This is a list of the bird species recorded in Afghanistan. The avifauna of
Afghanistan
Afghanistan, officially the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan,; prs, امارت اسلامی افغانستان is a landlocked country located at the crossroads of Central Asia and South Asia. Referred to as the Heart of Asia, it is bordere ...
include a total of 502 species, of which 4 have been
introduced by humans. Of the species in Afghanistan, 25 species are globally threatened.
This list's
taxonomic
Taxonomy is the practice and science of categorization or classification.
A taxonomy (or taxonomical classification) is a scheme of classification, especially a hierarchical classification, in which things are organized into groups or types. ...
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
''The Clements Checklist of Birds of the World'' is a book by Jim Clements which presents a list of the bird species of the world.
The most recent printed version is the sixth edition (2007), but has been updated yearly, the last version in 2022 ...
'', 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 Afghanistan.
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 Afghanistan
* (I)
Introduced - a species introduced to Afghanistan as a consequence, direct or indirect, of human actions
Ducks, geese, and waterfowl
Order:
Anseriformes
Anseriformes is an order of birds also known as waterfowl that comprises about 180 living species of birds in three families: Anhimidae (three species of screamers), Anseranatidae (the magpie goose), and Anatidae, the largest family, which in ...
Family:
Anatidae
The Anatidae are the biological family of water birds that includes ducks, geese, and swans. The family has a cosmopolitan distribution, occurring on all the world's continents except Antarctica. These birds are adapted for swimming, floating ...
Anatidae includes the
duck
Duck is the common name for numerous species of waterfowl in the family Anatidae. Ducks are generally smaller and shorter-necked than swans and geese, which are members of the same family. Divided among several subfamilies, they are a form t ...
s and most duck-like waterfowl, such as
geese
A goose (plural, : geese) is a bird of any of several waterfowl species in the family (biology), family Anatidae. This group comprises the genera ''Anser (bird), Anser'' (the grey geese and white geese) and ''Branta'' (the black geese). Some o ...
and
swan
Swans are birds of the family (biology), family Anatidae within the genus ''Cygnus''. The swans' closest relatives include the goose, geese and ducks. Swans are grouped with the closely related geese in the subfamily Anserinae where they form t ...
s. 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.
*
Bar-headed goose
The bar-headed goose (''Anser indicus'') is a goose that breeds in Central Asia in colonies of thousands near mountain lakes and winters in South Asia, as far south as peninsular India. It lays three to eight eggs at a time in a ground nest. It ...
, ''Anser indicus''
*
Graylag goose
The greylag goose or graylag goose (''Anser anser'') is a species of large goose in the waterfowl family Anatidae and the type species of the genus ''Anser''. It has mottled and barred grey and white plumage and an orange beak and pink legs. A ...
, ''Anser anser''
*
Greater white-fronted goose
The greater white-fronted goose (''Anser albifrons'') is a species of goose related to the smaller lesser white-fronted goose (''A. erythropus''). It is named for the patch of white feathers bordering the base of its bill, in fact ''albifrons ...
, ''Anser albifrons''
*
Lesser white-fronted goose
The lesser white-fronted goose (''Anser erythropus'') is a goose closely related to the larger white-fronted goose (''A. albifrons''). It breeds in the northernmost Palearctic, but it is a scarce breeder in Europe. There is a re-introduction sche ...
, ''Anser erythropus''
*
Red-breasted goose
The red-breasted goose (''Branta ruficollis'') is a brightly marked species of goose in the genus ''Branta'' from Eurasia. It is currently classified as vulnerable by the IUCN.
Taxonomy and etymology
The red-breasted goose is sometimes placed ...
, ''Branta ruficollis''
*
Mute swan
The mute swan (''Cygnus olor'') is a species of swan and a member of the waterfowl family Anatidae. It is native to much of Eurosiberia, and (as a rare winter visitor) the far north of Africa. It is an introduced species in North America, home ...
, ''Cygnus olor''
*
Whooper swan
The whooper swan ( /ˈhuːpə(ɹ) swɒn/) (''Cygnus cygnus''), also known as the common swan, pronounced ''hooper swan'', is a large northern hemisphere swan. It is the Eurasian counterpart of the North American trumpeter swan, and the type specie ...
, ''Cygnus cygnus''
*
Ruddy shelduck
The ruddy shelduck (''Tadorna ferruginea''), known in India as the Brahminy duck, is a member of the family Anatidae. It is a distinctive waterfowl, in length with a wingspan of . It has orange-brown body plumage with a paler head, while the ...
, ''Tadorna ferruginea''
*
Common shelduck
The common shelduck (''Tadorna tadorna'') is a waterfowl species of the shelduck genus, ''Tadorna''. It is widespread and common in the Euro-Siberian region of the Palearctic, mainly breeding in temperate and wintering in subtropical regions; i ...
, ''Tadorna tadorna''
*
Cotton pygmy-goose
The cotton pygmy goose or cotton teal (''Nettapus coromandelianus'') is a small perching duck which breeds in Asia, Southeast Asia extending south and east to Queensland where they are sometimes called white-quilled pygmy goose. They are among t ...
, ''Nettapus coromandelianus''
*
Baikal teal
The Baikal teal (''Sibirionetta formosa''), also called the bimaculate duck or squawk duck, is a dabbling duck that breeds in eastern Russia and winters in East Asia.
Taxonomy
The first formal description of the Baikal teal was by the German ...
, ''Sibirionetta formosa'' (A)
*
Garganey
The garganey (''Spatula querquedula'') is a small dabbling duck. It breeds in much of Europe and across the Palearctic, but is strictly migratory, with the entire population moving to southern Africa, India (in particular Santragachi), Banglades ...
, ''Spatula querquedula''
*
Northern shoveler
The northern shoveler (; ''Spatula clypeata''), known simply in Britain as the shoveler, is a common and widespread duck. It breeds in northern areas of Europe and across the Palearctic and across most of North America, wintering in southern Euro ...
, ''Spatula clypeata''
*
Gadwall
The gadwall (''Mareca strepera'') is a common and widespread dabbling duck in the family Anatidae.
Taxonomy
The gadwall was first described by Carl Linnaeus in his landmark 1758 10th edition of ''Systema Naturae''. DNA studies have shown that ...
, ''Mareca strepera''
*
Falcated duck
The falcated duck or falcated teal (''Mareca falcata'') is a gadwall-sized dabbling duck from the east Palearctic (East Siberia and Mongolia to North Japan; wintering to India).
Taxonomy
The closest relative of this species is the gadwall, follo ...
, ''Mareca falcata'' (A)
*
Eurasian wigeon
The Eurasian wigeon or European wigeon (''Mareca penelope''), also known as the widgeon or the wigeon, is one of three species of wigeon in the dabbling duck genus ''Mareca''. It is common and widespread within its Palearctic range.
Taxonomy
Th ...
, ''Mareca penelope''
*
Mallard
The mallard () or wild duck (''Anas platyrhynchos'') is a dabbling duck that breeds throughout the temperate and subtropical Americas, Eurasia, and North Africa, and has been introduced to New Zealand, Australia, Peru, Brazil, Uruguay, Arge ...
, ''Anas platyrhynchos''
*
Northern pintail
The pintail or northern pintail (''Anas acuta'') is a duck species with wide geographic distribution that breeds in the northern areas of Europe and across the Palearctic and North America. It is migratory and winters south of its breeding ...
, ''Anas acuta''
*
Green-winged teal
The green-winged teal (''Anas carolinensis'') is a common and widespread duck that breeds in the northern areas of North America except on the Aleutian Islands. It was considered Conspecificity, conspecific with the Eurasian teal (''A. crecca'') ...
, ''Anas crecca''
*
Marbled teal
The marbled duck, or marbled teal (''Marmaronetta angustirostris'') is a medium-sized species of duck from southern Europe, northern Africa, and western and central Asia. The scientific name, ''Marmaronetta angustirostris'', comes from the Greek ...
, ''Marmaronetta angustirostris''
*
Red-crested pochard
The red-crested pochard (''Netta rufina'') is a large diving duck. The scientific name is derived from Greek language, Greek ''Netta'' "duck", and Latin ''rufina'', "golden-red" (from ''rufus'', "ruddy"). Its breeding habitat is lowland marshes a ...
, ''Netta rufina''
*
Common pochard
The common pochard (; ''Aythya ferina'') is a medium-sized diving duck. The scientific name is derived from Greek '' aithuia'', an unidentified seabird mentioned by authors including Hesychius and Aristotle, and Latin ''ferina'', "wild game", f ...
, ''Aythya ferina''
*
Ferruginous duck
The ferruginous duck (''Aythya nyroca''), also known as ferruginous pochard, common white-eye or white-eyed pochard, is a medium-sized diving duck from Eurosiberia. The scientific name is derived from Greek '' aithuia'' an unidentified seabir ...
, ''Aythya nyroca''
*
Tufted duck
The tufted duck or tufted pochard (''Aythya fuligula'') is a small diving duck with a population of close to one million birds, found in northern Eurasia. The scientific name is derived from Ancient Greek '' aithuia'', an unidentified seabird ment ...
, ''Aythya fuligula''
*
Greater scaup
The greater scaup (''Aythya marila''), just scaup in Europe or, colloquially, "bluebill" in North America, is a mid-sized diving duck, larger than the closely related lesser scaup. It spends the summer months breeding in Alaska, northern Canada, ...
, ''Aythya marila''
*
Velvet scoter
The velvet scoter (''Melanitta fusca''), also called a velvet duck,Buczacki, Stefan (2005) ''Fauna Britannica'', Hamlyn, London. is a large sea duck, which breeds over the far north of Europe and the Palearctic west of the Yenisey basin. The gen ...
, ''Melanitta fusca'' (A)
*
Common goldeneye
The common goldeneye or simply goldeneye (''Bucephala clangula'') is a medium-sized sea duck of the genus ''Bucephala'', the goldeneyes. Its closest relative is the similar Barrow's goldeneye. The genus name is derived from the Ancient Greek ' ...
, ''Bucephala clangula''
*
Smew
The smew (''Mergellus albellus'') is a species of duck, and is the only living member of the genus ''Mergellus''. ''Mergellus'' is a diminutive of '' Mergus'' and ''albellus'' is from Latin ''albus'' "white". This genus is closely related to ' ...
, ''Mergellus albellus''
*
Common merganser
The common merganser (North American) or goosander (Eurasian) (''Mergus merganser'') is a large seaduck of rivers and lakes in forested areas of Europe, Asia, and North America. The common merganser eats mainly fish. It nests in holes in trees.
...
, ''Mergus merganser''
*
Red-breasted merganser
The red-breasted merganser (''Mergus serrator'') is a diving duck, one of the sawbills. The genus name is a Latin word used by Pliny and other Roman authors to refer to an unspecified waterbird, and ''serrator'' is a sawyer from Latin ''serra'', ...
