List of birds of the Maldives - Definition

The following is a list of birds recorded in the Maldives. The small size and isolation of this Indian Ocean republic means that its avifauna is extremely restricted. Most of the species are characteristic of Eurasian migratory birds, only a few being typically associated with the Indian sub-continent. ORDER: ANSERIFORMES

• Family: Anatidae
  • Northern Shoveler, Anas clypeata
  • Northern Pintail, Anas acuta
  • Garganey, Anas querquedula
  • Common Teal, Anas crecca
  • Ferruginous Duck, Aythya nyroca
  • Tufted Duck, Aythya fuligula

ORDER: UPUPIFORMES

• Family: Upupidae
  • Hoopoe, Upupa epops

ORDER: CORACIIFORMES

• Family: Coraciidae
  • Indian Roller, Coracias benghalensis
• Family: Meropidae
  • European Bee-eater, Merops apiaster

ORDER: CUCULIFORMES

• Family: Cuculidae
  • Common Cuckoo, Cuculus canorus
  • Asian Koel, Eudynamys scolopacea

ORDER: APODIFORMES

• Family: Apodidae
  • White-throated Needletail, Hirundapus caudacutus
  • Common Swift, Apus apus
  • Pallid Swift, Apus pallidus
  • House Swift, Apus affinis

ORDER: STRIGIFORMES

• Family: Strigidae
  • Short-eared Owl, Asio flammeus

ORDER:COLUMBIFORMES

• Family: Columbidae
  • Rock Dove, Columba livia
  • Turtle Dove, Streptopelia turtur
  • Rufous Turtle Dove, Streptopelia orientalis

ORDER: GRUIFORMES

• Family: Rallidae
  • White-breasted Waterhen, Amaurornis phoenicurus
  • Watercock, Gallicrex cinerea
  • Common Moorhen, Gallinula chloropus
  • Common Coot, Fulica atra

ORDER: CHARADRIIFORMES

• Family: Scolopacidae
  • Pintail Snipe, Gallinago stenura
  • Swinhoe's Snipe, Gallinago megala
  • Common Snipe, Gallinago gallinago
  • Black-tailed Godwit, Limosa limosa
  • Bar-tailed Godwit, Limosa lapponica
  • Whimbrel, Numenius phaeopus
  • Eurasian Curlew, Numenius arquata
  • Common Redshank, Tringa totanus
  • Marsh Sandpiper, Tringa stagnatilis
  • Greenshank, Tringa nebularia
  • Wood Sandpiper, Tringa glareola
  • Terek Sandpiper, Xenus cinereus
  • Common Sandpiper, Actitis hypoleucos
  • Ruddy Turnstone, Arenaria interpres
  • Sanderling, Calidris alba
  • Little Stint, Calidris minuta
  • Temminck's Stint, Calidris temminckii
  • Long-toed Stint, Calidris subminuta
  • Dunlin, Calidris alpina
  • Curlew Sandpiper, Calidris ferruginea
  • Ruff, Philomachus pugnax
• Family: Recurvirostridae
  • Black-winged Stilt, Himantopus himantopus
• Family: Charadriidae
  • Pacific Golden Plover, Pluvialis fulva
  • Grey Plover, Pluvialis squatarola
  • Ringed Plover, Charadrius hiaticula
  • Little Ringed Plover, Charadrius dubius
  • Kentish Plover, Charadrius alexandrinus
  • Lesser Sand Plover, Charadrius mongolus
  • Greater Sand Plover, Charadrius leschenaultii
  • Caspian Plover, Charadrius asiaticus
  • Sociable Lapwing, Vanellus gregarius
• Family: Dromadidae
  • Crab Plover, Dromas ardeola
• Family: Glareolidae
  • Oriental Pratincole, Glareola maldivarum
• Family: Laridae
  • White-eyed Gull, Larus leucophthalmus
  • Yellow-legged Gull, Larus cachinnans
  • Heuglin's Gull, Larus heuglini
  • Great Black-headed Gull, Larus ichthyaetus
  • Black-headed Gull, Larus ridibundus
• Family: Sternidae
  • Gull-billed Tern, Gelochelidon nilotica
  • Caspian Tern, Sterna caspia
  • Lesser Crested Tern, Sterna bengalensis
  • Great Crested Tern, Sterna bergii
  • Roseate Tern, Sterna dougallii
  • Black-naped Tern, Sterna sumatrana
  • Common Tern, Sterna hirundo
  • Little Tern, Sterna albifrons
  • Saunders's Tern, Sterna saundersi
  • Bridled Tern, Sterna anaethetus
  • Sooty Tern, Sterna fuscata
  • White-winged Black Tern, Chlidonias leucopterus
  • Brown Noddy, Anous stolidus
  • White Tern, Gygis alba

