List of birds of Nepal

Order: Anseriformes   Family: 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.

Order: Galliformes   Family: 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.

Order: Phoenicopteriformes   Family: Phoenicopteridae

Flamingos are gregarious wading birds, usually 3 to 5 feet (0.9 to 1.5 m) 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 (A)

Order: Podicipediformes   Family: 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
• Great crested grebe, Podiceps cristatus
• Eared grebe, Podiceps nigricollis

Order: Columbiformes   Family: Columbidae

Pigeons and doves are stout-bodied birds with short necks and short slender bills with a fleshy cere.

Order: Pterocliformes   Family: Pteroclidae

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, Syrrhaptes tibetanus (A)

Order: Gruiformes   Family: Otididae

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.

• Bengal florican, Houbaropsis bengalensis
• Lesser florican, Sypheotides indicus

Order: Cuculiformes   Family: 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.

Order: Caprimulgiformes   Family: Caprimulgidae

Nightjars 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.

• Gray nightjar, Caprimulgus jotaka
• Sykes's nightjar, Caprimulgus mahrattensis (A)
• Large-tailed nightjar, Caprimulgus macrurus
• Indian nightjar, Caprimulgus asiaticus
• Savanna nightjar, Caprimulgus affinis

Order: Caprimulgiformes   Family: Apodidae

Swifts 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-rumped needletail, Zoonavena sylvatica
• White-throated needletail, Hirundapus caudacutus
• Silver-backed needletail, Hirundapus cochinchinensis
• Himalayan swiftlet, Aerodramus brevirostris
• Alpine swift, Apus melba
• Common swift, Apus apus
• Pacific swift, Apus pacificus
• Blyth's swift, Apus leuconyx
• Little swift, Apus affinis
• House swift, Apus nipalensis
• Asian palm-swift, Cypsiurus balasiensis

Order: Caprimulgiformes   Family: Hemiprocnidae

The treeswifts, also called crested swifts, are closely related to the true swifts. They differ from the other swifts in that they have crests, long forked tails and softer plumage.

• Crested treeswift, Hemiprocne coronata

Order: Gruiformes   Family: Rallidae

Rallidae is a large family of small to medium-sized birds which includes the rails, crakes, coots and gallinules. 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, Rallus aquaticus (A)
• Brown-cheeked rail, Rallus indicus
• Slaty-breasted rail, Lewinia striata (A)
• Spotted crake, Porzana porzana (A)
• Eurasian moorhen, Gallinula chloropus
• Eurasian coot, Fulica atra
• Gray-headed swamphen, Porphyrio poliocephalus
• Watercock, Gallicrex cinerea
• White-breasted waterhen, Amaurornis phoenicurus
• Slaty-legged crake, Rallina eurizonoides (A)
• Ruddy-breasted crake, Zapornia fusca
• Brown crake, Zapornia akool
• Baillon's crake, Zapornia pusilla
• Black-tailed crake, Zapornia bicolor (A)

Order: Gruiformes   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, Anthropoides virgo
• Sarus crane, Antigone antigone
• Common crane, Grus grus
• Black-necked crane, Grus nigricollis (A)

Order: Charadriiformes   Family: Burhinidae

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.

• Indian thick-knee, Burhinus indicus
• Great thick-knee, Esacus recurvirostris

Order: Charadriiformes   Family: Recurvirostridae

Recurvirostridae is a family of large wading birds, which includes the avocets and stilts. The avocets have long legs and long up-curved bills. The stilts have extremely long legs and long, thin, straight bills.

• Black-winged stilt, Himantopus himantopus
• Pied avocet, Recurvirostra avosetta

Order: Charadriiformes   Family: Ibidorhynchidae

The ibisbill is related to the waders, 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, Ibidorhyncha struthersii

Order: Charadriiformes   Family: Haematopodidae

The oystercatchers are large and noisy plover-like birds, with strong bills used for smashing or prising open molluscs. There are 11 species worldwide and 1 species which occurs in Nepal.

