This is a list of the bird species recorded in Nepal. The avifauna of Nepal include a total of 915 species recorded, of which one is endemic, and one has been introduced by humans. 42 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 found in each family account. Introduced and accidental species are included in the total counts for Nepal.
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 Nepal
(E) Endemic - a species endemic to Nepal
(Ex) Extirpated - a species that no longer occurs in Nepal although populations exist elsewhere (I) Introduced - a species introduced to Nepal 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.
Fulvous whistling-duck, Dendrocygna bicolor (A) Lesser whistling-duck, Dendrocygna javanica Bar-headed goose, Anser indicus Graylag goose, Anser anser Greater white-fronted goose, Anser albifrons (A) Taiga bean-goose, Anser fabalis (A) Tundra swan, Cygnus columbianus (A) Whooper swan, Cygnus cygnus (A) Knob-billed duck, Sarkidiornis melanotos Ruddy shelduck, Tadorna ferruginea Common shelduck, Tadorna tadorna Cotton pygmy-goose, Nettapus coromandelianus Mandarin duck, Aix galericulata (A) Baikal teal, Sibirionetta formosa (A) Garganey, Spatula querquedula Northern shoveler, Spatula clypeata Gadwall, Mareca strepera Falcated duck, Mareca falcata Eurasian wigeon, Mareca penelope Indian spot-billed duck, Anas poecilorhyncha Eastern spot-billed duck, Anas zonorhyncha (A) Mallard, Anas platyrhynchos Northern pintail, Anas acuta Green-winged teal, Anas crecca Pink-headed duck, Rhodonessa caryophyllacea (A)(Ex) Red-crested pochard, Netta rufina Common pochard, Aythya ferina Ferruginous duck, Aythya nyroca Baer's pochard, Aythya baeri (A) Tufted duck, Aythya fuligula Greater scaup, Aythya marila (A) Harlequin duck, Histrionicus histrionicus (A) Long-tailed duck, Clangula hyemalis (A) Common goldeneye, Bucephala clangula Smew, Mergellus albellus (A) Common merganser, Mergus merganser Red-breasted merganser, Mergus serrator (A)
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.
Hill partridge, Arborophila torqueola
Rufous-throated partridge, Arborophila rufogularis
Indian peafowl, Pavo cristatus
Red spurfowl, Galloperdix spadicea (A) Blue-breasted quail, Synoicus chinensis Common quail, Coturnix coturnix Rain quail, Coturnix coromandelica (A) Chukar, Alectoris chukar Tibetan snowcock, Tetraogallus tibetanus Himalayan snowcock, Tetraogallus himalayensis Jungle bush-quail, Perdicula asiatica (A) Black francolin, Francolinus francolinus Gray francolin, Ortygornis pondicerianus Swamp francolin, Ortygornis gularis Red junglefowl, Gallus gallus Blood pheasant, Ithaginis cruentus Himalayan monal, Lophophorus impejanus Snow partridge, Lerwa lerwa Satyr tragopan, Tragopan satyra Cheer pheasant, Catreus wallichii Kalij pheasant, Lophura leucomelanos Tibetan partridge, Perdix hodgsoniae Koklass pheasant, Pucrasia macrolopha
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 (A)
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.