Abstract: In this study, the transect method and fixed-radius sample plot method were used to carry out the detailed surveys on birds in the Ordos Plateau in Inner Mongolia in 2005 and during the period of 2008-2009. During the investigations, 168 bird species in 14 orders and 39 families were recorded. Among them 31 species were residents, 73 species summer visitors, 60 species migrants and 4 species winter visitors. There were 104 species of breeding birds, and they had significant advantages and constituted the main body of avifauna.  There were 92 middle- and northern-boundary breeding bird species, accounting for 88.5% of the total, and the northern-boundary species was absolutely dominant. The elements of Palaearctic realm played the important roles in the avifauna. Among the birds, 5 species were listed as national firstgrade protected wildlife in China, and 21 species as the second-grade ones. There were 5 kinds of habitats in the study area, i.e. the forestlands, thicket grasslands, wetlands, farmlands and residential areas. Survey results revealed that human activities affected significantly the birds avifauna.

Key words: bird avifauna, ecological distribution, Ordos Plateau, Inner Mongolia