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Checklist
Checklist forms the core of the science-based tool for informing conservation strategies and development plans. Updating the Birds Korea Checklist regularly enables us to understand population trends and priorities for Important Bird Areas.
Checklist 2025
Updated August 2025
The current edition of Birds Korea Checklist exhibits the following key findings:
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# | Cat. | English Name | Scientific Name | Korean Name | GCS | NCS | Breeding Status (O=No evidence); 1= Breeding record since 2000; 2=Breeding record pre-2000; 3=Suspected breeding since 2000 | Abundance Code | Source | Population Trend | Notes to help with assessment | Profile Page (click image) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | 1 | Brant Goose | Branta bernicla | 흑기러기 | LC | II | 0 | W5/ V1 | Census, Archives | ? | Before 2000, an under-recorded winter visitor, especially to the south coast, with the largest concentration xx. Since the 2010s, an increasingly scarce and irregular migrant and winter visitor, especially to the east coast, with occasional small groups wintering (Dec-Feb) between Pohang and the inner border, Gangwon Province. Along the east coast, recent records appear to peak in November and likely relate to birds moving between Japan and recently identified wintering areas in the DPRK. Occasional records along the west and south coast, during southward (Oct-Nov) and northward (Mar-May) migration periods; now only rarely in mid-winter. Distribution of recordsd suggest two populations likely involved: | |
1 | Mongolian Short-toed Lark | Calandrella dukhunensis | 쇠종다리 | LC | NA | 0 | ||||||
1 | Indian Cuckoo | Cuculus micropterus | 검은등뻐꾸기 | LC | NA | 1 | ||||||
1 | Warbling White-eye | Zosterops japonicus | 동박새 | LC | NA | 1 | ||||||
1 | Pallas's Reed Bunting | Emberiza pallasi | 북방검은머리쑥새 | LC | NA | 0 | W2, P3 | Archive, eBird | STA / DEC | eBird records into June likely in error for Ochre-rumped. Far less widespread than | ||
DD | ||||||||||||
1 | Daurian Starling | Agropsar sturninus | 북방쇠찌르레기 | LC | NA | 1 | ||||||
1 | Chinese Grey Shrike | Lanius sphenocercus | 물때까치 | LC | NA | 3?? | ||||||
1 | Surf Scoter | Melanitta perspicillata | 흰이마검둥오리 | LC | NA | 0 | V2 | One record: Jeju 2022-02 | ||||
해변종다리 | ||||||||||||
1 | Little Tern | Sternula albifrons | 쇠제비갈매기 | LC | II | 1 | ||||||
1 | Fieldfare | Turdus pilaris | 회색머리지빠귀 | LC | NA | 0 | V2 | 5-6 records? | ||||
초원멧새 | ||||||||||||
섬큰유리새 | ||||||||||||
북방쇠박새 | ||||||||||||
검은턱알락할미새 | ||||||||||||
1 | Mongolian Gull | Larus mongolicus | 한국재갈매기 | NR | NA | 1 | ||||||
5B | Javan Myna | Acridotheres javanicus | 자바뿔찌르레기 | VU | NA | 0 | V2 | |||||
5C | House Crow | Corvus splendens | 집까마귀 | LC | NA | 0 | V2 | |||||
1 | Long-tailed Duck | Clangula hyemalis | 바다꿩 | VU | NA | 0 | WV1 | |||||
말똥가리 | ||||||||||||
Park et al (2025) only include arra. Species in much of range winters close to edge of pack ice. Avilist (2025) lists distribution as, "breeds eastern Taymyr Peninsula to New Siberian Islands (Russia)". This is >7,000km over sea from Korean waters and 4,300+ km overland. This compares with what is known of the species, outlined in Gaston et al (2020) in Birds of the world, " Individuals breeding in areas affected by ice shift to ice margin in winter. In Atlantic sector, some populations undertake true migrations of >2,000 km". | ||||||||||||
