List of birds of India


This is a list of the bird species of India and includes extant and recently extinct species recorded within the political limits of the Republic of India as defined by the Indian government are known to have 1347 species as of 2019, of which 78 are endemic to the country. 100 species are globally threatened. The Indian peafowl is the national bird of India. This list does not cover species in Indian jurisdiction areas such as Dakshin Gangotri and oceanic species are delineated by an arbitrary cutoff distance. The list does not include fossil bird species or escapees from captivity.
This list's taxonomic treatment and nomenclature follow the conventions of the IOC World Bird List, version 10.1. This list also uses British English throughout. Any bird names or other wording follows that convention.
The following tags have been used to highlight several categories. The commonly occurring native species do not fit within any of these categories.

Ducks, geese and swans

Order: AnseriformesFamily: Anatidae
Anatidae includes the ducks and most duck-like waterfowl, such as geese and swans. These birds are adapted to an aquatic existence with webbed feet, flattened bills, and feathers that are excellent at shedding water due to an oily coating. There are 44 species which have been recorded in India.
Common nameBinomialComments
Fulvous whistling duckDendrocygna bicolor
Lesser whistling duckDendrocygna javanica
Red-breasted gooseBranta ruficollis; vulnerable
Bar-headed gooseAnser indicus
Greylag gooseAnser anser
Taiga bean-gooseAnser fabalis
Tundra bean-gooseAnser serrirostris; by some authorities considered a variety of Anser fabalis
Greater white-fronted gooseAnser albifrons
Lesser white-fronted gooseAnser erythropus; vulnerable
Mute swanCygnus olor
Tundra swanCygnus columbianus; race bewickii sometimes treated as a species
Whooper swanCygnus cygnus
Knob-billed duckSarkidiornis melanotos
Common shelduckTadorna tadorna
Ruddy shelduckTadorna ferruginea
White-winged duckAsarcornis scutulataEndangered
Mandarin duckAix galericulata
Cotton pygmy-gooseNettapus coromandelianus
Baikal tealSibirionetta formosa
GarganeySpatula querquedula
Northern shovelerSpatula clypeata
GadwallMareca strepera
Falcated duckMareca falcataNear-threatened
Eurasian wigeonMareca penelope
Indian spot-billed duckAnas poecilorhyncha
Eastern spot-billed duckAnas zonorhyncha
MallardAnas platyrhynchos
Northern pintailAnas acuta
Eurasian tealAnas crecca
Andaman tealAnas albogularis; vulnerable
Marbled duckMarmaronetta angustirostrisVulnerable
Pink-headed duckNetta caryophyllacea; critically endangered
Red-crested pochardNetta rufina
Common pochardAythya ferinaVulnerable
Baer's pochardAythya baeriCritically endangered
Ferruginous duckAythya nyrocaNear-threatened
Tufted duckAythya fuligula
Greater scaupAythya marila
Long-tailed duckClangula hyemalis; vulnerable
Common goldeneyeBucephala clangula
SmewMergellus albellus
Common merganserMergus merganser
Red-breasted merganserMergus serrator
White-headed duckOxyura leucocephalaEndangered

Megapodes

Order: GalliformesFamily: Megapodiidae
The Megapodiidae are stocky, medium-large chicken-like birds with small heads and large feet. All but the malleefowl occupy jungle habitats and most have brown or black colouring. There is one species within India.
Common nameBinomialStatus
Nicobar scrubfowlMegapodius nicobariensis; vulnerable

Pheasants and allies

Order: GalliformesFamily: Phasianidae
The Phasianidae are a family of terrestrial birds which consists of quails, partridges, snowcocks, francolins, spurfowl, tragopans, monals, pheasants, peafowls and jungle fowls. In general, they are plump and have broad, relatively short wings.
Common nameBinomialComments
Snow partridgeLerwa lerwa
Himalayan snowcockTetraogallus himalayensis
Tibetan snowcockTetraogallus tibetanus
Chukar partridgeAlectoris chukar
Black francolinFrancolinus francolinus
Painted francolinFrancolinus pictus
Chinese francolinFrancolinus pintadeanus
Grey francolinFrancolinus pondicerianus
Swamp francolinFrancolinus gularisVulnerable
Tibetan partridgePerdix hodgsoniae
Common quailCoturnix coturnix
Japanese quailCoturnix japonicaNear-threatened
Rain quailCoturnix coromandelica
King quailExcalfactoria chinensis
Jungle bush quailPerdicula asiatica
Rock bush quailPerdicula argoondah
Painted bush quailPerdicula erythrorhyncha
Manipur bush quailPerdicula manipurensis; endangered
Himalayan quailOphrysia superciliosa; critically endangered
Hill partridgeArborophila torqueola
Rufous-throated partridgeArborophila rufogularis
White-cheeked partridgeArborophila atrogularisNear-threatened
Chestnut-breasted partridgeArborophila mandelliiVulnerable
Mountain bamboo partridgeBambusicola fytchii
Red spurfowlGalloperdix spadicea
Painted spurfowlGalloperdix lunulata
Blood pheasantIthaginis cruentus
Western tragopanTragopan melanocephalusVulnerable
Satyr tragopanTragopan satyraNear-threatened
Blyth's tragopanTragopan blythiiVulnerable
Temminck's tragopanTragopan temminckii
Koklass pheasantPucrasia macrolopha
Himalayan monalLophophorus impejanus
Sclater's monalLophophorus sclateriVulnerable
Red junglefowlGallus gallus
Grey junglefowlGallus sonneratii
Kalij pheasantLophura leucomelanos
Cheer pheasantCatreus wallichiiVulnerable
Mrs. Hume's pheasantSyrmaticus humiaeNear-threatened
Tibetan eared pheasantCrossoptilon harmani
Grey peacock-pheasantPolyplectron bicalcaratum
Indian peafowlPavo cristatus
Green peafowlPavo muticusEndangered

Loons

Order: GaviiformesFamily: Gaviidae
Loons, known as "divers", in Europe, are a group of aquatic birds found in northern North America and northern Eurasia. They are the size of a large duck or small goose, which they somewhat resemble when swimming, but to which they are completely unrelated. There are two species which have been recorded in India.
Common nameBinomialComments
Red-throated loonGavia stellata
Black-throated loonGavia arctica

Austral storm petrels

Order: ProcellariiformesFamily: Oceanitidae
The storm petrels are relatives of the petrels and are the smallest seabirds. They feed on planktonic crustaceans and small fish picked from the surface, typically while hovering. The flight is fluttering and sometimes bat-like.
Common nameBinomialComments
Wilson's storm petrelOceanites oceanicus
White-faced storm petrelPelagodroma marina
White-bellied storm petrelFregetta grallaria
Black-bellied storm petrelFregetta tropica

Northern storm petrels

Order: ProcellariiformesFamily: Hydrobatidae
The northern storm petrels are relatives of the petrels and are the smallest seabirds. They feed on planktonic crustaceans and small fish picked from the surface, typically while hovering. The flight is fluttering and sometimes bat-like.
Common nameBinomialComments
Swinhoe's storm petrelOceanodroma monorhisNear-threatened

Petrels, shearwaters, and diving petrels

Order: ProcellariiformesFamily: Procellariidae
The procellariids are the main group of medium-sized "true petrels", characterised by united nostrils with medium septum and a long outer functional primary. There are 11 species which have been recorded in India.
Common nameBinomialComments
Cape petrelDaption capense
Barau's petrelPterodroma barauiEndangered
Streaked shearwaterCalonectris leucomelasNear-threatened
Scopoli's shearwaterCalonectris diomedea
Cory's shearwaterCalonectris borealis
Wedge-tailed shearwaterArdenna pacifica
Short-tailed shearwaterArdenna tenuirostris
Flesh-footed shearwaterArdenna carneipesNear-threatened
Persian shearwaterPuffinus persicus
Tropical shearwaterPuffinus bailloni
Jouanin's petrelBulweria fallaxNear-threatened