, ''Mergus serrator'' (A)
*
White-headed duck
The white-headed duck (''Oxyura leucocephala'') is a small diving duck some long. The male has a white head with black crown, a blue bill, and reddish-grey plumage. The female has a dark bill and rather duller colouring. Its breeding habitat is ...
, ''Oxyura leucocephala''
Pheasants, grouse, and allies
Order:
Galliformes
Galliformes is an order of heavy-bodied ground-feeding birds that includes turkeys, chickens, quail, and other landfowl. Gallinaceous birds, as they are called, are important in their ecosystems as seed dispersers and predators, and are often ...
Family:
Phasianidae
The Phasianidae are a family (biology), family of heavy, ground-living birds, which includes pheasants, partridges, junglefowl, chickens, Turkey bird, turkeys, Old World quail, and peafowl. The family includes many of the most popular Game (hunti ...
The Phasianidae are a family of terrestrial birds. In general, they are plump (although they vary in size) and have broad, relatively short wings.
*
See-see partridge
The see-see partridge (''Ammoperdix griseogularis'') is a gamebird in the pheasant family Phasianidae of the order Galliformes, gallinaceous birds.
This partridge has its main native range from southeast Turkey through Syria and Iraq east to ...
, ''Ammoperdix griseogularis''
*
Common quail, ''Coturnix coturnix''
*
Chukar, ''Alectoris chukar''
*
Tibetan snowcock
The Tibetan snowcock (''Tetraogallus tibetanus'') is a bird in the pheasant family Phasianidae of the order Galliformes, gallinaceous birds. This species is found in high-altitude regions of the Western Himalayas and the Tibetan Plateau, where i ...
, ''Tetraogallus tibetanus''
*
Himalayan snowcock
The Himalayan snowcock (''Tetraogallus himalayensis'') is a snowcock in the pheasant family Phasianidae found across the Himalayan ranges and parts of the adjoining Pamir range of Asia. It is found on alpine pastures and on steep rocky cliffs wh ...
, ''Tetraogallus himalayensis''
*
Black francolin, ''Francolinus francolinus''
*
Gray francolin
The grey francolin (''Ortygornis pondicerianus''), also known as "manu moa" or "chicken bird", is a species of francolin found in the plains and drier parts of the Indian subcontinent and Iran. This species was formerly also called the grey partr ...
, ''Ortygornis pondicerianus''
*
Himalayan monal
The Himalayan monal (''Lophophorus impejanus''), also called Impeyan monal and Impeyan pheasant, is a pheasant native to Himalayan forests and shrublands at elevations of . It is part of the family Phasianidae and is listed as Least Concern on th ...
, ''Lophophorus impejanus''
*
Ring-necked pheasant
The common pheasant (''Phasianus colchicus'') is a bird in the pheasant family (Phasianidae). The genus name comes from Latin ''phasianus'', "pheasant". The species name ''colchicus'' is Latin for "of Colchis" (modern day Georgia), a country on ...
, ''Phasianus colchicus''
*
Cheer pheasant
The cheer pheasant (''Catreus wallichii''), also known as Wallich's pheasant or chir pheasant, is a vulnerable species of the pheasant family, Phasianidae. It is the only member in the genus ''Catreus''. The scientific name commemorates Danish b ...
, ''Catreus wallichii''
*
Gray partridge
The grey partridge (''Perdix perdix''), also known as the gray-legged partridge, English partridge, Hungarian partridge, or hun, is a gamebird in the pheasant family Phasianidae of the order Galliformes, gallinaceous birds. The scientific name i ...
, ''Perdix perdix''
*
Koklass pheasant
The koklass pheasant (''Pucrasia macrolopha'') is a species of gamebird, being closely related to progenitive grouse that lived during the Miocene. They are distantly related to pheasants and are most closely related to grouse and turkeys. Ko ...
, ''Pucrasia macrolopha''
Flamingos
Order:
Phoenicopteriformes
Phoenicopteriformes is a group of water birds which comprises flamingos and their extinct relatives. Flamingos (Phoenicopteriformes) and the closely related grebes ( Podicipedidae) are contained in the parent clade Mirandornithes.
Fossil rec ...
Family:
Phoenicopteridae
Flamingos or flamingoes are a type of wading bird in the family Phoenicopteridae, which is the only extant family in the order Phoenicopteriformes. There are four flamingo species distributed throughout the Americas (including the Caribbean) ...
Flamingo
Flamingos or flamingoes are a type of Wader, wading bird in the Family (biology), family Phoenicopteridae, which is the only extant family in the order Phoenicopteriformes. There are four flamingo species distributed throughout the Americas ...
s 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
The greater flamingo (''Phoenicopterus roseus'') is the most widespread and largest species of the flamingo family. It is found in Africa, the Indian subcontinent, the Middle East, and in southern Europe.
Taxonomy
The greater flamingo was desc ...
, ''Phoenicopterus roseus''
*
Lesser flamingo
The lesser flamingo (''Phoeniconaias minor'') is a species of flamingo occurring in sub-Saharan Africa and western India. Birds are occasionally reported from further north, but these are generally considered Vagrancy (biology), vagrants.
Charac ...
, ''Phoenicopterus minor'' (A)
Grebes
Order:
PodicipediformesFamily:
Podicipedidae
Grebe
Grebes () are aquatic diving birds in the order Podicipediformes . Grebes are widely distributed freshwater birds, with some species also found in marine habitats during migration and winter. Some flightless species exist as well, most notably ...
s 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
The little grebe (''Tachybaptus ruficollis''), also known as dabchick, is a member of the grebe family of water birds. The genus name is from Ancient Greek ''takhus'' "fast" and ''bapto'' "to sink under". The specific ''ruficollis'' is from Latin ...
, ''Tachybaptus ruficollis''
*
Red-necked grebe
The red-necked grebe (''Podiceps grisegena'') is a migratory aquatic bird found in the temperate regions of the northern hemisphere. Its wintering habitat is largely restricted to calm waters just beyond the waves around ocean coasts, although ...
, ''Podiceps grisegena''
*
Great crested grebe
The great crested grebe (''Podiceps cristatus'') is a member of the grebe family of water birds noted for its elaborate mating display.
Taxonomy
The great crested grebe was formally described by the Swedish naturalist Carl Linnaeus in 1758 in t ...
, ''Podiceps cristatus''
*
Eared grebe
The black-necked grebe or eared grebe (''Podiceps nigricollis'') is a member of the grebe family of water birds. It was described in 1831 by Christian Ludwig Brehm. There are currently three accepted subspecies, including the nominate subspeci ...
, ''Podiceps nigricollis''
Pigeons and doves
Order:
Columbiformes
Columbidae () is a bird family consisting of doves and pigeons. It is the only family in the order Columbiformes. These are stout-bodied birds with short necks and short slender bills that in some species feature fleshy ceres. They primarily ...
Family:
Columbidae
Columbidae () is a bird family consisting of doves and pigeons. It is the only family in the order Columbiformes. These are stout-bodied birds with short necks and short slender bills that in some species feature fleshy ceres. They primarily ...
Pigeon
Columbidae () is a bird family consisting of doves and pigeons. It is the only family in the order Columbiformes. These are stout-bodied birds with short necks and short slender bills that in some species feature fleshy ceres. They primarily ...
s and
dove
Columbidae () is a bird family consisting of doves and pigeons. It is the only family in the order Columbiformes. These are stout-bodied birds with short necks and short slender bills that in some species feature fleshy ceres. They primarily ...
s are stout-bodied birds with short necks and short slender bills with a fleshy
cere
The beak, bill, or rostrum is an external anatomical structure found mostly in birds, but also in turtles, non-avian dinosaurs and a few mammals. A beak is used for eating, preening, manipulating objects, killing prey, fighting, probing for food, ...
.
*
Rock pigeon
The rock dove, rock pigeon, or common pigeon ( also ; ''Columba livia'') is a member of the bird family Columbidae (doves and pigeons). In common usage, it is often simply referred to as the "pigeon".
The domestic pigeon (''Columba livia domes ...
, ''Columba livia''
*
Hill pigeon
The hill pigeon, eastern rock dove, or Turkestan hill dove (''Columba rupestris'') is a species of bird in the family Columbidae.
Description
The hill pigeon is a stout-bodied pigeon, similar in size and general appearance to the rock dove but ...
, ''Columba rupestris''
*
Snow pigeon
The snow pigeon (''Columba leuconota'') is a species of bird in the genus ''Columba'' in the family Columbidae from hilly regions of central Asia. They are grey, black, pale brown and white birds and two subspecies are recognised: ''C. l. leucono ...
, ''Columba leuconota''
*
Speckled pigeon
The speckled pigeon (''Columba guinea''), or (African) rock pigeon, is a pigeon that is a resident breeding bird in much of Africa south of the Sahara. It is a common and widespread species in open habitats over much of its range, although there ...
, ''Columba guinea'' (I)
*
Stock dove
The stock dove (''Columba oenas'') is a species of bird in the family Columbidae, the doves and pigeons. It is widely distributed in the western Palearctic.
Taxonomy
The stock dove was first formally described by the Swedish naturalist Carl Li ...
, ''Columba oenas'' (A)
*
Yellow-eyed pigeon
The yellow-eyed pigeon or pale-backed pigeon (''Columba eversmanni'') is a member of the family Columbidae (doves and pigeons). It breeds in southern Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan, Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan, Afghanistan, north-east Iran and ...
, ''Columba eversmanni''
*
Common wood-pigeon
The common wood pigeon or common woodpigeon (''Columba palumbus''), also known as simply wood pigeon, wood-pigeon or woodpigeon, is a large species in the dove and pigeon family (Columbidae), native to the western Palearctic. It belongs to the ...
, ''Columba palumbus''
*
European turtle-dove
The European turtle dove (''Streptopelia turtur'') is a member of the bird family Columbidae, the doves and pigeons. It breeds over a wide area of the south western Palearctic including north Africa but migrates to northern sub-Saharan Africa t ...
, ''Streptopelia turtur''
*
Oriental turtle-dove, ''Streptopelia orientalis''
*
Eurasian collared-dove
The Eurasian collared dove (''Streptopelia decaocto'') is a dove species native to Europe and Asia; it was introduced to Japan, North America and islands in the Caribbean. Because of its vast global range and increasing population trend, it ha ...
, ''Streptopelia decaocto''
*
Spotted dove
The spotted dove (''Spilopelia chinensis'') is a small and somewhat long-tailed pigeon that is a common resident breeding bird across its native range on the Indian subcontinent and in Southeast Asia. The species has been introduced to many parts ...
