982 species of bird have been recorded in the wild in Thailand, of which three are endemic, one has been introduced by humans, and 45 are rare or accidental. Seven species listed are extirpated in Thailand and are not included in the species count, and 49 species are globally threatened.¹ The sequence of bird families and species follows Clements (2000);² unless otherwise indicated, the species included are as in Robson (2004), and the status in Thailand is from Lekagula and Round (1991). Species with no indicated status are resident or partially resident non-rarities.³⁴

In 1991, it was estimated that 159 resident and 23 migratory species were endangered or vulnerable, due to forest clearance, illegal logging, hunting, and habitat degradation, especially in the lowlands. Those species most affected are large water birds, whose wetland habitat has been largely lost to agriculture, and forest species, where deforestation for agriculture and logging have removed or degraded the woodlands.⁴

The birds of Thailand are mainly typical of the Indomalaya ecozone, with affinities to the Indian subcontinent to the west, and, particularly in the southern Peninsular region, with the Sundaic fauna to the southeast. The northern mountains are outliers of the Tibetan Plateau, with many species of montane birds, and in winter the avifauna is augmented by migrants from the eastern Palearctic and Himalayas. The Java Sparrow has been introduced by man, and the Cattle Egret has naturally colonised.⁴

Thailand's habitats are contiguous with those of neighbouring countries, so it has few endemic birds. Perhaps the most intriguing is the White-eyed River Martin, known only from its single wintering site in Thailand, and now probably extinct.⁶⁷

Table of contents
Non-passerines Grebes . Shearwaters and petrels . Storm-petrels . Tropicbirds . Pelicans . Boobies and gannets . Cormorants . Darters . Frigatebirds . Bitterns, herons and egrets . Storks . Ibises and spoonbills . Ducks, geese and swans . Osprey . Eagles, kites and allies . Falcons . Pheasants and partridges . Buttonquails . Cranes . Rails, crakes, gallinules, and coots . Finfoot . Jacanas . Painted snipe . Crab Plover . Avocets and stilts . Thick-knees . Pratincoles and coursers . Plovers and lapwings . Sandpipers and allies . Skuas . Gulls . Terns . Skimmers . Pigeons and doves . Parrots . Cuckoos . Barn owls . Typical owls . Frogmouths . Nightjars . Swifts . Treeswifts . Trogons . Kingfishers . Bee-eaters . Typical rollers . Hoopoes . Hornbills . Barbets . Honeyguides . Woodpeckers .
Passerines Broadbills . Pittas . Larks . Swallows and martins . Wagtails and pipits . Cuckoo-shrikes . Bulbuls . Leafbirds . Ioras . Dippers . Thrushes and allies . Cisticolas and allies . Old World warblers . Old World flycatchers . Fantails . Monarch flycatchers . Whistlers . Babblers . Parrotbills . Whipbirds, quail-thrushes and allies . Long-tailed tits . Thornbills and allies . Tits . Nuthatches . Treecreepers . Penduline tits . Sunbirds and spiderhunters . Flowerpeckers . White-eyes . Old World orioles . Fairy-bluebirds . Shrikes . Helmetshrikes . Drongos . Woodswallows . Crows and allies . Starlings . Weavers and allies . Waxbills and allies . Buntings . Finches . Sparrows .
See also     References     External links

Grebes

Order: Podicipediformes Family: Podicipedidae

Grebes are small to medium-sized diving birds. They breed on fresh water, but often visit the sea whilst migrating and in winter. They have lobed toes and are excellent swimmers and divers; however, their feet are placed far back on their bodies, making them quite ungainly on land. There are 20 species worldwide, though one—the Alaotra Grebe—may now be extinct.⁸ Of these, three species have been recorded in Thailand.

Name	Binomial	Status
Little Grebe	Tachybaptus ruficollis
Great Crested Grebe	Podiceps cristatus	Very rare winter visitor
Black-necked Grebe	Podiceps nigricollis	Very rare winter visitor

Shearwaters and petrels

Order: Procellariiformes Family: Procellariidae

The procellariids are the main group of medium-sized 'true petrels', characterised by united nostrils with a medium septum, and a long outer functional primary. There are 75 species worldwide of which three have occurred in Thailand.⁹

Common name	Binomial	Status
Streaked Shearwater	Calonectris leucomelas	Very rare winter visitor
Wedge-tailed Shearwater	Puffinus pacificus	Accidental
Short-tailed Shearwater	Puffinus tenuirostris	Accidental, may be under-recorded10

Storm-petrels

Storm-petrels are small birds which spend most of their lives at sea, coming ashore only to breed. They feed on planktonic crustaceans and small fish picked from the surface, typically while hovering or pattering across the water. Their flight is fluttering and sometimes bat-like. There are 22 species worldwide, one of which has been recorded in Thailand.⁹