Grebes

Order: PodicipediformesFamily: Podicipedidae
Grebes are small to medium-large freshwater diving birds. They have lobed toes and are excellent swimmers and divers. However, they have their feet placed far back on the body, making them quite ungainly on land. There are five species which have been recorded in India.
Common nameBinomialComments
Little grebeTachybaptus ruficollis
Red-necked grebePodiceps grisegena
Great crested grebePodiceps cristatus
Horned grebePodiceps auritus; vulnerable
Black-necked grebePodiceps nigricollis

Flamingos

Order: PhoenicopteriformesFamily: Phoenicopteridae
Flamingos are gregarious wading birds, usually tall, found in both the Western and Eastern Hemispheres. Flamingos filter-feed on shellfish and algae. Their oddly shaped beaks are specially adapted to separate mud and silt from the food they consume and, uniquely, are used upside-down. There are two species which have been recorded in India.
Common nameBinomialComments
Greater flamingoPhoenicopterus roseus
Lesser flamingoPhoeniconaias minorNear-threatened

Tropicbirds

Order: PhaethontiformesFamily: Phaethontidae
Tropicbirds are slender white birds of tropical oceans, with exceptionally long central tail feathers. Their heads and long wings have black markings.
Common nameBinomialComments
Red-billed tropicbirdPhaethon aethereus
Red-tailed tropicbirdPhaethon rubricauda
White-tailed tropicbirdPhaethon lepturus

Storks

Order: CiconiiformesFamily: Ciconiidae
Storks are large, long-legged, long-necked, wading birds with long, stout bills. Storks are mute, but bill-clattering is an important mode of communication at the nest. Their nests can be large and may be reused for many years. Many species are migratory.
Common nameBinomialComments
Painted storkMycteria leucocephalaNear-threatened
Asian openbillAnastomus oscitans
Black storkCiconia nigra
Woolly-necked storkCiconia episcopus
White storkCiconia ciconia
Black-necked storkEphippiorhynchus asiaticusNear-threatened
Lesser adjutantLeptoptilos javanicusVulnerable
Greater adjutantLeptoptilos dubiusEndangered

Ibises and spoonbills

Order: PelecaniformesFamily: Threskiornithidae
Threskiornithidae is a family of large terrestrial and wading birds which includes the ibises and spoonbills. They have long, broad wings with 11 primary and about 20 secondary feathers. They are strong fliers and despite their size and weight, very capable soarers.
Common nameBinomialComments
Black-headed ibisThreskiornis melanocephalusNear-threatened
Red-naped ibisPseudibis papillosa
Glossy ibisPlegadis falcinellus
Eurasian spoonbillPlatalea leucorodia

Herons and bitterns

Order: PelecaniformesFamily: Ardeidae
The family Ardeidae contains the bitterns, herons and egrets. Herons and egrets are medium to large wading birds with long necks and legs. Bitterns tend to be shorter necked and more wary. Members of Ardeidae fly with their necks retracted, unlike other long-necked birds such as storks, ibises and spoonbills.
Common nameBinomialComments
Eurasian bitternBotaurus stellaris
Little bitternIxobrychus minutus
Yellow bitternIxobrychus sinensis
Cinnamon bitternIxobrychus cinnamomeus
Black bitternIxobrychus flavicollis
White-eared night heronGorsachius magnificus
Malayan night heronGorsachius melanolophus
Black-crowned night heronNycticorax nycticorax
Striated heronButorides striata
Indian pond heronArdeola grayii
Chinese pond heronArdeola bacchus
Javan pond heronArdeola speciosa
Eastern cattle egretBubulcus coromandus
Grey heronArdea cinerea
White-bellied heronArdea insignisCritically endangered
Great-billed heronArdea sumatrana
Goliath heronArdea goliath
Purple heronArdea purpurea
Great egretArdea alba
Intermediate egretArdea intermedia
Little egretEgretta garzetta
Western reef heronEgretta gularis
Pacific reef heronEgretta sacra
Chinese egretEgretta eulophotes

Pelicans

Order: PelecaniformesFamily: Pelecanidae
Pelicans are large water birds with a distinctive pouch under their beak. As with other members of the order Pelecaniformes, they have webbed feet with four toes. There are three species which have been recorded in India.
Common nameBinomialComments
Great white pelicanPelecanus onocrotalus
Spot-billed pelicanPelecanus philippensis
Dalmatian pelicanPelecanus crispus

Frigatebirds

Order: SuliformesFamily: Fregatidae
Frigatebirds are large seabirds usually found over tropical oceans. They are large, black-and-white or completely black, with long wings and deeply forked tails. The males have coloured inflatable throat pouches. They do not swim or walk and cannot take off from a flat surface. Having the largest wingspan-to-body-weight ratio of any bird, they are essentially aerial, able to stay aloft for more than a week.
Common nameBinomialComments
Christmas frigatebirdFregata andrewsi
Great frigatebirdFregata minor
Lesser frigatebirdFregata ariel

Gannets and boobies

Order: SuliformesFamily: Sulidae
The sulids comprise the gannets and boobies. Both groups are medium to large coastal seabirds that plunge-dive for fish.
Common nameBinomialComments
Masked boobySula dactylatra
Red-footed boobySula sula
Brown boobySula leucogaster

Cormorants and shags

Order: SuliformesFamily: Phalacrocoracidae
Phalacrocoracidae is a family of medium to large coastal, fish-eating seabirds that includes cormorants and shags. Plumage colouration varies, with the majority having mainly dark plumage, some species being black-and-white and a few being colourful.
Common nameBinomialComments
Little cormorantMicrocarbo niger
Indian cormorantPhalacrocorax fuscicollis
Great cormorantPhalacrocorax carbo

Anhingas and darters

Order: SuliformesFamily: Anhingidae
Darters are often called "snake-birds" because of their long thin neck, which gives a snake-like appearance when they swim with their bodies submerged. The males have black and dark-brown plumage, an erectile crest on the nape and a larger bill than the female. The females have much paler plumage especially on the neck and underparts. The darters have completely webbed feet and their legs are short and set far back on the body. Their plumage is somewhat permeable, like that of cormorants, and they spread their wings to dry after diving.
Common nameBinomialComments
Oriental darterAnhinga melanogaster

Ospreys

Order: AccipitriformesFamily: Pandionidae
The family Pandionidae contains usually only one species, the osprey. The osprey is a medium-large raptor which is a specialist fish-eater with most taxonomic authorities consider a worldwide distribution. A few authorities, including the IOC, split the bird into 2 species.
Common nameBinomialComments
Western ospreyPandion haliaetus

Kites, hawks, and eagles

Order: AccipitriformesFamily: Accipitridae
Accipitridae is a family of birds of prey, which includes hawks, eagles, kites, harriers and Old World vultures. These birds have powerful hooked beaks for tearing flesh from their prey, strong legs, powerful talons and keen eyesight.
Common nameBinomialComments
Black-winged kiteElanus caeruleus
Bearded vultureGypaetus barbatusNear threatened
Egyptian vultureNeophron percnopterusEndangered
European honey buzzardPernis apivorus
Crested honey buzzardPernis ptilorhynchus
Jerdon's bazaAviceda jerdoni
Black bazaAviceda leuphotes
White-rumped vultureGyps bengalensisCritically endangered
Indian vultureGyps indicusCritically endangered
Slender-billed vultureGyps tenuirostrisCritically endangered
Himalayan vultureGyps himalayensisNear threatened
Griffon vultureGyps fulvus
Red-headed vultureSarcogyps calvusCritically endangered
Cinereous vultureAegypius monachusNear threatened
Crested serpent eagleSpilornis cheela
Great Nicobar serpent eagleSpilornis klossi
Andaman serpent eagleSpilornis elgini
Short-toed snake eagleCircaetus gallicus
Changeable hawk-eagleNisaetus cirrhatus
Mountain hawk-eagleNisaetus nipalensis
Legge's hawk-eagleNisaetus kelaarti
Rufous-bellied hawk-eagleLophotriorchis kienerii
Black eagleIctinaetus malaiensis
Indian spotted eagleClanga hastata
Greater spotted eagleClanga clanga
Booted eagleHieraaetus pennatus
Tawny eagleAquila rapax
Steppe eagleAquila nipalensisEndangered
Eastern imperial eagleAquila heliaca
Golden eagleAquila chrysaetos
Bonelli's eagleAquila fasciata
Crested goshawkAccipiter trivirgatus
ShikraAccipiter badius
Nicobar sparrowhawkAccipiter butleri
Chinese sparrowhawkAccipiter soloensis
Japanese sparrowhawkAccipiter gularis
BesraAccipiter virgatus
Eurasian sparrowhawkAccipiter nisus
Northern goshawkAccipiter gentilis
Western marsh harrierCircus aeruginosus
Eastern marsh harrierCircus spilonotus
Hen harrierCircus cyaneus
Pallid harrierCircus macrourusNear threatened
Pied harrierCircus melanoleucos
Montagu's harrierCircus pygargus
Red kiteMilvus milvus
Black kiteMilvus migrans
Brahminy kiteHaliastur indus
White-bellied sea eagleHaliaeetus leucogaster
Pallas's fish eagleHaliaeetus leucoryphusEndangered
White-tailed eagleHaliaeetus albicilla
Lesser fish eagleHaliaeetus humilis
Grey-headed fish eagleHaliaeetus ichthyaetus
White-eyed buzzardButastur teesa
Grey-faced buzzardButastur indicus
Upland buzzardButeo hemilasius
Himalayan buzzardButeo burmanicus
Long-legged buzzardButeo rufinus
Common buzzardButeo buteo