1 | Water Rail | Rallus aquaticus | 회색가슴뜸부기 | LC | NA | 0 | V2 | Up to 2025, 6+ records (5 cited in Park et al. 2025) | ||||
2 | Mountain Hawk-Eagle | Nisaetus nipalensis | 뿔매 | NT | NA | 0 | V2 | |||||
1 | Scaly-breasted Munia | Lonchura punctulata | 얼룩무늬납부리새 | LC | NA | 0 | ||||||
1 | Fairy Pitta | Pitta nympha | 팔색조 | VU | II | 1 | ||||||
아래스카긴발톱멧새 | Subspecies added on the basis of Park et al. (2025), "2017년 11월 13일 전남 흑산도 예리에서 아종 알래스카긴발톱멧새 암컷 1개체가
관찰되었다(박창욱 등 2018)". According to AviList (2025), distribution is, "breeds far eastern Siberia, Alaska, and northwestern Canada; winters to western USA" so occurrence in Korea seems plausible (though exceptional) | |||||||||||
북방긴발톱할미새 | ||||||||||||
1 | Eyebrowed Thrush | Turdus obscurus | 흰눈썹붉은배지빠귀 | LC | NA | 0 | ||||||
1 | Bridled Tern | Onychoprion anaethetus | 에위니아제비갈매기 | LC | NA | 0 | V2 | |||||
1 | Sooty Tern | Onychoprion fuscatus | 검은등제비갈매기 | LC | NA | 0 | ||||||
1 | Chinese Blue Flycatcher | Cyornis glaucicomans | 주황가슴파랑딱새 | LC | NA | 0 | V2 | |||||
1 | Russet Sparrow | Passer cinnamomeus | 섬참새 | LC | NA | 1 | ||||||
1 | Swan Goose | Anser cygnoides | 개리 | EN | II | 0 | P3, W5 | Archive, census | DEC | Very local; with >1,000 some years (all years?) in the Han-Imjin Estuary (formerly Odae, more recently Yudo); reduced numbers in the Geum Estuary (20-80); and ~10 in the Lower Nakdong. | ||
R1A | White-faced Plover | Anarhynchus dealbatus | 흰얼굴흰물떼새 | LC | NA | 0 | V2 | |||||
1 | Black-necked Grebe | Podiceps nigricollis | 검은목논병아리 | LC | NA | 0 | ||||||
1 | Chinese Bush Warbler | Locustella tacsanowskia | 땅개개비 | LC | NA | 0 | V2 | |||||
REJ | Wilson's Phalarope | Phalaropus tricolor | 큰지느러미발도요 | LC | NA | 0 | 4 / REJ | Included in Park et al (2025)After public review, published images of two birds in Nakdong Estuary appear to be Marsh Sandpiper (https://www.birdskoreablog.org/?p=16251). Annotation in Park et al. (2025) ," 1996년 10월 22일 낙동강 하구(을숙도)에서 1개체가 관찰되었다' indicates that this record has not been reviewed - simply accepted on the basis of publication of three poor images in a Japanese birdwatching magazine,, | ||||
1 | Whiskered Tern | Chlidonias hybrida | 구레나룻제비갈매기 | LC | NA | 0 | ||||||
1 | Steller's Sea Eagle | Haliaeetus pelagicus | 참수리 | VU | I | 0 | ||||||
1 | Chestnut-cheeked Starling | Agropsar philippensis | 쇠찌르레기 | LC | NA | 1 | ||||||
1 | Greater Sand Plover | Anarhynchus leschenaultii | 큰왕눈물떼새 | LC | NA | 0 | ||||||
REJ | Redhead | Aythya americana | 미국흰죽지 | LC | NA | 4 / REJ | Listed as Pending by Park et al. (2025) on the basis of a male seen in December 1996 in Cheonsu Bay by Park Jin-Young (Park 2002). There are no images. The ID challenge posed by presumed Common Pochard x Ferruginous Duck hybrids (cf a male hybrid in Seoul in the 2020s which closely recalls Redhead), were not well understood at this time . Moreover, the species remains extremely rare, with only one record in Japan according to https://kantorilode.weebly.com/annotated-checklist-of-the-birds-of-japan.html; and no records shown in East Asia on eBird. As no further progress can be made with this record, it seems wisest either to place this in Cat 4 or to reject it. | |||||
1 | Claudia's Leaf Warbler | Phylloscopus claudiae | 히말라야산솔새 | LC | NA | 0 | V2 | |||||
1 | Grey-backed Thrush | Turdus hortulorum | 되지빠귀 | LC | NA | 1 | ||||||
1 | White-throated Needletail | Hirundapus caudacutus | 바늘꼬리칼새 | LC | NA | 3 | ||||||
