List of birds by population explained

This is a list of bird species by global population, divided by bird classification. While numbers are estimates, they have been made by the experts in their fields. For more information on how these estimates were ascertained, see Wikipedia's articles on population biology and population ecology. Contributing organizations include the IUCN, BirdLife International, and Partners in Flight.

The average global population of all mature birds is estimated to be somewhat less than 90 billion (actually, somewhere between 40 and 130 billion; this too is a rough estimate). The total population including younglings is somewhat higher during the breeding season of each species.[1]

This list is incomplete, because experts have not estimated all bird numbers. For example, the spectacled flowerpecker was only discovered in 2010, and did not receive its scientific name (Dicaeum dayakorum) until 2019,[2] adding to the other 73 new bird species described by ornithologists from 2000 – 2009.[3] [4] [5] Global population estimates for many of these at this time would lack accuracy.

All numbers are estimates, because they are taken by observation, and a given number of 50 slender-billed curlews does not necessarily mean there are 10 more of this species than the black stilt, which has been estimated at 40: there is a possibility that the latter species has a larger population than the former.[6] [7] This list should not be taken that literally. An estimate of 250 shore dotterels compared with 4,500 – 5,000 wrybills, on the other hand, means that the latter has well over one order of magnitude more individuals than the former.[8] [9] The wrybill only has approximately one tenth the population of great skuas (48,000), which are outnumbered ~10:1 by the pigeon guillemot (470,000).[10] [11] It is these large differences between species that this list tries to convey.

By taxonomy

List by taxonomic orderBirds included
  1. of quantified species / # of total species (%)
Example of less common speciesExample of more common species
AccipitriformesHawks, eagles, kites.178 / 251(70%)
Anseriformes Waterfowl: ducks, geese, swans, teals. 125 / 170 (75%)Laysan duck (CR) align=center style="background:#B0E0E6"Mallard (LC)
align=center style="border-bottom: 3px solid grey;"Pop: 521[12] align=center style="border-bottom: 3px solid grey;"Pop: > 17,000,000[13]
ApterygiformesKiwis.6 / 59 (55%)Little spotted kiwi (NT)Southern brown kiwi (VU)
Pop: > 1,200[14] Pop: 29,800[15]
BucerotiformesHornbills, ground hornbills, hoopoes, wood hoopoes.13 / 72(18%)
Caprimulgiformes Nightjars, nighthawks, potoos, hummingbirds, swifts. 34 / 601 (27%)Puerto Rican nightjar (EN) align=center style="background:#B0E0E6"Chimney swift (NT)
align=center style="border-bottom: 3px solid grey;"Pop: 1,400 – 2,000[16] align=center style="border-bottom: 3px solid grey;"Pop: 15,000,000[17]
CariamiformesSeriemas.0 / 2(0%)
CathartiformesVultures, condors4 / 7(57%)
CasuariiformesCassowaries, emus.3 / 4(75%)
CharadriiformesWaders, gulls, auks. 268 / 379 (76%)Shore dotterel (EN) Thick-billed murre (LC)