Common name	Binomial	Status
Swinhoe's Storm-petrel	Oceanodroma monorhis	Accidental, one record

Tropicbirds

Order: Pelecaniformes Family: Phaethontidae

Tropicbirds are slender white birds of tropical oceans, with exceptionally long central tail feathers. Their heads and long wings have black markings. There are three species worldwide of which two have occurred in Thailand.¹¹

Common name	Binomial	Status
Red-tailed Tropicbird	Phaethon rubricauda	Accidental
White-tailed Tropicbird	Phaethon lepturus	Accidental

Pelicans

Order: Pelecaniformes Family: Pelecanidae

Pelicans are large water birds with a distinctive pouch under the beak. As with other members of the order Pelecaniformes, they have webbed feet with four toes. There are eight species worldwide of which one occurs in Thailand.¹¹

Common name	Binomial	Status
Spot-billed Pelican	Pelecanus philippensis	Rare, probably once bred. Globally threatened12

Boobies

Order: Pelecaniformes Family: Sulidae

The gannets and boobies in the family Sulidae are medium-to-large coastal sea-birds that plunge-dive for fish. There are nine species worldwide of which three have occurred in Thailand.¹¹

Common name	Binomial	Status
Masked Booby	Sula dactylatra	Accidental
Red-footed Booby	Sula sula	Accidental
Brown Booby	Sula leucogaster	Rare visitor, formerly bred

Cormorants

Order: Pelecaniformes Family: Phalacrocoracidae

The Phalacrocoracidae is a family of medium-to-large coastal, fish-eating sea-birds that includes cormorants and shags. Plumage colouration varies; the majority of species have mainly dark plumage, but some are pied black and white, and a few are more colourful. There are 38 members of this family worldwide, of which three occur in Thailand.¹¹

Common name	Binomial	Status
Indian Cormorant	Phalacrocorax fuscicollis	Rare winter visitor, formerly bred
Great Cormorant	Phalacrocorax carbo
Little Cormorant	Phalacrocorax niger

Darters

Order: Pelecaniformes Family: Anhingidae

Darters are frequently referred to as "snake-birds" because they have long thin necks, which gives a snake-like appearance when they swim with their bodies submerged.

The males have black and dark brown plumage, an erectile crest on the nape, and a larger bill than the female. The females have a much paler plumage, especially on the neck and underparts. The darters have completely webbed feet, and their legs are short and set far back on the body. Their plumage is somewhat permeable, like that of cormorants, and they spread their wings to dry after diving. There are four species worldwide, of which one occurs in Thailand.¹¹

Common name	Binomial	Status
Oriental Darter	Anhinga melanogaster	Rare and globally threatened visitor, formerly bred13

Frigatebirds

Order: Pelecaniformes Family: Fregatidae

Frigatebirds are large sea-birds usually found over tropical oceans. They are large, black and white or completely black, with long wings and deeply forked tails. The males have inflatable coloured throat pouches. They do not swim or walk, and cannot take off from a flat surface. Having the largest wingspan to body weight ratio of any bird, they are essentially aerial, able to stay aloft for more than a week. There are five species worldwide of which three occur in Thailand.¹¹

Common name	Binomial	Status
Christmas Island Frigatebird	Fregata andrewsi	Winter visitor
Great Frigatebird	Fregata minor	Rare
Lesser Frigatebird	Fregata ariel	Winter visitor

Bitterns, herons and egrets

Order: Ciconiiformes Family: Ardeidae

The family Ardeidae contains the bitterns, herons and egrets. Herons and egrets are medium to large wading birds with long necks and legs. Bitterns tend to be shorter necked and more wary. Unlike other long-necked birds such as storks, ibises and spoonbills, members of this family fly with their necks retracted. There are 61 species worldwide of which 20 occur in Thailand.¹⁴

Common name	Binomial	Status
Grey Heron	Ardea cinerea	Winter visitor, formerly bred
Great-billed Heron	Ardea sumatrana	Now very rare
Purple Heron	Ardea purpurea	Winter visitor
Great Egret	Ardea alba
Intermediate Egret	Egretta intermedia	Winter visitor
Little Egret	Egretta garzetta
Chinese Egret	Egretta eulophotes	Very rare winter visitor, globally vulnerable15
Pacific Reef Heron	Egretta sacra
Indian Pond Heron	Ardeola grayii
Chinese Pond Heron	Ardeola bacchus	Winter visitor
Javan Pond Heron	Ardeola speciosa
Cattle Egret	Bubulcus ibis
Striated Heron	Butorides striata
Black-crowned Night-Heron	Nycticorax nycticorax
Malayan Night-Heron	Gorsachius melanolophus
Yellow Bittern	Ixobrychus sinensis
Schrenck's Bittern	Ixobrychus eurhythmus	Passage migrant
Cinnamon Bittern	Ixobrychus cinnamomeus
Black Bittern	Ixobrychus flavicollis
Great Bittern	Botaurus stellaris	Winter visitor