1 | Common Crane | Grus grus | 검은목두루미 | LC | II | 0 | W5 | Census | INC / STA | Recent years up to 20 recorded during census. Perhaps formerly regular?; Gore & Won (1971) knew of no recent records; species was considered very rare before 2000; first multiple occurrence (4 birds together) was reported as recently as 1990 (Park 2000). Regular (>10 each year) only from mid-2010s onward, presumably because most were previously missed during migration. | ||
1 | Eurasian Chaffinch | Fringilla coelebs | 푸른머리되새 | LC | NA | 0 | V2 | 1-3 records | ||||
1 | Blue Rock Thrush | Monticola solitarius | 바다직박구리 | LC | NA | 1 | ||||||
1 | Common Shelduck | Tadorna tadorna | 혹부리오리 | LC | NA | 3 | W2, SV1 | Census, Archives | STA | Numbers in past 3 winters similar to initial highest counts following strong dip in numbers 2013-2019. In addition, breeding now suspected (Saemangeum) | ||
울도방울새 | ||||||||||||
1 | Osprey | Pandion haliaetus | 물수리 | LC | II | 1 | ||||||
1 | European Robin | Erithacus rubecula | 꼬까울새 | LC | NA | 0 | V2 | |||||
1 | Ochre-rumped Bunting | Emberiza yessoensis | 쇠검은머리쑥새 | NT | II | 1 | P4, R5, W5 | Archive | STA/ INC | Breeding in 3 areas: Shihwa, Hwaseong and Saemangeum. This indicative of increase as species takes advantage of reclamation areas, yet quite likely previously overlooked | ||
1 | Yellow-billed Loon | Gavia adamsii | 흰부리아비 | NT | NA | 0 | ||||||
1 | Great Tit | Parus major | 노랑배박새 | LC | NA | 0 | V2 | Name seems to contradict "rules" of numenclature, as birds in East Asia were also known as "Great Tit" | ||||
흑꼬리도요 | ||||||||||||
1 | Oriental Cuckoo | Cuculus optatus | 벙어리뻐꾸기 | LC | NA | 1 | ||||||
5D | White-tailed Robin | Myiomela leucura | 흰꼬리유리딱새 | LC | NA | 0 | V2 | How migratory is this species? According to Birds of the World, "Sedentary; some altitudinal and minor short-distance movements." Only one record in Korea, " 2021년 4월 20일 전남 신안 흑산도에서 수컷 1개체가 관찰되었다(김양모 등 2021)." Only record in Japan is considered possibly to be an esacpe ("1 record Danjo Islands; escapee?": https://kantorilode.weebly.com/annotated-checklist-of-the-birds-of-japan.html) | ||||
1 | Harlequin Duck | Histrionicus histrionicus | 흰줄박이오리 | LC | NT | 0 | W4 | DEC | Was Amber PNS in 2022. Peak in Census was 206 in 2009; 78 was highest peak in past decade. 35% decline in 5-yr geomentric mean between 2009-2013 and 2019 and 2023 (though much of that because of outlier count). Range also withdrawing northward. Census clearly under-reprots species, but optics, site knowledge and observer skill mucch higher now than a decade and especially two decades ago. | |||
1 | Eastern Crowned Warbler | Phylloscopus coronatus | 산솔새 | LC | NA | 1 | Weak evidence of increasing breeding population in Korea (Kim et al. 2021) set against very large declines of migrant population, therefore from Red to Amber | |||||
1 | Brown-eared Bulbul | Hypsipetes amaurotis | 직박구리 | LC | NA | 1 | considered to be declining by Kim Hankyu. Really? | |||||
1 | Iceland Gull | Larus glaucoides | 작은흰갈매기 | LC | NA | 0 | WV1 | |||||
1 | House Sparrow | Passer domesticus | 집참새 | LC | NA | 0 | ||||||
넓은이마홍때까치 | Confusus is genetically close to nominate, and is considered to be a result of hybridisation of confusus x cristatus. Subspecies still recognised by AviList (2025) although this source explicitly does not review subpecies in detail and "newly" recognised by Park et al. (2025). | |||||||||||
바다매 | DD | list as DD. Inclusion, if to be included, is based primarily on confusion with calidus. Korean name is extremely misleading as japonensis is the form found breeding on offshore islands. | ||||||||||
