This is a list of the bird species recorded in Brunei. The avifauna of Brunei include a total of 507 species, of which 5 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 the 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 Brunei.
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 Brunei (E) Endemic - a species endemic to Brunei (I) Introduced - a species introduced to Brunei 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 Garganey, Spatula querquedula Northern shoveler, Spatula clypeata Mallard, Anas platyrhynchos Northern pintail, Anas acuta Green-winged teal, Anas crecca 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 coloring.
Tabon scrubfowl, Megapodius cumingii
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.
Crested partridge, Rollulus rouloul Black partridge, Melanoperdix nigra Bulwer's pheasant, Lophura bulweri Bornean crestless fireback, Lophura pyronota Bornean crested fireback, Lophura ignita Great argus, Argusianus argus Blue-breasted quail, Synoicus chinensis
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) Metallic pigeon, Columba vitiensis Philippine collared-dove, Streptopelia dusumieri (A) Spotted dove, Streptopelia chinensis 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 Thick-billed green-pigeon, Treron curvirostra Large green-pigeon, Treron capellei Jambu fruit-dove, Ptilinopus jambu Green imperial-pigeon, Ducula aenea 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.
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 Asian koel, Eudynamys scolopacea Violet cuckoo, Chrysococcyx xanthorhynchus Horsfield's bronze-cuckoo, Chrysococcyx basalis 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 Dark hawk-cuckoo, Hierococcyx bocki Malaysian hawk-cuckoo, Hierococcyx fugax Indian cuckoo, Cuculus micropterus Himalayan cuckoo, Cuculus saturatus
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 Gould's frogmouth, Batrachostomus stellatus Bornean frogmouth, Batrachostomus mixtus Blyth's frogmouth, Batrachostomus affinis Sunda frogmouth, Batrachostomus cornutus
Nightjars and allies Order: CaprimulgiformesFamily: Caprimulgidae
Nightjars are medium-sized nocturnal birds which 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 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.
Silver-rumped needletail, Rhaphidura leucopygialis White-throated needletail, Hirundapus caudacutus Brown-backed needletail, Hirundapus giganteus Waterfall swift, Hydrochous gigas (A) Plume-toed swiftlet, Collocalia affinis Ameline swiftlet, Aerodramus amelis Mossy-nest swiftlet, Aerodramus salangana Black-nest swiftlet, Aerodramus maximus White-nest swiftlet, Aerodramus fuciphagus Pacific swift, Apus pacificus 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 Eurasian moorhen, Gallinula chloropus Eurasian coot, Fulica atra White-browed crake, Poliolimnas cinereus Watercock, Gallicrex cinerea White-breasted waterhen, Amaurornis phoenicurus Red-legged crake, Rallina fasciata Slaty-legged crake, Rallina eurizonoides (A) Baillon's crake, Zapornia pusilla
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 the temperate zones 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 (A) Pied stilt, Himantopus leucocephalus
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 Lesser sand-plover, Charadrius mongolus Greater sand-plover, Charadrius leschenaultii Malaysian plover, Charadrius peronii 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 colored.
Greater painted-snipe, Rostratula benghalensis
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 Curlew sandpiper, Calidris ferruginea Temminck's stint, Calidris temminckii Long-toed stint, Calidris subminuta Red-necked stint, Calidris ruficollis Sanderling, Calidris alba Dunlin, Calidris alpina (A) Little stint, Calidris minuta Asian dowitcher, Limnodromus semipalmatus Long-billed dowitcher, Limnodromus scolopaceus (A) Eurasian woodcock, Scolopax rusticola Common snipe, Gallinago gallinago Pin-tailed snipe, Gallinago stenura Swinhoe's snipe, Gallinago megala Terek sandpiper, Xenus cinereus Red-necked phalarope, Phalaropus lobatus (A) Common sandpiper, Actitis hypoleucos Green sandpiper, Tringa ochropus Gray-tailed tattler, Tringa brevipes Spotted redshank, Tringa erythropus (A) Common greenshank, Tringa nebularia Marsh sandpiper, Tringa stagnatilis Wood sandpiper, Tringa glareola Common redshank, Tringa totanus
Pratincoles and coursers Order: CharadriiformesFamily: Glareolidae
Glareolidae is a family of wading birds comprising the pratincoles, which have short legs, long pointed wings and long forked tails, and the coursers, which have long legs, short wings and long, pointed bills which curve downwards.
Oriental pratincole, Glareola maldivarum
Skuas and jaegers Order: CharadriiformesFamily: Stercorariidae