List of birds of Thailand

The birds of Thailand included 1106 species as of 2024. Of them, 7 have been introduced by humans, and eight have been extirpated.

The birds of Thailand are mainly typical of the Indomalayan realm, with affinities to the Indian subcontinent to the west, and, particularly in Southern Thailand, with the Sundaic fauna to the southeast. The northern mountains are outliers of the Tibetan Plateau, with many species of montane birds, and in winter the avifauna is augmented by migrants from the eastern Palearctic and Himalayas. That Thailand's habitats are contiguous with those of neighbouring countries explains the low number of endemic species.

In 1991, it was estimated that 159 resident and 23 migratory species were endangered or vulnerable due to forest clearance, illegal logging, hunting and habitat degradation, especially in the lowlands. The species most affected are large water birds whose wetland habitat has been largely lost to agriculture, and forest species, as deforestation for agriculture and logging have removed and degraded portions of the woodlands.

This list's taxonomic treatment (designation and sequence of orders, families and species) and nomenclature (English and scientific names) are those of The Clements Checklist of Birds of the World, 2022 edition.Clements, J. F., T. S. Schulenberg, M. J. Iliff, S. M. Billerman, T. A. Fredericks, B. L. Sullivan, and C. L. Wood. 2022. The eBird/Clements Checklist of Birds of the World: v2022. Downloaded from https://www.birds.cornell.edu/clementschecklist/download/ Retrieved 15 August 2022. The designations as accidental, introduced, and extirpated, and the notes of worldwide population status such as "critically endangered", are from Bird Checklists of the World. The notes of status in Thailand, such as "winter visitor", are from Lekagul and Round (1991). Species with no indicated status are resident or partially resident non-rarities.

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.

Common name Binomial StatusFulvous whistling-duckDendrocygna bicolorAccidentalLesser whistling-duckDendrocygna javanicaBar-headed gooseAnser indicusVery rare winter visitorGraylag gooseAnser anser AccidentalSwan gooseAnser cygnoides AccidentalGreater white-fronted gooseAnser albifrons AccidentalLesser white-fronted gooseAnser erythropus AccidentalKnob-billed duckSarkidiornis melanotosRare residentRuddy shelduckTadorna ferrugineaRare winter visitorCommon shelduckTadorna tadornaVery rare winter visitorCotton pygmy-gooseNettapus coromandelianusMandarin duckAix galericulataAccidentalBaikal tealSibirionetta formosaAccidentalGarganeySpatula querquedulaWinter visitorNorthern shovelerSpatula clypeataWinter visitorGadwallMareca streperaVery rare winter visitorFalcated duckMareca falcata AccidentalEurasian wigeonMareca penelopeWinter visitorIndian spot-billed duckAnas poecilorhynchaRare winter visitorEastern spot-billed duckAnas zonorhynchaRare winter visitorMallardAnas platyrhynchosNorthern pintailAnas acutaWinter visitorGreen-winged tealAnas creccaWinter visitorWhite-winged duckAsarcornis scutulataVery rare resident, endangeredRed-crested pochardNetta rufinaVery rare winter visitorCommon pochardAythya ferinaVery rare winter visitorFerruginous duckAythya nyrocaRare winter visitorBaer's pochardAythya baeriRare winter visitor, critically endangeredTufted duckAythya fuligulaRare winter visitorGreater scaupAythya marilaAccidentalLong-tailed duckClangula hyemalisAccidentalRed-breasted merganserMergus serratorAccidentalScaly-sided merganserMergus squamatusAccidental, endangered

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.

Common name Binomial StatusFerruginous partridge Caloperdix oculeusCrested partridge Rollulus rouloulRufous-throated partridge Arborophila rufogularisChestnut-headed partridge Arborophila cambodianaBar-backed partridge Arborophila brunneopectusMalayan partridge Arborophila campbelliLong-billed partridge Rhizothera longirostrisHume's pheasant Syrmaticus humiaeRareKalij pheasant Lophura leucomelanosSilver pheasant Lophura nycthemeraSiamese fireback Lophura diardiMalayan crested fireback Lophura rufaRareGreat argus Argusianus argusGreen peafowl Pavo muticusEndangeredScaly-breasted partridge Tropicoperdix chloropusChestnut-necklaced partridge Tropicoperdix charltoniiMalayan peacock-pheasant Polyplectron malacenseGray peacock-pheasant Polyplectron bicalcaratumMountain peacock-pheasant Polyplectron inopinatumAccidentalMountain bamboo-partridge Bambusicola fytchiiRed junglefowl Gallus gallusChinese francolin Francolinus pintadeanusBlue-breasted quailSynoicus chinesisCommon quailCoturnix coturnixJapanese quail Coturnix japonicaVery rare winter visitorRain quail Coturnix coromandelica

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. Common name Binomial StatusGreater flamingoPhoenicopterus roseusAccidental

Grebes

Order: PodicipediformesFamily: Podicipedidae

Grebes are small to medium-large freshwater diving birds. They have lobed toes and are excellent swimmers and divers. Their feet are placed far back on the body, making them quite ungainly on land.

Name Binomial StatusLittle grebeTachybaptus ruficollisHorned grebePodiceps auritusAccidentalGreat crested grebePodiceps cristatus Very rare winter visitorEared grebePodiceps nigricollisAccidental

Pigeons and doves

Order: ColumbiformesFamily: Columbidae

Pigeons and doves are stout-bodied birds with short necks and short slender bills with a fleshy cere.