흰눈썹긴발톱할미새 | ||||||||||||
1 | Great Knot | Calidris tenuirostris | 붉은어깨도요 | EN | II | 0 | ||||||
1 | Blyth's Reed Warbler | Acrocephalus dumetorum | 덤불개개비 | LC | NA | 0 | V2 | Three records; one sight record on chilbal do; two records on Baengnyeong: Oct 2023 and May 2025 | ||||
제비 | ||||||||||||
1 | Pine Bunting | Emberiza leucocephalos | 흰머리멧새 | LC | NA | 0 | P5, W5 | Archive | STA | Fluctuating numbers during migration and in winter. Any evidence that more than 100 each winter for 5 winters? Largest concentration was once 150?? | ||
Park et al. (20025) recognise both subspecies. However, this identification was done last century and might have used different characters. Distribution note of AviList 2025 explicitly includes Korea within range of nominate | ||||||||||||
P3, W3, SV1 | ||||||||||||
1 | Cinereous Vulture | Aegypius monachus | 독수리 | NT | II | 0 | ||||||
Images clearly show this subspecies | ||||||||||||
1 | Ashy Minivet | Pericrocotus divaricatus | 할미새사촌 | LC | NA | 1 | ||||||
곤줄박이 | ||||||||||||
1 | Tufted Duck | Aythya fuligula | 댕기흰죽지 | LC | NA | 0 | P/W2 | INC | Last 2 Census counts show highest numbers during migration periods (obviously matched by research in e.g. Hwaseong and Yeoncheon). | |||
1 | Marsh Grassbird | Helopsaltes pryeri | 큰개개비 | NT | NA | 0 | V2 | |||||
1 | Red-billed Chough | Pyrrhocorax pyrrhocorax | 붉은부리까마귀 | LC | NA | 0 | V2 | Now four sight records: Busan in 1981 (published 15 years later in 1996); Wonju in 2006 (via Park Jong-Gil's book); Gunsan by Choi Seung-Hoon in about 2000 (not published, but he was confident of ID).; and Gaego in 2023 (?) | ||||
1 | Latham's Snipe | Gallinago hardwickii | 큰꺅도요 | NT | NA | 0 | ||||||
1 | Asian Dowitcher | Limnodromus semipalmatus | 큰부리도요 | NT | NA | 0 | ||||||
1 | Great Crested Grebe | Podiceps cristatus | 뿔논병아리 | LC | LC | 1 | ||||||
1 | Snow Goose | Anser caerulescens | 흰기러기 | LC | NT | 0 | V1 (W5) | Census, Archives | Increasing number of records | Highest census count 11 in 2019/2020. Probably >10 individuals per winter in past 5 winters. | ||
AviList (2025) gives range of this subspecies as Tien Shan in Kazhakstan only; and Park et al. (2025) only recognise japonica | ||||||||||||
1 | Kamchatka Leaf Warbler | Phylloscopus examinandus | 큰솔새 | LC | NA | 0 | ||||||
1 | Northern Shrike | Lanius borealis | 재때까치 | LC | NA | 0 | ||||||
1 | Merlin | Falco columbarius | 쇠황조롱이 | LC | NT | 0 | ||||||
3 | Common Swift | Apus apus | 검은등칼새 | LC | NA | 0 | V1 | Listed as accepted by Park et al. (2025) on the basis of multiple sight records, especially by Moores. One record shot taken but insufficient to identify to species | ||||
1 | Black-headed Bunting | Emberiza melanocephala | 검은머리멧새 | LC | NA | 0 | V1 | Archive | IRR | Annual, but still fewer than 10 records each year for past 5 years | ||
1 | Eurasian Siskin | Spinus spinus | 검은머리방울새 | LC | NA | 3 | ||||||
1 | Stock Dove | Columba oenas | 분홍가슴비둘기 | LC | NA | 0 | V2 | Archive | IRR | Last record: six recorded in November 1999 in Haenam remained into and were seen again in Jan 2000 | ||
1 | Peregrine Falcon | Falco peregrinus | 매 | LC | II | 1 | ||||||
1 | Booted Eagle | Hieraaetus pennatus | 흰점어깨수리 | LC | NA | 0 | ||||||
presumably | ||||||||||||
1 | Lesser Whitethroat | Curruca curruca | 쇠흰턱딱새 | LC | NA | 0 | ||||||
종다리 | ||||||||||||
1 | Upland Buzzard | Buteo hemilasius | 큰말똥가리 | LC | II | 0 | ||||||
1 | Grey-headed Lapwing | Vanellus cinereus | 민댕기물떼새 | LC | NA | 0 | ||||||
