[Objectives] Gansu Province, endowed with diverse landscapes, harbors a wealth of biodiversity. Recent years have witnessed significant changes in bird species distribution across China, accompanied by taxonomic revisions driven by advancements in molecular biology and taxonomy research. Despite these developments, the bird species list for Gansu Province remained static since the publication of Vertebrate Fauna of Gansu by WANG Xiang-Ting in 1991. This study aimed to update the species list, providing insights into avian diversity and fauna in Gansu Province, China. [Methods] Building upon WANG Xiang-Ting’s bird list from Vertebrate Fauna of Gansu, we incorporated new bird records from research literature, field investigation, BirdReport, eBird, and A Checklist on the Classification and Distribution of the Birds of China by ZHENG Guang-Mei in 2023. Information from literature and professional books was fully added, and online resources were included after careful screening. Our efforts not only refreshed the bird list but also categorized the species based on migration type, fauna, distribution, protection status, and endemism. We updated the classification according to ZHENG Guang-Mei’s treatise as well. Gansu’s avifauna was classified into six regions, aligning with WANG Xiang-Ting’s study in 1981 (Fig. 1). [Results] Up to August 15, 2023, our research revealed a total of 645 bird species, encompassing 289 genera, 84 families, and 21 orders (Appendix 2), constituting 42.86% of China’s total bird species (1 505). A comparative analysis with Wang Xiang-Ting’s earlier work disclosed 165 newly added species and reclassification of 323 species. Among the newly added species, 21 were elevated from subspecies, 6 were identified as vagrants, and the remaining 138 were newly distributed species. In terms of protection status, 32 species were classified as class I nationally key protected wild animals, 115 as class II, and 36 as threatened according to The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species, including 3 Critically Endangered, 8 Endangered, and 25 Vulnerable species. Moreover, 74 species were listed under Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) Appendix. Of note, 45 species were endemic to China (Appendix 1). Out of the total of 645 species, 485 species bred in Gansu, with 186 being Palearctic species, 161 being widespread species, and 138 being Oriental species. Geographically, the Middle Loess Plateau recorded the highest species count (377), followed by the South-Gansu Mountainous Region (365), while the Qilian Mountainous Region exhibited the least (204) (Table 1). [Conclusion] In conclusion, our study confirmed the presence of 645 bird species in Gansu Province until August 15, 2023, providing crucial insights into the region’s avian biodiversity. These findings serve as a foundational resource for conservation efforts and sustainable utilization of natural resources in Gansu Province. Against the backdrop of drastic global climate change, the distribution of bird species will continue to evolve, necessitating regular updates to the bird list of Gansu Province.