List of birds of Bangalore
The following is a list of birds found in and around Bangalore in Karnataka, India.
The Nandi Hills, Bannerghatta forest ranges and the Kaveri valley/Sangam area are included in addition to the Bangalore city limits roughly extending 40 kilometres around the city centre. The area has been studied from early times due to its climate and accessibility during the Colonial period. This list also includes annotations. This list is largely based on an annotated checklist published in 1994. The family placement and sequence of families is based on the IOC world bird list.
Galliformes
Family: [Phasianidae]
- Grey francolin, Francolinus pondicerianus
- Common quail, Coturnix coturnix
- Rain quail, Coturnix coromandelica
- Jungle bush quail, Perdicula asiatica
- Painted bush quail, Perdicula erythrorhyncha
- Red spurfowl, Galloperdix spadicea
- Painted spurfowl, Galloperdix lunulata
- Grey junglefowl, Gallus sonneratii
- Indian peafowl, Pavo cristatus
Anseriformes
Family: [Anatidae]
- Lesser whistling-duck, Dendrocygna javanica
- Greylag goose, Anser anser
- Bar-headed goose, Anser indicus
- Ruddy shelduck, Tadorna ferruginea
- Knob-billed duck, Sarkidiornis melanotos
- Cotton pygmy goose, Nettapus coromandelianus
- Gadwall, Anas strepera
- Eurasian wigeon, Anas penelope
- Indian spot-billed duck, Anas poecilorhyncha
- Northern shoveler, Anas clypeata
- Northern pintail, Anas acuta
- Garganey, Anas querquedula
- Common teal, Anas crecca
- Common pochard, Aythya ferina
Podicipediformes
Family: [Podicipedidae]
- Little grebe, Tachybaptus ruficollis
Family: [Phoenicopteridae]
- Greater flamingo, Phoenicopterus ruber
- Lesser flamingo, Phoenicopterus minor
Ciconiiformes
Family: [Ciconiidae]
- Painted stork, Mycteria leucocephala
- Asian openbill, Anastomus oscitans
- Woolly-necked stork, Ciconia episcopus
- White stork, Ciconia ciconia
- Black stork, Ciconia nigra
- Black-necked stork, Ephippiorhynchus asiaticus
Pelecaniformes
Family: [Threskiornithidae]
- Glossy ibis, Plegadis falcinellus
- Black-headed ibis, Threskiornis melanocephalus
- Red-naped ibis, Pseudibis papillosa
- Eurasian spoonbill, Platalea leucorodia
Family: [Ardeidae]
- Little egret, Egretta garzetta
- Western reef egret, Egretta gularis
- Grey heron, Ardea cinerea
- Purple heron, Ardea purpurea
- Eastern great egret, Ardea modesta
- Intermediate egret, Mesophoyx intermedia
- Cattle egret, Bubulcus ibis
- Indian pond heron, Ardeola grayii
- Striated heron, Butorides striatus
- Black-crowned night heron, Nycticorax nycticorax
- Little bittern, Ixobrychus minutus
- Yellow bittern, Ixobrychus sinensis
- Cinnamon bittern, Ixobrychus cinnamomeus
- Black bittern, Dupetor flavicollis
- Great bittern, Botaurus stellaris
Family: [Pelecanidae]
- Spot-billed pelican, Pelecanus philippensis
- Great white pelican, Pelecanus onocrotalus
Suliformes
Family: [Phalacrocoracidae]
- Little cormorant, Microcarbo niger
- Indian cormorant, Phalacrocorax fuscicollis
- Great cormorant, Phalacrocorax carbo