, ''Spilopelia chinensis'' (A)
*
Laughing dove
The laughing dove (''Spilopelia senegalensis'') is a small pigeon that is a resident breeder in Africa, the Middle East, South Asia, and Western Australia where it has established itself in the wild after being released from Perth Zoo in 1898. Th ...
, ''Spilopelia senegalensis''
Sandgrouse
Order:
Pterocliformes
Sandgrouse is the common name for Pteroclidae , a family of sixteen species of bird, members of the order Pterocliformes . They are traditionally placed in two genera. The two central Asian species are classified as '' Syrrhaptes'' and the othe ...
Family:
Pteroclidae
Sandgrouse is the common name for Pteroclidae , a family of sixteen species of bird, members of the order Pterocliformes . They are traditionally placed in two genera. The two central Asian species are classified as '' Syrrhaptes'' and the othe ...
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.
*
Tibetan sandgrouse
The Tibetan sandgrouse (''Syrrhaptes tibetanus'') is a large bird in the sandgrouse family. The genus name ''Syrrhaptes'' is from Ancient Greek ''surrhaptos'', "sewn together" (the feathered toes of this sandgrouse are fused together) and ''tib ...
, ''Syrrhaptes tibetanus''
*
Pin-tailed sandgrouse
The pin-tailed sandgrouse (''Pterocles alchata'') is a medium large bird in the sandgrouse family. It has a small, pigeon like head and neck and a sturdy, compact body. It has long pointed wings, which are white underneath, a long tail and a fast ...
, ''Pterocles alchata''
*
Spotted sandgrouse
The spotted sandgrouse (''Pterocles senegallus'') is a species of ground dwelling bird in the family Pteroclidae. It is found in arid regions of northern and eastern Africa and across the Middle East and parts of Asia as far east as northwest I ...
, ''Pterocles senegallus'' (A)
*
Black-bellied sandgrouse, ''Pterocles orientalis''
*
Crowned sandgrouse
The crowned sandgrouse (''Pterocles coronatus'') is a species of bird in the sandgrouse family, the Pteroclidae from North Africa and the Middle East.
Description
A fairly small sandgrouse which appears rather uniformly coloured from a distance ...
, ''Pterocles coronatus''
*
Lichtenstein's sandgrouse
Lichtenstein's sandgrouse (''Pterocles lichtensteinii'') is a species of bird in the Pteroclidae family, which is named after Martin Lichtenstein. They are nomadic, mostly nocturnal birds, which drink before dawn and after dusk.
Range
The speci ...
, ''Pterocles lichtensteinii''
Bustards
Order:
OtidiformesFamily:
Otididae
Bustards, including floricans and korhaans, are large, terrestrial birds living mainly in dry grassland areas and on the steppes of the Old World. They range in length from . They make up the family Otididae (, formerly known as Otidae). Bustard ...
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.
*
Great bustard
The great bustard (''Otis tarda'') is a bird in the bustard family, the only member of the genus ''Otis''. It breeds in open grasslands and farmland from northern Morocco, South and Central Europe, to temperate Central and East Asia. European po ...
, ''Otis tarda''
*
Macqueen's bustard
MacQueen's bustard (''Chlamydotis macqueenii'') is a large bird in the bustard family. It is native to the desert and steppe regions of Asia, west from the Sinai Peninsula extending across Kazakhstan east to Mongolia. In the 19th century, vagrant ...
, ''Chlamydotis macqueenii''
*
Little bustard
The little bustard (''Tetrax tetrax'') is a bird in the bustard family, the only member of the genus ''Tetrax''. The genus name is from Ancient Greek and refers to a gamebird mentioned by Aristophanes and others. Distribution
It breeds in Southe ...
, ''Tetrax tetrax''
Cuckoos
Order:
Cuculiformes
Cuckoos are birds in the Cuculidae family, the sole taxon in the order Cuculiformes . The cuckoo family includes the common or European cuckoo, roadrunners, koels, malkohas, couas, coucals and anis. The coucals and anis are sometimes separa ...
Family:
Cuculidae
Cuckoos are birds in the Cuculidae family, the sole taxon in the order Cuculiformes . The cuckoo family includes the common or European cuckoo, roadrunners, koels, malkohas, couas, coucals and anis. The coucals and anis are sometimes separa ...
The family Cuculidae includes
cuckoo
Cuckoos are birds in the Cuculidae family, the sole taxon in the order Cuculiformes . The cuckoo family includes the common or European cuckoo, roadrunners, koels, malkohas, couas, coucals and anis. The coucals and anis are sometimes separ ...
s,
roadrunner
The roadrunners (genus ''Geococcyx''), also known as chaparral birds or chaparral cocks, are two species of fast-running ground cuckoos with long tails and crests. They are found in the southwestern and south-central United States and Mexico, us ...
s and
anis. These birds are of variable size with slender bodies, long tails and strong legs.
*
Pied cuckoo
The Jacobin cuckoo (''Clamator jacobinus''), also pied cuckoo or pied crested cuckoo, is a member of the cuckoo order of birds that is found in Africa and Asia. It is partially migratory and in India, it has been considered a harbinger of the mons ...
, ''Clamator jacobinus'' (A)
*
Asian koel
The Asian koel (''Eudynamys scolopaceus'') is a member of the cuckoo order of birds, the Cuculiformes. It is found in the Indian Subcontinent, China, and Southeast Asia. It forms a superspecies with the closely related black-billed koels, and ...
, ''Eudynamys scolopaceus''
*
Lesser cuckoo
The lesser cuckoo (''Cuculus poliocephalus'') is a species of cuckoo in the family Cuculidae.
It is found in Bangladesh, Bhutan, China, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Hong Kong, India, Japan, Kenya, North Korea, South Korea, Laos, Malawi, Mya ...
, ''Cuculus poliocephalus''
*
Common cuckoo
The common cuckoo (''Cuculus canorus'') is a member of the cuckoo order of birds, Cuculiformes, which includes the roadrunners, the anis and the coucals.
This species is a widespread summer migrant to Europe and Asia, and winters in Africa. I ...
, ''Cuculus canorus''
Nightjars and allies
Order:
Caprimulgiformes
Nightjars are medium-sized nocturnal or crepuscular birds in the family Caprimulgidae and order Caprimulgiformes, characterised by long wings, short legs, and very short bills. They are sometimes called goatsuckers, due to the ancient folk tal ...
Family:
Caprimulgidae
Nightjar
Nightjars are medium-sized nocturnal or crepuscular birds in the family Caprimulgidae and order Caprimulgiformes, characterised by long wings, short legs, and very short bills. They are sometimes called goatsuckers, due to the ancient folk ta ...
s 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.
*
Eurasian nightjar, ''Caprimulgus europaeus''
*
Egyptian nightjar
The Egyptian nightjar (''Caprimulgus aegyptius'') is a medium-small nightjar which occurs in south west Asia and north Africa and winters in tropical Africa. This is a fairly common species with a wide distribution which faces no obvious threats ...
, ''Caprimulgus aegyptius''
*
Sykes's nightjar
The Sykes's nightjar, Sykes' nightjar, Sind nightjar or Sindh nightjar (''Caprimulgus mahrattensis'') is a nightjar species found in northwestern South Asia.
The name commemorates Colonel William Henry Sykes
Colonel William Henry Sykes, FR ...
, ''Caprimulgus mahrattensis''
*
Indian nightjar, ''Caprimulgus asiaticus''
Swifts
Order:
Caprimulgiformes
Nightjars are medium-sized nocturnal or crepuscular birds in the family Caprimulgidae and order Caprimulgiformes, characterised by long wings, short legs, and very short bills. They are sometimes called goatsuckers, due to the ancient folk tal ...
Family:
Apodidae
The swifts are a family, Apodidae, of highly aerial birds. They are superficially similar to swallows, but are not closely related to any passerine species. Swifts are placed in the order Apodiformes with hummingbirds. The treeswifts are closely ...
Swift
Swift or SWIFT most commonly refers to:
* SWIFT, an international organization facilitating transactions between banks
** SWIFT code
* Swift (programming language)
* Swift (bird), a family of birds
It may also refer to:
Organizations
* SWIFT, ...
s 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'' (A)
*
Alpine swift, ''Apus melba''
*
Common swift
The common swift (''Apus apus'') is a medium-sized bird, superficially similar to the barn swallow or house martin but somewhat larger, though not stemming from those passerine species, being in the order Apodiformes. The resemblances between t ...
, ''Apus apus''
*
Little swift
The little swift (''Apus affinis''), is a small species of swift found in Africa and southwestern Asia, and are vagrants and local breeders in southern Europe. They are found both in urban areas and at rocky cliffs where they build nests in a wa ...
, ''Apus affinis''
Rails, gallinules and coots
Order:
Gruiformes
The Gruiformes are an order (biology), order containing a considerable number of living and extinct bird family (biology), families, with a widespread geographical diversity. Gruiform means "crane-like".
Traditionally, a number of wading and t ...
Family:
Rallidae
The rails, or Rallidae, are a large cosmopolitan family of small- to medium-sized, ground-living birds. The family exhibits considerable diversity and includes the crakes, coots, and gallinules. Many species are associated with wetlands, althoug ...
Rallidae is a large family of small to medium-sized birds which includes the
rails
Rail or rails may refer to:
Rail transport
*Rail transport and related matters
*Rail (rail transport) or railway lines, the running surface of a railway
Arts and media Film
* ''Rails'' (film), a 1929 Italian film by Mario Camerini
* ''Rail'' ( ...
,
crakes,
coot
Coots are medium-sized water birds that are members of the rail family, Rallidae. They constitute the genus ''Fulica'', the name being the Latin term for "coot". Coots have predominantly black plumage, and—unlike many rails—they are usually ...
s and
gallinule
Moorhens—sometimes called marsh hens—are medium-sized water birds that are members of the rail family (Rallidae). Most species are placed in the genus ''Gallinula'', Latin for "little hen".
They are close relatives of coots. They are of ...
s. 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
The water rail (''Rallus aquaticus'') is a bird of the Rallidae, rail family which breeds in well-vegetated wetlands across Europe, Asia and North Africa. Northern and eastern populations are bird migration, migratory, but this species is a perma ...
, ''Rallus aquaticus''
*
Corn crake
The corn crake, corncrake or landrail (''Crex crex'') is a bird in the rail family. It breeds in Europe and Asia as far east as western China, and migrates to Africa for the Northern Hemisphere's winter. It is a medium-sized crake with buff- ...
, ''Crex crex''
*
Spotted crake
The spotted crake (''Porzana porzana'') is a small waterbird of the family Rallidae. The scientific name is derived from Venetian terms for small rails.
The spotted crake's breeding habitat is marshes and sedge beds across temperate Europe into ...
, ''Porzana porzana''
*
Eurasian moorhen, ''Gallinula chloropus''
*
Eurasian coot
The Eurasian coot (''Fulica atra''), also known as the common coot, or Australian coot, is a member of the rail and crake bird family, the Rallidae. It is found in Europe, Asia, Australia, New Zealand and parts of North Africa. It has a slaty-bla ...
