Objectives To understand the composition and community diversity of bird resources in the potential area of Kunlun Mountain National Park, Xinjiang, and to provide essential baseline data for its establishment.

Methods The line transect method was employed. The survey routes were designed to encompass a comprehensive range of altitudes and habitat types comprehensively. Furthermore, historical data were incorporated to create a comprehensive database of bird species.

Results A total of 193 bird species, belonging to 19 orders and 43 families, were documented in the area. Among these, 9 species were listed as national first-class protected birds, 26 as national second-class protected birds, and 3 as second-class protected birds in the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region. The faunal composition primarily consisted of Palearctic (60 species), Holarctic (28 species), Highland (25 species), and Central Asian (20 species) types, with migratory birds (78 species) being the predominant residency type. Bird diversity analysis indicated a Shannon-Wiener index of 3.79, a Simpson index of 0.87, and a Pielou evenness index of 0.60. The herbaceous marsh habitat exhibited the highest Shannon-Wiener index (3.41) and Simpson index (0.85), while the riverine wetland bird community had the highest Pielou evenness index (0.83).

Conclusions The potential area of Kunlun Mountain National Park was distinguished by extensive plateau lakes and deserts, unique ecological conditions, and a considerable number of rare and endangered bird species, highlighting its high conservation value. This survey yielded 27 new bird species, including the Daurian Partridge (Perdix dauurica), Garganey (Spatula querquedula), and Eurasian Whimbrel (Numenius phaeopus), which served to underscore the region's rich avian diversity and its critical role in biodiversity conservation. The Kunlun Mountain National Park potential area has achieved significant progress in increasing the number of protected bird species and enhancing avian diversity. Effective scientific management and conservation measures will further enhance ecological protection, supporting biodiversity and sustainable development. The establishment of the national park will safeguard critical habitats, promote ecotourism, and harmonize ecological preservation with economic growth.