• Eurasian oystercatcher, Haematopus ostralegus (A)

Order: Charadriiformes   Family: Charadriidae

The family Charadriidae includes the plovers, dotterels and lapwings. 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, Pluvialis squatarola (A)
• Pacific golden-plover, Pluvialis fulva
• Northern lapwing, Vanellus vanellus
• River lapwing, Vanellus duvaucelii
• Yellow-wattled lapwing, Vanellus malabaricus
• Gray-headed lapwing, Vanellus cinereus
• Red-wattled lapwing, Vanellus indicus
• White-tailed lapwing, Vanellus leucurus
• Lesser sand-plover, Charadrius mongolus
• Greater sand-plover, Charadrius leschenaultii (A)
• Kentish plover, Charadrius alexandrinus
• Common ringed plover, Charadrius hiaticula (A)
• Long-billed plover, Charadrius placidus
• Little ringed plover, Charadrius dubius

Order: Charadriiformes   Family: Rostratulidae

Painted-snipes are short-legged, long-billed birds similar in shape to the true snipes, but more brightly colored.

• Greater painted-snipe, Rostratula benghalensis

Order: Charadriiformes   Family: Jacanidae

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, Hydrophasianus chirurgus
• Bronze-winged jacana, Metopidius indicus

Order: Charadriiformes   Family: Scolopacidae

Scolopacidae is a large diverse family of small to medium-sized shorebirds including the sandpipers, curlews, godwits, shanks, tattlers, woodcocks, snipes, dowitchers and phalaropes. 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.

Order: Charadriiformes   Family: Turnicidae

The buttonquail are small, drab, running birds which resemble the true quails. The female is the brighter of the sexes and initiates courtship. The male incubates the eggs and tends the young.

• Small buttonquail, Turnix sylvatica
• Yellow-legged buttonquail, Turnix tanki
• Barred buttonquail, Turnix suscitator

Order: Charadriiformes   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.

• Indian courser, Cursorius coromandelicus
• Collared pratincole, Glareola pratincola (A)
• Oriental pratincole, Glareola maldivarum
• Small pratincole, Glareola lactea

Order: Charadriiformes   Family: Laridae

Laridae is a family of medium to large seabirds, the gulls, terns, and skimmers. Gulls are typically gray 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 gray 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. 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.

Order: Gaviiformes   Family: Gaviidae

Loons, known as divers in Europe, are a group of aquatic birds found in many parts of North America and northern Europe. They are the size of a large duck or small goose, which they somewhat resemble when swimming, but to which they are completely unrelated.

• Red-throated loon, Gavia stellata (A)

Order: Ciconiiformes   Family: 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.

• Asian openbill, Anastomus oscitans
• Black stork, Ciconia nigra
• Asian woolly-necked stork, Ciconia episcopus
• White stork, Ciconia ciconia
• Black-necked stork, Ephippiorhynchus asiaticus
• Lesser adjutant, Leptoptilos javanicus
• Greater adjutant, Leptoptilos dubius (A)
• Painted stork, Mycteria leucocephala

Order: Suliformes   Family: Anhingidae

Anhingas or darters are often called "snake-birds" because of their long thin neck, which gives a snake-like appearance when they swim with their bodies submerged. The males have black and dark-brown plumage, an erectile crest on the nape and a larger bill than the female. The females have much paler plumage especially on the neck and underparts. The darters have completely webbed feet and their legs are short and set far back on the body. Their plumage is somewhat permeable, like that of cormorants, and they spread their wings to dry after diving.

• Oriental darter, Anhinga melanogaster

Order: Suliformes   Family: Phalacrocoracidae

Phalacrocoracidae is a family of medium to large coastal, fish-eating seabirds that includes cormorants and shags. Plumage coloration varies, with the majority having mainly dark plumage, some species being black-and-white and a few being colorful.

• Little cormorant, Microcarbo niger
• Great cormorant, Phalacrocorax carbo
• Indian cormorant, Phalacrocorax fuscicollis (A)

Order: Pelecaniformes   Family: 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 (A)
• Spot-billed pelican, Pelecanus philippensis

Order: Ciconiiformes   Family: 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.

Order: Ciconiiformes   Family: 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 (A)
• Black-headed ibis, Threskiornis melanocephalus
• Red-naped ibis, Pseudibis papillosa
• Eurasian spoonbill, Platalea leucorodia

Order: Accipitriformes   Family: Pandionidae

The family Pandionidae contains only one species, the osprey. The osprey is a medium-large raptor which is a specialist fish-eater with a worldwide distribution.