, ''Fulica atra''
*
Gray-headed swamphen, ''Porphyrio poliocephalus''
*
Ruddy-breasted crake
The ruddy-breasted crake (''Zapornia fusca''), or ruddy crake, is a waterbird in the rail and crake family Rallidae.
Its breeding habitat is swamps and similar wet areas across South Asia from the Indian subcontinent east to south China, Japa ...
, ''Zapornia fusca'' (A)
*
Little crake
The little crake (''Zapornia parva'') is a very small waterbird of the family Rallidae. ''parva'' is Latin for "small".
Its breeding habitat is reed beds in Europe, mainly in the east, and just into western Asia. This species is migratory, wi ...
, ''Zapornia parva''
*
Baillon's crake
Baillon's crake (''Zapornia pusilla''), also known as the marsh crake, is a small waterbird of the family Rallidae.
Distribution
Their breeding habitat is sedge beds in Europe, mainly in the east, and across the Palearctic. They used to breed i ...
, ''Zapornia pusilla''
Cranes
Order:
Gruiformes
The Gruiformes are an order (biology), order containing a considerable number of living and extinct bird family (biology), families, with a widespread geographical diversity. Gruiform means "crane-like".
Traditionally, a number of wading and t ...
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".
*
Demoiselle crane
The demoiselle crane (''Grus virgo'') is a species of crane found in central Eurosiberia, ranging from the Black Sea to Mongolia and North Eastern China. There is also a small breeding population in Turkey. These cranes are migratory birds. Bir ...
, ''Anthropoides virgo''
*
Siberian crane
The Siberian crane (''Leucogeranus leucogeranus''), also known as the Siberian white crane or the snow crane, is a bird of the family Gruidae, the cranes. They are distinctive among the cranes: adults are nearly all snowy white, except for their ...
, ''Leucogeranus leucogeranus'' (A) (possibly extirpated)
[BirdLife International. 2018. Leucogeranus leucogeranus. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2018: e.T22692053A134180990. https://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2018-2.RLTS.T22692053A134180990.en. Downloaded on 03 April 2021.]
*
Common crane
The common crane (''Grus grus''), also known as the Eurasian crane, is a bird of the family Gruidae, the cranes. A medium-sized species, it is the only crane commonly found in Europe besides the demoiselle crane (''Grus virgo'') and the Siberi ...
, ''Grus grus''
Thick-knees
Order:
Charadriiformes
Charadriiformes (, from ''Charadrius'', the type genus of family Charadriidae) is a diverse order of small to medium-large birds. It includes about 390 species and has members in all parts of the world. Most charadriiform birds live near water an ...
Family:
Burhinidae
The stone-curlews, also known as dikkops or thick-knees, consist of 10 species within the family Burhinidae, and are found throughout the tropical and temperate parts of the world, with two or more species occurring in some areas of Africa, Asia, ...
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.
*
Eurasian thick-knee, ''Burhinus oedicnemus''
Stilts and avocets
Order:
Charadriiformes
Charadriiformes (, from ''Charadrius'', the type genus of family Charadriidae) is a diverse order of small to medium-large birds. It includes about 390 species and has members in all parts of the world. Most charadriiform birds live near water an ...
Family:
Recurvirostridae
The Recurvirostridae are a family of birds in the wader suborder Charadrii. It contains two distinct groups of birds, the avocets (one genus) and the stilts (two genera).
Description
Avocets and stilts range in length from and in weight fro ...
Recurvirostridae is a family of large wading birds, which includes the
avocet
The four species of avocets are a genus, ''Recurvirostra'', of waders in the same avian family as the stilts. The genus name comes from Latin , 'curved backwards' and , 'bill'. The common name is thought to derive from the Italian ( Ferrarese) w ...
s and
stilt
Stilt is a common name for several species of birds in the family Recurvirostridae, which also includes those known as avocets. They are found in brackish or saline wetlands in warm or hot climates.
They have extremely long legs, hence the grou ...
s. The avocets have long legs and long up-curved bills. The stilts have extremely long legs and long, thin, straight bills.
*
Black-winged stilt
The black-winged stilt (''Himantopus himantopus'') is a widely distributed very long-legged wader in the avocet and stilt family (Recurvirostridae). The scientific name ''H. himantopus'' is sometimes applied to a single, almost cosmopolitan speci ...
, ''Himantopus himantopus''
*
Pied avocet
The pied avocet (''Recurvirostra avosetta'') is a large black and white wader in the avocet and stilt family, Recurvirostridae. They breed in temperate Europe and across the Palearctic to Central Asia then on to the Russian Far East. It is a mig ...
, ''Recurvirostra avosetta''
Ibisbill
Order:
Charadriiformes
Charadriiformes (, from ''Charadrius'', the type genus of family Charadriidae) is a diverse order of small to medium-large birds. It includes about 390 species and has members in all parts of the world. Most charadriiform birds live near water an ...
Family:
Ibidorhynchidae
The ibisbill is related to the
wader
245px, A flock of Dunlins and Red knots">Red_knot.html" ;"title="Dunlins and Red knot">Dunlins and Red knots
Waders or shorebirds are birds of the order Charadriiformes commonly found wikt:wade#Etymology 1, wading along shorelines and mudflat ...
s, but is sufficiently distinctive to be a family unto itself. The adult is gray with a white belly, red legs, a long down curved bill, and a black face and breast band.
*
Ibisbill
The ibisbill (''Ibidorhyncha struthersii'') is a bird related to the waders, but sufficiently distinctive to merit its own family Ibidorhynchidae. It is grey with a white belly, red legs and long down-curved bill, and a black face and black breas ...
, ''Ibidorhyncha struthersii'' (A)
Oystercatchers
Order:
Charadriiformes
Charadriiformes (, from ''Charadrius'', the type genus of family Charadriidae) is a diverse order of small to medium-large birds. It includes about 390 species and has members in all parts of the world. Most charadriiform birds live near water an ...
Family:
Haematopodidae
The
oystercatcher
The oystercatchers are a group of waders forming the family Haematopodidae, which has a single genus, ''Haematopus''. They are found on coasts worldwide apart from the polar regions and some tropical regions of Africa and South East Asia. The e ...
s are large and noisy
plover
Plovers ( , ) are a widely distributed group of wading birds belonging to the subfamily Charadriinae.
Description
There are about 66 species in the subfamily, most of them called "plover" or "dotterel". The closely related lapwing subfa ...
-like birds, with strong bills used for smashing or prising open
mollusc
Mollusca is the second-largest phylum of invertebrate animals after the Arthropoda, the members of which are known as molluscs or mollusks (). Around 85,000 extant species of molluscs are recognized. The number of fossil species is esti ...
s.
*
Eurasian oystercatcher
The Eurasian oystercatcher (''Haematopus ostralegus'') also known as the common pied oystercatcher, or palaearctic oystercatcher, or (in Europe) just oystercatcher, is a wader in the oystercatcher bird family Haematopodidae. It is the most widesp ...
, ''Haematopus ostralegus''
Plovers and lapwings
Order:
Charadriiformes
Charadriiformes (, from ''Charadrius'', the type genus of family Charadriidae) is a diverse order of small to medium-large birds. It includes about 390 species and has members in all parts of the world. Most charadriiform birds live near water an ...
Family:
Charadriidae
The bird family Charadriidae includes the plovers, dotterels, and lapwings, about 64 to 68 species in all.
Taxonomy
The family Charadriidae was introduced (as Charadriadæ) by the English zoologist William Elford Leach in a guide to the con ...
The family Charadriidae includes the
plover
Plovers ( , ) are a widely distributed group of wading birds belonging to the subfamily Charadriinae.
Description
There are about 66 species in the subfamily, most of them called "plover" or "dotterel". The closely related lapwing subfa ...
s,
dotterel
The Eurasian dotterel (''Charadrius morinellus''), also known in Europe as just dotterel, is a small wader in the plover family of birds.
The dotterel is a brown and black streaked bird with a broad white eye-stripe and an orange-red chest ban ...
s and
lapwing
Lapwings (subfamily Vanellinae) are any of various ground-nesting birds (family Charadriidae) akin to plovers and dotterels. They range from in length, and are noted for their slow, irregular wingbeats in flight and a shrill, wailing cry. A gro ...
s. 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
The grey plover or black-bellied plover (''Pluvialis squatarola'') is a large plover breeding in Arctic regions. It is a long-distance migrant, with a nearly worldwide coastal distribution when not breeding.
Taxonomy
The grey plover was forma ...
, ''Pluvialis squatarola''
*
Pacific golden-plover, ''Pluvialis fulva'' (A)
*
Northern lapwing
The northern lapwing (''Vanellus vanellus''), also known as the peewit or pewit, tuit or tew-it, green plover, or (in Ireland and Britain) pyewipe or just lapwing, is a bird in the lapwing subfamily. It is common through temperate Eurosiberia. ...
, ''Vanellus vanellus''
*
Red-wattled lapwing
The red-wattled lapwing (''Vanellus indicus'') is an Asian lapwing or large plover, a wader in the family Charadriidae. Like other lapwings they are ground birds that are incapable of perching. Their characteristic loud alarm calls are indicat ...
, ''Vanellus indicus''
*
Sociable lapwing
The sociable lapwing (''Vanellus gregarius''), historically referred to as the sociable plover, is a wader in the plover family. It is a fully migratory bird, breeding in Kazakhstan and wintering in the Middle East, Indian Subcontinent, and Suda ...
, ''Vanellus gregarius''
*
White-tailed lapwing
The white-tailed lapwing or white-tailed plover (''Vanellus leucurus'') is a wader in the lapwing genus. The genus name ''Vanellus'' is Medieval Latin for a lapwing and derives from ''vannus'' a winnowing fan. The specific ''leucurus'' is from A ...
, ''Vanellus leucurus''
*
Lesser sand-plover
The lesser sand plover (''Charadrius mongolus'') is a small wader in the plover family of birds. The spelling is commonly given as lesser sand-plover, but the official British Ornithologists' Union spelling is "lesser sand plover". The genus ...
, ''Charadrius mongolus''
*
Greater sand-plover
The greater sand plover (''Charadrius leschenaultii'') is a small wader in the plover family of birds. The spelling is commonly given as "greater sandplover" or "greater sand-plover", but the official British Ornithologists' Union spelling is "Gre ...
, ''Charadrius leschenaultii''
*
Caspian plover
The Caspian plover (''Charadrius asiaticus'') is a wader in the plover family of birds. The genus name ''Charadrius'' is a Late Latin word for a yellowish bird mentioned in the fourth-century Vulgate. It derives from Ancient Greek ''kharadrios'' ...
