Birds of Vietnam, Bird Species in Vietnam

Long-tailed minivet in Vietnam

Let's join AdventureGreen on our bird quests to learn about the different birds and bird species in Vietnam. Here you can find out more about the birding spots that these bird species are found.

Giant ibis (Cò quăm lớn, Pseudibis gigantea)

The giant ibis (Pseudibis gigantea) is a wading bird of the ibis family, Threskiornithidae. 
The bird is confined to northern Cambodia, with a few birds surviving in extreme southern Laos and in Yok Đôn National Park, Vietnam.

Pelecaniformes translates to "pelican-shaped" or "pelican-formed," derived from the New Latin Pelecanus (pelican) + -iformes (having the form of). The term originates from the Ancient Greek pelekan (πελεκάν), which is linked to pelekys (πέλεκυς), meaning "axe," likely referencing the large, axe-like bill of the bird.

Threskiornithidae, the scientific family name for ibises and spoonbills, originates from Ancient Greek and New Latin, meaning "religious bird" or "worshipper bird". It is derived from thrēskeia (Greek for "religion" or "worship") and ornis (Greek for "bird"), likely referring to the sacred status of the ibis in ancient Egypt.

Pseudibis is a scientific genus name for a group of Southeast Asian ibises, derived from a combination of Greek and Latin meaning "false ibis". The prefix Pseudo- originates from Greek pseudos, meaning "false" or "lying," and ibis comes from the Latin/Greek term for the bird. 

Gigantea is the feminine Latin adjective meaning gigantic, huge, enormous, or mighty, derived from the Latin giganteus (of or belonging to giants). It originates from the Greek Gígantes (plural of Gígas), referring to the mythical race of great strength. 

Red-naped ibis (Cò quăm cánh xanh or Cò quăm đen Ấn Độ or cò quăm gáy đỏ, Pseudibis papillosa) also known as the Indian black ibis or black ibis

The red-naped ibis (Pseudibis papillosa), also known as the Indian black ibis or black ibis, is a species of ibis found in the plains, agriculture fields and cities of the Indian subcontinent.

Pelecaniformes translates to "pelican-shaped" or "pelican-formed," derived from the New Latin Pelecanus (pelican) + -iformes (having the form of). The term originates from the Ancient Greek pelekan (πελεκάν), which is linked to pelekys (πέλεκυς), meaning "axe," likely referencing the large, axe-like bill of the bird.

Threskiornithidae, the scientific family name for ibises and spoonbills, originates from Ancient Greek and New Latin, meaning "religious bird" or "worshipper bird". It is derived from thrēskeia (Greek for "religion" or "worship") and ornis (Greek for "bird"), likely referring to the sacred status of the ibis in ancient Egypt.

Pseudibis is a scientific genus name for a group of Southeast Asian ibises, derived from a combination of Greek and Latin meaning "false ibis". The prefix Pseudo- originates from Greek pseudos, meaning "false" or "lying," and ibis comes from the Latin/Greek term for the bird. 

Papillosa is a Latin-derived botanical and zoological term meaning "full of nipples," "pimpled," or "covered in small, raised projections" (papillae). It originates from the Latin papilla (nipple or pimple) and the suffix -osa, meaning "full of" or "abundant in".

White-shouldered ibis (Pseudibis davisoni)

The white-shouldered ibis (Pseudibis davisoni) is a large species of bird in the family Threskiornithidae.
The bird is native to small regions of Southeast Asia, and is one of the most threatened bird species on this part of the continent.
This species once extended throughout Southeast Asia from Myanmar to Thailand, Malaysia, Cambodia, Laos, Vietnam and north into Yuman in China.
The bird re-appeared in Dong Thap Muoi (Mekong Delta, southern Vietnam) in 2019 after decades of absence.

Pelecaniformes translates to "pelican-shaped" or "pelican-formed," derived from the New Latin Pelecanus (pelican) + -iformes (having the form of). The term originates from the Ancient Greek pelekan (πελεκάν), which is linked to pelekys (πέλεκυς), meaning "axe," likely referencing the large, axe-like bill of the bird.

Threskiornithidae, the scientific family name for ibises and spoonbills, originates from Ancient Greek and New Latin, meaning "religious bird" or "worshipper bird". It is derived from thrēskeia (Greek for "religion" or "worship") and ornis (Greek for "bird"), likely referring to the sacred status of the ibis in ancient Egypt.