Family: [Anhingidae]
- Oriental darter, Anhinga melanogaster
Accipitriformes
Family [Pandionidae]
- Osprey, Pandion haliaetus
Family: [Accipitridae]
- Black baza, Aviceda leuphotes
- Crested honey buzzard, Pernis ptilorhyncus
- Black-winged kite, Elanus caeruleus
- Black kite, Milvus migrans
- Brahminy kite, Haliastur indus
- Lesser fish eagle, Ichthyophaga humilis
- Grey-headed fish eagle, Ichthyophaga ichthyaetus
- Egyptian vulture, Neophron percnopterus
- White-rumped vulture, Gyps bengalensis
- Indian vulture, Gyps indicus
- Himalayan vulture, Gyps himalayensis
- Red-headed vulture, Sarcogyps calvus
- Short-toed snake eagle, Circaetus gallicus
- Crested serpent eagle, Spilornis cheela
- Marsh harrier, Circus aeruginosus
- Hen harrier, Circus cyaneus
- Pallid harrier, Circus macrourus
- Pied harrier, Circus melanoleucos
- Montagu's harrier, Circus pygargus
- Crested goshawk, Accipiter trivirgatus
- Shikra, Accipiter badius
- Eurasian sparrowhawk, Accipiter nisus
- Northern goshawk, Accipiter gentilis
- White-eyed buzzard, Butastur teesa
- Black eagle, Ictinaetus malaiensis
- Indian spotted eagle, Clanga hastata
- Greater spotted eagle, Clanga clanga
- Tawny eagle, Aquila rapax
- Steppe eagle, Aquila nipalensis
- Eastern imperial eagle, Aquila heliaca
- Bonelli's eagle, Aquila fasciata
- Booted eagle, Hieraaetus pennatus
- Rufous-bellied hawk-eagle, Lophotriorchis kienerii
- Changeable hawk-eagle, Nisaetus cirrhatus
- Common buzzard, Buteo buteo
Falconiformes
Family: [Falconidae]
- Common kestrel, Falco tinnunculus
- Red-necked falcon, Falco chicquera
- Laggar falcon, Falco jugger
- Eurasian hobby, Falco subbuteo
- Amur falcon, Falco amurensis
- Peregrine falcon, Falco peregrinus
- * Shaheen falcon, Falco peregrinus peregrinator
- * Peregrine falcon, Falco peregrinus calidus
Otidiformes
Family: [Otididae]
- Great Indian bustard, Ardeotis nigriceps
- Lesser florican, Sypheotides indicus
Gruiformes
Family: [Rallidae]
- White-breasted waterhen, Amaurornis phoenicurus
- Brown crake, Amaurornis akool
- Baillon's crake, Porzana pusilla
- Ruddy-breasted crake, Porzana fusca
- Slaty-breasted rail, Lewinia striata
- Watercock, Gallicrex cinerea
- Grey-headed swamphen, Porphyrio poliocephalus
- Common moorhen, Gallinula chloropus
- Eurasian coot, Fulica atra
Family: [Gruidae]
- Demoiselle crane, Grus virgo
Charadriiformes
Family: [Turnicidae]
- Yellow-legged buttonquail, Turnix tanki
- Barred buttonquail, Turnix suscitator
Family: [Burhinidae]
- Indian stone-curlew, Burhinus indicus
- Great stone-curlew, Esacus recurvirostris
Family [Recurvirostridae]
- Black-winged stilt, Himantopus himantopus
- Pied avocet, Recurvirostra avosetta
Family [Charadriidae]
- Pacific golden plover, Pluvialis fulva
- Grey plover, Pluvialis squatarola
- Common ringed plover, Charadrius hiaticula
- Little ringed plover, Charadrius dubius
- Kentish plover, Charadrius alexandrinus
- Yellow-wattled lapwing, Vanellus malabaricus
- Grey-headed lapwing, Vanellus cinereus
