Birds of Vietnam, Bird Species in Vietnam

Cuc Phuong National Park, Ninh Binh, 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.

Pacific swift or fork-tailed swift 
(Yến hông trắng, Apus pacificus)

The Pacific swift (Apus pacificus) is a species of bird that is part of the Swift family. 
The bird breeds in eastern Asia and is strongly migratory, spending the northern hemisphere's winter in Southeast Asia and Australia. 

The name Apus is Latin for a swift, thought to be a type of swallow with no feet (from Ancient Greek a meaning "without", and pous meaning "foot").
pacificus refers to the Pacific Ocean.

House Swift
(Nepal House Swift) 
(Apus nipalensis)

The house swift (Apus nipalensis) is a species of swift in the family Apodidae. 
The bird is found in Japan, Nepal, and Southeast Asia.

The family name, Apodidae, is derived from the Greek apous meaning "footless", a reference to the small, weak legs of these most aerial of birds.
The name Apus is Latin for a swift, thought to be a type of swallow with no feet (from Ancient Greek a meaning "without", and pous meaning "foot").
Nipalensis means from Nepal.

Little swift (Yến cằm trắng, Apus affinis)

The little swift (Apus affinis) is a small species of swift found in Africa and southwestern Asia, and a local breeder in southern Europe.

The name Apus is Latin for a swift, thought to be a type of swallow with no feet (from Ancient Greek a meaning "without", and pous meaning "foot").
The Latin word affinis means "related," "neighboring," "akin to," or "connected," derived from the roots "ad" ("to, toward") and "finis" ("border, end").

Lesser coucal 
(Bìm bịp nhỏ, Centropus bengalensis) 

The lesser coucal (Centropus bengalensis) is a species of cuckoo in the family Cuculidae.
The species is widely distributed west from the Indian subcontinent (except for Sri Lanka) extending east across Southeast Asia. 

Compare:
- The greater coucal or crow pheasant (Centropus sinensis): red-eyed, big-sized;
- The lesser coucal (Centropus bengalensis): black-eyed, medium-sized;

Cuculus: Latin for cuckoo.
The genus Centropus name combines the Ancient Greek: kentron meaning "spur" or "spike", pous meaning "foot".

Greater coucal 
or crow pheasant 
(Bìm bịp lớn, Centropus sinensis)

The greater coucal or crow pheasant (Centropus sinensis), is a large non-parasitic member of the cuckoo order of birds, the Cuculiformes. 
The bird is a widespread resident in the Indian Subcontinent and Southeast Asia.

Asian koel 
(Tu hú, Eudynamys scolopaceus)

The Asian koel (Eudynamys scolopaceus, Tu hú Chau a) is a member of the cuckoo order of birds, the Cuculiformes. 
The bird is found in the Indian Subcontinent, China, and Southeast Asia.

Traits:
- Red-eyed;


The name combines the Ancient Greek eu meaning "fine" with dunamis meaning "power" or "strength".
The specific epithet scolopaceus is Modern Latin meaning "snipe-like" from Latin scolopax meaning "snipe" or "woodcock".

Plaintive cuckoo 
(Tìm vịt, Cacomantis merulinus)

The plaintive cuckoo (Cacomantis merulinus) is a species of bird belonging to the genus Cacomantis in the cuckoo family Cuculidae. It is native to Asia, from India, Nepal and China to Indonesia.

The genus name Cacomantis is from the Greek kakos meaning evil or ill-boding and mantis for prophet. 
The name is associated with or supposed to be predicted "rains" as well as ill fortune and bad weather.
merulina, merulinus: Latin merulinus blackbird-like, thrush-like (> Latin merula blackbird).

Lesser cuckoo 
( Cu cu nhỏ, Cuculus poliocephalus) 

The lesser cuckoo (Cuculus poliocephalus) is a species of cuckoo in the family Cuculidae.
This bird is found in Bangladesh, Bhutan, China, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Hong Kong, India, Japan, Kenya, North Korea, South Korea, Laos, Malawi, Myanmar, Nepal, Pakistan, Russia, Seychelles, Somalia, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Tanzania, Thailand, Vietnam, Zambia, and Zimbabwe.

The genus name Cuculus is the Latin word for "cuckoo".
poliocephalus: poliocephalus Greek polios grey; -kephalos -headed.

Indian cuckoo 
( Bắt cô trói cột, Cuculus micropterus)

The Indian cuckoo or short-winged cuckoo (Cuculus micropterus) is a member of the cuckoo order of birds, the Cuculiformes.
The bird is found in the Indian subcontinent and Southeast Asia.

The genus name Cuculus is the Latin word for "cuckoo".
micropterum, Micropterus, micropterus Greek mikroptera small-winged.

Common cuckoo 
(Cu cu, Cuculus canorus)

The cuckoo, common cuckoo, European cuckoo or Eurasian cuckoo (Cuculus canorus) is a member of the cuckoo order of birds, Cuculiformes.
This bird species is a widespread summer migrant to Europe and Asia, and winters in Africa.


The English word "cuckoo" comes from the Old French cucu.
The genus name Cuculus is the Latin word for "cuckoo".
canorum, canorus Latin canorus melodious ( from canere, meaning to sing).

Himalayan cuckoo 
(Cu cu Himalaya, Cuculus saturatus)

Cuculus saturatus, better well known as the Himalayan cuckoo or Oriental cuckoo, is a brooding parasitic bird that is part of the Cuculidae family. 
The species breeds from the Himalayas eastward to southern China and Taiwan. It migrates to southeast Asia and the Greater Sunda Islands for the winter.

The genus name Cuculus is the Latin word for "cuckoo".
saturata Latin saturatus richly coloured (satur, satura rich, copious > satis enough).

Oriental cuckoo 
or Horsfields cuckoo 
(Cu cu phương đông, Cuculus optatus), formerly classified as a subspecies of the Himalayan cuckoo (Cuculus saturatus)

The Oriental cuckoo or Horsfields cuckoo (Cuculus optatus) is a bird belonging to the genus Cuculus in the cuckoo family Cuculidae.

The genus name Cuculus is the Latin word for "cuckoo".
optata, optatus Latin optatus welcome, wished for (optare to choose, to desire).

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