Storks

Order: Ciconiiformes Family: Ciconiidae

Storks are large, long-legged, long-necked, wading birds with long, stout bills. Storks are virtually mute, but bill-clattering is an important mode of stork communication at the nest. Their nests can be large and may be reused for many years. Many species are migratory. There are 19 species worldwide of which ten occur in Thailand.¹⁴

Common name	Binomial	Status
Milky Stork	Mycteria cinerea	Extirpated and globally vulnerable16
Painted Stork	Mycteria leucocephala
Asian Openbill	Anastomus oscitans
Black Stork	Ciconia nigra	Rare winter visitor
Woolly-necked Stork	Ciconia episcopus	Now very rare
Storm's Stork	Ciconia stormi
White Stork	Ciconia ciconia	One record
Black-necked Stork	Ephippiorhynchus asiaticus	Extirpated and globally threatened17
Lesser Adjutant	Leptoptilos javanicus	Rare
Greater Adjutant	Leptoptilos dubius	Extirpated and globally endangered18

Ibises and spoonbills

Order: Ciconiiformes Family: Threskiornithidae

Threskiornithidae is a family of large terrestrial and wading birds which comprises the ibises and spoonbills. Its members have long, broad wings with 11 primary and about 20 secondary flight feathers. They are strong fliers and, despite their size and weight, very capable soarers. There are 36 species worldwide of which six occur in Thailand.¹⁴

Common name	Binomial	Status
Black-headed Ibis	Threskiornis melanocephalus	Extirpated and globally threatened19
White-shouldered Ibis	Pseudibis davisoni	Extirpated and globally critically endangered20
Giant Ibis	Pseudibis gigantea	Extirpated and globally critically endangered21
Glossy Ibis	Plegadis falcinellus
Eurasian Spoonbill	Platalea leucorodia	Very rare winter visitor
Black-faced Spoonbill	Platalea minor	Very rare winter visitor, globally endangered22

Ducks, geese and swans

Order: Anseriformes Family: Anatidae

The family Anatidae includes the ducks and most duck-like waterfowl, such as geese and swans. These are birds that are modified for an aquatic existence with webbed feet, flattened bills and feathers that are excellent at shedding water due to an oily coating. There are 131 species worldwide of which 25 occur in Thailand.²³

Common name	Binomial	Status
Lesser Whistling-Duck	Dendrocygna javanica
Swan Goose	Anser cygnoides	Accidental
Greylag Goose	Anser anser	Accidental
Bar-headed Goose	Anser indicus	Very rare winter visitor
Ruddy Shelduck	Tadorna ferruginea	Rare winter visitor
Common Shelduck	Tadorna tadorna	Very rare winter visitor, one record
White-winged Duck	Cairina scutulata	Very rare and endangered resident24
Comb Duck	Sarkidiornis melanotos	Rare resident
Cotton Pygmy-goose	Nettapus coromandelianus
Mandarin Duck	Aix galericulata	Very rare winter visitor
Eurasian Wigeon	Anas penelope Winter visitor
Falcated Duck	Anas falcata	Accidental
Gadwall	Anas strepera	Very rare winter visitor
Common Teal	Anas crecca	Winter visitor
Mallard	Anas platyrhynchos	Accidental
Spot-billed Duck	Anas poecilorhyncha	Rare winter visitor
Northern Pintail	Anas acuta	Winter visitor
Garganey	Anas querquedula	Winter visitor
Northern Shoveler	Anas clypeata	Winter visitor
Red-crested Pochard	Netta rufina	Very rare winter visitor
Common Pochard	Aythya ferina	Very rare winter visitor
Ferruginous Duck	Aythya nyroca	Rare winter visitor
Baer's Pochard	Aythya baeri	Rare winter visitor
Tufted Duck	Aythya fuligula	Rare winter visitor

Osprey

Order: Falconiformes Family: Pandionidae

The Pandionidae family contains only one species, the Osprey. The Osprey is a medium large raptor which is a specialist fish-eater with a worldwide distribution.²⁵

Common name	Binomial	Status
Osprey	Pandion haliaetus	Winter visitor

Eagles, kites and allies

Order: Falconiformes Family: Accipitridae

The Accipitridae is a family of birds of prey and include hawks, eagles, kites, harriers and Old World vultures. These birds mostly have powerful hooked beaks for tearing flesh from their prey, strong legs, powerful talons, and keen eyesight. There are 233 species worldwide of which 46 occur in Thailand.²⁶

