This is a list of the bird species recorded in Timor-Leste. The avifauna of Timor-Leste include a total of 289 species.
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 Timor-Leste.
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 Timor-Leste (I) Introduced - a species introduced to Timor-Leste 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 Radjah shelduck, Radjah radjah (A) Green pygmy-goose, Nettapus pulchellus Garganey, Spatula querquedula (A) Pacific black duck, Anas superciliosa Sunda teal, Anas gibberifrons Gray teal, Anas gracilis Hardhead, Aythya australis
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.
Orange-footed scrubfowl, Megapodius reinwardt
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.
Red junglefowl, Gallus gallus Brown quail, Synoicus ypsilophorus Blue-breasted quail, Synoicus chinensis
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 Sunda collared-dove, Streptopelia bitorquata Spotted dove, Streptopelia chinensis Timor cuckoo-dove, Macropygia magna Little cuckoo-dove, Macropygia ruficeps Slaty cuckoo-dove, Turacoena modesta Asian emerald dove, Chalcophaps indica Pacific emerald dove, Chalcophaps longirostris Wetar ground dove, Alopecoenas hoedtii Barred dove, Geopelia maugeus Timor green-pigeon, Treron psittaceus Black-backed fruit-dove, Ptilinopus cinctus Rose-crowned fruit-dove, Ptilinopus regina Pink-headed imperial-pigeon, Ducula rosacea Timor imperial-pigeon, Ducula cineracea Pied imperial-pigeon, Ducula bicolor (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. The Old World cuckoos are brood parasites.
Lesser coucal, Centropus bengalensis Pheasant coucal, Centropus phasianinus Pacific koel, Eudynamys orientalis Channel-billed cuckoo, Scythrops novaehollandiae Horsfield's bronze-cuckoo, Chrysococcyx basalis Shining bronze-cuckoo, Chrysococcyx lucidus Little bronze-cuckoo, Chrysococcyx minutillus Pallid cuckoo, Cacomantis pallidus Brush cuckoo, Cacomantis variolosus Himalayan cuckoo, Cuculus saturatus Sunda cuckoo, Cuculus lepidus Oriental cuckoo, Cuculus optatus
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.
Large-tailed nightjar, Caprimulgus macrurus Savanna 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.
White-throated needletail, Hirundapus caudacutus Drab swiftlet, Collocalia neglecta White-nest swiftlet, Aerodramus fuciphagus Pacific swift, Apus pacificus House swift, Apus nipalensis
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.
Slaty-breasted rail, Lewinia striata Buff-banded rail, Gallirallus philippensis Eurasian moorhen, Gallinula chloropus (A) Dusky moorhen, Gallinula tenebrosa Eurasian coot, Fulica atra Black-backed swamphen, Porphyrio indicus Australasian swamphen, Porphyrio melanotus (A) White-browed crake, Poliolimnas cinereus White-breasted waterhen, Amaurornis phoenicurus Ruddy-breasted crake, Zapornia fusca Baillon's crake, Zapornia pusilla (A) Spotless crake, Zapornia tabuensis
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.
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 Masked lapwing, Vanellus miles (A) Lesser sand-plover, Charadrius mongolus Greater sand-plover, Charadrius leschenaultii Red-capped plover, Charadrius ruficapillus Malaysian plover, Charadrius peronii Kentish plover, Charadrius alexandrinus (A) Javan plover, Charadrius javanicus (A) 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 (A)
Jacanas Order: CharadriiformesFamily: Jacanidae
The jacanas are a group of tropical waders in the family Jacanidae. They are found throughout the tropics. They are identifiable by their huge feet and claws which enable them to walk on floating vegetation in the shallow lakes that are their preferred habitat.
Comb-crested jacana, Irediparra gallinacea
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 (A) Bar-tailed godwit, Limosa lapponica Black-tailed godwit, Limosa limosa Ruddy turnstone, Arenaria interpres Great knot, Calidris tenuirostris Red knot, Calidris canutus (A) Ruff, Calidris pugnax Broad-billed sandpiper, Calidris falcinellus Sharp-tailed sandpiper, Calidris acuminata Curlew sandpiper, Calidris ferruginea Long-toed stint, Calidris subminuta Red-necked stint, Calidris ruficollis Sanderling, Calidris alba Pectoral sandpiper, Calidris melanotos (A) Asian dowitcher, Limnodromus semipalmatus (A) Common snipe, Gallinago gallinago Pin-tailed snipe, Gallinago stenura Swinhoe's snipe, Gallinago megala Terek sandpiper, Xenus cinereus Red-necked phalarope, Phalaropus lobatus Common sandpiper, Actitis hypoleucos 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
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.
Red-backed buttonquail, Turnix maculosus
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.
Australian pratincole, Stiltia isabella Oriental pratincole, Glareola maldivarum
Skuas and jaegers Order: CharadriiformesFamily: Stercorariidae
The family Stercorariidae are, in general, medium to large birds, typically with gray or brown plumage, often with white markings on the wings. They nest on the ground in temperate and arctic regions and are long-distance migrants.
South polar skua, Stercorarius maccormicki (A) Pomarine jaeger, Stercorarius pomarinus Parasitic jaeger, Stercorarius parasiticus (A)
Gulls, terns, and skimmers Order: CharadriiformesFamily: Laridae
Laridae is a family of medium to large seabirds, the gulls, terns, and skimmers. Gulls are typically gray or white, often with black markings on the head or wings. They have stout, longish bills and webbed feet. Terns are a group of generally medium to large seabirds typically with gray or white plumage, often with black markings on the head. Most terns hunt fish by diving but some pick insects off the surface of fresh water. Terns are generally long-lived birds, with several species known to live in excess of 30 years.
Black-headed gull, Chroicocephalus ridibundus (A) Brown noddy, Anous stolidus Sooty tern, Onychoprion fuscatus Bridled tern, Onychoprion anaethetus Little tern, Sternula albifrons Gull-billed tern, Gelochelidon nilotica Caspian tern, Hydroprogne caspia White-winged tern, Chlidonias leucopterus Whiskered tern, Chlidonias hybrida Black-naped tern, Sterna sumatrana Common tern, Sterna hirundo Great crested tern, Thalasseus bergii Lesser crested tern, Thalasseus bengalensis
Tropicbirds Order: PhaethontiformesFamily: Phaethontidae