The Indian state of Goa has 497 bird species within its political boundary. Though Goa does not have a strong history of birding unlike the rest of India, the state has seen a tremendous rise in the amount of ornithological data that has been produced in the last thirty years, primarily due to the efforts of Heinz Lainer's meticulous surveys in the state from the late 80's which led to various important publications. This period also saw Goa emerge as a top bird-watching destination for European birdwatchers visiting the state with numerous trip reports and publications arising from them leading to a robust database of ornithological data.
In the past two decades, bird watching has also become popular in Goa which has resulted in various important publications and records.
The first comprehensive checklist of the birds of Goa by Heinz Lainer listed 382 species. This was followed by a revision of the list by Lainer, which listed 420 species, Parag Rangnekar's compilation, which listed 423 species, ZSI publication on Fauna of Goa which listed 452 species, and the third revision by Lainer, which listed 443. An updated checklist on birds of Goa compiled in 2018 based on robust rules for verification of all records from the state was published in Indian Birds, authored by Pronoy Baidya and Mandar Bhagat. The below list is based on the same and is updated every year. The latest update follows the conventions of the IOC World Bird List, version 11.2, published in 2021. On 29 May 2025, the seventh edition of the 2018 checklist was published with new additions taking the total species count to 497.
Ducks, geese, and swans 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.
Fulvous whistling duck, Dendrocygna bicolor Lesser whistling duck, Dendrocygna javanica Bar-headed goose, Anser indicus Knob-billed duck, Sarkidiornis melanotos Common shelduck, Tadorna tadorna Ruddy shelduck, Tadorna ferruginea Cotton pygmy goose, Nettapus coromandelianus Garganey, Spatula querquedula Northern shoveler, Spatula clypeata Gadwall, Mareca strepera Falcated duck, Mareca falcata (A) Eurasian wigeon, Mareca penelope Indian spot-billed duck, Anas poecilorhyncha Mallard, Anas platyrhynchos Northern pintail, Anas acuta Eurasian teal, Anas crecca Marbled duck, Marmaronetta angustirostris Red-crested pochard, Aythya rufina Common pochard, Aythya ferina Ferruginous duck, Aythya nyroca Tufted duck, Aythya fuligula
Pheasants 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.
Painted francolin, Francolinus pictus Grey francolin, Francolinus pondicerianus Common quail, Coturnix coturnix Rain quail, Coturnix coromandelica King quail, Excalfactoria chinensis Jungle bush quail, Perdicula asiatica Rock bush quail, Perdicula argoondah Painted bush quail, Perdicula erythrorhyncha Red spurfowl, Galloperdix spadicea Grey junglefowl, Gallus sonneratii Indian peafowl, Pavo cristatus
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.
Sri Lanka frogmouth, Batrachostomus moniliger
Nightjars 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 Jungle nightjar, Caprimulgus indicus Jerdon's nightjar, Caprimulgus atripennis Indian nightjar, Caprimulgus asiaticus Savanna nightjar, Caprimulgus affinis
Treeswifts Order: ApodiformesFamily: 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
Swifts Order: ApodiformesFamily: 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.
Indian swiftlet, Aerodramus unicolor White-rumped spinetail, Zoonavena sylvatica Brown-backed needletail, Hirundapus giganteus Asian palm swift, Cypsiurus balasiensis Alpine swift, Tachymarptis melba Common swift, Apus apus Blyth's swift, Apus leuconyx Little swift, Apus affinis
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.
Lesser florican, Sypheotides indicus (A)
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 are brood parasites.