, ''Charadrius asiaticus''
*
Kentish plover
The Kentish plover (''Charadrius alexandrinus'') is a small cosmopolitan shorebird (40-44 g) of the family Charadriidae that breeds on the shores of saline lakes, lagoons, and coasts, populating sand dunes, marshes, semi-arid desert, and tundra.S ...
, ''Charadrius alexandrinus''
*
Common ringed plover
The common ringed plover or ringed plover (''Charadrius hiaticula'') is a small plover that breeds in Arctic Eurasia. The genus name ''Charadrius'' is a Late Latin word for a yellowish bird mentioned in the fourth-century Vulgate. It derives from ...
, ''Charadrius hiaticula''
*
Little ringed plover
The little ringed plover (''Charadrius dubius'') is a small plover. The genus name ''Charadrius'' is a Late Latin word for a yellowish bird mentioned in the fourth-century Vulgate. It derives from Ancient Greek ''kharadrios'' a bird found in river ...
, ''Charadrius dubius''
Painted-snipes
Order:
Charadriiformes
Charadriiformes (, from ''Charadrius'', the type genus of family Charadriidae) is a diverse order of small to medium-large birds. It includes about 390 species and has members in all parts of the world. Most charadriiform birds live near water an ...
Family:
Rostratulidae
Painted-snipes are short-legged, long-billed birds similar in shape to the true snipes, but more brightly coloured.
*
Greater painted-snipe
The greater painted-snipe (''Rostratula benghalensis'') is a species of wader in the family Rostratulidae. It is found in marshes in Africa, South Asia and South-east Asia.
Description
Medium-sized, plump wading bird. Long reddish-brown bill, s ...
, ''Rostratula benghalensis''
Jacanas
Order:
Charadriiformes
Charadriiformes (, from ''Charadrius'', the type genus of family Charadriidae) is a diverse order of small to medium-large birds. It includes about 390 species and has members in all parts of the world. Most charadriiform birds live near water an ...
Family:
Jacanidae
The jacanas (sometimes referred to as Jesus birds or lily trotters) are a group of tropical waders in the family Jacanidae. They are found in the tropical regions around the world. They are noted for their elongated toes and toenails that allow ...
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.
*
Pheasant-tailed jacana
The pheasant-tailed jacana (''Hydrophasianus chirurgus'') is a jacana in the monotypic genus ''Hydrophasianus''. Like all other jacanas, they have elongated toes and nails that enable them to walk on floating vegetation in shallow lakes, their p ...
, ''Hydrophasianus chirurgus''
Sandpipers and allies
Order:
Charadriiformes
Charadriiformes (, from ''Charadrius'', the type genus of family Charadriidae) is a diverse order of small to medium-large birds. It includes about 390 species and has members in all parts of the world. Most charadriiform birds live near water an ...
Family:
Scolopacidae
Sandpipers are a large family, Scolopacidae, of waders. They include many species called sandpipers, as well as those called by names such as curlew and snipe. The majority of these species eat small invertebrates picked out of the mud or soil. ...
Scolopacidae is a large diverse family of small to medium-sized shorebirds including the
sandpiper
Sandpipers are a large family, Scolopacidae, of waders. They include many species called sandpipers, as well as those called by names such as curlew and snipe. The majority of these species eat small invertebrates picked out of the mud or soil. ...
s,
curlew
The curlews () are a group of nine species of birds in the genus ''Numenius'', characterised by their long, slender, downcurved bills and mottled brown plumage. The English name is imitative of the Eurasian curlew's call, but may have been in ...
s,
godwit
The godwits are a group of large, long-billed, long-legged and strongly migratory waders of the bird genus ''Limosa''. Their long bills allow them to probe deeply in the sand for aquatic worms and molluscs. In their winter range, they floc ...
s,
shanks,
tattlers,
woodcock
The woodcocks are a group of seven or eight very similar living species of wading birds in the genus ''Scolopax''. The genus name is Latin for a snipe or woodcock, and until around 1800 was used to refer to a variety of waders. The English name ...
s,
snipe
A snipe is any of about 26 wading bird species in three genera in the family Scolopacidae. They are characterized by a very long, slender bill, eyes placed high on the head, and cryptic/camouflaging plumage. The ''Gallinago'' snipes have a near ...
s,
dowitcher
The three dowitchers are medium-sized long-billed wading birds in the genus ''Limnodromus''. The English name "dowitchers" is from Iroquois, recorded in English by the 1830s. The OED's earliest example is from 1841, but full-text searching giv ...
s and
phalarope
__NOTOC__
A phalarope is any of three living species of slender-necked shorebirds in the genus ''Phalaropus'' of the bird family Scolopacidae.
Phalaropes are close relatives of the shanks and tattlers, the ''Actitis'' and Terek sandpipers, a ...
s. 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. There are 27 species which have been recorded in Afghanistan.
*
Whimbrel, ''Numenius phaeopus''
*
Far Eastern curlew
The Far Eastern curlew (''Numenius madagascariensis'') is a large shorebird most similar in appearance to the long-billed curlew, but slightly larger. It is mostly brown in color, differentiated from other curlews by its plain, unpatterned brown ...
, ''Numenius madagascariensis'' (A)
*
Eurasian curlew
The Eurasian curlew or common curlew (''Numenius arquata'') is a very large wader in the family Scolopacidae. It is one of the most widespread of the curlews, breeding across temperate Europe and Asia. In Europe, this species is often referred t ...
, ''Numenius arquata''
*
Bar-tailed godwit
The bar-tailed godwit (''Limosa lapponica'') is a large and strongly migratory wader in the family Scolopacidae, which feeds on bristle-worms and shellfish on coastal mudflats and estuaries. It has distinctive red breeding plumage, long legs, an ...
, ''Limosa lapponica''
*
Black-tailed godwit
The black-tailed godwit (''Limosa limosa'') is a large, long-legged, long-billed shorebird first described by Carl Linnaeus in 1758. It is a member of the godwit genus, ''Limosa''. There are four subspecies, all with orange head, neck and chest ...
, ''Limosa limosa''
*
Ruddy turnstone
The ruddy turnstone (''Arenaria interpres'') is a small cosmopolitan wading bird, one of two species of turnstone in the genus ''Arenaria''.
It is now classified in the sandpiper family Scolopacidae but was formerly sometimes placed in the plov ...
, ''Arenaria interpres''
*Ruff (bird), Ruff, ''Calidris pugnax''
*Broad-billed sandpiper, ''Calidris falcinellus'' (A)
*Curlew sandpiper, ''Calidris ferruginea''
*Temminck's stint, ''Calidris temminckii''
*Sanderling, ''Calidris alba''
*Dunlin, ''Calidris alpina''
*Little stint, ''Calidris minuta''
*Jack snipe, ''Lymnocryptes minimus''
*Eurasian woodcock, ''Scolopax rusticola''
*Solitary snipe, ''Gallinago solitaria''
*Common snipe, ''Gallinago gallinago''
*Pin-tailed snipe, ''Gallinago stenura'' (A)
*Terek sandpiper, ''Xenus cinereus''
*Red-necked phalarope, ''Phalaropus lobatus''
*Common sandpiper, ''Actitis hypoleucos''
*Green sandpiper, ''Tringa ochropus''
*Spotted redshank, ''Tringa erythropus''
*Common greenshank, ''Tringa nebularia''
*Marsh sandpiper, ''Tringa stagnatilis'' (A)
*Wood sandpiper, ''Tringa glareola''
*Common redshank, ''Tringa totanus''
Pratincoles and coursers
Order:
Charadriiformes
Charadriiformes (, from ''Charadrius'', the type genus of family Charadriidae) is a diverse order of small to medium-large birds. It includes about 390 species and has members in all parts of the world. Most charadriiform birds live near water an ...
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.
*Cream-colored courser, ''Cursorius cursor''
*Collared pratincole, ''Glareola pratincola'' (A)
*Small pratincole, ''Glareola lactea'' (A)
Gulls, terns, and skimmers
Order:
Charadriiformes
Charadriiformes (, from ''Charadrius'', the type genus of family Charadriidae) is a diverse order of small to medium-large birds. It includes about 390 species and has members in all parts of the world. Most charadriiform birds live near water an ...
Family: Laridae
Laridae is a family of medium to large seabirds, the gulls, terns, and Skimmer (bird), skimmers. Gulls are typically grey 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 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 known to live in excess of 30 years.
*Slender-billed gull, ''Chroicocephalus genei''
*Black-headed gull, ''Chroicocephalus ridibundus''
*Brown-headed gull, ''Chroicocephalus brunnicephalus'' (A)
*Little gull, ''Hydrocoloeus minutus'' (A)
*Pallas's gull, ''Ichthyaetus ichthyaetus''
*Common gull, ''Larus canus'' (A)
*Lesser black-backed gull, ''Larus fuscus''
*Little tern, ''Sternula albifrons''
*Gull-billed tern, ''Gelochelidon nilotica''
*Caspian tern, ''Hydroprogne caspia''
*Black tern, ''Chlidonias niger'' (A)
*White-winged tern, ''Chlidonias leucopterus''
*Whiskered tern, ''Chlidonias hybrida'' (A)
*Common tern, ''Sterna hirundo''
*River tern, ''Sterna aurantia'' (A)
Storks
Order: CiconiiformesFamily: Ciconiidae
Storks are large, long-legged, long-necked, wading birds with long, stout bills. Storks are mute, but bill-clattering is an important mode of communication at the nest. Their nests can be large and may be reused for many years. Many species are migratory.
*Black stork, ''Ciconia nigra''
*White stork, ''Ciconia ciconia''
Cormorants and shags
Order: SuliformesFamily: Phalacrocoracidae
Phalacrocoracidae is a family of medium to large coastal, fish-eating seabirds that includes cormorants and shags. Plumage colouration varies, with the majority having mainly dark plumage, some species being black-and-white and a few being colourful.
*Little cormorant, ''Microcarbo niger'' (A)
*Pygmy cormorant, ''Microcarbo pygmeus''
*Great cormorant, ''Phalacrocorax carbo''
*Indian cormorant, ''Phalacrocorax fuscicollis'' (A)
Pelicans
Order: PelecaniformesFamily: Pelecanidae
Pelicans are large water birds with a distinctive pouch under their beak. As with other members of the order Pelecaniformes, they have webbed feet with four toes.
*Great white pelican, ''Pelecanus onocrotalus''
*Dalmatian pelican, ''Pelecanus crispus''
Herons, egrets, and bitterns
Order: PelecaniformesFamily: 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. Members of Ardeidae fly with their necks retracted, unlike other long-necked birds such as storks, ibises and spoonbills.