• Osprey, Pandion haliaetus

Order: Accipitriformes   Family: Accipitridae

Accipitridae is a family of birds of prey, which includes hawks, eagles, kites, harriers and Old World vultures. These birds have powerful hooked beaks for tearing flesh from their prey, strong legs, powerful talons and keen eyesight.

Order: Strigiformes   Family: Tytonidae

Barn owls are medium to large owls with large heads and characteristic heart-shaped faces. They have long strong legs with powerful talons.

• Australasian grass-owl, Tyto longimembris
• Barn owl, Tyto alba

Order: Strigiformes   Family: 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.

Order: Trogoniformes   Family: Trogonidae

The family Trogonidae includes trogons and quetzals. Found in tropical woodlands worldwide, they feed on insects and fruit, and their broad bills and weak legs reflect their diet and arboreal habits. Although their flight is fast, they are reluctant to fly any distance. Trogons have soft, often colorful, feathers with distinctive male and female plumage.

• Red-headed trogon, Harpactes erythrocephalus

Order: Coraciiformes   Family: Upupidae

Hoopoes have black, white and orangey-pink coloring with a large erectile crest on their head.

• Eurasian hoopoe, Upupa epops

Order: Bucerotiformes   Family: 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 colored.

• Great hornbill, Buceros bicornis
• Indian gray hornbill, Ocyceros birostris
• Oriental pied hornbill, Anthracoceros albirostris
• Rufous-necked hornbill, Aceros nipalensis (Ex)

Order: Coraciiformes   Family: Alcedinidae

Kingfishers are medium-sized birds with large heads, long, pointed bills, short legs and stubby tails.

• Blyth's kingfisher, Alcedo hercules (A)
• Common kingfisher, Alcedo atthis
• Blue-eared kingfisher, Alcedo meninting
• Black-backed kingfisher, Ceyx erithacus (A)
• Stork-billed kingfisher, Pelargopsis capensis
• Ruddy kingfisher, Halcyon coromanda
• White-throated kingfisher, Halcyon smyrnensis
• Black-capped kingfisher, Halcyon pileata (A)
• Crested kingfisher, Megaceryle lugubris
• Pied kingfisher, Ceryle rudis

Order: Coraciiformes   Family: 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 have richly colored plumage, slender bodies and usually elongated central tail feathers. All are colorful and have long downturned bills and pointed wings, which give them a swallow-like appearance when seen from afar.

• Blue-bearded bee-eater, Nyctyornis athertoni
• Asian green bee-eater, Merops orientalis
• Blue-tailed bee-eater, Merops philippinus
• Chestnut-headed bee-eater, Merops leschenaulti

Order: Coraciiformes   Family: Coraciidae

Rollers resemble crows in size and build, but are more closely related to the kingfishers and bee-eaters. They share the colorful appearance of those groups with blues and browns predominating. The two inner front toes are connected, but the outer toe is not.

• Indian roller, Coracias benghalensis
• Indochinese roller, Coracias affinis
• Dollarbird, Eurystomus orientalis

Order: Piciformes   Family: Megalaimidae

The Asian barbets are plump birds, with short necks and large heads. They get their name from the bristles which fringe their heavy bills. Most species are brightly coloured.

• Coppersmith barbet, Psilopogon haemacephalus
• Blue-eared barbet, Psilopogon duvaucelii
• Great barbet, Psilopogon virens
• Lineated barbet, Psilopogon lineatus
• Brown-headed barbet, Psilopogon zeylanicus
• Golden-throated barbet, Psilopogon franklinii
• Blue-throated barbet, Psilopogon asiaticus

Order: Piciformes   Family: Indicatoridae

Honeyguides are among the few birds that feed on wax. They are named for the greater honeyguide which leads traditional honey-hunters to bees' nests and, after the hunters have harvested the honey, feeds on the remaining contents of the hive.

• Yellow-rumped honeyguide, Indicator xanthonotus

Order: Piciformes   Family: 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.

Order: Falconiformes   Family: 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.