Bustards

Order: OtidiformesFamily: Otididae
Bustards are large terrestrial birds mainly associated with dry open country and steppes in the Old World. They are omnivorous and nest on the ground. They walk steadily on strong legs and big toes, pecking for food as they go. They have long broad wings with "fingered" wingtips and striking patterns in flight. Many have interesting mating displays.
Common nameBinomialComments
Great Indian bustardArdeotis nigricepsCritically endangered
MacQueen's bustardChlamydotis macqueeniiVulnerable; earlier as subspecies of houbara bustard, Chlamydotis undulata
Bengal floricanHoubaropsis bengalensisCritically endangered
Lesser floricanSypheotides indicusEndangered
Little bustardTetrax tetrax; near threatened

Finfoots

Order: GruiformesFamily: Heliornithidae
Heliornithidae is a small family of tropical birds with webbed lobes on their feet similar to those of grebes and coots. There is one species which occurs in India.
Common nameBinomialComments
Masked finfootHeliopais personataEndangered

Rails, crakes, and coots

Order: GruiformesFamily: Rallidae
Rallidae is a large family of small to medium-sized birds which includes the rails, crakes, coots and gallinules. Typically they inhabit dense vegetation in damp environments near lakes, swamps or rivers. In general they are shy and secretive birds, making them difficult to observe. Most species have strong legs and long toes which are well adapted to soft uneven surfaces. They tend to have short, rounded wings and to be weak fliers.
Common nameBinomialComments
Andaman crakeRallina canningi
Slaty-legged crakeRallina eurizonoides
Slaty-breasted railGallirallus striatus
Water railRallus aquaticus
Brown-cheeked railRallus indicus
Corn crakeCrex crex
Brown crakeAmaurornis akool
White-breasted waterhenAmaurornis phoenicurus
Black-tailed crakePorzana bicolor
Little crakePorzana parva
Baillon's crakePorzana pusilla
Spotted crakePorzana porzana
Ruddy-breasted crakePorzana fusca
White-browed crakePorzana cinerea
WatercockGallicrex cinerea
Grey-headed swamphenPorphyrio poliocephalus
Common moorhenGallinula chloropus
Eurasian cootFulica atra

Cranes

Order: GruiformesFamily: Gruidae
Cranes are large, long-legged and long-necked birds. Unlike the similar-looking but unrelated herons, cranes fly with necks outstretched, not pulled back. Most have elaborate and noisy courting displays or "dances". There are five species which have been recorded in India.
Common nameBinomialComments
Siberian craneLeucogeranus leucogeranusCritically endangered; last known wintering in India in 2002
Sarus craneAntigone antigoneVulnerable
Demoiselle craneGrus virgo
Common craneGrus grus
Black-necked craneGrus nigricollisVulnerable

The hooded crane, Grus monacha, was included in many older lists but is considered hypothetical by more recent workers.

Buttonquail

Order: CharadriiformesFamily: Turnicidae
The buttonquail are small, drab, running birds which resemble the true quails. The female is the brighter of the sexes and initiates courtship. The male incubates the eggs and tends the young. There are three species which have been recorded in India.
Common nameBinomialComments
Common buttonquailTurnix sylvaticus
Yellow-legged buttonquailTurnix tanki
Barred buttonquailTurnix suscitator

Stone-curlews and thick-knees

Order: CharadriiformesFamily: Burhinidae
Stone-curlews are a group of largely tropical waders in the family Burhinidae. They are found worldwide within the tropical zone, with some species also breeding in temperate Europe and Australia. They are medium to large waders with strong black or yellow-black bills, large yellow eyes and cryptic plumage. Despite being classed as waders, most species have a preference for arid or semi-arid habitats.
Common nameBinomialComments
Indian stone-curlewBurhinus indicusOccurrence of Eurasian stone-curlew, Burhinus oedicnemus, in India is not established
Great stone-curlewEsacus recurvirostrisNear threatened
Beach stone-curlewEsacus magnirostrisNear threatened

Oystercatchers

Order: CharadriiformesFamily: Haematopodidae
The oystercatchers are large and noisy plover-like birds, with strong bills used for smashing or prising open molluscs. There is one species which occurs in India.
Common nameBinomialComments
Eurasian oystercatcherHaematopus ostralegusNear threatened

Crab-plover

Order: CharadriiformesFamily: Dromadidae
The crab-plover is related to the waders. It resembles a plover but with very long grey legs and a strong heavy black bill similar to a tern. It has black-and-white plumage, a long neck, partially webbed feet and a bill designed for eating crabs.

Ibisbill

Order: CharadriiformesFamily: Ibidorhynchidae
The ibisbill is related to the waders, but is sufficiently distinctive to be a family unto itself. The adult is grey with a white belly, red legs, a long down curved bill, and a black face and breast band.
Common nameBinomialComments
IbisbillIbidorhyncha struthersii

Stilts and avocets

Order: CharadriiformesFamily: Recurvirostridae
Recurvirostridae is a family of large wading birds, which includes the avocets and stilts. The avocets have long legs and long up-curved bills. The stilts have extremely long legs and long, thin, straight bills. There are two species which have been recorded in India.
Common nameBinomialComments
Black-winged stiltHimantopus himantopus
Pied avocetRecurvirostra avosetta

Plovers

Order: CharadriiformesFamily: Charadriidae
The family Charadriidae includes the plovers, dotterels and lapwings. They are small to medium-sized birds with compact bodies, short, thick necks and long, usually pointed, wings. They are found in open country worldwide, mostly in habitats near water. There are 20 species which have been recorded in India.
Common nameBinomialComments
Northern lapwingVanellus vanellusNear threatened
River lapwingVanellus duvauceliiNear threatened
Yellow-wattled lapwingVanellus malabaricus
Grey-headed lapwingVanellus cinereus
Red-wattled lapwingVanellus indicus
Sociable lapwingVanellus gregariuscritically endangered
White-tailed lapwingVanellus leucurus
European golden ploverPluvialis apricaria
American golden ploverPluvialis dominica
Pacific golden ploverPluvialis fulva
Grey ploverPluvialis squatarola
Common ringed ploverCharadrius hiaticula
Long-billed ploverCharadrius placidus
Little ringed ploverCharadrius dubius
Kentish ploverCharadrius alexandrinus
White-faced ploverCharadrius alexandrinus dealbatus
Lesser sand ploverCharadrius mongolus
Greater sand ploverCharadrius leschenaultii
Caspian ploverCharadrius asiaticus
Oriental ploverCharadrius veredus

Painted-snipes

Order: CharadriiformesFamily: Rostratulidae
Painted-snipes are short-legged, long-billed birds similar in shape to the true snipes, but more brightly coloured. There is one species which occurs in India.
Common nameBinomialComments
Greater painted-snipeRostratula benghalensis

