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.

Scops owls are typical owls in family Strigidae belonging to the genus Otus and are restricted to the Old World.

Otus is from Greek meaning a eared owl.

1/ Sunda scops owl (Cú Mã Lai, Otus lempiji)
2/ Mountain scops owl (Cú mèo Latusơ, Otus spilocephalus), sometimes referred to as the spotted scops owl

(spílos) f (genitive σπίλου); rock, reef, cliff
Cephalus (/ˈsɛfələs/; Ancient Greek: Κέφαλος Kephalos means "head" is a name used both for the hero-figure in Greek mythology and carried as a theophoric name by historical persons.


3/ Oriental scops owl (Cú mèo nhỏ, Otus sunia)

Short-eared owl 
(Cú lửa, Asio flammeus)

The short-eared owl (Asio flammeus) is a widespread grassland species in the family Strigidae.
The bird is found on all continents except Antarctica and Australia, and it is partially migratory.

The name Strigiformes is formed from "Strig", the plural form of the Latin word "strix", meaning "owl", and "formes", meaning "forms".

Strigidae: derived from "Strix", a Latin word for owl (also the same in Greek).

The genus name Asio is from asiō, the Latin name used by Pliny the Younger for a type of horned owl, the feather tufts on the head of these owls give the appearance of "ears" which is a defining characteristic. The possible origin is from ancient Greek οὖς (pronounced roughly as oos) is a noun meaning "ear".

Flammeus is a Latin adjective meaning "flaming," "fiery," or "fiery red," derived from the Latin word flamma (flame).

Long-eared owl (Asio otus), 
also known as the northern long-eared owl or, more informally, as the lesser horned owl or cat owl

The long-eared owl (Asio otus) is a medium-sized species of owl of the family Strigidae.
The bird has an extensive breeding range: Eurasia and Africa. 


The name Strigiformes is formed from "Strig", the plural form of the Latin word "strix", meaning "owl", and "formes", meaning "forms".

Strigidae: derived from "Strix", a Latin word for owl (also the same in Greek).

The genus name Asio is from asiō, the Latin name used by Pliny the Younger for a type of horned owl, the feather tufts on the head of these owls give the appearance of "ears" which is a defining characteristic. The possible origin is from ancient Greek οὖς (pronounced roughly as oos) is a noun meaning "ear".

The specific epithet, otus, is derived from Greek and refers to a small eared owl.

Otus (Latin) and Ōtos/Ὦτος (Ancient Greek) primarily refer to two distinct things: a giant in Greek mythology and a genus of small-eared owls. It stems from the Greek ous (ear), implying a "horned" or "eared" owl, or relates to the mythological giant known for being "insatiate".

Asio is a genus of typical owls, or true owls, in the family Strigidae. 

1/ Short-eared owl (Cú lửa, Asio flammeus)

The genus name Asio is from asiō, the Latin name used by Pliny the Younger for a type of horned owl, the feather tufts on the head of these owls give the appearance of "ears" which is a defining characteristic.

The true owls or typical owls (family Strigidae) are one of the two generally accepted families of owls, the other being the barn owls (Tytonidae).

 

Strigiformes: All Owls are classified as members of this order. 
The name is formed from "Strig", the plural form of the Latin word "strix", meaning "owl", and "formes", meaning "forms".

Strigidae: The family for all Owls except Barn Owls, derived from "Strix", a Latin word for owl (also the same in Greek)

Tytonidae: All barn owls are members of this family. The name is derived from the Greek word "tuto", which means "owl".

The bay owls (Phodilus) are a genus of Old World barn-owls. The defining characteristics of bay owls are their smaller bodies, in comparison to other barn owls, and their U- or V-shaped faces.

 The name is from the Ancient Greek phos for "light" or "daylight" and deilos for "timid" or "cowardly".

1/ Oriental bay owl (Cú lợn rừng, Phodilus badius)

badius in Latin meaning reddish brown, chestnut colored, bay 

Tyto is a genus of birds consisting of true barn owls, grass owls and masked owls that collectively make up all the species within the subfamily Tytoninae of the barn owl family, Tytonidae.

1/ African grass owl (Cú lợn đồng cỏ châu Phi or Cú lợn lưng nâu, Tyto capensis)
2/ Barn owl (Cú lợn lưng xám, Tyto alba), also known as the common barn owl

3/ Eastern barn owl (Tyto javanica)

4/ Eastern grass owl (Tyto longimembris), also known as Chinese grass owl or Australasian grass owl
Some authorities consider this owl to be conspecific with the African grass owl, Tyto capensis, other consider it to be a valid species.


Strigiformes, Strigidae: from "Strix", a Latin word for owl (also the same in Greek).
Tyto: Greek tuto owl, night-owl.

Barn-owls (family Tytonidae) are one of the two families of owls, the other being the true owls or typical owls, Strigidae.

Strigiformes: All Owls are classified as members of this order. 
The name is formed from "Strig", the plural form of the Latin word "strix", meaning "owl", and "formes", meaning "forms".

Strigidae: The family for all Owls except Barn Owls, derived from "Strix", a Latin word for owl (also the same in Greek)

Tytonidae: All barn owls are members of this family. The name is derived from the Greek word "tuto", which means "owl".

Owls are birds from the order Strigiformes with over 200 species of mostly solitary and nocturnal birds of prey typified by an upright stance, a large, broad head, binocular vision, binaural hearing, sharp talons, and feathers adapted for silent flight. Exceptions include the diurnal northern hawk-owl and the gregarious burrowing owl.

 

Strigiformes: All Owls are classified as members of this order. 
The name is formed from "Strig", the plural form of the Latin word "strix", meaning "owl", and "formes", meaning "forms".

Strigidae: The family for all Owls except Barn Owls, derived from "Strix", a Latin word for owl (also the same in Greek)

Tytonidae: All barn owls are members of this family. The name is derived from the Greek word "tuto", which means "owl".

Little grebe 
(Le hôi, Tachybaptus ruficollis), also known as dabchick

The little grebe (Tachybaptus ruficollis), also known as the dabchick, is a member of the grebe family Podicipedidae of water birds.

Tachybaptus is a genus of small birds of the grebe or Podicipedidae family. The genus name means "quick diving": it is from Ancient Greek takhys "quick" or "fast" and bapto "I dip" or "to sink under".

1/ Little grebe (Le hôi, Tachybaptus ruficollis), also known as dabchick

Great crested grebe 
(Podiceps cristatus, Chim lặn mào lớn)

The great crested grebe (Podiceps cristatus) is a member of the grebe family of water birds.
The bird is found across Europe and east across the Palearctic. Those populations in cold regions are migratory while those in milder climate are resident.
The great crested grebe was first recorded in Vietnam on the Ba Lat River in the Xuan Thuy National Park in Nam Dinh Province in January 2026.

Podicipediformes, Podicipedidae: Latin podex, podicis vent, rear-end; pes foot; podicus of the foot (pes, pedis foot). The name means foot at the rear-end, describing position of the legs.

The genus name Podiceps comes from Latin pōdicis (genitive of pōdex), meaning "rump" or "anus," and pēs, meaning "foot". This refers to the grebe's legs being positioned far back on the body.

The specific name, cristatus is a Latin adjective (from crista), meaning "crested".

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