This is a list of the bird species recorded in Papua New Guinea. The avifauna of Papua New Guinea include a total of 897 species, of which 108 are endemic, and 2 have been introduced by humans. 44 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 in each family account. Introduced and accidental species are included in the total counts for Papua New Guinea.

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 Papua New Guinea (E) Endemic - a species that is native only to Papua New Guinea (I) Introduced - a species introduced to Papua New Guinea as a consequence, direct or indirect, of human actions

Cassowaries and emu

Order: StruthioniformesFamily: Casuariidae

The cassowaries are large flightless birds native to Australia and New Guinea.

Southern cassowary, Casuarius casuarius Dwarf cassowary, Casuarius bennetti Northern cassowary, Casuarius unappendiculatus

Magpie goose Order: AnseriformesFamily: Anseranatidae

The family contains a single species, the magpie goose. It was an early and distinctive offshoot of the anseriform family tree, diverging after the screamers and before all other ducks, geese and swans, sometime in the late Cretaceous.

Magpie goose, Anseranas semipalmata

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.

Spotted whistling-duck, Dendrocygna guttata Plumed whistling-duck, Dendrocygna eytoni Wandering whistling-duck, Dendrocygna arcuata Black swan, Cygnus atratus (A) Radjah shelduck, Radjah radjah Green pygmy-goose, Nettapus pulchellus Cotton pygmy-goose, Nettapus coromandelianus Maned duck, Chenonetta jubata (A) Salvadori's teal, Salvadorina waigiuensis Garganey, Spatula querquedula Northern shoveler, Spatula clypeata (A) Eurasian wigeon, Mareca penelope Pacific black duck, Anas superciliosa Sunda teal, Anas gibberifrons (A) Gray teal, Anas gracilis Hardhead, Aythya australis Tufted duck, Aythya fuligula (A)

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.

Wattled brushturkey, Aepypodius arfakianus Yellow-legged brushturkey, Talegalla fuscirostris Red-legged brushturkey, Talegalla jobiensis Dusky scrubfowl, Megapodius freycinet Melanesian scrubfowl, Megapodius eremita New Guinea scrubfowl, Megapodius affinis Orange-footed scrubfowl, Megapodius reinwardt

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.

Brown quail, Synoicus ypsilophorus Blue-breasted quail, Synoicus chinensis Snow Mountain quail, Synoicus monorthonyx

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 Australasian grebe, Tachybaptus novaehollandiae

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 Metallic pigeon, Columba vitiensis Yellow-legged pigeon, Columba pallidiceps Spotted dove, Spilopelia chinensis (A) Amboyna cuckoo-dove, Macropygia amboinensis Sultan's cuckoo-dove, Macropygia doreya Black-billed cuckoo-dove, Macropygia nigrirostris Mackinlay's cuckoo-dove, Macropygia mackinlayi Great cuckoo-dove, Reinwardtoena reinwardti Pied cuckoo-dove, Reinwardtoena browni (E) Crested cuckoo-dove, Reinwardtoena crassirostris Pacific emerald dove, Chalcophaps longirostris Stephan's dove, Chalcophaps stephani New Guinea bronzewing, Henicophaps albifrons New Britain bronzewing, Henicophaps foersteri (E) Bronze ground dove, Alopecoenas beccarii White-bibbed ground dove, Alopecoenas jobiensis Zebra dove, Geopelia striata Peaceful dove, Geopelia placida Bar-shouldered dove, Geopelia humeralis Nicobar pigeon, Caloenas nicobarica Cinnamon ground dove, Gallicolumba rufigula Thick-billed ground-pigeon, Trugon terrestris Pheasant pigeon, Otidiphaps nobilis Western crowned-pigeon, Goura cristata Sclater's crowned-pigeon, Goura sclaterii Scheepmaker's crowned-pigeon, Goura scheepmakeri (E) Victoria crowned-pigeon, Goura victoria Wompoo fruit-dove, Ptilinopus magnificus Pink-spotted fruit-dove, Ptilinopus perlatus Ornate fruit-dove, Ptilinopus ornatus Orange-fronted fruit-dove, Ptilinopus aurantiifrons Superb fruit-dove, Ptilinopus superbus Rose-crowned fruit-dove, Ptilinopus regina Coroneted fruit-dove, Ptilinopus coronulatus Beautiful fruit-dove, Ptilinopus pulchellus White-breasted fruit-dove, Ptilinopus rivoli Yellow-bibbed fruit-dove, Ptilinopus solomonensis Claret-breasted fruit-dove, Ptilinopus viridis Orange-bellied fruit-dove, Ptilinopus iozonus Knob-billed fruit-dove, Ptilinopus insolitus (E) Dwarf fruit-dove, Ptilinopus nainus Spectacled imperial-pigeon, Ducula perspicillata (A) Elegant imperial-pigeon, Ducula concinna (A) Pacific imperial-pigeon, Ducula pacifica Red-knobbed imperial-pigeon, Ducula rubricera Purple-tailed imperial-pigeon, Ducula rufigaster Finsch's imperial-pigeon, Ducula finschii (E) Rufescent imperial-pigeon, Ducula chalconota Island imperial-pigeon, Ducula pistrinaria Pinon's imperial-pigeon, Ducula pinon Bismarck imperial-pigeon, Ducula melanochroa (E) Collared imperial-pigeon, Ducula mullerii Zoe's imperial-pigeon, Ducula zoeae Pied imperial-pigeon, Ducula bicolor Yellowish imperial-pigeon, Ducula subflavescens (E) Torresian imperial-pigeon, Ducula spilorrhoa Topknot pigeon, Lopholaimus antarcticus Papuan mountain-pigeon, Gymnophaps albertisii Pale mountain-pigeon, Gymnophaps solomonensis