Pop: 250Pop: > 22,000,000[18]
CiconiiformesStorks, herons, egrets, ibises, spoonbills. 14 / 20 (70%)Storm's stork (EN) White stork (LC)
Pop: 400 – 500[19] Pop: 700,000-704,000[20]
ColiiformesMousebirds.0 / 6(0%)
ColumbiformesDoves, pigeons. 94 / 353 (29%)Socorro dove (EW) Rock dove (LC)
Pop: 100[21] Pop: 260,000,000[22]
CoraciiformesKingfishers, hornbills, motmots, bee-eaters. 38 / 187 (17%)Narcondam hornbill (EN) Rainbow bee-eater (LC)
Pop: 320 – 340[23] Pop: > 1,000,000[24]
CuculiformesCuckoos. 22 / 151 (13%)Black-hooded coucal (CR) Common cuckoo (LC)
Pop: 70[25] Pop: 25,000,000 – 100,000,000[26]
EurypygiformesKagus, sunbittern.2 / 2(100%)
FalconiformesDiurnal birds of prey. 34 / 64 (53%)Madagascar fish eagle (CR) Common kestrel (LC)
Pop: 360[27] Pop: > 5,000,000[28]
GalbuliformesPuffbirds, jacamars.? / 55(0%)
GalliformesGamebirds. 121 / 308 (42%)Bornean peacock-pheasant (EN) Willow ptarmigan (LC)
Pop: 1,000 – 2,499[29] Pop: > 40,000,000[30]
GaviiformesLoons. 5 / 5 (100%)Yellow-billed loon (NT) Pacific loon (LC)
Pop: 16,000 – 32,000[31] Pop: 930,000 – 1,600,000[32]
GruiformesCranes, crakes, rails. 92 / 169 (45%)Lord Howe woodhen (EN) American coot (LC)
Pop: 220 – 230[33] Pop: 6,000,000[34]
LeptosomiformesCuckoo-roller.0 / 1(0%)
MesitornithiformesMesites.0 / 3(0%)
MusophagiformesTuracos.3 / 24(13%)
OpisthocomiformesHoatzin.0 / 1(0%)
OtidiformesBustards, floricans, korhaans.10 / 26(38%)
PasseriformesNew Zealand wrens, suboscines, oscines, songbirds.55 / 6685(0.8%)
PelecaniformesIbises, spoonbills, herons, egrets, bitterns, shoebills, hamerkops, pelicans. 36 / 110 (55%)Flightless cormorant (VU) Red-footed booby (LC)
Pop: 1,679[35] Pop: > 1,000,000[36]
PhaethontiformesTropicbirds.0 / 3(0%)
PhoenicopteriformesFlamingos. 6 / 6 (100%)Andean flamingo (VU) Lesser flamingo (NT)
Pop: 38,000[37] Pop: 2,220,000 – 3,240,000[38]
PiciformesWoodpeckers, toucans, barbets. 43 / 485 (10%)Ivory-billed woodpecker (CR) Great spotted woodpecker (LC)
Pop: 0 – 50[39] Pop: 73,500,000 – 216,000,000[40]
PodicipediformesGrebes. 11 / 20 (58%)New Zealand grebe (VU) Black-necked grebe (LC)
Pop: 1,900 – 2,000[41] Pop: 3,900,000 – 4,200,000[42]
PterocliformesSandgrouse.0 / 16(0%)
ProcellariiformesAlbatrosses petrels. 116 / 145 (90%)New Zealand storm petrel (CR) Short-tailed shearwater (LC)
Pop: < 50[43] Pop: > 23,000,000[44]
PsittaciformesParrots, cockatoos, macaws. 134 / 405 (38%)Kākāpō (CR) Red-tailed black cockatoo (LC)
Pop: 210[45] Pop: > 100,000[46]
RheiformesRheas.2 / 2 (100%)
SphenisciformesPenguins. 16 / 18 (89%)Galapagos penguin (EN) Macaroni penguin (VU)
Pop: 1,800[47] Pop: 18,000,000[48]
StrigiformesOwls. 72 / 239 (37%)Forest owlet (CR) Short-eared owl (LC)
Pop: 70 – 400[49] Pop: > 2,000,000[50]
StruthionidaeOstritches.2 / 2(100%)
SuliformesBoobies, frigate birds, gannets, cormorants.? / 153(0%)
TinamiformesTinamous. 9 / 47 (19%)Slaty-breasted tinamou (LC) Little tinamou (LC)
Pop: 20,000 – 49 999[51] Pop: 500,000 – 4,999,999[52]
Trogoniformes Trogons, quetzals. 14 / 43 (32%)Javan trogon (VU) Collared trogon (LC)
Pop: 2,500 – 9,999[53] Pop: 5,000,000 – 49,999,999[54]

