Abstract:Anatidae bird communities in the Qinghai Lake wetland were investigated at six types of habitat including estuarine wetlands, lakes, freshwater marsh, freshwater springs, rock lake bank and beach between April and October from 2007 to 2010. Twenty-one species belonging to nine genera were accumulatively recorded in the study period. The dominant species were Anser indicus, Tadorna ferruginea, Anas acuta,A. crecca, A.penelope, Netta rufina, Aythya fuligula, and A.ferina, and their numbers reached to 92.30% of the total individuals of Anatidae. Analysis on Anatidae community characters were made based on the Shannon-wiener index (H), richness index (D), Pielou index (E), and Simpson index (C). The species diversity of Anatidae community and Pielou was highest in estuarine wetlands and freshwater springs, and lakes and freshwater marsh had the highest species richness, while habitat of rock lake bank and beach had lower species diversity and richness. Changes in vegetation over and food richness resulting from extensive human activities were the main reasons for the significant difference of bird distribution and abundance in the various habitats.