Greater coucal, Centropus sinensis Lesser coucal, Centropus bengalensis Sirkeer malkoha, Taccocua leschenaultii Blue-faced malkoha, Phaenicophaeus viridirostris Chestnut-winged cuckoo, Clamator coromandus Jacobin cuckoo, Clamator jacobinus Asian koel, Eudynamys scolopaceus Asian emerald cuckoo, Chrysococcyx maculatus Violet cuckoo, Chrysococcyx xanthorhynchus Banded bay cuckoo, Cacomantis sonneratii Grey-bellied cuckoo, Cacomantis passerinus Square-tailed drongo-cuckoo, Surniculus lugubris Fork-tailed drongo-cuckoo, Surniculus dicruroides Large hawk-cuckoo, Hierococcyx sparverioides Common hawk-cuckoo, Hierococcyx varius Lesser cuckoo, Cuculus poliocephalus Indian cuckoo, Cuculus micropterus Common cuckoo, Cuculus canorus
Sandgrouse Order: PterocliformesFamily: Pteroclidae
Sandgrouse have small, pigeon like heads and necks, but sturdy compact bodies. They have long pointed wings and sometimes tails and a fast direct flight. Flocks fly to watering holes at dawn and dusk. Their legs are feathered down to the toes.
Chestnut-bellied sandgrouse, Pterocles exustus Painted sandgrouse, Pterocles indicus
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 dove, Columba livia Nilgiri wood pigeon, Columba elphinstonii Oriental turtle dove, Streptopelia orientalis Eurasian collared dove, Streptopelia decaocto Red collared dove, Streptopelia tranquebarica Spotted dove, Spilopelia chinensis Laughing dove, Spilopelia senegalensis Common emerald dove, Chalcophaps indica Orange-breasted green pigeon, Treron bicinctus Grey-fronted green pigeon, Treron affinis Yellow-footed green pigeon, Treron phoenicopterus Green imperial pigeon, Ducula aenea Mountain imperial pigeon, Ducula badia Pied imperial pigeon, Ducula bicolor
Rails, crakes, 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.
Water rail, Rallus aquaticus Slaty-breasted rail, Lewinia striata Spotted crake, Porzana porzana Common moorhen, Gallinula chloropus Eurasian coot, Fulica atra Grey-headed swamphen, Porphyrio poliocephalus Ruddy-breasted crake, Zapornia fusca Brown crake, Zapornia akool Baillon's crake, Zapornia pusilla Little crake, Zapornia parva Slaty-legged crake, Rallina eurizonoides (recent record) Watercock, Gallicrex cinerea White-breasted waterhen, Amaurornis phoenicurus
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
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.
Greater flamingo, Phoenicopterus roseus Lesser flamingo, Phoenicopterus minor
Buttonquail Order: CharadriiformesFamily: Turnicidae
The buttonquail are small, drab, running birds which resemble the true quails. The female is the brighter of the sexes and initiates courtship. The male incubates the eggs and tends the young.
Common buttonquail, Turnix sylvaticus Yellow-legged buttonquail, Turnix tanki Barred buttonquail, Turnix suscitator
Crab-plover
Order: CharadriiformesFamily: Dromadidae
The crab-plover is related to the waders. It resembles a plover but with very long grey legs and a strong heavy black bill similar to a tern. It has black-and-white plumage, a long neck, partially webbed feet and a bill designed for eating crabs.
Crab-plover, Dromas ardeola
Stone-curlews and 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 stone-curlew, Burhinus indicus Great stone-curlew, Esacus recurvirostris
Oystercatchers Order: CharadriiformesFamily: Haematopodidae
The oystercatchers are large and noisy plover-like birds, with strong bills used for smashing or prising open molluscs.
Eurasian oystercatcher, Haematopus ostralegus
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 avocet, Recurvirostra avosetta
Plovers 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.
Yellow-wattled lapwing, Vanellus malabaricus Grey-headed lapwing, Vanellus cinereus Red-wattled lapwing, Vanellus indicus Sociable lapwing, Vanellus gregarius (A) White-tailed lapwing, Vanellus leucurus Pacific golden plover, Pluvialis fulva Grey plover, Pluvialis squatarola Common ringed plover, Charadrius hiaticula Little ringed plover, Charadrius dubius Kentish plover, Charadrius alexandrinus Lesser sand plover, Charadrius mongolus Greater sand plover, Charadrius leschenaultii Caspian plover, Charadrius asiaticus
Painted-snipes