See also

Notes

1.Amount of quantified species contained in the list as of the "Retrieved" date in the corresponding citation. The amount of species in each order is according to the IUCN and BirdLife International; bird taxonomy is currently in flux and these figures may soon change.

2.Preliminary estimate.

3.Mature only.

Notes and References

  1. Gaston, K. J., Blackburn, T. M., & Goldewijk, K. K. (2003). Habitat conversion and global avian biodiversity loss. Proceedings of the Royal Society of London. Series B: Biological Sciences, 270(1521), 1293-1300.
  2. Saucier, Jacob R.; Milensky, Christopher M.; Caraballo-Ortiz, Marcos A.; Ragai, Roslina; Dahlan, N. Faridah; Edwards, David P. (2019-10-17). "A distinctive new species of flowerpecker (Passeriformes: Dicaeidae) from Borneo". Zootaxa. 4686 (4): 451–464. doi:10.11646/zootaxa.4686.4.1. ISSN 1175-5334.
  3. Reuters. "Spectacled flowerpecker" bird found in Borneo, scientificamerican.com, 13 January 2010, accessed on 15 January 2010.
  4. Walton, Doreen, science reporter. New bird species found in rainforests of Borneo, BBC News, news.bbc.co.uk, 14 January 2010, accessed on 15 January 2010.
  5. Web site: State of observed species: A decade of species discovery in review . 2013-01-02 . Pennak . Sara . 18 January 2012 . Arizona State University: International Institute for Species Exploration . dead . http://webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk/20121031181854/http%3A//timgostony.com/iisetemp/RetroSOS__FINAL.pdf . 31 October 2012 .
  6. BirdLife International . 2018 . Himantopus novaezelandiae . 2018 . e.T22693690A129560535 . 10.2305/IUCN.UK.2018-2.RLTS.T22693690A129560535.en . 20 November 2021.
  7. BirdLife International . 2018 . Numenius tenuirostris . 2018 . e.T22693185A131111201 . 10.2305/IUCN.UK.2018-2.RLTS.T22693185A131111201.en . 20 November 2021.
  8. BirdLife International . 2016 . Thinornis novaeseelandiae . 2016 . e.T22693899A93429618 . 10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-3.RLTS.T22693899A93429618.en . 20 November 2021.
  9. BirdLife International . 2018 . Anarhynchus frontalis . 2018 . e.T22693928A131876706 . 10.2305/IUCN.UK.2018-2.RLTS.T22693928A131876706.en . 20 November 2021.
  10. Stercorarius skua . 2012-12-09 . . 2012 .
  11. BirdLife International . 2018 . Cepphus columba . 2018 . e.T22694864A132578338 . 10.2305/IUCN.UK.2018-2.RLTS.T22694864A132578338.en . 20 November 2021.
  12. BirdLife International . 2018 . Anas laysanensis . 2018 . e.T22680203A130697270 . 10.2305/IUCN.UK.2018-2.RLTS.T22680203A130697270.en . 20 November 2021.
  13. BirdLife International . 2019 . Anas platyrhynchos . 2019 . e.T22680186A155457360 . 10.2305/IUCN.UK.2019-3.RLTS.T22680186A155457360.en . 20 November 2021.
  14. Apteryx owenii. e.T22678129A92756395. BirdLife International. 2016. 2016. 20 November 2021. 10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-3.RLTS.T22678129A92756395.en.
  15. Apteryx australis. e.T22678122A155418586. BirdLife International. 2019. 2019. 20 November 2021. 10.2305/IUCN.UK.2019-3.RLTS.T22678122A155418586.en.
  16. Caprimulgus noctitherus . 2012-12-05 . . 2012 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20130926090416/http://www.iucnredlist.org/details/106002386/0 . 2013-09-26 .
  17. Chaetura pelagica. e.T22686709A131792415. BirdLife International. 2018. 2018. 20 November 2021. 10.2305/IUCN.UK.2018-2.RLTS.T22686709A131792415.en.
  18. BirdLife International . 2018 . Uria lomvia . 2018 . e.T22694847A132066134 . 10.2305/IUCN.UK.2018-2.RLTS.T22694847A132066134.en . 20 November 2021.
  19. BirdLife International . 2017 . Ciconia stormi . 2017 . e.T22697685A110066434 . 10.2305/IUCN.UK.2017-1.RLTS.T22697685A110066434.en . 20 November 2021.
  20. IUCN . 2016-10-01 . Ciconia ciconia: BirdLife International: The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2016: e.T22697691A86248677 . en . 10.2305/iucn.uk.2016-3.rlts.t22697691a86248677.en. free .
  21. BirdLife International . 2020 . Zenaida graysoni . 2020 . e.T22690740A178409463 . 10.2305/IUCN.UK.2020-3.RLTS.T22690740A178409463.en . 20 November 2021.
  22. BirdLife International . 2019 . Columba livia . 2019 . e.T22690066A155493121 . 10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-3.RLTS.T22690066A155493121.en . 20 November 2021.
  23. Aceros narcondami . 2012-11-28 . . 2012 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20121110203544/http://www.iucnredlist.org/details/100600970/0 . 2012-11-10 .
  24. BirdLife International . 2016 . Merops ornatus . 2016 . e.T22683753A92998888 . 10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-3.RLTS.T22683753A92998888.en . 20 November 2021.
  25. BirdLife International . 2016 . Tauraco fischeri . 2016 . e.T22688327A93192788 . 10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-3.RLTS.T22688327A93192788.en . 20 November 2021.
  26. BirdLife International . 2019 . Cuculus canorus . 2019 . e.T22683873A155496731 . 10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-3.RLTS.T22683873A155496731.en . 20 November 2021.