Jacanas

Order: CharadriiformesFamily: Jacanidae
The jacanas are a group of tropical waders in the family Jacanidae. They are found throughout the tropics. They are identifiable by their huge feet and claws which enable them to walk on floating vegetation in the shallow lakes that are their preferred habitat. There are two species which have been recorded in India.
Common nameBinomialComments
Pheasant-tailed jacanaHydrophasianus chirurgus
Bronze-winged jacanaMetopidius indicus

Sandpipers and snipes

Order: CharadriiformesFamily: Scolopacidae
Scolopacidae is a large diverse family of small to medium-sized shorebirds including the sandpipers, curlews, godwits, shanks, tattlers, woodcocks, snipes, dowitchers and phalaropes. The majority of these species eat small invertebrates picked out of the mud or soil. Variation in length of legs and bills enables multiple species to feed in the same habitat, particularly on the coast, without direct competition for food. There are 41 species which have been recorded in India.
Common nameBinomialComments
Eurasian whimbrelNumenius phaeopus
Eurasian curlewNumenius arquataNear threatened
Bar-tailed godwitLimosa lapponicaNear threatened
Black-tailed godwitLimosa limosaNear threatened
Ruddy turnstoneArenaria interpres
Great knotCalidris tenuirostrisEndangered
Red knotCalidris canutus; Near threatened
RuffCalidris pugnax
Broad-billed sandpiperCalidris falcinellus
Sharp-tailed sandpiperCalidris acuminata
Curlew sandpiperCalidris ferrugineaNear threatened
Temminck's stintCalidris temminckii
Long-toed stintCalidris subminuta
Spoon-billed sandpiperCalidris pygmeus; critically endangered
Red-necked stintCalidris ruficollisNear threatened
SanderlingCalidris alba
DunlinCalidris alpina
Little stintCalidris minuta
Buff-breasted sandpiperCalidris subruficollis; near threatened
Pectoral sandpiperCalidris melanotos
Asian dowitcherLimnodromus semipalmatusNear threatened
Long-billed dowitcherLimnodromus scolopaceus
Eurasian woodcockScolopax rusticola
Jack snipeLymnocryptes minimus
Solitary snipeGallinago solitaria
Wood snipeGallinago nemoricolaVulnerable
Pin-tailed snipeGallinago stenuraNon-breeding range
Swinhoe's snipeGallinago megala
Great snipeGallinago media; near threatened
Common snipeGallinago gallinago
Terek sandpiperXenus cinereus
Red-necked phalaropePhalaropus lobatus
Red phalaropePhalaropus fulicarius
Common sandpiperActitis hypoleucos
Green sandpiperTringa ochropus
Grey-tailed tattlerTringa brevipes
Common redshankTringa totanus
Marsh sandpiperTringa stagnatilis
Wood sandpiperTringa glareola
Spotted redshankTringa erythropus
Common greenshankTringa nebularia

Coursers and pratincoles

Order: CharadriiformesFamily: Glareolidae
Glareolidae is a family of wading birds comprising the pratincoles, which have short legs, long pointed wings and long forked tails, and the coursers, which have long legs, short wings and long, pointed bills which curve downwards. There are six species which have been recorded in India.
Common nameBinomialComments
Cream-coloured courserCursorius cursor
Indian courserCursorius coromandelicus
Jerdon's courserRhinoptilus bitorquatusEndemic; critically endangered
Collared pratincoleGlareola pratincola
Oriental pratincoleGlareola maldivarum
Small pratincoleGlareola lactea

Gulls, terns, and skimmers

Order: CharadriiformesFamily: Laridae
Laridae is a family of medium to large seabirds, the gulls, terns, and skimmers. Gulls are typically grey or white, often with black markings on the head or wings. They have stout, longish bills and webbed feet. Terns are a group of generally medium to large seabirds typically with grey or white plumage, often with black markings on the head. Most terns hunt fish by diving but some pick insects off the surface of fresh water. Terns are generally long-lived birds, with several species known to live in excess of 30 years. Skimmers are a small family of tropical tern-like birds. They have an elongated lower mandible which they use to feed by flying low over the water surface and skimming the water for small fish.
Common nameBinomialComments
Brown noddyAnous stolidus
Lesser noddyAnous tenuirostris
Black noddyAnous minutus
White ternGygis alba
Indian skimmerRynchops albicollisVulnerable
Black-legged kittiwakeRissa tridactyla; vulnerable
Sabine's gullXema sabini
Slender-billed gullChroicocephalus genei-
Brown-headed gullChroicocephalus brunnicephalus
Black-headed gullChroicocephalus ridibundus
Little gullHydrocoloeus minutus
Franklin's gullLeucophaeus pipixcan
Pallas's gullIchthyaetus ichthyaetus
White-eyed gullIchthyaetus leucophthalmus; near threatened
Sooty gullIchthyaetus hemprichii
Mew gullLarus canus
Vega gullLarus vegae
Caspian gullLarus cachinnans
Lesser black-backed gullLarus fuscus
Gull-billed ternGelochelidon nilotica
Caspian ternHydroprogne caspia
Greater crested ternThalasseus bergii
Lesser crested ternThalasseus bengalensis
Sandwich ternThalasseus sandvicensis
Little ternSternula albifrons
Saunders's ternSternula saundersi
Bridled ternOnychoprion anaethetus
Sooty ternOnychoprion fuscatus
River ternSterna aurantiaNear threatened
Roseate ternSterna dougallii
Black-naped ternSterna sumatrana
Common ternSterna hirundo
White-cheeked ternSterna repressa
Arctic ternSterna paradisaea
Black-bellied ternSterna acuticaudaEndangered
Whiskered ternChlidonias hybrida
White-winged ternChlidonias leucopterus
Black ternChlidonias niger

Skuas

Order: CharadriiformesFamily: Stercorariidae
The family Stercorariidae are, in general, medium to large birds, typically with grey or brown plumage, often with white markings on the wings. They nest on the ground in temperate and arctic regions and are long-distance migrants. There are five species which have been recorded in India.
Common nameBinomialComments
South polar skuaStercorarius maccormicki
Brown skuaStercorarius antarcticus
Pomarine jaegerStercorarius pomarinus
Parasitic jaegerStercorarius parasiticus
Long-tailed jaegerStercorarius longicaudus

Sandgrouse

Order: PterocliformesFamily: Pteroclidae
Sandgrouse have small, pigeon like heads and necks, but sturdy compact bodies. They have long pointed wings and sometimes tails and a fast direct flight. Flocks fly to watering holes at dawn and dusk. Their legs are feathered down to the toes. There are seven species which have been recorded in India. India has the largest number of sandgrouse of any country.
Common nameBinomialComments
Tibetan sandgrouseSyrrhaptes tibetanus
Pallas's sandgrouseSyrrhaptes paradoxus
Pin-tailed sandgrousePterocles alchata
Chestnut-bellied sandgrousePterocles exustus
Spotted sandgrousePterocles senegallus
Black-bellied sandgrousePterocles orientalis
Painted sandgrousePterocles indicus

Pigeons and doves

Order: ColumbiformesFamily: Columbidae
Pigeons and doves are stout-bodied birds with short necks and short slender bills with a fleshy cere.
Common nameBinomialComments
Rock doveColumba livia
Hill pigeonColumba rupestris
Snow pigeonColumba leuconota
Yellow-eyed pigeonColumba eversmannivulnerable
Common wood pigeonColumba palumbus
Speckled wood pigeonColumba hodgsonii
Ashy wood pigeonColumba pulchricollis
Nilgiri wood pigeonColumba elphinstonii; vulnerable
Pale-capped pigeonColumba puniceaVulnerable
Andaman wood pigeonColumba palumboides; near threatened
European turtle doveStreptopelia turtur; vulnerable
Oriental turtle doveStreptopelia orientalis
Eurasian collared doveStreptopelia decaocto
Red collared doveStreptopelia tranquebarica
Spotted doveSpilopelia chinensis
Laughing doveSpilopelia senegalensis
Barred cuckoo-doveMacropygia unchall
Andaman cuckoo-doveMacropygia rufipennis; near threatened
Namaqua doveOena capensis
Common emerald doveChalcophaps indica
Nicobar pigeonCaloenas nicobaricaNear threatened
Orange-breasted green pigeonTreron bicinctus
Grey-fronted green pigeonTreron affinis
Ashy-headed green pigeonTreron phayreiNear threatened
Andaman green pigeonTreron chloropterus; near threatened
Thick-billed green pigeonTreron curvirostra
Yellow-footed green pigeonTreron phoenicopterus
Pin-tailed green pigeonTreron apicauda
Wedge-tailed green pigeonTreron sphenurus
Green imperial pigeonDucula aenea
Nicobar imperial pigeonDucula nicobarica
Mountain imperial pigeonDucula badia
Pied imperial pigeonDucula bicolor