- Red-wattled lapwing, Vanellus indicus
Family: [Rostratulidae]
- Greater painted snipe, Rostratula benghalensis
Family: [Jacanidae]
- Pheasant-tailed jacana, Hydrophasianus chirurgus
- Bronze-winged jacana, Metopidius indicus
Family: [Scolopacidae]
- Eurasian woodcock, Scolopax rusticola
- Pintail snipe, Gallinago stenura
- Great snipe, Gallinago media
- Common snipe, Gallinago gallinago
- Wood snipe, Gallinago nemoricola
- Jack snipe, Lymnocryptes minimus No recent reports
- Black-tailed godwit, Limosa limosa
- Eurasian curlew, Numenius arquata
- Eurasian whimbrel, Numenius phaeopus
- Spotted redshank, Tringa erythropus
- Common redshank, Tringa totanus
- Marsh sandpiper, Tringa stagnatilis
- Common greenshank, Tringa nebularia
- Green sandpiper, Tringa ochropus
- Wood sandpiper, Tringa glareola
- Terek sandpiper, Xenus cinereus
- Common sandpiper, Actitis hypoleucos
- Curlew sandpiper, Calidris ferruginea
- Little stint, Calidris minuta
- Temminck's stint, Calidris temminckii
- Long-toed stint, Calidris subminuta
- Ruff, Philomachus pugnax
- Red-necked phalarope, Phalaropus lobatus
Family: [Glareolidae]
- Indian courser, Cursorius coromandelicus
- Small pratincole, Glareola lactea
- Oriental pratincole, Glareola maldivarum
- Collared pratincole, Glareola pratincola
Family: [Laridae]
- Brown-headed gull, Chroicocephalus brunnicephalus
- Black-headed gull, Chroicocephalus ridibundus
- Slender-billed gull, Chroicocephalus genei
Family [Sternidae]
- Gull-billed tern, Gelochelidon nilotica
- Caspian tern, Hydroprogne caspia
- River tern, Sterna aurantia
- Black-bellied tern, Sterna acuticauda
- Whiskered tern, Chlidonias hybrida
Pterocliformes
Family: [Pteroclidae]
- Painted sandgrouse, Pterocles indicus
- Chestnut-bellied sandgrouse, Pterocles exustus
Columbiformes
Family: [Columbidae]
- Rock pigeon, Columba livia
- Nilgiri wood pigeon, Columba elphinstonii
- Laughing dove, Spilopelia senegalensis
- Spotted dove, Spilopelia chinensis
- Oriental turtle dove, Streptopelia orientalis
- Red collared dove, Streptopelia tranquebarica
- Eurasian collared dove, Streptopelia decaocto
- Yellow-footed green pigeon, Treron phoenicoptera
- Orange-breasted green pigeon, Treron bicincta
- Grey-fronted green pigeon, Treron affinis
Psittaciformes
Family: [Psittacidae]
- Alexandrine parakeet, Psittacula eupatria
- Rose-ringed parakeet, Psittacula krameri
- Plum-headed parakeet, Psittacula cyanocephala
- Blue-winged parakeet, Psittacula columboides
- Red-breasted parakeet, Psittacula alexandri
- Vernal hanging parrot, Loriculus vernalis
Cuculiformes
Family: [Cuculidae]
- Pied cuckoo, Clamator jacobinus
- Chestnut-winged cuckoo, Clamator coromandus
- Common hawk-cuckoo, Hierococcyx varius
- Indian cuckoo, Cuculus micropterus
- Common cuckoo, Cuculus canorus
- Himalayan cuckoo, Cuculus saturatus
- Lesser cuckoo, Cuculus poliocephalus
- Banded bay cuckoo, Cacomantis sonneratii
- Grey-bellied cuckoo, Cacomantis passerinus
- Fork-tailed drongo-cuckoo, Surniculus dicruroides