Common name	Binomial	Status
Jerdon's Baza	Aviceda jerdoni
Black Baza	Aviceda leuphotes
Oriental Honey-buzzard	Pernis ptilorhynchus
Bat Hawk	Macheiramphus alcinus	Rare and threatened
Black-shouldered Kite	Elanus caeruleus
Black Kite	Milvus migrans	Winter visitor, some breed
Brahminy Kite	Haliastur indus
White-bellied Sea Eagle	Haliaeetus leucogaster
Pallas's Fish Eagle	Haliaeetus leucoryphus	One record
White-tailed Eagle	Haliaeetus albicilla	Much reduced in numbers
Lesser Fish Eagle	Ichthyophaga humilis	Rare resident
Grey-headed Fish Eagle	Ichthyophaga ichthyaetus	Very rare and globally near-threatened27
White-rumped Vulture	Gyps bengalensis	Possibly extinct
Indian Vulture	Gyps indicus	Possibly extinct
Himalayan Griffon Vulture	Gyps himalayensis	Accidental
Cinereous Vulture	Aegypius monachus	Rare winter visitor
Red-headed Vulture	Sarcogyps calvus
Short-toed Eagle	Circaetus gallicus	Rare passage migrant and winter visitor
Crested Serpent Eagle	Spilornis cheela
Western Marsh Harrier	Circus aeruginosus	Rare winter visitor
Eastern Marsh Harrier	Circus spilonotus	Winter visitor
Hen Harrier	Circus cyaneus	Rare winter visitor
Pallid Harrier	Circus macrourus	Accidental
Pied Harrier	Circus melanoleucos	Winter visitor
Crested Goshawk	Accipiter trivirgatus
Shikra	Accipiter badius
Chinese Goshawk	Accipiter soloensis	Passage migrant and winter visitor
Japanese Sparrowhawk	Accipiter gularis	Passage migrant and winter visitor
Besra	Accipiter virgatus
Eurasian Sparrowhawk	Accipiter nisus	Rare winter visitor
Northern Goshawk	Accipiter gentilis	Rare winter visitor
Rufous-winged Buzzard	Butastur liventer
Grey-faced Buzzard	Butastur indicus	Passage migrant and winter visitor
Common Buzzard	Buteo buteo	Winter visitor
Black Eagle	Ictinaetus malayensis
Greater Spotted Eagle	Aquila clanga	Uncommon passage migrant and winter visitor
Steppe Eagle	Aquila nipalensis	Accidental
Imperial Eagle	Aquila heliaca	Rare winter visitor
Bonelli's Eagle	Aquila fasciatus	Rare
Booted Eagle	Aquila pennatus	Rare passage migrant and winter visitor
Rufous-bellied Eagle	Aquila kienerii
Changeable Hawk-eagle	Spizaetus cirrhatus
Mountain Hawk-eagle	Spizaetus nipalensis
Blyth's Hawk-eagle	Spizaetus alboniger
Wallace's Hawk-eagle	Spizaetus nanus

Falcons

Order: Falconiformes Family: Falconidae

Falconidae is a family of diurnal birds of prey. They differ from hawks, eagles, and kites in that they kill with their beaks instead of their feet. There are 62 species worldwide of which nine occur in Thailand.²⁶

Common name	Binomial	Status
White-rumped Falcon	Polihierax insignis
Collared Falconet	Microhierax caerulescens
Black-thighed Falconet	Microhierax fringillarius
Eurasian Kestrel	Falco tinnunculus	Winter visitor
Amur Falcon	Falco amurensis	Very rare passage migrant
Merlin	Falco columbarius
Eurasian Hobby	Falco subbuteo	Rare winter visitor
Oriental Hobby	Falco severus
Peregrine Falcon	Falco peregrinus	Mainly winter visitor

Pheasants and partridges

Order: Galliformes Family: 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 may vary in size) and have broad, relatively short wings. There are 156 species worldwide of which 26 occur in Thailand.²⁸