Cuckoos

Order: CuculiformesFamily: Cuculidae
The family Cuculidae includes cuckoos, roadrunners and anis. These birds are of variable size with slender bodies, long tails and strong legs. Many are brood parasites. There are 24 species which have been recorded in India.
Common nameBinomialComments
Greater coucalCentropus sinensis
Lesser coucalCentropus bengalensis
Andaman coucalCentropus andamanensis
Sirkeer malkohaTaccocua leschenaultii
Blue-faced malkohaPhaenicophaeus viridirostris
Green-billed malkohaPhaenicophaeus tristis
Chestnut-winged cuckooClamator coromandus
Jacobin cuckooClamator jacobinus
Asian koelEudynamys scolopaceus
Asian emerald cuckooChrysococcyx maculatus
Violet cuckooChrysococcyx xanthorhynchus
Horsfield's bronze cuckooChrysococcyx basalis
Banded bay cuckooCacomantis sonneratii
Plaintive cuckooCacomantis merulinus
Grey-bellied cuckooCacomantis passerinus
Square-tailed drongo-cuckooSurniculus lugubris
Fork-tailed drongo-cuckooSurniculus dicruroides
Large hawk-cuckooHierococcyx sparverioides
Common hawk-cuckooHierococcyx varius
Hodgson's hawk-cuckooHierococcyx nisicolor
Lesser cuckooCuculus poliocephalus
Indian cuckooCuculus micropterus
Himalayan cuckooCuculus saturatus
Common cuckooCuculus canorus

Barn owls

Order: StrigiformesFamily: Tytonidae
Barn owls are medium to large owls with large heads and characteristic heart-shaped faces. They have long strong legs with powerful talons.
Common nameBinomialComments
Western barn owlTyto alba
Eastern barn owlTyto javanica
Andaman masked owlTyto deroepstorffi
Eastern grass owlTyto longimembris
Oriental bay owlPhodilus badius
Sri Lanka bay owlPhodilus assimilisWestern Ghats subspecies ripleyi in India with nominate form in Sri Lanka

Owls

Order: StrigiformesFamily: Strigidae
The typical owls are small to large solitary nocturnal birds of prey. They have large forward-facing eyes and ears, a hawk-like beak and a conspicuous circle of feathers around each eye called a facial disk.
Common nameBinomialComments
Andaman scops owlOtus balli; near threatened
Mountain scops owlOtus spilocephalus
Indian scops owlOtus bakkamoena
Collared scops owlOtus lettia
Pallid scops owlOtus brucei
Eurasian scops owlOtus scops
Oriental scops owlOtus sunia
Nicobar scops owlOtus alius
Eurasian eagle-owlBubo bubo
Indian eagle-owlBubo bengalensis
Spot-bellied eagle-owlBubo nipalensis
Dusky eagle-owlBubo coromandus
Brown fish owlKetupa zeylonensis
Tawny fish owlKetupa flavipes
Buffy fish owlKetupa ketupu
Mottled wood owlStrix ocellata
Brown wood owlStrix leptogrammica
Tawny owlStrix aluco
Himalayan owlStrix nivicolum
Collared owletGlaucidium brodiei
Asian barred owletGlaucidium cuculoides
Jungle owletGlaucidium radiatum
Little owlAthene noctua
Spotted owletAthene brama
Forest owletAthene blewitti; endangered
Boreal owlAegolius funereus
Brown hawk-owlNinox scutulata
Hume's hawk-owlNinox obscura
Andaman hawk-owlNinox affinis, near threatened
Long-eared owlAsio otus
Short-eared owlAsio flammeus

Frogmouths

Order: CaprimulgiformesFamily: Podargidae
The frogmouths are a group of nocturnal birds related to the nightjars. They are named for their large flattened hooked bill and huge frog-like gape, which they use to take insects. There are two species which have been recorded in India.
Common nameBinomialComments
Sri Lanka frogmouthBatrachostomus moniligerssp. roonwali in India
Hodgson's frogmouthBatrachostomus hodgsoni

Nightjars

Order: CaprimulgiformesFamily: Caprimulgidae
Nightjars are medium-sized nocturnal birds that usually nest on the ground. They have long wings, short legs and very short bills. Most have small feet, of little use for walking, and long pointed wings. Their soft plumage is camouflaged to resemble bark or leaves.
Common nameBinomialComments
Great eared nightjarLyncornis macrotis
Jungle nightjarCaprimulgus indicus
Grey nightjarCaprimulgus jotaka
European nightjarCaprimulgus europaeus
Sykes's nightjarCaprimulgus mahrattensis
Jerdon's nightjarCaprimulgus atripennis
Large-tailed nightjarCaprimulgus macrurus
Andaman nightjarCaprimulgus andamanicus
Indian nightjarCaprimulgus asiaticus
Savanna nightjarCaprimulgus affinis

Treeswifts

Order: ApodiformesFamily: Hemiprocnidae
The treeswifts, or crested swifts, are closely related to the true swifts. They differ from the other swifts in that they have crests, long forked tails and softer plumage. There is one species which occurs in India.
Common nameBinomialComments
Crested treeswiftHemiprocne coronata

Swifts

Order: ApodiformesFamily: Apodidae
Swifts are small birds which spend the majority of their lives flying. These birds have very short legs and never settle voluntarily on the ground, perching instead only on vertical surfaces. Many swifts have long swept-back wings which resemble a crescent or boomerang. There are 16 species which have been recorded in India.
Common nameBinomialComments
Plume-toed swiftletCollocalia affinis
Indian swiftletAerodramus unicolor
Himalayan swiftletAerodramus brevirostris
Edible-nest swiftletAerodramus fuciphagus
White-rumped spinetailZoonavena sylvatica
White-throated needletailHirundapus caudacutus
Silver-backed needletailHirundapus cochinchinensis
Brown-backed needletailHirundapus giganteus
Asian palm swiftCypsiurus balasiensis
Alpine swiftTachymarptis melba
Common swiftApus apus
Pallid swiftApus pallidus
Pacific swiftApus pacificus ssp. kurodae
Salim Ali's swiftApus salimalii
Blyth's swiftApus leuconyx
Dark-rumped swiftApus acuticaudaVulnerable
Little swiftApus affinis
House swiftApus nipalensis

Trogons

Order: TrogoniformesFamily: Trogonidae
The family Trogonidae includes trogons and quetzals. Found in tropical woodlands worldwide, they feed on insects and fruit, and their broad bills and weak legs reflect their diet and arboreal habits. Although their flight is fast, they are reluctant to fly any distance. Trogons have soft, often colourful, feathers with distinctive male and female plumage. There are three species which have been recorded in India.
Common nameBinomialComments
Malabar trogonHarpactes fasciatus
Red-headed trogonHarpactes erythrocephalus
Ward's trogonHarpactes wardiNear threatened

Rollers

Order: CoraciiformesFamily: Coraciidae
Rollers resemble crows in size and build, but are more closely related to the kingfishers and bee-eaters. They share the colourful appearance of those groups with blues and browns predominating. The two inner front toes are connected at the base, but the outer toe is not. There are three or four species which have been recorded in India.
Common nameBinomialComments
Indian rollerCoracias benghalensis
Indochinese rollerCoracias affinisSaid to intergrade with above but distinctive in plumage in core range
European rollerCoracias garrulus
Oriental dollarbirdEurystomus orientalis