- Asian koel, Eudynamys scolopacea
- Blue-faced malkoha, Phaenicophaeus viridirostris
- Sirkeer malkoha, Phaenicophaeus leschenaultii
- Greater coucal, Centropus sinensis
Strigiformes
Family: [Tytonidae]
- Barn owl, Tyto alba
Family: [Strigidae]
- Short-eared owl, Asio flammeus
- Oriental scops owl, Otus sunia
- Indian scops owl, Otus bakkamoena
- Indian eagle-owl, Bubo bengalensis
- Brown fish owl, Ketupa zeylonensis
- Mottled wood owl, Strix ocellata
- Brown-wood owl, Strix leptogrammica
- Jungle owlet, Glaucidium radiatum
- Spotted owlet, Athene brama
- Brown hawk owl, Ninox scutulata
Caprimulgiformes
Family: [Caprimulgidae]
- Jungle nightjar, Caprimulgus indicus
- Sykes's nightjar, Caprimulgus mahrattensis
- Jerdon's nightjar, Caprimulgus atripennis
- Indian nightjar, Caprimulgus asiaticus
- Savanna nightjar, Caprimulgus affinis
- Grey nightjar, Caprimulgus jotaka
Apodiformes
Family: [Hemiprocnidae]
- Crested treeswift, Hemiprocne coronata
Family: [Apodidae]
- Indian swiftlet, Collocalia unicolor
- White-rumped needletail, Zoonavena sylvatica
- Brown-backed needletail, Hirundapus giganteus
- Asian palm swift, Cypsiurus balasiensis
- Alpine swift, Tachymarptis melba
- House swift, Apus affinis
Coraciiformes
Family: [Coraciidae]
- Indian roller, Coracias benghalensis
- European roller, Coracias garrulus
Family: [Alcedinidae]
- Oriental dwarf kingfisher, Ceyx erithaca
- Common kingfisher, Alcedo atthis
- Stork-billed kingfisher, Halcyon capensis
- White-throated kingfisher, Halcyon smyrnensis
- Black-capped kingfisher, Halcyon pileata
- Pied kingfisher, Ceryle rudis
Family: [Meropidae]
- Blue-bearded bee-eater, Nyctyornis athertoni
- Green bee-eater, Merops orientalis
- Blue-tailed bee-eater, Merops philippinus
- European bee-eater, Merops apiaster
- Chestnut-headed bee-eater, Merops leschenaulti
Bucerotiformes
Family: [Upupidae]
- Hoopoe, Upupa epops
Family: [Bucerotidae]
- Indian grey hornbill, Ocyceros birostris
Piciformes
Family: [Picidae]
- Eurasian wryneck, Jynx torquilla
- Brown-capped woodpecker, Yungipicus nanus
- Yellow-crowned woodpecker, Leiopicus mahrattensis
- Rufous woodpecker, Celeus brachyurus
- Streak-throated woodpecker, Picus xanthopygaeus
- Black-rumped flameback, Dinopium benghalense
- White-naped woodpecker, Chrysocolaptes festivus
Family: [Megalaimidae]
- Brown-headed barbet, Psilopogon zeylanicus
- White-cheeked barbet, Psilopogon viridis
- Coppersmith barbet, Psilopogon haemacephalus
Passeriformes
Family: [Pittidae]
- Indian pitta, Pitta brachyura
Family: [Tephrodornithidae]
- Common woodshrike, Tephrodornis pondicerianus
Family: [Artamidae]
- Ashy woodswallow, Artamus fuscus
Family: [Aegithinidae]
- Common iora, Aegithina tiphia
- Marshall's iora, Aegithina nigrolutea
Family: [Campephagidae]
- Large cuckoo-shrike, Coracina macei
- Black-winged cuckoo-shrike, Lalage melaschistos
- Black-headed cuckoo-shrike, Lalage melanoptera
- Small minivet, Pericrocotus cinnamomeus
- White-bellied minivet, Pericrocotus erythropygius ?