Common name	Binomial	Status
Chinese Francolin	Francolinus pintadeanus
Long-billed Partridge	Rhizothera longirostris
Japanese Quail	Coturnix japonica	Very rare winter visitor
Rain Quail	Coturnix coromandelica
Blue-breasted Quail	Coturnix chinensis
Rufous-throated Partridge	Arborophila rufogularis
Grey-breasted Partridge	Arborophila orientalis	Accidental. Sometimes split as Malayan Partridge A. campbelli3
Bar-backed Partridge	Arborophila brunneopectus
Chestnut-headed Partridge	Arborophila cambodiana
Scaly-breasted Partridge	Arborophila chloropus
Chestnut-necklaced Partridge	Arborophila charltonii	Rare and globally endangered29
Ferruginous Partridge	Caloperdix oculea
Crested Partridge	Rollulus rouloul	Rare and globally threatened30
Mountain Bamboo-partridge	Bambusicola fytchii
Red Junglefowl	Gallus gallus
Kalij Pheasant	Lophura leucomelanos
Silver Pheasant	Lophura nycthemera
Crestless Fireback	Lophura erythrophthalma
Crested Fireback	Lophura ignita	Rare and globally endangered31
Siamese Fireback	Lophura diardi
Hume's Pheasant	Syrmaticus humiae	Rare
Grey Peacock-pheasant	Polyplectron bicalcaratum
Malayan Peacock-pheasant	Polyplectron malacense	Near extinct4
Great Argus	Argusianus argus
Green Peafowl	Pavo muticus	Rare, much reduced in numbers

Buttonquails

Order: Gruiformes Family: Turnicidae

The buttonquails 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. There are 16 species worldwide of which three occur in Thailand.²⁸

Common name	Binomial	Status
Small Buttonquail	Turnix sylvatica
Yellow-legged Buttonquail	Turnix tanki
Barred Buttonquail	Turnix suscitator

Cranes

Order: Gruiformes Family: 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". There are 15 species worldwide of which two occur in Thailand.¹⁴

Common name	Binomial	Status
Sarus Crane	Grus antigone	Extirpated and globally vulnerable 32
Common Crane	Grus grus	Accidental

Rails, crakes, gallinules, and coots

Order: Gruiformes Family: 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, difficult to observe. Most species have strong legs, and have long toes which are well adapted to soft, uneven surfaces. They tend to have short, rounded wings and appear to be weak fliers. There are 143 species worldwide of which 15 occur in Thailand.³³

Common name	Binomial	Status
Red-legged Crake	Rallina fasciata
Slaty-legged Crake	Rallina eurizonoides	Rare, mainly winter visitor
Slaty-breasted Rail	Gallirallus striatus
Water Rail	Rallus aquaticus	Rare winter visitor
White-breasted Waterhen	Amaurornis phoenicurus
Black-tailed Crake	Amaurornis bicolor	Rare
Baillon's Crake	Porzana pusilla	Winter visitor
Spotted Crake	Porzana porzana	Very rare winter visitor
Ruddy-breasted Crake	Porzana fusca
Band-bellied Crake	Porzana paykullii	Very rare winter visitor
White-browed Crake	Porzana cinerea
Watercock	Gallicrex cinerea	Summer visitor and resident
Purple Swamphen	Porphyrio porphyrio
Common Moorhen	Gallinula chloropus
Eurasian Coot	Fulica atra	Winter visitor

Finfoot

Order: Gruiformes Family: Heliornithidae

Heliornithidae is small family of tropical birds which webbed lobes on their feet similar to those of grebes and coots. There are three species worldwide of which one occurs in Thailand.³⁴¹⁴

Common name	Binomial	Status
Masked Finfoot	Heliopais personata	Winter visitor and passage migrant

Jacanas

Order: Charadriiformes Family: Jacanidae

The jacanas are a group of tropical waders in the family Jacanidae. They are found worldwide in 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. There eight species worldwide of which two occur in Thailand.³⁵

Common name	Binomial	Status
Pheasant-tailed Jacana	Hydrophasianus chirurgus	Winter visitor and resident
Bronze-winged Jacana	Metopidius indicus

Painted snipe

Order: Charadriiformes Family: Rostratulidae

Painted snipe are short-legged, long-billed birds similar in shape to the true snipes, but more brightly coloured. There are two species worldwide of which one occurs in Thailand.³⁵

Common name	Binomial	Status
Greater Painted-snipe	Rostratula benghalensis

Crab Plover

Order: Charadriiformes Family: Dromadidae

The Crab Plover is related to the waders, but is the only member of its family. It resembles a plover but has very long grey legs and a strong black bill similar to that of a tern. It has black and white plumage, a long neck, partially webbed feet and a bill designed for eating crabs.³⁵

Common name	Binomial	Status
Crab Plover	Dromas ardeola	Rare but annual in winter

Avocets and stilts

Order: Charadriiformes Family: Recurvirostridae

Recurvirostridae is a family of large wading birds, which includes the avocets and the stilts. The avocets have long legs and long up-curved bills. The stilts have extremely long legs and long, thin, straight bills. There are nine species worldwide of which two occur in Thailand.³⁵

Common name	Binomial	Status
Black-winged Stilt	Himantopus himantopus	Resident and winter visitor
Pied Avocet	Recurvirostra avosetta	Accidental