  27. BirdLife International . 2016 . Eutriorchis astur . 2016 . e.T22695336A93503165 . 10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-3.RLTS.T22695336A93503165.en . 20 November 2021.
  28. BirdLife International . 2016 . Falco tinnunculus . 2016 . e.T22696362A93556429 . 10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-3.RLTS.T22696362A93556429.en . 20 November 2021.
  29. BirdLife International . 2016 . Polyplectron schleiermacheri . 2016 . e.T22679393A84694321 . 10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-3.RLTS.T22679393A84694321.en . 20 November 2021.
  30. BirdLife International . 2016 . Lagopus lagopus . 2016 . e.T22679460A89520690 . 10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-3.RLTS.T22679460A89520690.en . 20 November 2021.
  31. BirdLife International . 2018 . Gavia adamsii . 2018 . e.T22697847A132607949 . 10.2305/IUCN.UK.2018-2.RLTS.T22697847A132607949.en . 20 November 2021.
  32. BirdLife International . 2018 . Gavia pacifica . 2018 . e.T22697839A132607134 . 10.2305/IUCN.UK.2018-2.RLTS.T22697839A132607134.en . 20 November 2021.
  33. Gallirallus sylvestris . 2012-12-14 . . 2012 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20121113195137/http://www.iucnredlist.org/details/106002850/0 . 2012-11-13 .
  34. BirdLife International . 2016 . Fulica americana . 2016 . e.T62169677A95190980 . 10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-3.RLTS.T62169677A95190980.en . 20 November 2021.
  35. Phalacrocorax harrisi . 2012-12-14 . . 2012 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20121112041642/http://www.iucnredlist.org/details/106003671/0 . 2012-11-12 .
  36. BirdLife International . 2018 . Sula sula . 2018 . e.T22696694A132589278 . 10.2305/IUCN.UK.2018-2.RLTS.T22696694A132589278.en . 20 November 2021.
  37. BirdLife International . 2020 . Phoenicoparrus andinus . 2020 . e.T22697387A182422217 . 10.2305/IUCN.UK.2020-3.RLTS.T22697387A182422217.en . 20 November 2021.
  38. BirdLife International . 2018 . Phoeniconaias minor . 2018 . e.T22697369A129912906 . 10.2305/IUCN.UK.2018-2.RLTS.T22697369A129912906.en . 20 November 2021.
  39. BirdLife International . 2020 . Campephilus principalis . 2020 . e.T22681425A182588014 . 10.2305/IUCN.UK.2020-3.RLTS.T22681425A182588014.en . 20 November 2021.
  40. BirdLife International . 2016 . Dendrocopos major . 2016 . e.T22681124A87323054 . 10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-3.RLTS.T22681124A87323054.en . 20 November 2021.
  41. BirdLife International . 2016 . Poliocephalus rufopectus . 2016 . e.T22696592A93572730 . 10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-3.RLTS.T22696592A93572730.en . 20 November 2021.
  42. BirdLife International . 2018 . Podiceps nigricollis . 2018 . e.T22696610A132584321 . 10.2305/IUCN.UK.2018-2.RLTS.T22696610A132584321.en . 20 November 2021.
  43. Oceanites maorianus . 2012-12-14 . . 2012 .
  44. Puffinus tenuirostris . 2012-12-17 . . 2012 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20130928044654/http://www.iucnredlist.org/details/106003934/0 . 2013-09-28 .
  45. BirdLife International . 2018 . Strigops habroptila . 2018 . e.T22685245A129751169 . 10.2305/IUCN.UK.2018-2.RLTS.T22685245A129751169.en . 20 November 2021.
  46. BirdLife International . 2016 . Calyptorhynchus banksii . 2016 . e.T22684744A93044811 . 10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-3.RLTS.T22684744A93044811.en . 20 November 2021.
  47. BirdLife International . 2020 . Spheniscus mendiculus . 2020 . e.T22697825A182729677 . 10.2305/IUCN.UK.2020-3.RLTS.T22697825A182729677.en . 20 November 2021.
  48. BirdLife International . 2020 . Eudyptes chrysolophus . 2020 . e.T22697793A184720991 . 10.2305/IUCN.UK.2020-3.RLTS.T22697793A184720991.en . 20 November 2021.
  49. Heteroglaux blewitti . 2012-12-21 . . 2012 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20121113010630/http://www.iucnredlist.org/details/106002289/0 . 2012-11-13 .
  50. BirdLife International . 2016 . Asio flammeus . 2016 . e.T22689531A93234548 . 10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-3.RLTS.T22689531A93234548.en . 20 November 2021.
  51. BirdLife International . 2016 . Crypturellus boucardi . 2016 . e.T22678191A92760820 . 10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-3.RLTS.T22678191A92760820.en . 20 November 2021.
  52. BirdLife International . 2016 . Crypturellus soui . 2016 . e.T22678169A95208453 . 10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-3.RLTS.T22678169A95208453.en . 20 November 2021.
  53. Apalharpactes reinwardtii: BirdLife International: The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2020: e.T22682824A178034431 . 2020-06-25 . International Union for Conservation of Nature . 10.2305/iucn.uk.2020-3.rlts.t22682824a178034431.en . en . 2307-8235 . 22 March 2024 .
  54. Trogon collaris: BirdLife International: The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2022: e.T61692251A163899552 . 2022-08-17 . International Union for Conservation of Nature . 10.2305/iucn.uk.2022-2.rlts.t61692251a163899552.en . en . 2307-8235 . 22 March 2024 .

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