- Ashy minivet, Pericrocotus divaricatus
- Swinhoe's minivet, Pericrocotus cantonensis
Family: [Laniidae]
- Brown shrike, Lanius cristatus
- * Lanius cristatus lucionensis
- Isabelline shrike, Lanius isabellinus
- Bay-backed shrike, Lanius vittatus
- Long-tailed shrike, Lanius schach
- Great grey shrike, Lanius excubitor
Family: [Oriolidae]
- Indian golden oriole, Oriolus kundoo
- Black-naped oriole, Oriolus chinensis
- Black-hooded oriole, Oriolus xanthornus
Family: [Dicruridae]
- Black drongo, Dicrurus macrocercus
- Ashy drongo, Dicrurus leucophaeus
- White-bellied drongo, Dicrurus caerulescens
- Hair-crested drongo, Dicrurus hottentottus
Family: [Rhipiduridae]
- White-spotted fantail, Rhipidura albogularis
- White-browed fantail, Rhipidura aureola
Family: [Monarchidae]
- Black-naped monarch, Hypothymis azurea
- Indian paradise flycatcher, Terpsiphone paradisi
Family: [Corvidae]
- Rufous treepie, Dendrocitta vagabunda
- White-bellied treepie, Dendrocitta leucogastra
- House crow, Corvus splendens
- Jungle crow, Corvus macrorhynchos
- * Indian jungle crow, Corvus macrorhynchos culminatus
Family: [Stenostiridae]
- Grey-headed canary flycatcher, Culicicapa ceylonensis
Family: [Paridae]
- Cinereous tit, Parus cinereus
- White-winged tit, Parus nuchalis
- Himalayan black-lored tit, Parus xanthogenys
Family: [Alaudidae]
- Singing bushlark, Mirafra cantillans
- Indian bushlark Mirafra erythroptera
- Jerdon's bushlark, Mirafra affinis
- Ashy-crowned sparrow-lark, Eremopterix griseus
- Rufous-tailed lark, Ammomanes phoenicura
- Greater short-toed lark, Calandrella brachydactyla
- Sykes's lark, Galerida deva
- Oriental skylark, Alauda gulgula
Family: Pycnonotidae">bulbul">Pycnonotidae
- Red-whiskered bulbul, Pycnonotus jocosus Earliest published record of four specimens of this bird from Bangalore was collected by HG Walton between 15 and 20 January 1899 said to be in Bombay Natural History Society collection. This bird was once considered rare around Bangalore but quite common in Nandi Hills.
- White-eared bulbul, Pycnonotus leucotis
- Red-vented bulbul, Pycnonotus cafer
- Yellow-throated bulbul, Pycnonotus xantholaemus
- White-browed bulbul, Pycnonotus luteolus
Family: [Hirundinidae]
- Sand martin/Pale martin, Riparia riparia/Riparia diluta
- Grey-throated martin, Riparia chinensis
- Dusky crag martin, Ptyonoprogne concolor
- Barn swallow, Hirundo rustica
- Pacific swallow, Hirundo tahitica
- Wire-tailed swallow, Hirundo smithii
- Red-rumped swallow, Cecropis daurica
- Streak-throated swallow, Hirundo fluvicola
Family: [Phylloscopidae]
- Tickell's leaf warbler, Phylloscopus affinis
- Sulphur-bellied warbler, Phylloscopus griseolus
- Yellow-browed warbler, Phylloscopus inornatus
- Hume's leaf warbler, Phylloscopus humei
- Tytler's leaf warbler, Phylloscopus tytleri
- Green warbler, Phylloscopus nitidus
- Greenish warbler, Phylloscopus trochiloides
- Large-billed leaf warbler, Phylloscopus magnirostris
- Western crowned warbler, Phylloscopus occipitalis
Family: [Acrocephalidae]
- Paddyfield warbler, Acrocephalus agricola
- Blyth's reed warbler, Acrocephalus dumetorum
- Clamorous reed warbler, Acrocephalus stentoreus
- Thick-billed warbler, Arundinax aedon
- Sykes's warbler, Iduna rama
- Booted warbler, Iduna caligata
Family: [Cisticolidae]
- Zitting cisticola, Cisticola juncidis
- Grey-breasted prinia, Prinia hodgsonii
- Jungle prinia, Prinia sylvatica
- Ashy prinia, Prinia socialis
- Plain prinia, Prinia inornata
- Rufous-fronted prinia, Prinia buchanani
- Common tailorbird, Orthotomus sutorius
Family: [Pellorneidae]
- Puff-throated babbler, Pellorneum ruficeps
Family: [Timaliidae]
- Indian scimitar babbler, Pomatorhinus horsfieldii