Kingfishers

Order: CoraciiformesFamily: Alcedinidae
Kingfishers are medium-sized birds with large heads, long, pointed bills, short legs and stubby tails. There are 13 species which have been recorded in India.
Common nameBinomialComments
Stork-billed kingfisherPelargopsis capensis
Brown-winged kingfisherPelargopsis amauropteraNear threatened
Ruddy kingfisherHalcyon coromanda
White-throated kingfisherHalcyon smyrnensis
Black-capped kingfisherHalcyon pileata
Collared kingfisherTodiramphus chloris
Blue-eared kingfisherAlcedo meninting
Common kingfisherAlcedo atthis
Blyth's kingfisherAlcedo herculesNear threatened
Oriental dwarf kingfisherCeyx erithaca
Crested kingfisherMegaceryle lugubris
Pied kingfisherCeryle rudis

Bee-eaters

Order: CoraciiformesFamily: Meropidae
The bee-eaters are a group of near passerine birds in the family Meropidae. Most species are found in Africa but others occur in southern Europe, Madagascar, Australia and New Guinea. They are characterised by richly coloured plumage, slender bodies and usually elongated central tail feathers. All are colourful and have long downturned bills and pointed wings, which give them a swallow-like appearance when seen from afar. There are six species which have been recorded in India.
Common nameBinomialComments
Blue-bearded bee-eaterNyctyornis athertoni
Green bee-eaterMerops orientalis
Blue-cheeked bee-eaterMerops persicus
Blue-tailed bee-eaterMerops philippinus
Blue-throated bee-eaterMerops viridis
Chestnut-headed bee-eaterMerops leschenaulti
European bee-eaterMerops apiaster

Hoopoes

Order: BucerotiformesFamily: Upupidae
Hoopoes have black, white and orangey-pink colouring with a large erectile crest on their head. There is one species which occurs in India.

Hornbills

Order: BucerotiformesFamily: Bucerotidae
Hornbills are a group of birds whose bill is shaped like a cow's horn, but without a twist, sometimes with a casque on the upper mandible. Frequently, the bill is brightly coloured.
Common nameBinomialComments
Great hornbillBuceros bicornisNear threatened
Oriental pied hornbillAnthracoceros albirostris
Malabar pied hornbillAnthracoceros coronatusNear threatened
Malabar grey hornbillOcyceros griseus
Indian grey hornbillOcyceros birostris
Austen's brown hornbillAnorrhinus austeniNear threatened
Rufous-necked hornbillAceros nipalensisVulnerable
Narcondam hornbillRhyticeros narcondami; endangered
Wreathed hornbillRhyticeros undulatus

Asian barbets

Order: PiciformesFamily: Megalaimidae
The Asian barbets are plump birds, with short necks and large heads. They get their name from the bristles which fringe their heavy bills. Most species are brightly coloured.
Common nameBinomialComments
Great barbetPsilopogon virens
Brown-headed barbetPsilopogon zeylanicus
Lineated barbetPsilopogon lineatus
White-cheeked barbetPsilopogon viridis
Golden-throated barbetPsilopogon franklinii
Blue-throated barbetPsilopogon asiaticus
Blue-eared barbetPsilopogon duvaucelii
Malabar barbetPsilopogon malabaricus
Coppersmith barbetPsilopogon haemacephalus

Honeyguides

Order: PiciformesFamily: Indicatoridae
Honeyguides are among the few birds that feed on wax. They are named for the greater honeyguide which leads traditional honey-hunters to bees' nests and, after the hunters have harvested the honey, feeds on the remaining contents of the hive. There is one species which occurs in India.
Common nameBinomialComments
Yellow-rumped honeyguideIndicator xanthonotusNear threatened

Woodpeckers

Order: PiciformesFamily: Picidae
Woodpeckers are small to medium-sized birds with chisel-like beaks, short legs, stiff tails and long tongues used for capturing insects. Some species have feet with two toes pointing forward and two backward, while several species have only three toes. Many woodpeckers have the habit of tapping noisily on tree trunks with their beaks.
Common nameBinomialComments
Eurasian wryneckJynx torquilla
Speckled piculetPicumnus innominatus
White-browed piculetSasia ochracea
Heart-spotted woodpeckerHemicircus canente
Brown-capped pygmy woodpeckerYungipicus nanus
Grey-capped pygmy woodpeckerYungipicus canicapillus
Brown-fronted woodpeckerDendrocoptes auriceps
Yellow-crowned woodpeckerLeiopicus mahrattensis
Crimson-breasted woodpeckerDryobates cathpharius
Rufous-bellied woodpeckerDendrocopos hyperythrus
Fulvous-breasted woodpeckerDendrocopos macei
Freckle-breasted woodpeckerDendrocopos analis
Stripe-breasted woodpeckerDendrocopos atratus
Darjeeling woodpeckerDendrocopos darjellensis
Himalayan woodpeckerDendrocopos himalayensis
Sind woodpeckerDendrocopos assimilis
Great spotted woodpeckerDendrocopos major
White-bellied woodpeckerDryocopus javensis
Andaman woodpeckerDryocopus hodgei; near threatened
Greater yellownapeChrysophlegma flavinucha
Lesser yellownapePicus chlorolophus
Streak-throated woodpeckerPicus xanthopygaeus
Scaly-bellied woodpeckerPicus squamatus
Grey-headed woodpeckerPicus canus
Himalayan flamebackDinopium shorii
Common flamebackDinopium javanense
Black-rumped flamebackDinopium benghalense
Greater flamebackChrysocolaptes guttacristatus
White-naped woodpeckerChrysocolaptes festivus
Pale-headed woodpeckerGecinulus grantia
Bay woodpeckerBlythipicus pyrrhotis
Rufous woodpeckerMicropternus brachyurus
Great slaty woodpeckerMulleripicus pulverulentusVulnerable

Caracaras and falcons

Order: FalconiformesFamily: Falconidae
Falconidae is a family of diurnal birds of prey. They differ from hawks, eagles and kites in that they kill with their beaks instead of their talons. There are thirteen species which have been recorded in India.
Common nameBinomialComments
Collared falconetMicrohierax caerulescens
Pied falconetMicrohierax melanoleucos
Lesser kestrelFalco naumanni
Common kestrelFalco tinnunculus
Red-necked falconFalco chicqueraNear threatened
Red-footed falconFalco vespertinus
Amur falconFalco amurensis
MerlinFalco columbarius
Eurasian hobbyFalco subbuteo
Oriental hobbyFalco severus
Laggar falconFalco juggerNear threatened
Saker falconFalco cherrugEndangered
Peregrine falconFalco peregrinus

Old World parrots

Order: PsittaciformesFamily: Psittaculidae
Characteristic features of parrots include a strong curved bill, an upright stance, strong legs, and clawed zygodactyl feet. Many parrots are vividly coloured, and some are multi-coloured. In size they range from to in length. Old World parrots are found from Africa east across south and southeast Asia and Oceania to Australia and New Zealand.
Common nameBinomialComments
Grey-headed parakeetPsittacula finschiiNear threatened
Slaty-headed parakeetPsittacula himalayana
Blossom-headed parakeetPsittacula roseataNear threatened
Plum-headed parakeetPsittacula cyanocephala
Red-breasted parakeetPsittacula alexandriNear threatened
Lord Derby's parakeetPsittacula derbiananear threatened
Long-tailed parakeetPsittacula longicaudaNear threatened
Blue-winged parakeetPsittacula columboides
Alexandrine parakeetPsittacula eupatriaNear threatened
Rose-ringed parakeetPsittacula krameri
Nicobar parakeetPsittacula caniceps; near threatened
Vernal hanging parrotLoriculus vernalis

Typical broadbills

Order: PasseriformesFamily: Eurylaimidae
The broadbills are small, brightly coloured birds, which feed on fruit and also take insects in flycatcher fashion, snapping their broad bills. Their habitat is canopies of wet forests. There are two species which have been recorded in India.
Common nameBinomialComments
Long-tailed broadbillPsarisomus dalhousiae
Silver-breasted broadbillSerilophus lunatus

