Iconic bird of Vietnam

Common Birds of Vietnam

Vietnam's Annamite mountains harbor some of the world's most recently discovered birds — Edwards's Pheasant and Vietnamese Pheasant were barely known to science before the 1990s.

900+
Total species
10+
Endemics
50+
Threatened
Oct–Apr
Best months
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1. Edwards's PheasantCritically Endangered
Lophura edwardsi

One of the world's most critically endangered birds — probably extinct in the wild, with a tiny captive population; its rediscovery in the field would be one of ornithology's greatest events.

📍 Bạch Mã NP, Phong Nha-Kẻ Bàng🗓 Nov–Mar
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2. Germain's Peacock-PheasantVulnerable
Polyplectron germaini

A Vietnam endemic pheasant — the beautiful ocellated tail pattern is displayed by males in dense forest undergrowth, best found by its high-pitched whistle in primary forest.

📍 Cát Tiên NP, southern and central Vietnam🗓 Nov–Mar
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3. Siamese FirebackLeast Concern
Lophura diardi

The most reliable and visually spectacular pheasant in Vietnam — walks forest trails at dawn in Cát Tiên NP, the silver-scaled back and red facial wattles making males unmistakable.

📍 Cát Tiên NP, Bù Gia Mập NP🗓 Nov–Mar
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4. Bar-bellied PittaNear Threatened
Hydrornis elliotii

An Annamite endemic pitta with vivid sky-blue, green, and yellow plumage — found on the forest floor of moist forest in central Vietnam by patient early-morning searching.

📍 Bạch Mã NP, Phong Nha, Hue🗓 Oct–Mar
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5. Orange-necked PartridgeEndangered
Arborophila davidi

One of Asia's least-known partridges — described only in 1927, it remains poorly studied in the few southern Vietnam forests where it still occurs.

📍 Cát Tiên NP and southern Vietnam🗓 Nov–Mar
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6. Red-collared WoodpeckerNear Threatened
Picus rabieri

A Near Threatened Vietnamese endemic woodpecker restricted to northern Vietnam and adjacent Laos — found in woodlands with large trees, often drumming on dead trunks.

📍 Northern Vietnam, Cúc Phương NP🗓 Oct–Mar
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7. Vietnamese CutiaNear Threatened
Cutia legalleni

A Vietnam endemic subspecies of Cutia with striking black, white, and rufous patterning — found in mixed broadleaf forest on the Da Lat Plateau above 1,000 m.

📍 Da Lat Plateau, Central Highlands🗓 Nov–Mar
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8. Gray-faced Tit-BabblerNear Threatened
Macronus kelleyi

A Vietnam endemic babbler found in bamboo and scrub near the central coast — small groups move through tangled growth giving distinctive nasal chattering calls.

📍 Central Vietnam coastal lowlands🗓 Oct–Mar

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