Common name Binomial StatusRock pigeon Columba liviaDue to hybridisation with feral pigeons, few if any pure-bred birds remain in ThailandSpeckled wood-pigeon Columba hodgsoniiAshy wood-pigeon Columba pulchricollisPale-capped pigeon Columba puniceaRare, uncertain statusOriental turtle-dove Streptopelia orientalisRed collared-dove Streptopelia tranquebaricaSpotted dove Streptopelia chinensisBarred cuckoo-dove Macropygia unchallLittle cuckoo-dove Macropygia ruficepsAsian emerald dove Chalcophaps indicaZebra dove Geopelia striataNative in south, introduced to central ThailandNicobar pigeon Caloenas nicobaricaRareLittle green-pigeon Treron olaxRarePink-necked green-pigeon Treron vernansCinnamon-headed green-pigeon Treron fulvicollisOrange-breasted green-pigeon Treron bicinctusAshy-headed green-pigeon Treron phayreiThick-billed green-pigeon Treron curvirostraLarge green-pigeon Treron capelleiRareYellow-footed green-pigeon Treron phoenicopterusYellow-vented green-pigeon Treron seimundiVery rarePin-tailed green-pigeon Treron apicaudaWedge-tailed green-pigeon Treron sphenurusWhite-bellied green-pigeon Treron sieboldiiVery rareJambu fruit-dove Ptilinopus jambuGreen imperial-pigeon Ducula aeneaMountain imperial-pigeon Ducula badiaPied imperial-pigeon Ducula bicolor

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. Many Old World cuckoo species are brood parasites. Common name Binomial StatusCoral-billed ground-cuckoo Carpococcyx renauldiShort-toed coucal Centropus rectunguisAccidentalGreater coucal Centropus sinensisLesser coucal Centropus bengalensisRaffles's malkoha Rhinortha chlorophaeaRed-billed malkoha Zanclostomus javanicusChestnut-breasted malkoha Phaenicophaeus curvirostrisChestnut-bellied malkoha Phaenicophaeus sumatranusBlack-bellied malkoha Phaenicophaeus diardiGreen-billed malkoha Phaenicophaeus tristisChestnut-winged cuckoo Clamator coromandusSummer visitor and on passagePied cuckoo Clamator jacobinusAsian koel Eudynamys scolopaceusAsian emerald cuckoo Chrysococcyx maculatusResident and winter visitorViolet cuckoo Chrysococcyx xanthorhynchusLittle bronze-cuckoo Chrysococcyx minutillusBanded bay cuckoo Cacomantis sonneratiiPlaintive cuckoo Cacomantis merulinusBrush cuckoo Cacomantis variolosusFork-tailed drongo-cuckoo Surniculus dicruroidesSquare-tailed drongo-cuckoo Surniculus lugubrisMoustached hawk-cuckoo Hierococcyx vagansLarge hawk-cuckoo Hierococcyx sparverioidesDark hawk-cuckooHierococcyx bockiCommon hawk-cuckoo Hierococcyx varius AccidentalNorthern hawk-cuckoo Hierococcyx hyperythrus AccidentalHodgson's hawk-cuckoo Hierococcyx nisicolorMalaysian hawk-cuckoo Hierococcyx fugaxLesser cuckoo Cuculus poliocephalusVery rareIndian cuckoo Cuculus micropterusHimalayan cuckoo Cuculus saturatusSunda cuckoo Cuculus lepidusCommon cuckoo Cuculus canorusOriental cuckoo Cuculus optatusAccidental

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. Common name Binomial StatusLarge frogmouthBatrachostomus auritusVery rareGould's frogmouthBatrachostomus stellatusRareHodgson's frogmouthBatrachostomus hodgsoniBlyth's frogmouthBatrachostomus affinis

Nightjars and allies

Order: CaprimulgiformesFamily: Caprimulgidae

Nightjars are medium-sized ground-nesting nocturnal birds with 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.

Common name Binomial StatusMalaysian eared-nightjar Lyncornis temminckiiGreat eared-nightjar Lyncornis macrotisGray nightjar Caprimulgus jotakaWinter visitor, breeds in mountainsLarge-tailed nightjar Caprimulgus macrurusIndian nightjar Caprimulgus asiaticusSavanna 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.

Common name Binomial StatusSilver-rumped needletail Rhaphidura leucopygialisWhite-throated needletail Hirundapus caudacutusRare migrantSilver-backed needletail Hirundapus cochinchinensisUncertain statusBrown-backed needletail Hirundapus giganteusPlume-toed swiftlet Collocalia affinisRareHimalayan swiftlet Aerodramus brevirostrisBreeds in highlands, winter visitor elsewhereBlack-nest swiftlet Aerodramus maximusWhite-nest swiftlet Aerodramus fuciphagusGermain's swiftlet Aerodramus germaniCommon swiftApus apusAccidentalPacific swift Apus pacificusWinter visitor, some breedCook's swift Apus cookiDark-rumped swift Apus acuticaudaVery rare winter visitorHouse swift Apus nipalensisAsian 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 true swifts in that they have crests, long forked tails, and soft plumage. Common name Binomial StatusCrested treeswiftHemiprocne coronataGray-rumped treeswiftHemiprocne longipennisWhiskered treeswiftHemiprocne comata

Rails, gallinules, and coots

Order: GruiformesFamily: Rallidae