoicus chinensis Japanese quail, Coturnix japonica
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 (I)
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 (A) 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. There are 308 species worldwide and 12 species which occur in Taiwan.
Rock pigeon, Columba livia (I) Ashy wood-pigeon, Columba pulchricollis Japanese wood-pigeon, Columba janthina Metallic pigeon, Columba vitiensis (A) Oriental turtle-dove, Streptopelia orientalis Eurasian collared-dove, Streptopelia decaocto (I) Red collared-dove, Streptopelia tranquebarica Spotted dove, Streptopelia chinensis Barred cuckoo-dove, Macropygia unchall (A) Philippine cuckoo-dove, Macropygia tenuirostris Asian emerald dove, Chalcophaps indica Zebra dove, Geopelia striata (I) Orange-breasted green-pigeon, Treron bicinctus (A) Thick-billed green-pigeon, Treron curvirostra (A) White-bellied green-pigeon, Treron sieboldii Whistling green-pigeon, Treron formosae Black-chinned fruit-dove, Ptilinopus leclancheri (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. The Old World cuckoos are brood parasites.
Greater coucal, Centropus sinensis Lesser coucal, Centropus bengalensis Chestnut-winged cuckoo, Clamator coromandus (A) Pied cuckoo, Clamator jacobinus (A) Asian koel, Eudynamys scolopaceus (A) Horsfield's bronze-cuckoo, Chrysococcyx basalis (A) Plaintive cuckoo, Cacomantis merulinus (A) Square-tailed drongo-cuckoo, Surniculus lugubris Large hawk-cuckoo, Hierococcyx sparverioides Northern hawk-cuckoo, Hierococcyx hyperythrus (A) Hodgson's hawk-cuckoo, Hierococcyx nisicolor (A) Lesser cuckoo, Cuculus poliocephalus Indian cuckoo, Cuculus micropterus Himalayan cuckoo, Cuculus saturatus Common cuckoo, Cuculus canorus (A) 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 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 Purple needletail, Hirundapus celebensis (A) Germain's swiftlet, Aerodramus germani (A) Pacific swift, Apus pacificus House swift, Apus nipalensis
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 Slaty-breasted rail, Lewinia striata Spotted crake, Porzana porzana (A) Eurasian moorhen, Gallinula chloropus Eurasian coot, Fulica atra Australasian swamphen, Porphyrio melanotus (A) Gray-headed swamphen, Porphyrio poliocephalus (A) White-browed crake, Poliolimnas cinereus (A) Watercock, Gallicrex cinerea White-breasted waterhen, Amaurornis phoenicurus Red-legged crake, Rallina fasciata (A) Slaty-legged crake, Rallina eurizonoides Ruddy-breasted crake, Zapornia fusca Band-bellied crake, Zapornia paykullii (A) Brown crake, Zapornia akool Baillon's crake, Zapornia pusilla (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 (A) Common crane, Grus grus Hooded crane, Grus monacha Red-crowned crane, Grus japonensis (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 (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 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 Long-billed plover, Charadrius placidus Little ringed plover, Charadrius dubius Oriental plover, Charadrius veredus
Painted-snipes Order: CharadriiformesFamily: Rostratulidae
Painted-snipes are short-legged, long-billed birds similar in shape to the true snipes, but more brightly coloured.
Greater painted-snipe, Rostratula benghalensis
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
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 Far Eastern curlew, Numenius madagascariensis Eurasian curlew, Numenius arquata Bar-tailed godwit, Limosa lapponica Black-tailed godwit, Limosa limosa 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 Stilt sandpiper, Calidris himantopus (A) Curlew sandpiper, Calidris ferruginea Temminck's stint, Calidris temminckii Long-toed stint, Calidris subminuta Spoon-billed sandpiper, Calidris pygmeus Red-necked stint, Calidris ruficollis Sanderling, Calidris alba Dunlin, Calidris alpina Little stint, Calidris minuta Buff-breasted sandpiper, Calidris subruficollis (A)