Pittas

Order: PasseriformesFamily: Pittidae
Pittas are medium-sized by passerine standards and are stocky, with fairly long, strong legs, short tails and stout bills. Many are brightly coloured. They spend the majority of their time on wet forest floors, eating snails, insects and similar invertebrates.
Common nameBinomialComments
Blue-naped pittaHydrornis nipalensis
Blue pittaHydrornis cyanea
Hooded pittaPitta sordida
Indian pittaPitta brachyura
Blue-winged pittaPitta moluccensis
Mangrove pittaPitta megarhynchaNear threatened

Vangas, helmetshrikes, woodshrikes, and shrike-flycatchers

Order: PasseriformesFamily: Vangidae
The woodshrikes are similar in build to the shrikes.
Common nameBinomialComments
Bar-winged flycatcher-shrikeHemipus picatus
Large woodshrikeTephrodornis virgatus
Malabar woodshrikeTephrodornis sylvicola
Common woodshrikeTephrodornis pondicerianus

Woodswallows, butcherbirds, and peltops

Order: PasseriformesFamily: Artamidae
The woodswallows are soft-plumaged, somber-coloured passerine birds. They are smooth, agile flyers with moderately large, semi-triangular wings. There are two species which have been recorded in India.
Common nameBinomialComments
Ashy woodswallowArtamus fuscus
White-breasted woodswallowArtamus leucorynchus

Ioras

Order: PasseriformesFamily: Aegithinidae
The ioras are bulbul-like birds of open forest or thorn scrub, but whereas that group tends to be drab in colouration, ioras are sexually dimorphic, with the males being brightly plumaged in yellows and greens. There are two species which have been recorded in India.
Common nameBinomialComments
Common ioraAegithina tiphia
Marshall's ioraAegithina nigrolutea

Cuckooshrikes

Order: PasseriformesFamily: Campephagidae
The cuckooshrikes are small to medium-sized passerine birds. They are predominantly greyish with white and black, although some species are brightly coloured. There are 14 species which have been recorded in India.
Common nameBinomialComments
White-bellied minivetPericrocotus erythropygius
Small minivetPericrocotus cinnamomeus
Grey-chinned minivetPericrocotus solaris
Short-billed minivetPericrocotus brevirostris
Long-tailed minivetPericrocotus ethologus
Orange minivetPericrocotus flammeus
Scarlet minivetPericrocotus speciosus
Ashy minivetPericrocotus divaricatus
Swinhoe's minivetPericrocotus cantonensis
Rosy minivetPericrocotus roseus
Large cuckooshrikeCoracina macei
Andaman cuckooshrikeCoracina dobsoni; near threatened
Pied trillerLalage nigra
Black-winged cuckooshrikeLalage melaschistos
Black-headed cuckooshrikeLalage melanoptera

Whistlers and allies

Order: PasseriformesFamily: Pachycephalidae
The family Pachycephalidae includes the whistlers, shrike-thrushes, shrike-tits, pitohuis and crested bellbird. There is one species which occurs in India.
Common nameBinomialComments
Mangrove whistlerPachycephala cinerea

Shrikes

Order: PasseriformesFamily: Laniidae
Shrikes are passerine birds known for their habit of catching other birds and small animals and impaling the uneaten portions of their bodies on thorns. A typical shrike's beak is hooked, like a bird of prey.
Common nameBinomialComments
Brown shrikeLanius cristatus
Red-backed shrikeLanius collurio
Isabelline shrikeLanius isabellinus
Red-tailed shrikeLanius phoenicuroides
Burmese shrikeLanius collurioides
Bay-backed shrikeLanius vittatus
Long-tailed shrikeLanius schach
Grey-backed shrikeLanius tephronotus
Lesser grey shrikeLanius minor
Great grey shrikeLanius excubitor
Woodchat shrikeLanius senator
Masked shrikeLanius nubicus

Vireos, greenlets, and shrike-babblers

Order: PasseriformesFamily: Vireonidae
Most of the members of this family are found in the New World. However, the shrike-babblers and erpornis, which only slightly resemble the "true" vireos and greenlets, are found in South East Asia.
Common nameBinomialComments
White-bellied erpornisErpornis zantholeuca
Black-headed shrike-babblerPteruthius rufiventer
Himalayan shrike-babblerPteruthius ripleyi
Blyth's shrike-babblerPteruthius aeralatus
Green shrike-babblerPteruthius xanthochlorus
Black-eared shrike-babblerPteruthius melanotis
Clicking shrike-babblerPteruthius intermedius

Figbirds, orioles, and Turnagra

Order: PasseriformesFamily: Oriolidae
The Old World orioles are colourful passerine birds. They are not related to the New World orioles. There are six species which have been recorded in India.
Common nameBinomialComments
Eurasian golden orioleOriolus oriolus
Indian golden orioleOriolus kundoo
Slender-billed orioleOriolus tenuirostris
Black-naped orioleOriolus chinensis
Black-hooded orioleOriolus xanthornus
Maroon orioleOriolus traillii

Drongos

Order: PasseriformesFamily: Dicruridae
The drongos are mostly black or dark grey in colour, sometimes with metallic tints. They have long forked tails, and some Asian species have elaborate tail decorations. They have short legs and sit very upright when perched, like a shrike. They flycatch or take prey from the ground. There are nine species which have been recorded in India.
Common nameBinomialComments
Black drongoDicrurus macrocercus
Ashy drongoDicrurus leucophaeus
White-bellied drongoDicrurus caerulescens
Crow-billed drongoDicrurus annectens
Bronzed drongoDicrurus aeneus
Lesser racket-tailed drongoDicrurus remifer
Hair-crested drongoDicrurus hottentottus
Andaman drongoDicrurus andamanensisNear threatened
Greater racket-tailed drongoDicrurus paradiseus

Fantails and silktails

Order: PasseriformesFamily: Rhipiduridae
The fantails are small insectivorous birds which are specialist aerial feeders. There are three species which occur in India.
Common nameBinomialComments
White-throated fantailRhipidura albicollis
White-spotted fantailRhipidura albogularis
White-browed fantailRhipidura aureola

Monarchs

Order: PasseriformesFamily: Monarchidae
The monarch flycatchers are small to medium-sized insectivorous passerines which hunt by flycatching. There are five species which have been recorded in India.
Common nameBinomialComments
Black-naped monarchHypothymis azurea
Indian paradise flycatcherTerpsiphone paradisi
Blyth's paradise flycatcherTerpsiphone affinis
Amur paradise flycatcherTerpsiphone incei
Japanese paradise flycatcherTerpsiphone atrocaudata

Crows and jays

Order: PasseriformesFamily: Corvidae
The family Corvidae includes crows, ravens, jays, choughs, magpies, treepies, nutcrackers and ground jays. Corvids are above average in size among the Passeriformes, and some of the larger species show high levels of intelligence.
Common nameBinomialComments
Eurasian jayGarrulus glandarius
Black-headed jayGarrulus lanceolatus
Yellow-billed blue magpieUrocissa flavirostris
Red-billed blue magpieUrocissa erythroryncha
Common green magpieCissa chinensis
Rufous treepieDendrocitta vagabunda
Grey treepieDendrocitta formosae
White-bellied treepieDendrocitta leucogastra
Collared treepieDendrocitta frontalis
Andaman treepieDendrocitta bayleyii; near threatened
Eurasian magpiePica pica
Black-rumped magpiePica bottanensis
Eurasian nutcrackerNucifraga caryocatactes
Large-spotted nutcrackerNucifraga multipunctata
Red-billed choughPyrrhocorax pyrrhocorax
Alpine choughPyrrhocorax graculus
Western jackdawCorvus monedula
House crowCorvus splendens
RookCorvus frugilegus
Carrion crowCorvus corone
Hooded crowCorvus cornix
Large-billed crowCorvus macrorhynchos
Eastern jungle crowCorvus levaillantii
Indian jungle crowCorvus culminatus
Pied crowCorvus albus
Common ravenCorvus corax

Waxwings

Order: PasseriformesFamily: Bombycillidae
The waxwings are a group of birds with soft silky plumage and unique red tips to some of the wing feathers. In the Bohemian and cedar waxwings, these tips look like sealing wax and give the group its name. These are arboreal birds of northern forests. They live on insects in summer and berries in winter. There is one species which occurs in India.
Common nameBinomialComments
Bohemian waxwingBombycilla garrulus