• Collared falconet, Microhierax caerulescens
• Lesser kestrel, Falco naumanni
• Eurasian kestrel, Falco tinnunculus
• Red-necked falcon, Falco chicquera
• Amur falcon, Falco amurensis
• Merlin, Falco columbarius
• Eurasian hobby, Falco subbuteo
• Oriental hobby, Falco severus
• Laggar falcon, Falco jugger
• Saker falcon, Falco cherrug
• Peregrine falcon, Falco peregrinus

Order: Psittaciformes   Family: Psittaculidae

Characteristic features of parrots include a strong curved bill, an upright stance, strong legs, and clawed zygodactyl feet. Many parrots are vividly coloured, and some are multi-coloured. In size they range from 8 cm (3.1 in) to 1 m (3.3 ft) in length. Old World parrots are found from Africa east across south and southeast Asia and Oceania to Australia and New Zealand.

• Alexandrine parakeet, Psittacula eupatria
• Rose-ringed parakeet, Psittacula krameri (I)
• Slaty-headed parakeet, Psittacula himalayana
• Gray-headed parakeet, Psittacula finschii (A)
• Plum-headed parakeet, Psittacula cyanocephala
• Blossom-headed parakeet, Psittacula roseata
• Red-breasted parakeet, Psittacula alexandri
• Vernal hanging-parrot, Loriculus vernalis

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Eurylaimidae

The broadbills are small, brightly colored birds, which feed on fruit and also take insects in flycatcher fashion, snapping their broad bills. Their habitat is canopies of wet forests.

• Long-tailed broadbill, Psarisomus dalhousiae
• Silver-breasted broadbill, Serilophus lunatus

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Pittidae

Pittas are medium-sized by passerine standards and are stocky, with fairly long, strong legs, short tails and stout bills. Many are brightly colored. They spend the majority of their time on wet forest floors, eating snails, insects and similar invertebrates.

• Blue-naped pitta, Hydrornis nipalensis
• Indian pitta, Pitta brachyura
• Hooded pitta, Pitta sordida

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Campephagidae

The cuckooshrikes are small to medium-sized passerine birds. They are predominantly grayish with white and black, although some species are brightly colored.

• White-bellied minivet, Pericrocotus erythropygius (A)
• Small minivet, Pericrocotus cinnamomeus
• Gray-chinned minivet, Pericrocotus solaris
• Short-billed minivet, Pericrocotus brevirostris
• Long-tailed minivet, Pericrocotus ethologus
• Scarlet minivet, Pericrocotus flammeus
• Ashy minivet, Pericrocotus divaricatus (A)
• Brown-rumped minivet, Pericrocotus cantonensis (A)
• Rosy minivet, Pericrocotus roseus
• Large cuckooshrike, Coracina macei
• Black-winged cuckooshrike, Lalage melaschistos
• Black-headed cuckooshrike, Lalage melanoptera

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Vireonidae

Most of the members of this family are found in the New World. However, the shrike-babblers and erpornis, which only slightly resemble the "true" vireos and greenlets, are found in South East Asia.

• Black-headed shrike-babbler, Pteruthius rufiventer
• White-browed shrike-babbler, Pteruthius aeralatus
• Green shrike-babbler, Pteruthius xanthochlorus
• Black-eared shrike-babbler, Pteruthius melanotis
• White-bellied erpornis, Erpornis zantholeuca

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Oriolidae

The Old World orioles are colorful passerine birds. They are not related to the New World orioles.

• Indian golden oriole, Oriolus kundoo
• Black-naped oriole, Oriolus chinensis (A)
• Slender-billed oriole, Oriolus tenuirostris
• Black-hooded oriole, Oriolus xanthornus
• Maroon oriole, Oriolus traillii

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Artamidae

The woodswallows are soft-plumaged, somber-colored passerine birds. They are smooth, agile flyers with moderately large, semi-triangular wings.

• Ashy woodswallow, Artamus fuscus

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Vangidae

The family Vangidae is highly variable, though most members of it resemble true shrikes to some degree.

• Large woodshrike, Tephrodornis gularis
• Common woodshrike, Tephrodornis pondicerianus
• Bar-winged flycatcher-shrike, Hemipus picatus

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Aegithinidae

The ioras are bulbul-like birds of open forest or thorn scrub, but whereas that group tends to be drab in coloration, ioras are sexually dimorphic, with the males being brightly plumaged in yellows and greens.

• Common iora, Aegithina tiphia

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Rhipiduridae

The fantails are small insectivorous birds which are specialist aerial feeders.