- Tawny-bellied babbler, Dumetia hyperythra
Family: [Leiothrichidae]
- Common babbler, Argya caudata
- Large grey babbler, Argya malcolmi
- Rufous babbler, Argya subrufa
- Jungle babbler, Argya striata
- Yellow-billed babbler, Argya affinis
Family: [Sylviidae]
- Eastern Orphean warbler, Sylvia crassirostris
- Lesser whitethroat, Sylvia curruca
- * Hume's lesser whitethroat, S. c. althaea
- Yellow-eyed babbler, Chrysomma sinense
Family: Zosteropidae">White-eye">Zosteropidae
- Indian white-eye, Zosterops palpebrosus
Family: [Sturnidae]
- Malabar starling, Sturnia blythii
- Grey-headed starling, Sturnia malabarica
- Brahminy starling, Sturnia pagodarum
- Rosy starling, Pastor roseus
- Common starling, Sturnus vulgaris
- Common myna, Acridotheres tristis
- Jungle myna, Acridotheres fuscus
Family: [Turdidae]
- Pied thrush, Geokichla wardii
- White-throated orange-headed thrush, Geokichla citrina cyanota
- Scaly thrush, Zoothera dauma
- Tickell's thrush, Turdus unicolor
- Indian blackbird, Turdus simillimus
- Eyebrowed thrush, Turdus obscurus
Family: [Muscicapidae]
- Blue-capped rock thrush, Monticola cinclorhyncha
- Blue rock thrush, Monticola solitarius
- Malabar whistling thrush, Myophonus horsfieldii
- Bluethroat, Luscinia svecica
- Indian blue robin, Luscinia brunnea
- Siberian rubythroat, Calliope calliope
- Oriental magpie robin, Copsychus saularis
- White-rumped shama, Copsychus malabaricus
- Indian robin, Saxicoloides fulicatus
- Black redstart, Phoenicurus ochruros
- Siberian stonechat, Saxicola maurus
- Pied bush chat, Saxicola caprata
- Asian brown flycatcher, Muscicapa dauurica
- Brown-breasted flycatcher, Muscicapa muttui
- Rusty-tailed flycatcher, Ficedula ruficauda
- Red-breasted flycatcher, Ficedula parva
- Red-throated flycatcher, Ficedula albicilla
- Kashmir flycatcher, Ficedula subrubra
- Ultramarine flycatcher, Ficedula superciliaris
- Black-and-orange flycatcher, Ficedula nigrorufa
- Verditer flycatcher, Eumyias thalassina
- Nilgiri flycatcher, Eumyias albicaudatus
- Blue-throated flycatcher, Cyornis rubeculoides
- Tickell's blue flycatcher, Cyornis tickelliae
Family: [Chloropseidae]
- Jerdon's leafbird, Chloropsis jerdoni
- Golden-fronted leafbird, Chloropsis aurifrons
Family: [Dicaeidae]
- Thick-billed flowerpecker, Dicaeum agile
- Pale-billed flowerpecker, Dicaeum erythrorynchos
Family: [Nectariniidae]
- Purple-rumped sunbird, Nectarinia zeylonica
- Purple sunbird, Cinnyris asiaticus
- Loten's sunbird, Cinnyris lotenius
- Crimson-backed sunbird, Leptocoma minima
Family: [Passeridae]
- House sparrow, Passer domesticus
- Yellow-throated sparrow, Gymnornis xanthocollis
Family: [Ploceidae]
- Streaked weaver, Ploceus manyar
- Baya weaver, Ploceus philippinus
Family: [Estrildidae]
- Red munia, Amandava amandava
- Indian silverbill, Euodice malabarica
- White-rumped munia, Lonchura striata
- Scaly-breasted munia, Lonchura punctulata
- Tricoloured munia, Lochura malacca
Family: [Motacillidae]
- Forest wagtail, Dendronanthus indicus
- White wagtail, Motacilla alba
- White-browed wagtail, Motacilla maderaspatensis
- Citrine wagtail, Motacilla citreola citreola
- Yellow wagtail, Motacilla flava
- Grey wagtail, Motacilla cinerea
- Richard's pipit, Anthus richardi
- Red-throated pipit, Anthus cervinus
- Paddyfield pipit, Anthus rufulus
- Blyth's pipit, Anthus godlewskii
- Long-billed pipit, Anthus similis
- Tree pipit, Anthus trivialis
- Olive-backed pipit, Anthus hodgsoni
Family: [Fringillidae]
- Common rosefinch, Carpodacus erythrinus
Family: [Emberizidae]
- Black-headed bunting, Emberiza melanocephala
- Red-headed bunting, Emberiza bruniceps
- Grey-necked bunting, Emberiza buchanani