This is a list of the bird species recorded in East Timor. The avifauna of East Timor include a total of 289 species.
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 the 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 East Timor.
The following tags have been used to highlight several categories, but not all species fall into one of these categories. Those that do not are commonly occurring native species.
(A) Accidental - a species that rarely or accidentally occurs in East Timor
(E) Endemic - a species endemic to East Timor
(I) Introduced - a species introduced to East Timor 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.
Wandering whistling-duck, Dendrocygna arcuata
Radjah shelduck, Radjah radjah (A) Green pygmy-goose, Nettapus pulchellus Garganey, Spatula querquedula (A) Pacific black duck, Anas superciliosa Sunda teal, Anas gibberifrons Gray teal, Anas gracilis Hardhead, Aythya australis
Megapodes
Order: GalliformesFamily: Megapodiidae
The Megapodiidae are stocky, medium-large chicken-like birds with small heads and large feet. All but the malleefowl occupy jungle habitats and most have brown or black coloring.
Orange-footed scrubfowl, Megapodius reinwardt
Pheasants, grouse, and allies
Order: GalliformesFamily: Phasianidae
The Phasianidae are a family of terrestrial birds which consists of quails, partridges, snowcocks, francolins, spurfowls, tragopans, monals, pheasants, peafowls and jungle fowls. In general, they are plump (although they vary in size) and have broad, relatively short wings.
Red junglefowl, Gallus gallus
Brown quail, Synoicus ypsilophorus
Blue-breasted quail, Synoicus chinensis
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
Australasian grebe, Tachybaptus novaehollandiae
Pigeons and doves
Order: ColumbiformesFamily: Columbidae
Pigeons and doves are stout-bodied birds with short necks and short slender bills with a fleshy cere.
Rock pigeon, Columba livia
Metallic pigeon, Columba vitiensis
Sunda collared-dove, Streptopelia bitorquata
Spotted dove, Streptopelia chinensis
Timor cuckoo-dove, Macropygia magna
Little cuckoo-dove, Macropygia ruficeps
Slaty cuckoo-dove, Turacoena modesta
Asian emerald dove, Chalcophaps indica
Pacific emerald dove, Chalcophaps longirostris
Wetar ground dove, Alopecoenas hoedtii
Barred dove, Geopelia maugeus
Timor green-pigeon, Treron psittaceus
Black-backed fruit-dove, Ptilinopus cinctus
Rose-crowned fruit-dove, Ptilinopus regina
Pink-headed imperial-pigeon, Ducula rosacea
Timor imperial-pigeon, Ducula cineracea
Pied imperial-pigeon, Ducula bicolor (A)
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. The Old World cuckoos are brood parasites.