Thick-knees

Order: Charadriiformes Family: 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. There are nine species worldwide of which three occur in Thailand.³⁵

Common name	Binomial	Status
Stone Curlew	Burhinus oedicnemus	Rare
Great Thick-knee	Burhinus recurvirostris	Possibly extinct
Beach Thick-knee	Burhinus magnirostris	Rare and local

Pratincoles and coursers

Order: Charadriiformes Family: 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. There are 17 species worldwide of which two occur in Thailand.³⁵

Common name	Binomial	Status
Oriental Pratincole	Glareola maldivarum	Summer visitor
Little Pratincole	Glareola lactea	Resident and winter visitor

Plovers and lapwings

Order: Charadriiformes Family: 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, although there are some exceptions. There are 66 species worldwide of which 14 occur in Thailand.³⁵ In addition to the listed species, a distinctive Charadrius plover known as ‘White-faced’ Plover has been seen in Thailand in recent years. It is at present unclear whether it is a new species or a subspecies of Kentish Plover.⁵

Common name	Binomial	Status
Northern Lapwing	Vanellus vanellus	Rare winter visitor
River Lapwing	Vanellus duvaucelii
Grey-headed Lapwing	Vanellus cinereus	Winter visitor
Red-wattled Lapwing	Vanellus indicus
Pacific Golden Plover	Pluvialis fulva	Winter visitor
Grey Plover	Pluvialis squatarola	Winter visitor
Ringed Plover	Charadrius hiaticula	Accidental
Long-billed Plover	Charadrius placidus	Rare winter visitor
Little Ringed Plover	Charadrius dubius	Winter visitor
Kentish Plover	Charadrius alexandrinus	Winter visitor
Malaysian Plover	Charadrius peronii
Lesser Sand Plover	Charadrius mongolus	Winter visitor
Greater Sand Plover	Charadrius leschenaultii	Winter visitor

Sandpipers and allies

Order: Charadriiformes Family: Scolopacidae

The Scolopacidae are 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 species eat small invertebrates picked out of the mud or soil. Variation in length of legs and bills enable different species to feed in the same habitat, particularly on the coast, without direct competition for food. There are 89 species worldwide of which 39 occur in Thailand.³⁵

Common name	Binomial	Status
Eurasian Woodcock	Scolopax rusticola	Winter visitor
Jack Snipe	Lymnocryptes minimus	Rare winter visitor
Wood Snipe	Gallinago nemoricola	Very rare winter visitor
Pintail Snipe	Gallinago stenura	Winter visitor
Swinhoe's Snipe	Gallinago megala	Very rare winter visitor
Common Snipe	Gallinago gallinago	Winter visitor
Long-billed Dowitcher	Limnodromus scolopaceus	One record
Asian Dowitcher	Limnodromus semipalmatus	Rare on passage
Black-tailed Godwit	Limosa limosa	Winter visitor
Bar-tailed Godwit	Limosa lapponica	Winter visitor
Little Curlew	Numenius minutus	Very rare passage migrant
Whimbrel	Numenius phaeopus	Winter visitor
Eurasian Curlew	Numenius arquata	Winter visitor
Far Eastern Curlew	Numenius madagascariensis	Rare passage migrant
Spotted Redshank	Tringa erythropus	Winter visitor
Common Redshank	Tringa totanus	Winter visitor
Marsh Sandpiper	Tringa stagnatilis	Winter visitor
Common Greenshank	Tringa nebularia	Winter visitor
Nordmann's Greenshank	Tringa guttifer	Rare winter visitor
Green Sandpiper	Tringa ochropus	Winter visitor
Wood Sandpiper	Tringa glareola	Winter visitor
Terek Sandpiper	Xenus cinereus	Winter visitor
Common Sandpiper	Actitis hypoleucos	Winter visitor
Grey-tailed Tattler	Heterosceles brevipes	Rare on passage
Ruddy Turnstone	Arenaria interpres	Winter visitor
Great Knot	Calidris tenuirostris	Mainly passage migrant
Red Knot	Calidris canutus	Winter visitor
Sanderling	Calidris alba	Winter visitor
Red-necked Stint	Calidris ruficollis	Common winter visitor
Little Stint	Calidris minuta	Rare in winter4
Temminck's Stint	Calidris temminckii	Winter visitor
Long-toed Stint	Calidris subminuta	Winter visitor
Sharp-tailed Sandpiper	Calidris acuminata	Very rare winter visitor
Curlew Sandpiper	Calidris ferruginea	Winter visitor
Dunlin	Calidris alpina	Rare winter visitor
Spoon-billed Sandpiper	Eurynorhynchus pygmeus	Rare on passage and in winter, declining due to collapse of breeding population3637
Broad-billed Sandpiper	Limicola falcinellus	Winter visitor
Ruff	Philomachus pugnax	Winter and passage visitor
Red-necked Phalarope	Phalaropus lobatus	Rare in winter or on passage

