This is a list of the bird species recorded in Malaysia. The avifauna of Malaysia include a total of 855 species, of which 17 are endemic, and 19 have been introduced by humans. 63 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.
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 Malaysia (E) Endemic - a species endemic to Malaysia (Ex) Extirpated - a species that no longer occurs in Malaysia although populations exist elsewhere (I) Introduced - a species introduced to Malaysia 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.
Wandering whistling-duck, Dendrocygna arcuata Lesser whistling-duck, Dendrocygna javanica Knob-billed duck, Sarkidiornis melanotos Cotton pygmy-goose, Nettapus coromandelianus Garganey, Spatula querquedula Northern shoveler, Spatula clypeata (A) Eurasian wigeon, Mareca penelope (A) Eastern spot-billed duck, Anas zonorhyncha (A) Mallard, Anas platyrhynchos (A) Northern pintail, Anas acuta (A) Green-winged teal, Anas crecca (A) Sunda teal, Anas gibberifrons (A) White-winged duck, Cairina scutulata (Ex) Tufted duck, Aythya fuligula
Megapodes Order: GalliformesFamily: Megapodiidae
The Megapodiidae are stocky, medium-large chicken-like birds with small heads and large feet. All but the malleefowl occupy jungle habitats and most have brown or black colouring.
Tabon scrubfowl, Megapodius cumingii
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.
Ferruginous partridge, Caloperdix oculea Crested partridge, Rollulus rouloul Black partridge, Melanoperdix niger Malayan partridge, Arborophila campbelli Red-breasted partridge, Arborophila hyperythra Chestnut-necklaced partridge, Tropicoperdix charltonii Sabah partridge, Tropicoperdix graydoni Long-billed partridge, Rhizothera longirostris Dulit partridge, Rhizothera dulitensis (E) Malayan crested argus, Rheinardia nigrescens Great argus, Argusianus argus Green peafowl, Pavo muticus (Ex) Crimson-headed partridge, Haematortyx sanguiniceps Malayan peacock-pheasant, Polyplectron malacense Bornean peacock-pheasant, Polyplectron schleiermacheri Mountain peacock-pheasant, Polyplectron inopinatum (E) Blue-breasted quail, Synoicus chinensis Red junglefowl, Gallus gallus Bulwer's pheasant, Lophura bulweri Malayan crestless fireback, Lophura erythrophthalma Bornean crestless fireback, Lophura pyronota Malayan crested fireback, Lophura rufa Bornean crested fireback, Lophura ignita
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.
Lesser flamingo, Phoeniconaias minor (A)
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 (I) Silvery wood-pigeon, Columba argentina (E) Metallic pigeon, Columba vitiensis Philippine collared-dove, Streptopelia dusumieri (A) Red collared-dove, Streptopelia tranquebarica Spotted dove, Spilopelia chinensis Barred cuckoo-dove, Macropygia unchall Philippine cuckoo-dove, Macropygia tenuirostris Little cuckoo-dove, Macropygia ruficeps Asian emerald dove, Chalcophaps indica Zebra dove, Geopelia striata Nicobar pigeon, Caloenas nicobarica Little green-pigeon, Treron olax Pink-necked green-pigeon, Treron vernans Cinnamon-headed green-pigeon, Treron fulvicollis Orange-breasted green-pigeon, Treron bicincta Thick-billed green-pigeon, Treron curvirostra Large green-pigeon, Treron capellei Yellow-vented green-pigeon, Treron seimundi Wedge-tailed green-pigeon, Treron sphenura Jambu fruit-dove, Ptilinopus jambu Black-naped fruit-dove, Ptilinopus melanospila Green imperial-pigeon, Ducula aenea Gray imperial-pigeon, Ducula pickeringii Mountain imperial-pigeon, Ducula badia Pied 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. The Old World cuckoos are brood parasites.