*Great bittern, ''Botaurus stellaris''
*Little bittern, ''Ixobrychus minutus''
*Cinnamon bittern, ''Ixobrychus cinnamomeus'' (A)
*Gray heron, ''Ardea cinerea''
*Purple heron, ''Ardea purpurea''
*Great egret, ''Ardea alba''
*Little egret, ''Egretta garzetta'' (A)
*Cattle egret, ''Bubulcus ibis'' (A)
*Squacco heron, ''Ardeola ralloides'' (A)'
*Black-crowned night-heron, ''Nycticorax nycticorax''
Ibises and spoonbills
Order: PelecaniformesFamily: Threskiornithidae
Threskiornithidae is a family of large terrestrial and wading birds which includes the ibises and spoonbills. They have long, broad wings with 11 primary and about 20 secondary feathers. They are strong fliers and despite their size and weight, very capable soarers.
*Glossy ibis, ''Plegadis falcinellus''
*Eurasian spoonbill, ''Platalea leucorodia''
Osprey
Order: AccipitriformesFamily: Pandionidae
The family Pandionidae contains only one species, the osprey. The osprey is a medium-large bird of prey, raptor which is a specialist fish-eater with a worldwide distribution.
*Osprey, ''Pandion haliaetus''
Hawks, eagles, and kites
Order: AccipitriformesFamily: Accipitridae
Accipitridae is a family of birds of prey, which includes hawks, eagles, Kite (bird), kites, Harrier (bird), harriers and Old World vultures. These birds have powerful hooked beaks for tearing flesh from their prey, strong legs, powerful talons and keen eyesight.
*Black-winged kite, ''Elanus caeruleus''
*Bearded vulture, ''Gypaetus barbatus''
*Egyptian vulture, ''Neophron percnopterus''
*European honey-buzzard, ''Pernis apivorus'' (A)
*Oriental honey-buzzard, ''Pernis ptilorhynchus''
*Cinereous vulture, ''Aegypius monachus''
*White-rumped vulture, ''Gyps bengalensis'' (A)
*Himalayan griffon, ''Gyps himalayensis''
*Eurasian griffon, ''Gyps fulvus''
*Short-toed snake-eagle, ''Circaetus gallicus''
*Greater spotted eagle, ''Clanga clanga''
*Booted eagle, ''Hieraaetus pennatus''
*Tawny eagle, ''Aquila rapax'' (A)
*Steppe eagle, ''Aquila nipalensis''
*Eastern imperial eagle, Imperial eagle, ''Aquila heliaca''
*Golden eagle, ''Aquila chrysaetos''
*Bonelli's eagle, ''Aquila fasciata'' (A)
*White-eyed buzzard, ''Butastur teesa'' (A)
*Eurasian marsh-harrier, ''Circus aeruginosus''
*Hen harrier, ''Circus cyaneus''
*Pallid harrier, ''Circus macrourus''
*Montagu's harrier, ''Circus pygargus''
*Shikra, ''Accipiter badius''
*Levant sparrowhawk, ''Accipiter brevipes'' (A)
*Eurasian sparrowhawk, ''Accipiter nisus''
*Northern goshawk, ''Accipiter gentilis''
*Black kite, ''Milvus migrans''
*White-tailed eagle, ''Haliaeetus albicilla''
*Pallas's fish-eagle, ''Haliaeetus leucoryphus''
*Rough-legged hawk, ''Buteo lagopus''
*Common buzzard, ''Buteo buteo''
*Long-legged buzzard, ''Buteo rufinus''
Barn-owls
Order: StrigiformesFamily: Tytonidae
Barn owls are medium to large owls with large heads and characteristic heart-shaped faces. They have long strong legs with powerful talons.
*Barn owl, ''Tyto alba'' (A)
Owls
Order: StrigiformesFamily: Strigidae
The 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.
*Indian scops-owl, ''Otus bakkamoena''
*Eurasian scops-owl, ''Otus scops''
*Pallid scops-owl, ''Otus brucei'' (A)
*Eurasian eagle-owl, ''Bubo bubo''
*Collared owlet, ''Taenioptynx brodiei''
*Little owl, ''Athene noctua''
*Tawny owl, ''Strix aluco''
*Long-eared owl, ''Asio otus''
*Short-eared owl, ''Asio flammeus''
*Boreal owl, ''Aegolius funereus'' (A)
Hoopoes
Order: BucerotiformesFamily: Upupidae
Hoopoes have black, white and orangey-pink colouring with a large erectile crest on their head.
*Eurasian hoopoe, ''Upupa epops''
Kingfishers
Order: CoraciiformesFamily: Alcedinidae
Kingfishers are medium-sized birds with large heads, long, pointed bills, short legs and stubby tails.
*Common kingfisher, ''Alcedo atthis''
*White-throated kingfisher, ''Halcyon smyrnensis''
*Crested kingfisher, ''Megaceryle lugubris''
*Pied kingfisher, ''Ceryle rudis''
Bee-eaters
Order: CoraciiformesFamily: Meropidae
The bee-eaters are a group of near passerine birds in the family Meropidae. Most species are found in Africa but others occur in southern Europe, Madagascar, Australia and New Guinea. They are characterised by richly coloured plumage, slender bodies and usually elongated central tail feathers. All are colourful and have long downturned bills and pointed wings, which give them a swallow-like appearance when seen from afar.
*Blue-cheeked bee-eater, ''Merops persicus''
*European bee-eater, ''Merops apiaster''
Rollers
Order: CoraciiformesFamily: Coraciidae
Rollers resemble crows in size and build, but are more closely related to the kingfishers and bee-eaters. They share the colourful appearance of those groups with blues and browns predominating. The two inner front toes are connected, but the outer toe is not.
*European roller, ''Coracias garrulus''
*Indian roller, ''Coracias benghalensis''
Woodpeckers
Order: PiciformesFamily: Picidae
Woodpeckers are small to medium-sized birds with chisel-like beaks, short legs, stiff tails and long tongues used for capturing insects. Some species have feet with two toes pointing forward and two backward, while several species have only three toes. Many woodpeckers have the habit of tapping noisily on tree trunks with their beaks.
*Eurasian wryneck, ''Jynx torquilla''
*Speckled piculet, ''Picumnus innominatus''
*Brown-fronted woodpecker, ''Dendrocoptes auriceps''
*White-winged woodpecker, ''Dendrocopos leucopterus''
*Himalayan woodpecker, ''Dendrocopos himalayensis''
*Scaly-bellied woodpecker, ''Picus squamatus''
Falcons and caracaras
Order: FalconiformesFamily: 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 talons.
*Lesser kestrel, ''Falco naumanni''
*Eurasian kestrel, ''Falco tinnunculus''
*Red-footed falcon, ''Falco vespertinus''
*Merlin (bird), Merlin, ''Falco columbarius''
*Eurasian hobby, ''Falco subbuteo''
*Laggar falcon, ''Falco jugger''
*Saker falcon, ''Falco cherrug''
*Gyrfalcon, ''Falco rusticolus'' (A)
*Peregrine falcon, ''Falco peregrinus''
Old World parrots
Order: PsittaciformesFamily: Psittaculidae
Old World parrots are small to large birds with a characteristic curved beak. Their upper mandibles have slight mobility in the joint with the skull and they have a generally erect stance. All parrots are zygodactyl, having the four toes on each foot placed two at the front and two to the back.
*Alexandrine parakeet, ''Psittacula eupatria'' (A)
*Rose-ringed parakeet, ''Psittacula krameri'' (I)
*Slaty-headed parakeet, ''Psittacula himalayana''
Cuckooshrikes
Order: PasseriformesFamily: Campephagidae
The cuckooshrikes are small to medium-sized passerine birds. They are predominantly greyish with white and black, although some species are brightly coloured.
*Long-tailed minivet, ''Pericrocotus ethologus''
*Rosy minivet, ''Pericrocotus roseus'' (A)
Old World orioles
Order: PasseriformesFamily: Oriolidae
The Old World orioles are colourful passerine birds. They are not related to the New World orioles.
*Eurasian golden oriole, ''Oriolus oriolus''
*Indian golden oriole, ''Oriolus kundoo''
Drongos
Order: PasseriformesFamily: Dicruridae
The drongos are mostly black or dark grey in colour, sometimes with metallic tints. They have long forked tails, and some Asian species have elaborate tail decorations. They have short legs and sit very upright when perched, like a shrike. They flycatch or take prey from the ground.
*Black drongo, ''Dicrurus macrocercus''
*Ashy drongo, ''Dicrurus leucophaeus''
Monarch flycatchers
Order: PasseriformesFamily: Monarchidae
The monarch flycatchers are small to medium-sized insectivorous passerines which hunt by flycatching.
*Indian paradise-flycatcher, ''Terpsiphone paradisi''
Shrikes
Order: PasseriformesFamily: Laniidae
Shrikes are passerine birds known for their habit of catching other birds and small animals and impaling the uneaten portions of their bodies on thorns. A typical shrike's beak is hooked, like a bird of prey.
*Red-backed shrike, ''Lanius collurio'' (A)
*Red-tailed shrike, ''Lanius phoenicuroides''
*Isabelline shrike, ''Lanius isabellinus''
*Brown shrike, ''Lanius cristatus'' (A)
*Bay-backed shrike, ''Lanius vittatus''
*Long-tailed shrike, ''Lanius schach''
*Great gray shrike, ''Lanius excubitor''
*Lesser gray shrike, ''Lanius minor''
*Woodchat shrike, ''Lanius senator'' (A)
Crows, jays, and magpies
Order: PasseriformesFamily: Corvidae
The family Corvidae includes crows, ravens, jays, choughs, magpies, treepies, nutcracker (bird), nutcrackers and ground jays. Corvids are above average in size among the Passeriformes, and some of the larger species show high levels of intelligence.
*Black-headed jay, ''Garrulus lanceolatus''
*Eurasian magpie, ''Pica pica''
*Eurasian nutcracker, ''Nucifraga caryocatactes''
*Kashmir nutcracker, ''Nucifraga multipunctata''
*Red-billed chough, ''Pyrrhocorax pyrrhocorax''
*Yellow-billed chough, ''Pyrrhocorax graculus''
*Eurasian jackdaw, ''Corvus monedula''
*House crow, ''Corvus splendens'' (A)
*Rook (bird), Rook, ''Corvus frugilegus''
*Carrion crow, ''Corvus corone''
*Hooded crow, ''Corvus cornix''
*Large-billed crow, ''Corvus macrorhynchos''
*Brown-necked raven, ''Corvus ruficollis''
*Common raven, ''Corvus corax''
Tits, chickadees, and titmice
Order: PasseriformesFamily: Paridae
The Paridae are mainly small stocky woodland species with short stout bills. Some have crests. They are adaptable birds, with a mixed diet including seeds and insects.
