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.

Western Barn owl 
(Cú lợn lưng xám, Tyto alba), also known as the common barn owl, Eurasian barn owl

The western barn owl (Tyto alba) is a species of barn owl Tyto native to Europe, southwestern Asia, and Africa.

The barn owl (Tyto alba) is the most widely distributed species of owl in the world and one of the most widespread of all species of birds.
The bird lives almost everywhere except for polar and desert regions, Asia north of the Himalayas, some Indonesian islands and some Pacific Islands.


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

Barn owl once was used to refer to Tyto alba which is nowadays Western Barn owl (Cú lợn lưng xám, Tyto alba), also known as the common barn owl, Eurasian barn owl.

The barn owls, owls in the genus Tyto, are the most widely distributed genus of owls in the world. 
The term may be used to describe the whole family Tytonidae, though this also includes the bay owls in the genus Phodilus.

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

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, T. capensis, other consider it to be a valid species.

The eastern grass owl (Tyto longimembris), also known as Chinese grass owl or Australasian grass owl, is a species of owl in the family Tytonidae.
Eastern grass owls live in eastern, southern and southeast Asia, parts of New Guinea, the Philippines, Australia (mainly in Queensland) and the western Pacific.

Strigiformes, Strigidae: from "Strix", a Latin word for owl (also the same in Greek).
Tyto: Greek tuto owl, night-owl.
longimembris Latin longus long; membris with the legs.

Oriental bay owl 
(Cú lợn rừng, Phodilus badius)


The Oriental bay owl (Phodilus badius) is a species of bay owl which is found throughout Southeast Asia and parts of India.
It has a heart-shaped face with earlike extensions. 

Strix, Tyto: Greek tuto owl, night-owl.
The name Phodilus is from the Ancient Greek phos for "light" or "daylight" and deilos for "timid" or "cowardly".
badius in Latin meaning reddish brown, chestnut colored, bay.

Crested serpent eagle 
(Diều hoa miến điện, Spilornis cheela) 

The crested serpent eagle (Spilornis cheela) is a medium-sized bird of prey that is found in forested habitats across tropical Asia.
The bird is found across the Indian Subcontinent, Southeast Asia and East Asia.

Spilornis: from Greek spilos "spot"; ornis, ornithos "bird".
cheela: Hindi name Cheel for a hawk or kite.

Lesser fish eagle 
(Diều cá bé, Icthyophaga humilis)

The lesser fish eagle (Icthyophaga humilis) is a species of Icthyophaga found in the Indian subcontinent, primarily in the foothills of the Himalayas, and south-east Asia.


Accipitridae from Latin accipiter/accipitri- "hawk".
ichthyaetus: Greek: ikhthus fish; aetos eagle.
Ichthyophaga Greek ikhthuophagos fish-eating (ikhthus: fish; -phagos -eating;  phagein to eat or "devour").
humilis Latin humilis lowly, small, humble; on the ground (humus, humi ground).

White-bellied sea eagle 
(Đại bàng biển bụng trắng, Icthyophaga leucogaster), also known as the white-breasted sea eagle
Also Haliaeetus leucogaster.

The white-bellied sea eagle (Icthyophaga leucogaster), also known as the white-breasted sea eagle, is a large diurnal bird of prey in the family Accipitridae.

The bird is found from India and Sri Lanka through Southeast Asia to Australia on coasts and major waterways.


Accipitridae from Latin accipiter/accipitri- "hawk".
ichthyaetus: Greek: ikhthus fish; aetos eagle.
Ichthyophaga Greek ikhthuophagos fish-eating (ikhthus: fish; -phagos -eating;  phagein to eat or "devour").

Rufous-bellied eagle
 or rufous-bellied hawk-eagle 
(Đại bàng bụng hung, Lophotriorchis kienerii)

The rufous-bellied eagle or rufous-bellied hawk-eagle (Lophotriorchis kienerii) is a bird of prey in the family Accipitridae.
The bird is found in forests of tropical Asia: from India and Sri Lanka through Southeast Asia.


Accipitridae from Latin accipiter/accipitri- "hawk".
Lophotriorchis (synonym Hieraaetus) Greek lophos crest; triorkhes: hawk.

Black-winged kite 
(Elanus caeruleus), also known as the black-shouldered kite

The black-winged kite (Elanus caeruleus), also known as the black-shouldered kite, is a small diurnal bird of prey in the family Accipitridae.

The name Elanus is from the Ancient Greek elanos for a "kite".
Latin caeruleus : dark blue likely from caelum, "sky";

Tachyspiza is a genus containing goshawks and sparrowhawk in the family Accipitridae. The species were formerly placed in the genus Accipiter.

1/ Shikra (Ưng xám, (Ưng xám, Tachyspiza badius badia, formerly Accipiter badius) 
2/ Besra (Ưng bụng hung, Tachyspiza virgata, formerly Accipiter virgatus), also called the besra sparrowhawk
The name "besra" is from the Hindi word for the species.
3/ Japanese sparrowhawk (Tachyspiza gularis, Cắt Nhật Bản)

Accipitridae from Latin accipiter/accipitri- "hawk".
accipitrinus Latin accipitrinus hawk-like (accipiter: hawk).
The name Tachyspiza: combination of the Ancient Greek takhus meaning "fast" with spizias meaning "hawk".

Shikra 
(Ưng xám, Tachyspiza badia, formerly Accipiter badius) 

The shikra (Tachyspiza badia) is a small bird of prey in the family Accipitridae found widely distributed in Asia and Africa where it is also called the little banded goshawk.

Accipitridae from Latin accipiter/accipitri- "hawk".
accipitrinus Latin accipitrinus hawk-like (accipiter: hawk).
The name Tachyspiza: combination of the Ancient Greek takhus meaning "fast" with spizias meaning "hawk".
badia Latin badius chestnut-coloured, brown.

Besra 
(Ưng bụng hung, Tachyspiza virgata, formerly Accipiter virgatus), 
also called the besra sparrowhawk

The besra (Tachyspiza virgata), also called the besra sparrowhawk, is a bird of prey in the family Accipitridae.
The besra is a widespread resident breeder in dense forests throughout southern Asia, ranging from the Indian subcontinent eastwards across Southeast Asia and into East Asia.

Accipitridae from Latin accipiter/accipitri- "hawk".
accipitrinus Latin accipitrinus hawk-like (accipiter: hawk).
The name Tachyspiza: combination of the Ancient Greek takhus meaning "fast" with spizias meaning "hawk".
The specific epithet virgatus is Latin meaning "striped" or "streaked".
The name "besra" is from the Hindi word for the species.

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