Bornean ground-cuckoo, Carpococcyx radiatus Short-toed coucal, Centropus rectunguis Greater coucal, Centropus sinensis Lesser coucal, Centropus bengalensis Raffles's malkoha, Rhinortha chlorophaea Red-billed malkoha, Zanclostomus javanicus Chestnut-breasted malkoha, Phaenicophaeus curvirostris Chestnut-bellied malkoha, Phaenicophaeus sumatranus Black-bellied malkoha, Phaenicophaeus diardi Green-billed malkoha, Phaenicophaeus tristis Chestnut-winged cuckoo, Clamator coromandus Pied cuckoo, Clamator jacobinus (A) Asian koel, Eudynamys scolopaceus Asian emerald cuckoo, Chrysococcyx maculatus Violet cuckoo, Chrysococcyx xanthorhynchus Horsfield's bronze cuckoo, Chrysococcyx basalis (A) Little bronze cuckoo, Chrysococcyx minutillus Banded bay cuckoo, Cacomantis sonneratii Plaintive cuckoo, Cacomantis merulinus Brush cuckoo, Cacomantis variolosus Square-tailed drongo-cuckoo, Surniculus lugubris Moustached hawk-cuckoo, Hierococcyx vagans Large hawk-cuckoo, Hierococcyx sparverioides Dark hawk-cuckoo, Hierococcyx bocki Northern hawk-cuckoo, Hierococcyx hyperythrus Hodgson's hawk-cuckoo, Hierococcyx nisicolor Malaysian hawk-cuckoo, Hierococcyx fugax Indian cuckoo, Cuculus micropterus Himalayan cuckoo, Cuculus saturatus Sunda cuckoo, Cuculus lepidus Oriental cuckoo, Cuculus optatus
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.
Large frogmouth, Batrachostomus auritus Dulit frogmouth, Batrachostomus harterti (E) Gould's frogmouth, Batrachostomus stellatus Bornean frogmouth, Batrachostomus mixtus Blyth's frogmouth, Batrachostomus affinis Palawan frogmouth, Batrachostomus chaseni Sunda frogmouth, Batrachostomus cornutus
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.
Malaysian eared-nightjar, Lyncornis temminckii Great eared-nightjar, Lyncornis macrotis Gray nightjar, Caprimulgus jotaka Large-tailed nightjar, Caprimulgus macrurus Savanna nightjar, Caprimulgus affinis Bonaparte's nightjar, Caprimulgus concretus
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 18 species which have been recorded in Malaysia.
Silver-rumped needletail, Rhaphidura leucopygialis White-throated needletail, Hirundapus caudacutus Silver-backed needletail, Hirundapus cochinchinensis Brown-backed needletail, Hirundapus giganteus Waterfall swift, Hydrochous gigas Bornean swiftlet, Collocalia dodgei (E) Cave swiftlet, Collocalia linchi Plume-toed swiftlet, Collocalia affinis Himalayan swiftlet, Aerodramus brevirostris Ameline swiftlet, Aerodramus amelis Mossy-nest swiftlet, Aerodramus salangana Black-nest swiftlet, Aerodramus maximus White-nest swiftlet, Aerodramus fuciphagus German'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.
Gray-rumped treeswift, Hemiprocne longipennis Whiskered treeswift, Hemiprocne comata
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 Buff-banded rail, Gallirallus philippensis (A) Barred rail, Gallirallus torquatus (A) Eurasian moorhen, Gallinula chloropus Eurasian coot, Fulica atra (A) Black-backed swamphen, Porphyrio indicus Gray-headed swamphen, Porphyrio poliocephalus Watercock, Gallicrex cinerea White-breasted waterhen, Amaurornis phoenicurus White-browed crake, Poliolimnas cinereus Red-legged crake, Rallina fasciata Slaty-legged crake, Rallina eurizonoides Ruddy-breasted crake, Zapornia fusca Band-bellied crake, Zapornia paykullii Baillon's crake, Zapornia pusilla
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 (Ex)
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.
Beach thick-knee, Esacus magnirostris
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 stilt, Himantopus leucocephalus Pied avocet, Recurvirostra avosetta (A)
Oystercatchers Order: CharadriiformesFamily: Haematopodidae