ORDER: ACCIPITRIIFORMES

• Family: Pandionidae
  • Osprey, Pandion haliaetus
• Family: Accipitridae
  • Oriental Honey-buzzard, Pernis ptilorhyncus
  • Marsh Harrier, Circus aeruginosus
  • Pallid Harrier, Circus macrourus
  • Montague's Harrier, Circus pygargus
  • Common Buzzard, Buteo buteo
• Family: Falconidae
  • Lesser Kestrel, Falco naumanni
  • Common Kestrel, Falco tinnunculus
  • Amur Falcon, Falco amurensis
  • Eurasian Hobby, Falco subbuteo

ORDER: PELECANIFORMES

• Family: Phaethontidae
  • White-tailed Tropicbird, Phaethon lepturus
• Family: Sulidae
  • Masked Booby, Sula dactylatra
  • Brown Booby, Sula leucogaster
• Family: Fregatidae
  • Great Frigatebird, Fregata minor
• Family: Pelecanidae
  • Great White Pelican, Pelecanus onocrotalus

ORDER: CICONIIFORMES

• Family: Ardeidae
  • Little Egret, Egretta garzetta
  • Grey Heron, Ardea cinerea
  • Purple Heron, Ardea purpurea
  • Great Egret, Casmerodius albus
  • Cattle Egret, Bubulcus ibis
  • Indian Pond Heron, Ardeola grayii
  • Striated Heron, Butorides striatus
  • Black-crowned Night Heron, Nycticorax nycticorax
  • Yellow Bittern, Ixobrychus sinensis
  • Cinnamon Bittern, Ixobrychus cinnamomeus
  • Black Bittern, Dupetor flavicollis
  • Great Bittern, Botaurus stellaris
• Family: Threskiornithidae
  • Glossy Ibis, Plegadis falcinellus

ORDER: PROCELLARIIFORMES

• Family: Procellariidae
  • Bulwer's Petrel, Bulweria bulwerii
  • Streaked Shearwater, Calonectris leucomelas
  • Wedge-tailed Shearwater, Puffinus pacificus
  • Flesh-footed Shearwater, Puffinus carneipes
  • Audubon's Shearwater, Puffinus lherminieri
• Family Hydrobatidae
  • Wilson's Petrel, Oceanites oceanicus
  • White-faced Storm-petrel, Pelagodroma marina

ORDER: PASSERIFORMES

• Family: Laniidae
  • Isabelline Shrike, Lanius isabellinus
  • Brown Shrike, Lanius cristatus
• Family: Corvidae
  • House Crow, Corvus splendens
• Family: Hirundinidae
  • Sand Martin, Riparia riparia
  • Barn Swallow, Hirundo rustica
  • House Martin, Delichon urbica
• Family: Passeridae
  • House Sparrow, Passer domesticus
• Family: Motacillidae
  • Yellow Wagtail, Motacilla flava
  • Grey Wagtail, Motacilla cinerea
  • Tree Pipit, Anthus trivialis
  • Red-throated Pipit, Anthus cervinus