Skuas

Order: Charadriiformes Family: Stercorariidae

The family Stercorariidae are, in general, medium to large birds, typically with grey 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. There are seven species worldwide of which three occur in Thailand.¹¹

Common name	Binomial	Status
Pomarine Skua	Stercorarius pomarinus	Winter visitor
Arctic Skua	Stercorarius parasiticus	Rare winter visitor
Long-tailed Skua	Stercorarius longicaudus	Accidental

Gulls

Order: Charadriiformes Family: Laridae

Laridae is a family of medium to large birds seabirds and includes gulls and kittiwakes. They are typically grey or white, often with black markings on the head or wings. They have stout, longish bills and webbed feet. There are 55 species worldwide of which eight occur in Thailand.¹¹

Common name	Binomial	Status
Black-tailed Gull	Larus crassirostris	Very rare winter visitor
Common Gull	Larus canus	Accidental
Heuglin's Gull	Larus heuglini	Winter visitor
Caspian Gull	Larus cachinnans	Uncertain status
Great Black-headed Gull	Larus ichthyaetus	Very rare winter visitor
Brown-headed Gull	Larus brunnicephalus	Rare winter visitor
Black-headed Gull	Larus ridibundus	Winter visitor
Slender-billed Gull	Larus genei	Very rare winter visitor

Terns

Order: Charadriiformes Family: Sternidae

Terns are a group of generally general medium to large sea-birds typically with grey 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 now known to live in excess of 25 to 30 years. There are 44 species worldwide of which 16 occur in Thailand.¹¹

Common name	Binomial	Status
Gull-billed Tern	Sterna nilotica	Winter visitor
Caspian Tern	Sterna caspia	Winter visitor
Lesser Crested Tern	Sterna bengalensis	Rare winter visitor
Chinese Crested Tern	Sterna bernsteini	Possibly extinct
Great Crested Tern	Sterna bergii
River Tern	Sterna aurantia	Possibly extinct
Roseate Tern	Sterna dougallii
Black-naped Tern	Sterna sumatrana
Common Tern	Sterna hirundo	Winter visitor
Little Tern	Sterna albifrons
Black-bellied Tern	Sterna acuticauda	Possibly extinct
Bridled Tern	Sterna anaethetus
Sooty Tern	Sterna fuscata
Whiskered Tern	Chlidonias hybridus
White-winged Tern	Chlidonias leucopterus	Winter visitor
Brown Noddy	Anous stolidus	Possibly extinct

Skimmers

Order: Charadriiformes Family: Rynchopidae

Skimmers are a small family of tropical tern-like birds. They have an elongated lower mandible which they use to feed by flying low over the water surface and skimming the water for small fish. There are three species worldwide of which one has occurred in Thailand.¹¹

Common name	Binomial	Status
Indian Skimmer	Rynchops albicollis	One record

Pigeons and doves

Order: Columbiformes Family: Columbidae

Pigeons and doves are stout-bodied birds with short necks and short slender bills with a fleshy cere. There are 308 species worldwide of which 28 occur in Thailand.³⁸

Common name	Binomial	Status
Rock Pigeon	Columba livia	Due to hybridisation with feral pigeons, few if any pure-bred birds remain in Thailand3
Speckled Wood Pigeon	Columba hodgsonii
Ashy Wood Pigeon	Columba pulchricollis
Pale-capped Pigeon	Columba punicea	Rare, uncertain status
Oriental Turtle Dove	Streptopelia orientalis
Red Collared-dove	Streptopelia tranquebarica
Spotted Dove	Streptopelia chinensis
Barred Cuckoo-dove	Macropygia unchall
Little Cuckoo-dove	Macropygia ruficeps
Emerald Dove	Chalcophaps indica
Zebra Dove	Geopelia striata	Native in south, introduced to central Thailand39
Nicobar Pigeon	Caloenas nicobarica	Rare and globally endangered40
Little Green-pigeon	Treron olax	Rare
Pink-necked Pigeon	Treron vernans
Cinnamon-headed Pigeon	Treron fulvicollis	Possibly extirpated, globally threatened41
Orange-breasted Pigeon	Treron bicincta
Pompadour Green Pigeon	Treron pompadora
Thick-billed Pigeon	Treron curvirostra
Large Green Pigeon	Treron capellei	Rare and globally vulnerable42
Yellow-footed Pigeon	Treron phoenicoptera
Yellow-vented Pigeon	Treron seimundi	Very rare
Pin-tailed Pigeon	Treron apicauda
Wedge-tailed Pigeon	Treron sphenura
White-bellied Pigeon	Treron sieboldii	Very rare
Jambu Fruit Dove	Ptilinopus jambu
Green Imperial Pigeon	Ducula aenea
Mountain Imperial Pigeon	Ducula badia
Pied Imperial Pigeon	Ducula bicolor