• White-throated fantail, Rhipidura albicollis
• White-browed fantail, Rhipidura aureola

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Dicruridae

The drongos are mostly black or dark gray in color, 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
• White-bellied drongo, Dicrurus caerulescens
• Crow-billed drongo, Dicrurus annectens
• Bronzed drongo, Dicrurus aeneus
• Lesser racket-tailed drongo, Dicrurus remifer
• Hair-crested drongo, Dicrurus hottentottus
• Greater racket-tailed drongo, Dicrurus paradiseus

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Monarchidae

The monarch flycatchers are small to medium-sized insectivorous passerines which hunt by flycatching.

• Black-naped monarch, Hypothymis azurea
• Blyth's paradise-flycatcher, Terpsiphone affinis
• Indian paradise-flycatcher, Terpsiphone paradisi

Order: Passeriformes   Family: 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)
• Isabelline shrike, Lanius isabellinus (A)
• Brown shrike, Lanius cristatus
• Bay-backed shrike, Lanius vittatus
• Long-tailed shrike, Lanius schach
• Gray-backed shrike, Lanius tephronotus
• Great gray shrike, Lanius excubitor

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Corvidae

The family Corvidae includes crows, ravens, jays, choughs, magpies, treepies, nutcrackers and ground jays. Corvids are above average in size among the Passeriformes, and some of the larger species show high levels of intelligence.

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Stenostiridae

Most of the species of this small family are found in Africa, though a few inhabit tropical Asia. They are not closely related to other birds called "flycatchers".

• Yellow-bellied fairy-fantail, Chelidorhynx hypoxanthus
• Gray-headed canary-flycatcher, Culicicapa ceylonensis

Order: Passeriformes   Family: 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.

• Fire-capped tit, Cephalopyrus flammiceps
• Yellow-browed tit, Sylviparus modestus
• Sultan tit, Melanochlora sultanea
• Coal tit, Periparus ater
• Rufous-naped tit, Periparus rufonuchalis
• Rufous-vented tit, Periparus rubidiventris
• Gray-crested tit, Lophophanes dichrous
• White-browed tit, Poecile superciliosus (A)
• Ground tit, Pseudopodoces humilis
• Green-backed tit, Parus monticolus
• Cinereous tit, Parus cinereus
• Himalayan black-lored tit, Parus xanthogenys
• Yellow-cheeked tit, Parus spilonotus

Order: Passeriformes   Family: 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.

• Rufous-tailed lark, Ammomanes phoenicura (A)
• Ashy-crowned sparrow-lark, Eremopterix grisea
• Horsfield's bushlark, Mirafra javanica (A)
• Bengal bushlark, Mirafra assamica
• Indian bushlark, Mirafra erythroptera (A)
• Horned lark, Eremophila alpestris
• Greater short-toed lark, Calandrella brachydactyla (A)
• Mongolian short-toed lark, Calandrella dukhunensis
• Hume's lark, Calandrella acutirostris
• Tibetan lark, Melanocorypha maxima (A)
• Sand lark, Alaudala raytal
• Eurasian skylark, Alauda arvensis (A)
• Oriental skylark, Alauda gulgula
• Crested lark, Galerida cristata

Order: Passeriformes   Family: 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 gray appearance found in open country such as grassland or scrub.

• Common tailorbird, Orthotomus sutorius
• Himalayan prinia, Prinia crinigera
• Black-throated prinia, Prinia atrogularis
• Gray-crowned prinia, Prinia cinereocapilla
• Gray-breasted prinia, Prinia hodgsonii
• Delicate prinia, Prinia lepida
• Jungle prinia, Prinia sylvatica
• Yellow-bellied prinia, Prinia flaviventris
• Ashy prinia, Prinia socialis
• Plain prinia, Prinia inornata
• Zitting cisticola, Cisticola juncidis
• Golden-headed cisticola, Cisticola exilis

Order: Passeriformes   Family: 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.

• Thick-billed warbler, Arundinax aedon
• Booted warbler, Iduna caligata
• Black-browed reed warbler, Acrocephalus bistrigiceps (A)
• Paddyfield warbler, Acrocephalus agricola
• Blunt-winged warbler, Acrocephalus concinens (A)
• Blyth's reed warbler, Acrocephalus dumetorum
• Oriental reed warbler, Acrocephalus orientalis (A)
• Clamorous reed warbler, Acrocephalus stentoreus

Order: Passeriformes   Family: 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.