Pseudibis is a scientific genus name for a group of Southeast Asian ibises, derived from a combination of Greek and Latin meaning "false ibis". The prefix Pseudo- originates from Greek pseudos, meaning "false" or "lying," and ibis comes from the Latin/Greek term for the bird. 

Black-headed ibis 
(Cò quăm đầu đen, Threskiornis melanocephalus), also known as the Oriental white ibis, Indian white ibis, and black-necked ibis

The black-headed ibis (Threskiornis melanocephalus) is a species of wading bird of the ibis family Threskiornithidae.
The bird breeds in the South and Southeast Asia from India to the west and as far east as Japan.


Threskiornis Greek threskeia religious worship (threskeuo to worship); ornis bird. 
The Sacred Ibis Threskiornis aethiopicus was venerated by the ancient Egyptians for its crescent-shaped bill and bright white plumage. They considered it to represent Thoth the moon god.

Melano- (from Ancient Greek melas/melan-): Meaning "black" or "dark".
-cephalus (from Ancient Greek kephalē): Meaning "head" or "-headed".

Melanocephalus (Masculine)
Melanocephala (Feminine)
Melanocephalum (Neuter)

Threskiornis is a genus of ibises, wading birds of the family Threskiornithidae.

1/ Black-headed ibis (Cò quăm đầu đen, Threskiornis melanocephalus), also known as the Oriental white ibis, Indian white ibis, and black-necked ibis

The bird genus Pseudibis consists of three South-East Asian species in the ibis subfamily, Threskiornithinae.

1/ Red-naped ibis (Cò quăm cánh xanh or Cò quăm đen Ấn Độ or cò quăm gáy đỏ, Pseudibis papillosa) also known as the Indian black ibis or black ibis
2/ Giant ibis (Cò quăm lớn, Pseudibis gigantea)

The family Threskiornithidae, which belongs to the bird order Pelecaniformes, includes 36 species of large wading birds. 

Pelecanus: Greek pelekan, pelekanos pelican.

Threskiornis Greek threskeia religious worship (threskeuo to worship); ornis bird. 
The Sacred Ibis Threskiornis aethiopicus was venerated by the ancient Egyptians for its crescent-shaped bill and bright white plumage. They considered it to represent Thoth the moon god.

The bird order Ciconiiformes includes the single family Ciconiidae or Storks. 
Previously Ciconiiformes included a number of other families have been moved to other orders:
- herons and bitterns (Ardeidae), 
- the shoebill (sole species of the Balaenicipitidae), 
- the hammerhead (sole species of the Scopidae), 
- typical storks and wood storks (Ciconiidae), 
- ibis and spoonbills (Threskiornithidae), 
- and flamingos (Phoenicopteridae) by some authorities.

Ciconiiformes, Ciconiidae: from Latin ciconia for stork.

Batrachostomus is a genus of frogmouths or family Podargidae. 

Podargidae, Podargus: French name “Podarge” given to the frog-mouths by Cuvier.
The generic name Batrachostomus is a direct translation from the Greek for 'frogmouth': batracho for 'frog' and stoma for 'mouth'.

1/ Javan frogmouth 
(Cú muỗi mỏ quặp Java, Batrachostomus javensis)
sometimes known as Horsfield's frogmouth

2/ Blyth's frogmouth 
(Batrachostomus affinis) 
Cú muỗi mỏ quặp Blyth

3/ Hodgson's Frogmouth 
(Cú muỗi mỏ quặp Hodgson, Batrachostomus hodgsoni)

The frogmouths (Podargidae) are a group of nocturnal birds related to owlet-nightjars, swifts, and hummingbirds.

Podargidae, Podargus: French name “Podarge” given to the frog-mouths by Cuvier.

Podargiformes (Frogmouth) was placed in the bird order Caprimulgiformes (Nightjar) before becoming a separate order in 2021. 

Podargiformes, Podargidae, Podargus: French name “Podarge” given to the frog-mouths by Cuvier.

Lyncornis is a genus of eared nightjar in the family Caprimulgidae, formerly placed in the genus Eurostopodus.
Caprimulgidae: from Caprimulgus Latin caprimulgus nightjar (capra nanny goat; mulgere to milk).
The genus name Lyncornis combines the Ancient Greek lunx/lunkos meaning "lynx" and ornis meaning "bird". 
The specific epithet macrotis is from the Ancient Greek makrotes, meaning "long-eared".

1/ Great eared nightjar (Cú muỗi mào, Lyncornis macrotis)

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