This is a list of the bird species recorded in Laos. The avifauna of Laos include a total of 779 species, of which two have 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 Laos.
The following tags have been used to highlight several categories, but not all species fall into one of these categories. Those that do not are commonly occurring native species.
(A) Accidental - a species that rarely or accidentally occurs in Laos (E) Endemic - a species endemic to Laos (I) Introduced - a species introduced to Laos 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 Bar-headed goose, Anser indicus Graylag goose, Anser anser Swan goose, Anser cygnoides Knob-billed duck, Sarkidiornis melanotos Ruddy shelduck, Tadorna ferruginea Common shelduck, Tadorna tadorna Cotton pygmy-goose, Nettapus coromandelianus Mandarin duck, Aix galericulata (A) Garganey, Spatula querquedula Falcated duck, Mareca falcata Eurasian wigeon, Mareca penelope Indian spot-billed duck, Anas poecilorhyncha Eastern spot-billed duck, Anas zonorhyncha Northern pintail, Anas acuta Green-winged teal, Anas crecca White-winged duck, Asarcornis scutulata Ferruginous duck, Aythya nyroca (A) Baer's pochard, Aythya baeri (A) Tufted duck, Aythya fuligula (A)
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.
Rufous-throated partridge, Arborophila rufogularis Bar-backed partridge, Arborophila brunneopectus Silver pheasant, Lophura nycthemera Siamese fireback, Lophura diardi Vietnamese crested argus, Rheinardia ocellata Green peafowl, Pavo muticus (A) Scaly-breasted partridge, Tropicoperdix chloropus Gray peacock-pheasant, Polyplectron bicalcaratum Mountain bamboo-partridge, Bambusicola fytchii Red junglefowl, Gallus gallus Chinese francolin, Francolinus pintadeanus Blue-breasted quail, Synoicus chinensis Japanese quail, Coturnix japonica
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
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 Speckled wood-pigeon, Columba hodgsonii Ashy wood-pigeon, Columba pulchricollis (A) Pale-capped pigeon, Columba punicea Oriental turtle-dove, Streptopelia orientalis Eurasian collared-dove, Streptopelia decaocto (A) Red collared-dove, Streptopelia tranquebarica Spotted dove, Streptopelia chinensis Barred cuckoo-dove, Macropygia unchall Little cuckoo-dove, Macropygia ruficeps Asian emerald dove, Chalcophaps indica Zebra dove, Geopelia striata (I) Orange-breasted green-pigeon, Treron bicincta Ashy-headed green-pigeon, Treron phayrei Thick-billed green-pigeon, Treron curvirostra Yellow-footed green-pigeon, Treron phoenicoptera Yellow-vented green-pigeon, Treron seimundi Pin-tailed green-pigeon, Treron apicauda Wedge-tailed green-pigeon, Treron sphenura White-bellied green-pigeon, Treron sieboldii 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.
Coral-billed ground-cuckoo, Carpococcyx renauldi Greater coucal, Centropus sinensis Lesser coucal, Centropus bengalensis Green-billed malkoha, Phaenicophaeus tristis Chestnut-winged cuckoo, Clamator coromandus Asian koel, Eudynamys scolopacea Asian emerald cuckoo, Chrysococcyx maculatus Violet cuckoo, Chrysococcyx xanthorhynchus Banded bay cuckoo, Cacomantis sonneratii Plaintive cuckoo, Cacomantis merulinus Square-tailed drongo-cuckoo, Surniculus lugubris Moustached hawk-cuckoo, Hierococcyx vagans (A) 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
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 Blyth's frogmouth, Batrachostomus affinis
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 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.
White-throated needletail, Hirundapus caudacutus Silver-backed needletail, Hirundapus cochinchinensis Brown-backed needletail, Hirundapus giganteus Himalayan swiftlet, Aerodramus brevirostris White-nest swiftlet, Aerodramus fuciphagus Germain's swiftlet, Aerodramus germani Pacific swift, Apus pacificus Cook's swift, Apus cooki 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.
Brown-cheeked rail, Rallus indicus (A) Slaty-breasted rail, Lewinia striata Eurasian moorhen, Gallinula chloropus Eurasian coot, Fulica atra Gray-headed swamphen, Porphyrio poliocephalus White-browed crake, Poliolimnas cinereus (A) Watercock, Gallicrex cinerea White-breasted waterhen, Amaurornis phoenicurus Red-legged crake, Rallina fasciata Slaty-legged crake, Rallina eurizonoides Ruddy-breasted crake, Zapornia fusca Baillon's crake, Zapornia pusilla Black-tailed crake, Zapornia bicolor
Finfoots Order: GruiformesFamily: Heliornithidae
Heliornithidae is a small family of tropical birds with webbed lobes on their feet similar to those of grebes and coots.
Masked finfoot, Heliopais personata
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".
Sarus crane, Antigone antigone
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 (A) Great thick-knee, Esacus 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
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 (A) Pacific golden-plover, Pluvialis fulva Northern lapwing, Vanellus vanellus River lapwing, Vanellus duvaucelii (A) Gray-headed lapwing, Vanellus cinereus Red-wattled lapwing, Vanellus indicus (A) Lesser sand-plover, Charadrius mongolus (A) Greater sand-plover, Charadrius leschenaultii (A) Kentish plover, Charadrius alexandrinus White-faced plover, Charadrius dealbatus Common ringed plover, Charadrius hiaticula (A) Long-billed plover, Charadrius placidus Little ringed plover, Charadrius dubius Oriental plover, Charadrius veredus (A)
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 Bronze-winged jacana, Metopidius indicus
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 (A) Eurasian curlew, Numenius arquata (A) Black-tailed godwit, Limosa limosa (A) Ruddy turnstone, Arenaria interpres (A) Ruff, Calidris pugnax Curlew sandpiper, Calidris ferruginea (A) Temminck's stint, Calidris temminckii Long-toed stint, Calidris subminuta Red-necked stint, Calidris ruficollis (A) Sanderling, Calidris alba (A) Dunlin, Calidris alpina Eurasian woodcock, Scolopax rusticola Wood snipe, Gallinago nemoricola (A) Common snipe, Gallinago gallinago