• Striated grassbird, Megalurus palustris
• Pallas's grasshopper warbler, Helopsaltes certhiola (A)
• Lanceolated warbler, Locustella lanceolata (A)
• Brown bush warbler, Locustella luteoventris (Ex)
• Chinese bush warbler, Locustella tacsanowskia
• Common grasshopper-warbler, Locustella naevia (A)
• Baikal bush warbler, Locustella davidi (A)
• West Himalayan bush warbler, Locustella kashmirensis (A)
• Spotted bush warbler, Locustella thoracica
• Russet bush warbler, Locustella mandelli
• Bristled grassbird, Schoenicola striatus

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Pnoepygidae

The members of this small family are found in mountainous parts of South and South East Asia.

• Scaly-breasted cupwing, Pnoepyga albiventer
• Immaculate cupwing, Pnoepyga immaculata (E)
• Pygmy cupwing, Pnoepyga pusilla

Order: Passeriformes   Family: 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
• Barn swallow, Hirundo rustica
• Wire-tailed swallow, Hirundo smithii
• Red-rumped swallow, Cecropis daurica
• Streak-throated swallow, Petrochelidon fluvicola
• Common house-martin, Delichon urbica (A)
• Asian house-martin, Delichon dasypus
• Nepal house-martin, Delichon nipalensis

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Pycnonotidae

Bulbuls are medium-sized songbirds. Some are colorful 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.

• Black-crested bulbul, Rubigula flaviventris
• Striated bulbul, Pycnonotus striatus
• Red-vented bulbul, Pycnonotus cafer
• Red-whiskered bulbul, Pycnonotus jocosus
• Himalayan bulbul, Pycnonotus leucogenys
• White-throated bulbul, Alophoixus flaveolus
• Black bulbul, Hypsipetes leucocephalus
• Ashy bulbul, Hemixos flavala
• Mountain bulbul, Ixos mcclellandii

Order: Passeriformes   Family: 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 greyish-green to greyish-brown colours.

Order: Passeriformes   Family: 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.[4]

• Pale-footed bush warbler, Urosphena pallidipes
• Asian stubtail, Urosphena squameiceps (A)
• Gray-bellied tesia, Tesia cyaniventer
• Slaty-bellied tesia, Tesia olivea
• Chestnut-crowned bush warbler, Cettia major
• Gray-sided bush warbler, Cettia brunnifrons
• Chestnut-headed tesia, Cettia castaneocoronata
• Yellow-bellied warbler, Abroscopus superciliaris
• Rufous-faced warbler, Abroscopus albogularis
• Black-faced warbler, Abroscopus schisticeps
• Mountain tailorbird, Phyllergates cucullatus (A)
• Broad-billed warbler, Tickellia hodgsoni
• Brownish-flanked bush warbler, Horornis fortipes
• Hume's bush warbler, Horornis brunnescens
• Aberrant bush warbler, Horornis flavolivacea

Order: Passeriformes   Family: 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-browed tit-warbler, Leptopoecile sophiae
• Black-throated tit, Aegithalos concinnus
• White-throated tit, Aegithalos niveogularis
• Black-browed tit, Aegithalos iouschistos

Order: Passeriformes   Family: 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.

• Lesser whitethroat, Curruca curruca
• Eastern Orphean warbler, Curruca crassirostris (A)
• Fire-tailed myzornis, Myzornis pyrrhoura
• Golden-breasted fulvetta, Lioparus chrysotis
• Yellow-eyed babbler, Chrysomma sinense
• Jerdon's babbler, Chrysomma altirostre
• White-browed fulvetta, Fulvetta vinipectus
• Great parrotbill, Conostoma aemodium
• Brown parrotbill, Cholornis unicolor
• Gray-headed parrotbill, Psittiparus gularis (A)
• Black-breasted parrotbill, Paradoxornis flavirostris (Ex)
• Fulvous parrotbill, Suthora fulvifrons
• Black-throated parrotbill, Suthora nipalensis

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Zosteropidae

The white-eyes are small and mostly undistinguished, their plumage above being generally some dull color 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.

