This is a list of the bird species recorded in China. The avifauna of China include a total of 1431 species, of which 57 are endemic, and 3 have been introduced by humans. Of these, 108 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 China.
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 China
(E) Endemic - a species native or restricted to China
(I) Introduced - a species introduced to China as a consequence, direct or indirect, of human actions (Ex) Extirpated - a species no longer found in China but found elsewhere
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.
Lesser whistling-duck, Dendrocygna javanica
Bar-headed goose, Anser indicus
Snow goose, Anser caerulescens (A) Graylag goose, Anser anser Swan goose, Anser cygnoides Greater white-fronted goose, Anser albifrons Lesser white-fronted goose, Anser erythropus Taiga bean-goose, Anser fabalis Tundra bean-goose, Anser serrirostris Brant, Branta bernicla Barnacle goose, Branta leucopsis (A) Cackling goose, Branta hutchinsii (A) Canada goose, Branta canadensis (A) Red-breasted goose, Branta ruficollis (A) Mute swan, Cygnus olor Tundra swan, Cygnus columbianus Whooper swan, Cygnus cygnus Knob-billed duck, Sarkidiornis melanotos Ruddy shelduck, Tadorna ferruginea Common shelduck, Tadorna tadorna Cotton pygmy-goose, Nettapus coromandelianus Mandarin duck, Aix galericulata Baikal teal, Sibirionetta formosa Garganey, Spatula querquedula Northern shoveler, Spatula clypeata Gadwall, Mareca strepera Falcated duck, Mareca falcata Eurasian wigeon, Mareca penelope American wigeon, Mareca americana (A) Indian spot-billed duck, Anas poecilorhyncha Eastern spot-billed duck, Anas zonorhyncha Mallard, Anas platyrhynchos Northern pintail, Anas acuta Green-winged teal, Anas crecca Marbled teal, Marmaronetta angustirostris (A) Red-crested pochard, Netta rufina Canvasback, Aythya valisineria (A) Common pochard, Aythya ferina Ferruginous duck, Aythya nyroca Baer's pochard, Aythya baeri Tufted duck, Aythya fuligula Greater scaup, Aythya marila Steller's eider, Polysticta stelleri (A) Harlequin duck, Histrionicus histrionicus Velvet scoter, Melanitta fusca (A) Stejneger's scoter, Melanitta stejnegeri Black scoter, Melanitta americana (A) Long-tailed duck, Clangula hyemalis Common goldeneye, Bucephala clangula Smew, Mergellus albellus Common merganser, Mergus merganser Red-breasted merganser, Mergus serrator Scaly-sided merganser, Mergus squamatus White-headed duck, Oxyura leucocephala
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, grouse, ptarmigan, and jungle fowls. In general, they are plump (although they vary in size) and have broad, relatively short wings.