1 | Himalayan Owl | Strix nivicolum | 올빼미 | LC | II | 1 | ||||||
1 | Plumbeous Water Redstart | Phoenicurus fuliginosus | 부채꼬리바위딱새 | LC | NA | 1 | ||||||
1 | Yellow-legged Buttonquail | Turnix tanki | 세가락메추라기 | LC | NA | 1 | V1 (grey?) | Archives | DEC | Historical trend less obvious than recent trend | ||
1 | Black Scoter | Melanitta americana | 검둥오리 | NT | NA | 0 | W5 | DEC | Census pattern of records does not make sense as seems almost cyclical. Some of this is likely due to addition of sites. Peak count in last 20 yrs 225 in 2000/ 2001; 457 in 2010/ 2011; 416 in 2016/ 2017 and 201 in 2020/ 2021 with 5 yr geo mean of only 55 for 2018/2019-2022/2023. Current trend suggests national extirpation within the next decade. Also has decreased off Baengnyeong; is now almost absent off from Guryongpo; and becoming irregular in Goseong. | |||
1 | Grey-headed Woodpecker | Picus canus | 청딱다구리 | LC | NA | 1 | ||||||
1 | Common Snipe | Gallinago gallinago | 꺅도요 | LC | NA | 0 | ||||||
1 | Desert Wheatear | Oenanthe deserti | 검은꼬리사막딱새 | LC | NA | 0 | V2 | 3-4 records | ||||
1 | Gyrfalcon | Falco rusticolus | 흰매 | LC | NA | 0 | V2 | |||||
REVIEW | ||||||||||||
Two records up to 2025 | ||||||||||||
1 | Siberian House Martin | Delichon lagopodum | 흰턱제비 | LC | NA | 3? | ||||||
RIA | Caspian Gull | Larus cachinnans | 카스피해갈매기 | LC | NA | 0 | V2 | In Park et al. (2025) listed as Pending. As knowledge of gulls has improved substantially over the past decades (and with awareness of the presence of barabensis and suspicion of hybrids); because it would be good to reduce differences between checklists; and because there have not been any convincing claims in recent years, this seems wise. There is a need to gather convincing images and to re-examine . | ||||
1 | Common Redshank | Tringa totanus | 붉은발도요 | LC | NT | 1 | ||||||
1 | Pin-tailed Snipe | Gallinago stenura | 바늘꼬리도요 | LC | NA | 0 | ||||||
1 | Radde's Warbler | Phylloscopus schwarzi | 긴다리솔새사촌 | LC | NA | 1 | ||||||
1 | Great Spotted Woodpecker | Dendrocopos major | 오색딱다구리 | LC | NA | 1 | ||||||
1 | Daurian Jackdaw | Coloeus dauuricus | 갈까마귀 | LC | NA | 0 | ||||||
1 | Pallas’s Gull | Ichthyaetus ichthyaetus | 큰검은머리갈매기 | LC | NA | 0 | V1 | |||||
1 | Eurasian Hobby | Falco subbuteo | 새호리기 | LC | II | 1 | ||||||
1 | Large-billed Crow | Corvus macrorhynchos | 큰부리까마귀 | LC | NA | 1 | ||||||
1 | Yellow Bittern | Botaurus sinensis | 덤불해오라기 | LC | NA | 1 | ||||||
1 | Black-legged Kittiwake | Rissa tridactyla | 세가락갈매기 | VU | NA | 0 | ||||||
1 | Eurasian Dotterel | Eudromias morinellus | 흰눈썹물떼새 | LC | NA | 0 | V2 | |||||
1 | Lesser Scaup | Aythya affinis | 쇠검은머리흰죽지 | LC | NA | 0 | V2 | |||||
1 | Stejneger's Scoter | Melanitta stejnegeri | 검둥오리사촌 | LC | NA | 0 | P/W 4 | DEC | Although census does not provide comprehensive counts, rapid decrease clearly continuing. Baengnyeong counts now largest remaining concentration natiownide, and only 11 were recorded by the winter census in mid-winter 2022/2023 (previous highest census count was 1741 in 2005/ 2006 | |||
1 | Grey-capped Pygmy Woodpecker | Yungipicus canicapillus | 아물쇠딱다구리 | LC | NA | 1 | ||||||
1 | Swinhoe's Snipe | Gallinago megala | 꺅도요사촌 | LC | NA | 0 | ||||||
제주방울새 | Avilist (2025) includes Jeju explicitly in range of minor | |||||||||||
1 | Eastern Grass Owl | Tyto longimembris | 가면올빼미 | LC | NA | 0 | V2 | |||||
1 | Savannah Sparrow | Passerculus sandwichensis | 초원멧새 | LC | NA | 0 | V2 | Archive | IRR | Four or five records? | ||
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