• White-naped yuhina, Yuhina bakeri
• Whiskered yuhina, Yuhina flavicollis
• Stripe-throated yuhina, Yuhina gularis
• Rufous-vented yuhina, Yuhina occipitalis
• Black-chinned yuhina, Yuhina nigrimenta
• Indian white-eye, Zosterops palpebrosus

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Timaliidae

The babblers, or timaliids, are somewhat diverse in size and coloration, but have soft fluffy plumage.

• Chestnut-capped babbler, Timalia pileata
• Pin-striped tit-babbler, Mixornis gularis
• Tawny-bellied babbler, Dumetia hyperythra
• Golden babbler, Cyanoderma chrysaeum
• Black-chinned babbler, Cyanoderma pyrrhops
• Rufous-capped babbler, Cyanoderma ruficeps
• Rufous-throated wren-babbler, Spelaeornis caudatus
• Coral-billed scimitar-babbler, Pomatorhinus ferruginosus
• Slender-billed scimitar-babbler, Pomatorhinus superciliaris
• Streak-breasted scimitar-babbler, Pomatorhinus ruficollis
• White-browed scimitar-babbler, Pomatorhinus schisticeps
• Rusty-cheeked scimitar-babbler, Erythrogenys erythrogenys
• Gray-throated babbler, Stachyris nigriceps

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Pellorneidae

These small to medium-sized songbirds have soft fluffy plumage but are otherwise rather diverse. Members of the genus Illadopsis are found in forests, but some other genera are birds of scrublands.

• White-hooded babbler, Gampsorhynchus rufulus
• Rufous-winged fulvetta, Schoeniparus castaneceps
• Rufous-vented grass babbler, Laticilla burnesii
• Puff-throated babbler, Pellorneum ruficeps
• Long-billed wren-babbler, Napothera malacoptila (A)
• Abbott's babbler, Malacocincla abbotti
• Indian grassbird, Graminicola bengalensis

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Leiothrichidae

The members of this family are diverse in size and colouration, though those of genus Turdoides tend to be brown or greyish. The family is found in Africa, India, and southeast Asia.

Order: Passeriformes   Family: 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 titmice.

• Goldcrest, Regulus regulus

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Tichodromidae

The wallcreeper is a small bird related to the nuthatch family, which has stunning crimson, gray and black plumage.

• Wallcreeper, Tichodroma muraria

Order: Passeriformes   Family: 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.

• Indian nuthatch, Sitta castanea
• Chestnut-bellied nuthatch, Sitta castanea
• Kashmir nuthatch, Sitta cashmirensis
• White-tailed nuthatch, Sitta himalayensis
• White-cheeked nuthatch, Sitta leucopsis
• Velvet-fronted nuthatch, Sitta frontalis

Order: Passeriformes   Family: 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.

• Hodgson's treecreeper, Certhia hodgsoni
• Bar-tailed treecreeper, Certhia himalayana
• Rusty-flanked treecreeper, Certhia nipalensis
• Sikkim treecreeper, Certhia discolor

Order: Passeriformes   Family: 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

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Elachuridae

This species, the only one in its family, inhabits forest undergrowth throughout South East Asia.

• Spotted elachura, Elachura formosa

Order: Passeriformes   Family: 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

Order: Passeriformes   Family: 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.

• Common hill myna, Gracula religiosa
• European starling, Sturnus vulgaris
• Rosy starling, Pastor roseus (A)
• Daurian starling, Agropsar sturninus (A)
• Indian pied starling, Gracupica contra
• Brahminy starling, Sturnia pagodarum
• Chestnut-tailed starling, Sturnia malabarica
• Common myna, Acridotheres tristis
• Bank myna, Acridotheres ginginianus
• Jungle myna, Acridotheres fuscus
• Spot-winged starling, Saroglossa spilopterus

Order: Passeriformes   Family: 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.

Order: Passeriformes   Family: 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.

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Bombycillidae

The waxwings are a group of birds with soft silky plumage and unique red tips to some of the wing feathers. In the Bohemian and cedar waxwings, these tips look like sealing wax and give the group its name. These are arboreal birds of northern forests. They live on insects in summer and berries in winter.

• Bohemian waxwing, Bombycilla garrulus (A)

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Dicaeidae

The flowerpeckers are very small, stout, often brightly colored birds, with short tails, short thick curved bills and tubular tongues.

