This is a list of the bird species recorded in Taiwan. The avifauna of Taiwan include a total of 705 species, of which 30 are endemic, and 17 have been introduced by humans. Of these, 43 species are globally threatened.
This list's taxonomic treatment (designation and sequence of orders, families and species) and nomenclature (common and scientific names) follow the conventions of The Clements Checklist of Birds of the World, 2022 edition. The family accounts at the beginning of each heading reflect this taxonomy, as do the species counts found in each family account. Introduced and accidental species are included in the total counts for Taiwan.
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 Taiwan
(E) Endemic - a species endemic to Taiwan
(I) Introduced - a species introduced to Taiwan as a consequence, direct or indirect, of human actions
Ducks, geese, and waterfowl
Order: AnseriformesFamily: Anatidae
Anatidae includes the ducks and most duck-like waterfowl, such as geese and swans. These birds are adapted to an aquatic existence with webbed feet, flattened bills, and feathers that are excellent at shedding water due to an oily coating.
Lesser whistling-duck, Dendrocygna javanica (A) Bar-headed goose, Anser indicus (A) Graylag goose, Anser anser Swan goose, Anser cygnoides Greater white-fronted goose, Anser albifrons Lesser white-fronted goose, Anser erythropus Taiga bean-goose, Anser fabalis Tundra bean-goose, Anser serrirostris Brant, Branta bernicla Cackling goose, Branta hutchinsii (A) Mute swan, Cygnus olor (A) Tundra swan, Cygnus columbianus Whooper swan, Cygnus cygnus (A) Ruddy shelduck, Tadorna ferruginea (A) Common shelduck, Tadorna tadorna Cotton pygmy-goose, Nettapus coromandelianus (A) Mandarin duck, Aix galericulata Baikal teal, Sibirionetta formosa (A) Garganey, Spatula querquedula Northern shoveler, Spatula clypeata Gadwall, Mareca strepera Falcated duck, Mareca falcata Eurasian wigeon, Mareca penelope American wigeon, Mareca americana Philippine duck, Anas luzonica (A) Eastern spot-billed duck, Anas zonorhyncha Mallard, Anas platyrhynchos Northern pintail, Anas acuta Green-winged teal, Anas crecca Red-crested pochard, Netta rufina (A) Canvasback, Aythya valisineria Common pochard, Aythya ferina (A) Ring-necked duck, Aythya collaris (A) Ferruginous duck, Aythya nyroca (A) Baer's pochard, Aythya baeri Tufted duck, Aythya fuligula Greater scaup, Aythya marila Lesser scaup, Aythya affinis (A) Long-tailed duck, Clangula hyemalis (A) Common goldeneye, Bucephala clangula (A) Smew, Mergellus albellus Common merganser, Mergus merganser (A) Red-breasted merganser, Mergus serrator Scaly-sided merganser, Mergus squamatus (A)
Pheasants, grouse, and allies
Order: GalliformesFamily: Phasianidae
The Phasianidae are a family of terrestrial birds. In general, they are plump (although they vary in size) and have broad, relatively short wings.
Taiwan partridge, Arborophila crudigularis (E) Mikado pheasant, Syrmaticus mikado (E) Ring-necked pheasant, Phasianus colchicus Swinhoe's pheasant, Lophura swinhoii (E) Taiwan bamboo-partridge, Bambusicola sonorivox (E) Blue-breasted quail, Synoicus chinensis Japanese quail, Coturnix japonica
Flamingos
Order: PhoenicopteriformesFamily: Phoenicopteridae
Flamingos are gregarious wading birds, usually tall, found in both the Western and Eastern Hemispheres. Flamingos filter-feed on shellfish and algae. Their oddly shaped beaks are specially adapted to separate mud and silt from the food they consume and, uniquely, are used upside-down.
Greater flamingo, Phoenicopterus roseus (I)
Grebes
Order: PodicipediformesFamily: Podicipedidae
Grebes are small to medium-large freshwater diving birds. They have lobed toes and are excellent swimmers and divers. However, they have their feet placed far back on the body, making them quite ungainly on land.
Little grebe, Tachybaptus ruficollis
Horned grebe, Podiceps auritus
Red-necked grebe, Podiceps grisegena (A) Great crested grebe, Podiceps cristatus Eared grebe, Podiceps nigricollis
Pigeons and doves
Order: ColumbiformesFamily: Columbidae
Pigeons and doves are stout-bodied birds with short necks and short slender bills with a fleshy cere. There are 308 species worldwide and 12 species which occur in Taiwan.