Parrots

Order: Psittaciformes Family: Psittacidae

Parrots are small to large birds with a characteristic curved beak shape and a generally erect stance. The upper mandible has slight mobility in the joint with the skull. All parrots are zygodactyl, having the four toes on each foot placed two at the front and two back. There are 335 species worldwide of which seven occur in Thailand.¹⁴

Common name	Binomial	Status
Blue-rumped Parrot	Psittinus cyanurus	Rare, much reduced
Alexandrine Parakeet	Psittacula eupatria	Rare, much reduced
Grey-headed Parakeet	Psittacula finschii
Blossom-headed Parakeet	Psittacula roseata
Red-breasted Parakeet	Psittacula alexandri
Vernal Hanging Parrot	Loriculus vernalis
Blue-crowned Hanging Parrot	Loriculus galgulus

Cuckoos

Order: Cuculiformes Family: Cuculidae

The family Cuculidae includes cuckoos, roadrunners and anis. These birds are of variable size with slender bodies, long tails and strong legs. Many Old World cuckoo species are brood parasites. There are 138 species worldwide of which 31 occur in Thailand.¹⁴

Common name	Binomial	Status
Pied Cuckoo	Clamator jacobinus	Accidental
Chestnut-winged Cuckoo	Clamator coromandus	Summer visitor and on passage
Large Hawk-cuckoo	Cuculus sparverioides
Common Hawk-cuckoo	Cuculus varius	One record
Moustached Hawk-cuckoo	Cuculus vagans
Malaysian Hawk-cuckoo	Cuculus fugax
Hodgson's Hawk-cuckoo	Cuculus nisicolor
Northern Hawk-cuckoo	Cuculus hyperythrus
Indian Cuckoo	Cuculus micropterus
Common Cuckoo	Cuculus canorus	Uncertain status
Oriental Cuckoo	Cuculus saturatus	Passage migrant
Sunda Cuckoo	Cuculus lepidus
Lesser Cuckoo	Cuculus poliocephalus	Very rare
Banded Bay Cuckoo	Cacomantis sonneratii
Plaintive Cuckoo	Cacomantis merulinus
Brush Cuckoo	Cacomantis variolosus
Little Bronze-cuckoo	Chrysococcyx minutillus
Asian Emerald Cuckoo	Chrysococcyx maculatus	Resident and winter visitor
Violet Cuckoo	Chrysococcyx xanthorhynchus
Asian Drongo-cuckoo	Surniculus lugubris
Asian Koel	Eudynamys scolopacea
Black-bellied Malkoha	Phaenicophaeus diardi
Chestnut-bellied Malkoha	Phaenicophaeus sumatranus
Green-billed Malkoha	Phaenicophaeus tristis
Raffles's Malkoha	Phaenicophaeus chlorophaeus
Red-billed Malkoha	Phaenicophaeus javanicus
Chestnut-breasted Malkoha	Phaenicophaeus curvirostris
Coral-billed Ground-cuckoo	Carpococcyx renauldi
Short-toed Coucal	Centropus rectunguis	Accidental
Greater Coucal	Centropus sinensis
Lesser Coucal	Centropus bengalensis

Barn owls

Order: Strigiformes Family: Tytonidae

Barn owls are medium to large sized owls with large heads and characteristic heart-shaped faces. They have long strong legs with powerful talons. There are 16 species worldwide of which two occur in Thailand.¹⁴

Common name	Binomial	Status
Barn Owl	Tyto alba
Oriental Bay Owl	Phodilus badius

Typical owls

Order: Strigiformes Family: Strigidae

Typical owls are small to large solitary nocturnal birds of prey. They have large forward-facing eyes and ears, a hawk-like beak, and a conspicuous circle of feathers around each eye called a facial disk. There are 195 species worldwide of which 18 occur in Thailand.¹⁴

Common name	Binomial	Status
White-fronted Scops Owl	Otus sagittatus	Rare and globally vulnerable43
Reddish Scops Owl	Otus rufescens	Rare and globally threatened44
Mountain Scops Owl	Otus spilocephalus
Collared Scops Owl	Otus lettia
Sunda Scops Owl	Otus lempiji
Oriental Scops Owl	Otus sunia
Spot-bellied Eagle Owl	Bubo nipalensis
Barred Eagle Owl	Bubo sumatranus
Dusky Eagle Owl	Bubo coromandus	Very rare
Brown Fish Owl	Ketupa zeylonensis