• Thick-billed flowerpecker, Dicaeum agile
• Yellow-vented flowerpecker, Dicaeum chrysorrheum
• Yellow-bellied flowerpecker, Dicaeum melanozanthum
• Pale-billed flowerpecker, Dicaeum erythrorhynchos
• Plain flowerpecker, Dicaeum minullum
• Fire-breasted flowerpecker, Dicaeum ignipectus
• Scarlet-backed flowerpecker, Dicaeum cruentatum

Order: Passeriformes   Family: 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.

• Ruby-cheeked sunbird, Chalcoparia singalensis
• Purple sunbird, Cinnyris asiaticus
• Fire-tailed sunbird, Aethopyga ignicauda
• Black-throated sunbird, Aethopyga saturata
• Mrs. Gould's sunbird, Aethopyga gouldiae
• Green-tailed sunbird, Aethopyga nipalensis
• Crimson sunbird, Aethopyga siparaja
• Little spiderhunter, Arachnothera longirostra
• Streaked spiderhunter, Arachnothera magna

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Irenidae

The fairy-bluebirds are bulbul-like birds of open forest or thorn scrub. The males are dark-blue and the females a duller green.

• Asian fairy-bluebird, Irena puella

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Chloropseidae

The leafbirds are small, bulbul-like birds. The males are brightly plumaged, usually in greens and yellows.

• Golden-fronted leafbird, Chloropsis aurifrons
• Orange-bellied leafbird, Chloropsis hardwickii

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Ploceidae

The weavers are small passerine birds related to the finches. They are seed-eating birds with rounded conical bills. The males of many species are brightly colored, usually in red or yellow and black, some species show variation in color only in the breeding season.

• Streaked weaver, Ploceus manyar
• Baya weaver, Ploceus philippinus
• Finn's weaver, Ploceus megarhynchus (A)
• Black-breasted weaver, Ploceus benghalensis

Order: Passeriformes   Family: 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 colors and patterns.

• Red avadavat, Amandava amandava
• Indian silverbill, Euodice malabarica
• White-rumped munia, Lonchura striata
• Scaly-breasted munia, Lonchura punctulata
• Tricolored munia, Lonchura malacca
• Chestnut munia, Lonchura atricapilla

Order: Passeriformes   Family: 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 sparrows.

• Alpine accentor, Prunella collaris
• Altai accentor, Prunella himalayana
• Robin accentor, Prunella rubeculoides
• Rufous-breasted accentor, Prunella strophiata
• Brown accentor, Prunella fulvescens
• Black-throated accentor, Prunella atrogularis
• Maroon-backed accentor, Prunella immaculata

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Passeridae

Old World sparrows are small passerine birds. In general, sparrows tend to be small, plump, brown or gray birds with short tails and short powerful beaks. Sparrows are seed eaters, but they also consume small insects.

• House sparrow, Passer domesticus
• Spanish sparrow, Passer hispaniolensis (A)
• Russet sparrow, Passer cinnamomeus (A)
• Eurasian tree sparrow, Passer montanus
• Yellow-throated sparrow, Gymnoris xanthocollis
• Black-winged snowfinch, Montifringilla adamsi
• White-rumped snowfinch, Montifringilla taczanowskii
• Rufous-necked snowfinch, Montifringilla ruficollis
• Blanford's snowfinch, Montifringilla blanfordi

Order: Passeriformes   Family: 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.

Order: Passeriformes   Family: 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.

Order: Passeriformes   Family: 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.

• List of birds
• Lists of birds by region

• Lepage, Denis. "Checklist of Birds of Nepal". Bird Checklists of the World. Avibase. Retrieved 27 November 2019.
• Clements, James F. (2000). Birds of the World: A Checklist. Cornell University Press. p. 880. ISBN 0-934797-16-1.
• Inskipp, Carol & Inskipp, Tim (1985). A guide to the birds of Nepal. Christopher Helm. ISBN 9780713681093.
• Rand AL & RL Fleming (1957). "Birds from Nepal". Fieldiana Zoology. 41 (1).
• Fleming RL; AL Rand & MA Traylor (1961). "Notes on Nepal birds". Fieldiana Zoology. 35 (8).
• Fleming, RL & MA Traylor (1964). "Further notes on Nepal birds". Fieldiana Zoology. 35 (9).
• Fleming, RL, MA Traylor (1968). "Distributional notes on Nepal birds". Fieldiana Zoology. 53 (3).{{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)