List of birds of Thailand

982 species of bird have been recorded in the wild in Thailand, of which three are endemic, one has been introduced by humans, and 45 are rare or accidental. Seven species listed are extirpated in Thailand and are not included in the species count, and 49 species are globally threatened. Database entry includes justification for why this species is vulnerable]

Crab Plover

Order: CharadriiformesFamily: Dromadidae

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

Pratincoles and coursers

Order: CharadriiformesFamily: Glareolidae

Glareolidae is a family of wading birds comprising the pratincoles, which have short legs, long pointed wings and long forked tails, and the coursers, which have long legs, short wings and long pointed bills which curve downwards. There are 17 species worldwide of which two occur in Thailand.

kuas

Order: CharadriiformesFamily: Stercorariidae

The family Stercorariidae are, in general, medium to large birds, typically with grey or brown plumage, often with white markings on the wings. They nest on the ground in temperate and arctic regions and are long-distance migrants. There are seven species worldwide of which three occur in Thailand.

kimmers

Order: CharadriiformesFamily: Rynchopidae

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

Cuckoos

Order: CuculiformesFamily: Cuculidae

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

Frogmouths

Order: CaprimulgiformesFamily: Podargidae

The frogmouths are a group of nocturnal birds related to the nightjars. They are named for their large flattened hooked bills and huge frog-like gape, which they use to take insects. There are 12 species worldwide of which four occur in Thailand.

Treeswifts

Order: ApodiformesFamily: Hemiprocnidae

The treeswifts or crested swifts are aerial near passerine birds, closely related to the true swifts. They differ from the true swifts in that they have crests, long forked tails and soft plumage. There are 4 species worldwide of which three occur in Thailand.

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, southern Asia, 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 down-turned bills and pointed wings, which give them a swallow-like appearance when seen from afar. There are 26 species worldwide of which six occur in Thailand.

Hornbills

Order: CoraciiformesFamily: Bucerotidae

Hornbills are a group of birds whose bill is shaped like a cow's horn, but without a twist, sometimes with a casque on the upper mandible. Frequently, the bill is brightly coloured. There are 57 species worldwide of which 13 occur in Thailand.

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. There are 218 species worldwide of which 36 occur in Thailand.

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. There are 91 species worldwide of which three occur in Thailand.

Cuckoo-shrikes and allies

Order: PasseriformesFamily: Campephagidae

The cuckoo-shrikes are small to medium-sized passerine birds. They are predominantly greyish with white and black, although some minivet species are brightly coloured. There are 82 species worldwide of which 18 occur in Thailand.

Leafbirds

Order: PasseriformesFamily: Chloropseidae

The Leafbirds are small, bulbul-like birds. The males are brightly plumaged, usually in greens and yellows. There are eight species worldwide of which five occur in Thailand.

Thrushes and allies

Order: PasseriformesFamily: Turdidae

The 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. There are 335 species worldwide of which 21 occur in Thailand.cite book |title=Thrushes (Helm Identification Guides) |last= Clement |first= Peter |coauthors= Hathway, Ren; Wilczur, Jan |publisher=Christopher Helm Publishers Ltd |year=2000 |id= ISBN 0713639407]

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 very varied, but they mostly have weak songs and harsh calls. There 274 species worldwide of which 69 occur in Thailand.

Whistlers

Order: PasseriformesFamily: Pachycephalidae

The family Pachycephalidae includes the whistlers, shrike-thrushes, shrike-tits, pitohuis and Crested Bellbird. There are 57 species worldwide of which one occurs in Thailand.

Long-tailed tits

Order: PasseriformesFamily: AegithalidaeLong-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 that includes insects. There are nine species worldwide of which one occurs in Thailand.cite book | last = Harrap | first =Simon | coauthors= Quinn, David |title = Tits, Nuthatches and Treecreepers | year = 1996 | publisher = Christopher Helm | pages = |isbn = 0-7136-3964-4]

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. There are 24 species worldwide of which six occur in Thailand.

unbirds 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. Their flight is fast and direct on short wings. Most species can take nectar by hovering like a hummingbird, but usually perch to feed. There are 131 species worldwide of which 22 occur in Thailand.cite book | last = Cheke | first = Robert A | coauthors= Mann, Clive; Allen, Ricard |title = Sunbirds: A Guide to the Sunbirds, Spiderhunters, Sugarbirds and Flowerpeckers of the World (Helm Identification Guides) | year = 2001 | publisher = Pica / Christopher Helm | isbn =1873403801 ]

Old World orioles

Order: PasseriformesFamily: Oriolidae

The Old World Orioles are colourful passerine birds, not closely related to the New World orioles. There are 29 species worldwide of which six occur in Thailand.

Helmetshrikes

Order: PasseriformesFamily: Prionopidae

The helmetshrikes are similar in build to the shrikes, but tend to be colourful species with distinctive crests or other head ornaments, such as wattles, from which they get their name. There are 12 species worldwide of which four occur in Thailand.

Crows and allies

Order: PasseriformesFamily: Corvidae

The Corvidae family includes crows, ravens, jays, choughs, magpies, treepies, nutcrackers, and ground jays. Corvids are above average in size for the bird order Passeriformes. Some of the larger species show high levels of learning behaviour. There are 120 species worldwide of which 13 occur in Thailand.cite book | last = Madge | first = Steve | coauthors= Burn, Hilary |title = Crows and jays: a guide to the crows, jays and magpies of the world | year = 1994 | publisher = A&C Black | pages = | isbn = 0-7136-3999-7]

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 a wide variation in plumage colours and pattern. There are 141 species worldwide of which eight occur in Thailand.cite book | last = Clement | first = Peter | coauthors= Harris, Alan; Davis, John |title = Finches and Sparrows: An Identification Guide (Helm Identification Guides) | year = 1999 | publisher = Christopher Helm Publishers Ltd | isbn =0713652039 ]

parrows

Order: PasseriformesFamily: Passeridae

Sparrows are small passerine birds, typically small, plump, brown or grey with short tails and short powerful beaks. They are seed-eaters, but also consume small insects. There are 35 species worldwide of which four occur in Thailand.

ee also

*List of birds
*Lists of birds by region

References

External links

* [http://www.thaibirding.com Birdwatching in Thailand]
* [http://www.pbase.com/peterericsson/waders_of_thailand&page=all Waders of Thailand (photos)]