*Coal tit, ''Periparus ater''
*Rufous-naped tit, ''Periparus rufonuchalis''
*Azure tit, ''Cyanistes cyanus''
*Ground tit, ''Pseudopodoces humilis''
*Great tit, ''Parus major''
*Cinereous tit, ''Parus cinereus''
Penduline-tits
Order: PasseriformesFamily: Remizidae
The penduline-tits are a group of small passerine birds related to the true tits. They are insectivores.
*Eurasian penduline-tit, ''Remiz pendulinus''
*Black-headed penduline-tit, ''Remiz macronyx''
*White-crowned penduline-tit, ''Remiz coronatus''
Larks
Order: PasseriformesFamily: Alaudidae
Larks are small terrestrial birds with often extravagant songs and display flights. Most larks are fairly dull in appearance. Their food is insects and seeds.
*Greater hoopoe-lark, ''Alaemon alaudipes''
*Bar-tailed lark, ''Ammomanes cincturus''
*Desert lark, ''Ammomanes deserti''
*Horned lark, ''Eremophila alpestris''
*Greater short-toed lark, ''Calandrella brachydactyla''
*Hume's lark, ''Calandrella acutirostris''
*Bimaculated lark, ''Melanocorypha bimaculata''
*Calandra lark, ''Melanocorypha calandra''
*Turkestan short-toed lark, ''Alaudala heinei''
*Sand lark, ''Alaudala raytal'' (A)
*Wood lark, ''Lullula arborea'' (A)
*Eurasian skylark, ''Alauda arvensis''
*Oriental skylark, ''Alauda gulgula''
*Crested lark, ''Galerida cristata''
Bearded reedling
Order: PasseriformesFamily: Panuridae
This species, the only one in its family, is found in reed beds throughout temperate Europe and Asia.
*Bearded reedling, ''Panurus biarmicus''
Cisticolas and allies
Order: PasseriformesFamily: Cisticolidae
The Cisticolidae are warblers found mainly in warmer southern regions of the Old World. They are generally very small birds of drab brown or grey appearance found in open country such as grassland or scrub.
*Himalayan prinia, ''Prinia crinigera''
*Delicate prinia, ''Prinia lepida''
*Plain prinia, ''Prinia inornata'' (A)
*Zitting cisticola, ''Cisticola juncidis''
Reed warblers and allies
Order: PasseriformesFamily: Acrocephalidae
The members of this family are usually rather large for "warblers". Most are rather plain olivaceous brown above with much yellow to beige below. They are usually found in open woodland, reedbeds, or tall grass. The family occurs mostly in southern to western Eurasia and surroundings, but it also ranges far into the Pacific, with some species in Africa.
*Booted warbler, ''Iduna caligata''
*Sykes's warbler, ''Iduna rama''
*Eastern olivaceous warbler, ''Iduna pallida'' (A)
*Upcher's warbler, ''Hippolais languida''
*Moustached warbler, ''Acrocephalus melanopogon''
*Paddyfield warbler, ''Acrocephalus agricola''
*Blunt-winged warbler, ''Acrocephalus concinens''
*Blyth's reed warbler, ''Acrocephalus dumetorum''
*Large-billed reed warbler, ''Acrocephalus orinus''
*Eurasian reed warbler, ''Acrocephalus scirpaceus''
*Great reed warbler, ''Acrocephalus arundinaceus''
*Clamorous reed warbler, ''Acrocephalus stentoreus''
Grassbirds and allies
Order: PasseriformesFamily: Locustellidae
Locustellidae are a family of small insectivorous songbirds found mainly in Eurasia, Africa, and the Australian region. They are smallish birds with tails that are usually long and pointed, and tend to be drab brownish or buffy all over.
*Common grasshopper-warbler, ''Locustella naevia''
Swallows
Order: PasseriformesFamily: Hirundinidae
The family Hirundinidae is adapted to aerial feeding. They have a slender streamlined body, long pointed wings and a short bill with a wide gape. The feet are adapted to perching rather than walking, and the front toes are partially joined at the base.
*Gray-throated martin, ''Riparia chinensis''
*Bank swallow, ''Riparia riparia''
*Pale sand martin, ''Riparia diluta''
*Eurasian crag-martin, ''Ptyonoprogne rupestris''
*Rock martin, ''Ptyonoprogne fuligula''
*Barn swallow, ''Hirundo rustica''
*Wire-tailed swallow, ''Hirundo smithii''
*Red-rumped swallow, ''Cecropis daurica''
*Streak-throated swallow, ''Petrochelidon fluvicola''
*Common house-martin, ''Delichon urbicum''
*Asian house-martin, ''Delichon dasypus''
Bulbuls
Order: PasseriformesFamily: Pycnonotidae
Bulbuls are medium-sized songbirds. Some are colourful with yellow, red or orange vents, cheeks, throats or supercilia, but most are drab, with uniform olive-brown to black plumage. Some species have distinct crests.
*Red-vented bulbul, ''Pycnonotus cafer''
*White-eared bulbul, ''Pycnonotus leucotis''
*Himalayan bulbul, ''Pycnonotus leucogenys''
*Black bulbul, ''Hypsipetes leucocephalus''
Leaf warblers
Order: PasseriformesFamily: Phylloscopidae
Leaf warblers are a family of small insectivorous birds found mostly in Eurasia and ranging into Wallacea and Africa. The species are of various sizes, often green-plumaged above and yellow below, or more subdued with grayish-green to grayish-brown colors.
*Wood warbler, ''Phylloscopus sibilatrix'' (A)
*Hume's warbler, ''Phylloscopus humei''
*Brooks's leaf warbler, ''Phylloscopus subviridis''
*Pallas's leaf warbler, ''Phylloscopus proregulus''
*Lemon-rumped warbler, ''Phylloscopus chloronotus''
*Tytler's leaf warbler, ''Phylloscopus tytleri''
*Radde's warbler, ''Phylloscopus schwarzi''
*Sulphur-bellied warbler, ''Phylloscopus griseolus''
*Plain leaf warbler, ''Phylloscopus neglectus''
*Willow warbler, ''Phylloscopus trochilus''
*Mountain chiffchaff, ''Phylloscopus sindianus''
*Common chiffchaff, ''Phylloscopus collybita''
*Green warbler, ''Phylloscopus nitidus''
*Greenish warbler, ''Phylloscopus trochiloides''
*Arctic warbler, ''Phylloscopus borealis'' (A)
*Western crowned warbler, ''Phylloscopus occipitalis''
Bush warblers and allies
Order: PasseriformesFamily: Scotocercidae
The members of this family are found throughout Africa, Asia, and Polynesia. Their taxonomy is in flux, and some authorities place some genera in other families.
[Gill, F. and D. Donsker (Eds). 2019. IOC World Bird List (v 9.2). . http://www.worldbirdnames.org/ retrieved 22 June 2019]
*Scrub warbler, ''Scotocerca inquieta''
*Cetti's warbler, ''Cettia cetti''
Long-tailed tits
Order: PasseriformesFamily: Aegithalidae
Long-tailed tits are a group of small passerine birds with medium to long tails. They make woven bag nests in trees. Most eat a mixed diet which includes insects.
*White-cheeked tit, ''Aegithalos leucogenys''
Sylviid warblers, parrotbills, and allies
Order: PasseriformesFamily: Sylviidae
The family Sylviidae is a group of small insectivorous passerine birds. They mainly occur as breeding species, as the common name implies, in Europe, Asia and, to a lesser extent, Africa. Most are of generally undistinguished appearance, but many have distinctive songs.
*Garden warbler, ''Sylvia borin'' (A)
*Asian desert warbler, ''Curruca nana''
*Barred warbler, ''Curruca nisoria'' (A)
*Lesser whitethroat, ''Curruca curruca''
*Eastern Orphean warbler, ''Curruca crassirostris''
*Menetries's warbler, ''Curruca mystacea''
*Greater whitethroat, ''Curruca communis''
White-eyes, yuhinas, and allies
Order: PasseriformesFamily: Zosteropidae
The white-eyes are small and mostly undistinguished, their plumage above being generally some dull colour like greenish-olive, but some species have a white or bright yellow throat, breast or lower parts, and several have buff flanks. As their name suggests, many species have a white ring around each eye.
*Indian white-eye, ''Zosterops palpebrosus''
Laughingthrushes
Order: PasseriformesFamily: Leiothrichidae
The members of this family are diverse in size and coloration, though those of genus ''Turdoides'' tend to be brown or grayish. The family is found in Africa, India, and southeast Asia.
*Afghan babbler, ''Argya huttoni''
*Common babbler, ''Argya caudata'' (A)
*Streaked laughingthrush, ''Trochalopteron lineatus''
*Variegated laughingthrush, ''Trochalopteron variegatus''
Kinglets
Order: PasseriformesFamily: Regulidae
The kinglets, also called crests, are a small group of birds often included in the Old World warblers, but frequently given family status because they also resemble the titmouse, titmice.
*Goldcrest, ''Regulus regulus''
Wallcreeper
Order: PasseriformesFamily: Tichodromidae
The wallcreeper is a small bird related to the nuthatch family, which has stunning crimson, grey and black plumage.
*Wallcreeper, ''Tichodroma muraria''
Nuthatches
Order: PasseriformesFamily: Sittidae
Nuthatches are small woodland birds. They have the unusual ability to climb down trees head first, unlike other birds which can only go upwards. Nuthatches have big heads, short tails and powerful bills and feet.
*Eurasian nuthatch, ''Sitta europaea''
*Kashmir nuthatch, ''Sitta cashmirensis''
*White-cheeked nuthatch, ''Sitta leucopsis''
*Eastern rock nuthatch, ''Sitta tephronota''
Treecreepers
Order: PasseriformesFamily: Certhiidae
Treecreepers are small woodland birds, brown above and white below. They have thin pointed down-curved bills, which they use to extricate insects from bark. They have stiff tail feathers, like woodpeckers, which they use to support themselves on vertical trees.
*Bar-tailed treecreeper, ''Certhia himalayana''
Wrens
Order: PasseriformesFamily: Troglodytidae
The wrens are mainly small and inconspicuous except for their loud songs. These birds have short wings and thin down-turned bills. Several species often hold their tails upright. All are insectivorous.
*Eurasian wren, ''Troglodytes troglodytes''
Dippers
Order: PasseriformesFamily: Cinclidae
Dippers are a group of perching birds whose habitat includes aquatic environments in the Americas, Europe and Asia. They are named for their bobbing or dipping movements.
*White-throated dipper, ''Cinclus cinclus''
*Brown dipper, ''Cinclus pallasii''
Starlings
Order: PasseriformesFamily: Sturnidae
Starlings are small to medium-sized passerine birds. Their flight is strong and direct and they are very gregarious. Their preferred habitat is fairly open country. They eat insects and fruit. Plumage is typically dark with a metallic sheen.