Bustards

Order: OtidiformesFamily: Otididae

Bustards are large terrestrial birds mainly associated with dry open country and steppes in the Old World. They are omnivorous and nest on the ground. They walk steadily on strong legs and big toes, pecking for food as they go. They have long broad wings with "fingered" wingtips and striking patterns in flight. Many have interesting mating displays.

Australian bustard, Ardeotis australis

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.

Pied coucal, Centropus ateralbus (E) Greater black coucal, Centropus menbeki Violaceous coucal, Centropus violaceus (E) Lesser black coucal, Centropus bernsteini Pheasant coucal, Centropus phasianinus Dwarf koel, Microdynamis parva Asian koel, Eudynamys scolopaceus Pacific koel, Eudynamys orientalis Long-tailed koel, Urodynamis taitensis Channel-billed cuckoo, Scythrops novaehollandiae Long-billed cuckoo, Chrysococcyx megarhynchus Horsfield's bronze-cuckoo, Chrysococcyx basalis Black-eared cuckoo, Chrysococcyx osculans Rufous-throated bronze-cuckoo, Chrysococcyx ruficollis Shining bronze-cuckoo, Chrysococcyx lucidus White-eared bronze-cuckoo, Chrysococcyx meyerii Little bronze-cuckoo, Chrysococcyx minutillus Pallid cuckoo, Cuculus pallidus White-crowned koel, Caliechthrus leucolophus Chestnut-breasted cuckoo, Cacomantis castaneiventris Fan-tailed cuckoo, Cacomantis flabelliformis Brush cuckoo, Cacomantis variolosus Himalayan cuckoo, Cuculus saturatus 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.

Marbled frogmouth, Podargus ocellatus Papuan frogmouth, Podargus papuensis Solomons frogmouth, Rigidipenna inexpectata

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.

White-throated nightjar, Eurostopodus mystacalis Papuan nightjar, Eurostopodus papuensis Archbold's nightjar, Eurostopodus archboldi Gray nightjar, Caprimulgus jotaka (A) Large-tailed nightjar, Caprimulgus macrurus

Owlet-nightjars

Order: CaprimulgiformesFamily: Aegothelidae

The owlet-nightjars are small nocturnal birds related to the nightjars and frogmouths. They are insectivores which hunt mostly in the air. Their soft plumage is a mixture of browns and paler shades.

Feline owlet-nightjar, Aegotheles insignis Starry owlet-nightjar, Aegotheles tatei (E) Wallace's owlet-nightjar, Aegotheles wallacii Mountain owlet-nightjar, Aegotheles albertisi Australian owlet-nightjar, Aegotheles cristatus Barred owlet-nightjar, Aegotheles bennettii

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.

Papuan spinetailed swift, Mearnsia novaeguineae White-throated needletail, Hirundapus caudacutus Glossy swiftlet, Collocalia esculenta Satin swiftlet, Collocalia uropygialis Mountain swiftlet, Aerodramus hirundinaceus White-rumped swiftlet, Aerodramus spodiopygius Australian swiftlet, Aerodramus terraereginae Bare-legged swiftlet, Aerodramus nuditarsus Mayr's swiftlet, Aerodramus orientalis Uniform swiftlet, Aerodramus vanikorensis Three-toed swiftlet, Aerodramus papuensis Pacific swift, Apus pacificus

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.

Moustached treeswift, Hemiprocne mystacea

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.

Lewin's rail, Lewinia pectoralis Bare-eyed rail, Gymnocrex plumbeiventris Chestnut rail, Gallirallus castaneoventris Buff-banded rail, Gallirallus philippensis New Britain rail, Gallirallus insignis (E) Woodford's rail, Gallirallus woodfordi Barred rail, Gallirallus torquatus Eurasian moorhen, Gallinula chloropus Dusky moorhen, Gallinula tenebrosa Eurasian coot, Fulica atra Black-backed swamphen, Porphyrio indicus Australasian swamphen, Porphyrio melanotus New Guinea flightless rail, Megacrex inepta Pale-vented bush-hen, Amaurornis moluccana White-browed crake, Poliolimnas cinereus Chestnut forest-rail, Rallina rubra White-striped forest-rail, Rallina leucospila