*European starling, ''Sturnus vulgaris''
*Rosy starling, ''Pastor roseus''
*Brahminy starling, ''Sturnia pagodarum''
*Common myna, ''Acridotheres tristis''
*Bank myna, ''Acridotheres ginginianus'' (A)
Thrushes and allies
Order: PasseriformesFamily: Turdidae
The Thrush (bird), thrushes are a group of passerine birds that occur mainly in the Old World. They are plump, soft plumaged, small to medium-sized insectivores or sometimes omnivores, often feeding on the ground. Many have attractive songs.
*Mistle thrush, ''Turdus viscivorus''
*Redwing, ''Turdus iliacus''
*Eurasian blackbird, ''Turdus merula''
*Tickell's thrush, ''Turdus unicolor''
*Fieldfare, ''Turdus pilaris'' (A)
*Chestnut thrush, ''Turdus rubrocanus''
*Black-throated thrush, ''Turdus atrogularis''
*Red-throated thrush, ''Turdus ruficollis'' (A)
Old World flycatchers
Order: PasseriformesFamily: Muscicapidae
Old World flycatchers are a large group of small passerine birds native to the Old World. They are mainly small arboreal insectivores. The appearance of these birds is highly varied, but they mostly have weak songs and harsh calls.
*Dark-sided flycatcher, ''Muscicapa sibirica''
*Spotted flycatcher, ''Muscicapa striata''
*Rufous-tailed scrub-robin, ''Cercotrichas galactotes''
*Indian robin, ''Copsychus fulicatus'' (A)
*Oriental magpie-robin, ''Copsychus saularis'' (A)
*European robin, ''Erithacus rubecula'' (A)
*Indian blue robin, ''Larvivora brunnea''
*White-throated robin, ''Irania gutturalis''
*Thrush nightingale, ''Luscinia luscinia'' (A)
*Common nightingale, ''Luscinia megarhynchos''
*Bluethroat, ''Luscinia svecica''
*Blue whistling-thrush, ''Myophonus caeruleus''
*Little forktail, ''Enicurus scouleri''
*Spotted forktail, ''Enicurus maculatus''
*Siberian rubythroat, ''Calliope calliope'' (A)
*Himalayan rubythroat, ''Calliope pectoralis''
*Himalayan bluetail, ''Tarsiger rufilatus''
*Ultramarine flycatcher, ''Ficedula superciliaris''
*Rusty-tailed flycatcher, ''Ficedula ruficauda''
*Taiga flycatcher, ''Ficedula albicilla''
*Red-breasted flycatcher, ''Ficedula parva''
*European pied flycatcher, ''Ficedula hypoleuca'' (A)
*Blue-fronted redstart, ''Phoenicurus frontalis''
*Plumbeous redstart, ''Phoenicurus fuliginosus''
*Rufous-backed redstart, ''Phoenicurus erythronota''
*White-capped redstart, ''Phoenicurus leucocephalus''
*Blue-capped redstart, ''Phoenicurus caeruleocephalus''
*Common redstart, ''Phoenicurus phoenicurus''
*White-winged redstart, ''Phoenicurus erythrogaster''
*Black redstart, ''Phoenicurus ochruros''
*Blue-capped rock-thrush, ''Monticola cinclorhyncha''
*Rufous-tailed rock-thrush, ''Monticola saxatilis''
*Blue rock-thrush, ''Monticola solitarius''
*Whinchat, ''Saxicola rubetra'' (A)
*White-browed bushchat, ''Saxicola macrorhynchus'' (A)
*Siberian stonechat, ''Saxicola maurus''
*Pied bushchat, ''Saxicola caprata''
*Northern wheatear, ''Oenanthe oenanthe''
*Isabelline wheatear, ''Oenanthe isabellina''
*Hooded wheatear, ''Oenanthe monacha''
*Desert wheatear, ''Oenanthe deserti''
*Pied wheatear, ''Oenanthe pleschanka''
*Variable wheatear, ''Oenanthe picata''
*Hume's wheatear, ''Oenanthe alboniger''
*Finsch's wheatear, ''Oenanthe finschii''
*Persian wheatear, ''Oenanthe chrysopygia''
Hypocolius
Order: PasseriformesFamily: Hypocoliidae
The grey hypocolius is a small Middle Eastern bird with the shape and soft plumage of a waxwing. They are mainly a uniform grey colour except the males have a black triangular mask around their eyes.
*Hypocolius, ''Hypocolius ampelinus''
Sunbirds and spiderhunters
Order: PasseriformesFamily: Nectariniidae
The sunbirds and spiderhunters are very small passerine birds which feed largely on nectar, although they will also take insects, especially when feeding young. Flight is fast and direct on their short wings. Most species can take nectar by hovering like a hummingbird, but usually perch to feed.
*Purple sunbird, ''Cinnyris asiaticus''
Waxbills and allies
Order: PasseriformesFamily: Estrildidae
The estrildid finches are small passerine birds of the Old World tropics and Australasia. They are gregarious and often colonial seed eaters with short thick but pointed bills. They are all similar in structure and habits, but have wide variation in plumage colours and patterns.
*Red avadavat, ''Amandava amandava'' (I)
*Scaly-breasted munia, ''Lonchura punctulata'' (I)
Accentors
Order: PasseriformesFamily: Prunellidae
The accentors are in the only bird family, Prunellidae, which is completely endemic to the Palearctic. They are small, fairly drab species superficially similar to Old World sparrow, sparrows.
*Alpine accentor, ''Prunella collaris''
*Altai accentor, ''Prunella himalayana''
*Rufous-breasted accentor, ''Prunella strophiata''
*Radde's accentor, ''Prunella ocularis'' (A)
*Brown accentor, ''Prunella fulvescens''
*Black-throated accentor, ''Prunella atrogularis''
*Dunnock, ''Prunella modularis''
Old World sparrows
Order: PasseriformesFamily: Passeridae
Old World sparrows are small passerine birds. In general, sparrows tend to be small, plump, brown or grey birds with short tails and short powerful beaks. Sparrows are seed eaters, but they also consume small insects.
*Saxaul sparrow, ''Passer ammodendri'' (A)
*House sparrow, ''Passer domesticus''
*Spanish sparrow, ''Passer hispaniolensis''
*Russet sparrow, ''Passer cinnamomeus''
*Dead Sea sparrow, ''Passer moabiticus''
*Eurasian tree sparrow, ''Passer montanus''
*Yellow-throated sparrow, ''Gymnoris xanthocollis''
*Rock sparrow, ''Petronia petronia''
*Pale rockfinch, ''Carpospiza brachydactyla'' (A)
*White-winged snowfinch, ''Montifringilla nivalis''
*Afghan snowfinch, ''Montifringilla theresae ''
Wagtails and pipits
Order: PasseriformesFamily: Motacillidae
Motacillidae is a family of small passerine birds with medium to long tails. They include the wagtails, longclaws and pipits. They are slender, ground feeding insectivores of open country.
*Gray wagtail, ''Motacilla cinerea''
*Western yellow wagtail, ''Motacilla flava''
*Citrine wagtail, ''Motacilla citreola''
*White-browed wagtail, ''Motacilla maderaspatensis''
*White wagtail, ''Motacilla alba''
*Richard's pipit, ''Anthus richardi''
*Paddyfield pipit, ''Anthus rufulus''
*Long-billed pipit, ''Anthus similis''
*Tawny pipit, ''Anthus campestris''
*Upland pipit, ''Anthus sylvanus''
*Meadow pipit, ''Anthus pratensis'' (A)
*Rosy pipit, ''Anthus roseatus''
*Tree pipit, ''Anthus trivialis''
*Olive-backed pipit, ''Anthus hodgsoni''
*Red-throated pipit, ''Anthus cervinus''
*Water pipit, ''Anthus spinoletta''
*American pipit, ''Anthus rubescens'' (A)
Finches, euphonias, and allies
Order: PasseriformesFamily: Fringillidae
Finches are seed-eating passerine birds, that are small to moderately large and have a strong beak, usually conical and in some species very large. All have twelve tail feathers and nine primaries. These birds have a bouncing flight with alternating bouts of flapping and gliding on closed wings, and most sing well.
*Common chaffinch, ''Fringilla coelebs''
*Brambling, ''Fringilla montifringilla''
*Black-and-yellow grosbeak, ''Mycerobas icterioides'' (A)
*White-winged grosbeak, ''Mycerobas carnipes''
*Hawfinch, ''Coccothraustes coccothraustes''
*Common rosefinch, ''Carpodacus erythrinus''
*Blyth's rosefinch, ''Carpodacus grandis''
*Pale rosefinch, ''Carpodacus stoliczkae''
*Great rosefinch, ''Carpodacus rubicilla''
*Himalayan white-browed rosefinch, ''Carpodacus thura''
*Eurasian bullfinch, ''Pyrrhula pyrrhula''
*Crimson-winged finch, ''Rhodopechys sanguineus''
*Trumpeter finch, ''Bucanetes githagineus''
*Mongolian finch, ''Bucanetes mongolicus''
*Plain mountain finch, ''Leucosticte nemoricola''
*Black-headed mountain finch, ''Leucosticte brandti''
*Desert finch, ''Rhodospiza obsoleta''
*European greenfinch, ''Chloris chloris''
*Twite, ''Linaria flavirostris''
*Eurasian linnet, ''Linaria cannabina''
*Red crossbill, ''Loxia curvirostra'' (A)
*European goldfinch, ''Carduelis carduelis''
*Fire-fronted serin, ''Serinus pusillus''
*Eurasian siskin, ''Spinus spinus'' (A)
Old World buntings
Order: PasseriformesFamily: Emberizidae
The emberizids are a large family of passerine birds. They are seed-eating birds with distinctively shaped bills. Many emberizid species have distinctive head patterns.
*Black-headed bunting, ''Emberiza melanocephala'' (A)
*Red-headed bunting, ''Emberiza bruniceps''
*Corn bunting, ''Emberiza calandra''
*Chestnut-eared bunting, ''Emberiza fucata'' (A)
*Rock bunting, ''Emberiza cia''
*White-capped bunting, ''Emberiza stewarti''
*Yellowhammer, ''Emberiza citrinella'' (A)
*Pine bunting, ''Emberiza leucocephalos''
*Gray-necked bunting, ''Emberiza buchanani''
*Ortolan bunting, ''Emberiza hortulana''
*Striolated bunting, ''Emberiza striolata''
*Reed bunting, ''Emberiza schoeniclus''
*Little bunting, ''Emberiza pusilla''
*Rustic bunting, ''Emberiza rustica''
See also
*List of birds
*Lists of birds by region
References
*
*
{{Asia topic, List of birds of , title=List of birds of Asia, Birds of Asia
Lists of birds by country, Afghanistan
Lists of birds of Asia, Afghanistan
Birds of Afghanistan,
Lists of biota of Afghanistan, Birds