Hypocolius

Order: PasseriformesFamily: Hypocoliidae
The grey hypocolius is a small Middle Eastern bird with the shape and soft plumage of a waxwing. They are mainly a uniform grey colour except the males have a black triangular mask around their eyes.
Common nameBinomialComments
Grey hypocoliusHypocolius ampelinus

Fairy flycatchers

Order: PasseriformesFamily: Stenostiridae
Most of the species of this small family are found in Africa, though a few inhabit tropical Asia. They are not closely related to other birds called "flycatchers".
Common nameBinomialComments
Yellow-bellied fantailChelidorhynx hypoxanthus
Grey-headed canary-flycatcherCulicicapa ceylonensis

Tits and chickadees

Order: PasseriformesFamily: Paridae
The Paridae are mainly small stocky woodland species with short stout bills. Some have crests. They are adaptable birds, with a mixed diet including seeds and insects.
Common nameBinomialComments
Fire-capped titCephalopyrus flammiceps
Yellow-browed titSylviparus modestus
Sultan titMelanochlora sultanea
Rufous-naped titPeriparus rufonuchalis
Rufous-vented titPeriparus rubidiventris
Coal titPeriparus ater
Grey-crested titLophophanes dichrous
Azure titCyanistes cyanus
Ground titPseudopodoces humilis
Great titParus major
Japanese titParus minor
Cinereous titParus cinereus
Green-backed titParus monticolus
White-naped titMachlolophus nuchalis; vulnerable
Himalayan black-lored titMachlolophus xanthogenys
Indian black-lored titMachlolophus aplonotus
Yellow-cheeked titMachlolophus spilonotus

Penduline tits

Order: PasseriformesFamily: Remizidae
The penduline tits are a group of small passerine birds related to the true tits. They are insectivores. There is one species which has been recorded in India.
Common nameBinomialComments
White-crowned penduline titRemiz coronatus

Larks

Order: PasseriformesFamily: Alaudidae
Larks are small terrestrial birds with often extravagant songs and display flights. Most larks are fairly dull in appearance. Their food is insects and seeds.
Common nameBinomialComments
Greater hoopoe-larkAlaemon alaudipes
Desert larkAmmomanes deserti
Rufous-tailed larkAmmomanes phoenicura
Black-crowned sparrow-larkEremopterix nigriceps
Ashy-crowned sparrow-larkEremopterix griseus
Singing bush larkMirafra cantillans
Bengal bush larkMirafra assamica
Indian bush larkMirafra erythroptera
Jerdon's bush larkMirafra affinis
Oriental skylarkAlauda gulgula
Eurasian skylarkAlauda arvensis
Sykes's larkGalerida deva
Crested larkGalerida cristata
Malabar larkGalerida malabarica
Horned larkEremophila alpestris
Hume's short-toed larkCalandrella acutirostris
Mongolian short-toed larkCalandrella dukhunensis
Greater short-toed larkCalandrella brachydactyla
Bimaculated larkMelanocorypha bimaculata
Tibetan larkMelanocorypha maxima
Asian short-toed larkAlaudala cheleensis
Lesser short-toed larkAlaudala rufescens
Sand larkAlaudala raytal

Bulbuls

Order: PasseriformesFamily: Pycnonotidae
Bulbuls are medium-sized songbirds. Some are colourful with yellow, red or orange vents, cheeks, throats or supercilia, but most are drab, with uniform olive-brown to black plumage. Some species have distinct crests.
Common nameBinomialComments
Crested finchbillSpizixos canifrons
Striated bulbulPycnonotus striatus
Grey-headed bulbulPycnonotus priocephalus; near threatened
Black-headed bulbulPycnonotus atriceps
Andaman bulbulPycnonotus fuscoflavescens; near threatened
Black-crested bulbulPycnonotus flaviventris
Flame-throated bulbulPycnonotus gularis
Red-whiskered bulbulPycnonotus jocosus
Himalayan bulbulPycnonotus leucogenys
White-eared bulbulPycnonotus leucotis
Red-vented bulbulPycnonotus cafer
Yellow-throated bulbulPycnonotus xantholaemus; vulnerable
Flavescent bulbulPycnonotus flavescens
White-browed bulbulPycnonotus luteolus
White-throated bulbulAlophoixus flaveolus
Yellow-browed bulbulAcritillas indica
Cachar bulbulIole cacharensis
Nicobar bulbulHypsipetes nicobariensis; near threatened
Mountain bulbulIxos mcclellandii
Ashy bulbulHemixos flavala
Black bulbulHypsipetes leucocephalus
Square-tailed bulbulHypsipetes ganeesa

Swallows and martins

Order: PasseriformesFamily: Hirundinidae
The family Hirundinidae is adapted to aerial feeding. They have a slender streamlined body, long pointed wings and a short bill with a wide gape. The feet are adapted to perching rather than walking, and the front toes are partially joined at the base.
Common nameBinomialComments
Grey-throated martinRiparia chinensis
Sand martinRiparia riparia
Pale martinRiparia diluta
Barn swallowHirundo rustica
Pacific swallowHirundo tahitica
Hill swallowHirundo domicola
Wire-tailed swallowHirundo smithii
Eurasian crag martinPtyonoprogne rupestris
Dusky crag martinPtyonoprogne concolor
Common house martinDelichon urbicum
Asian house martinDelichon dasypus
Nepal house martinDelichon nipalense
Red-rumped swallowCecropis daurica
Striated swallowCecropis striolata
Streak-throated swallowPetrochelidon fluvicola

Cupwings

Order: PasseriformesFamily: Pnoepygidae
The members of this small family are found in mountainous parts of South and South East Asia.
Common nameBinomialComments
Scaly-breasted cupwingPnoepyga albiventer
Nepal cupwingPnoepyga immaculata
Pygmy cupwingPnoepyga pusilla

Cettia bush warblers and allies

Order: PasseriformesFamily: Cettiidae
Cettiidae is a family of small insectivorous songbirds. It contains the typical bush warblers and their relatives. Its members occur mainly in Asia and Africa, ranging into Oceania and Europe.
Common nameBinomialComments
Yellow-bellied warblerAbroscopus superciliaris
Rufous-faced warblerAbroscopus albogularis
Black-faced warblerAbroscopus schisticeps
Mountain tailorbirdPhyllergates cucullatus
Broad-billed warblerTickellia hodgsoni
Manchurian bush warblerHorornis borealis
Brown-flanked bush warblerHorornis fortipes
Hume's bush warblerHorornis brunnescens
Aberrant bush warblerHorornis flavolivaceus
Grey-bellied tesiaTesia cyaniventer
Slaty-bellied tesiaTesia olivea
Cetti's warblerCettia cetti
Chestnut-crowned bush warblerCettia major
Grey-sided bush warblerCettia brunnifrons
Chestnut-headed tesiaCettia castaneocoronata
Asian stubtailUrosphena squameiceps
Pale-footed bush warblerUrosphena pallidipes

Bushtits

Order: PasseriformesFamily: Aegithalidae
Long-tailed tits are a group of small passerine birds with medium to long tails. They make woven bag nests in trees. Most eat a mixed diet which includes insects.
Common nameBinomialComments
White-cheeked bushtitAegithalos leucogenys
Black-throated bushtitAegithalos concinnus
White-throated bushtitAegithalos niveogularis
Rufous-fronted bushtitAegithalos iouschistos
Black-browed bushtitAegithalos bonvaloti
Burmese bushtitAegithalos sharpei
White-browed tit-warblerLeptopoecile sophiae
Crested tit-warblerLeptopoecile elegans

Leaf warblers & allies

Order: PasseriformesFamily: Phylloscopidae
Leaf warblers are a family of small insectivorous birds found mostly in Eurasia and ranging into Wallacea and Africa. The species are of various sizes, often green-plumaged above and yellow below, or more subdued with grayish-green to grayish-brown colors.
Common nameBinomialComments
Wood warblerPhylloscopus sibilatrix
Buff-barred warblerPhylloscopus pulcher
Ashy-throated warblerPhylloscopus maculipennis
Hume's leaf warblerPhylloscopus humei
Yellow-browed warblerPhylloscopus inornatus
Brooks's leaf warblerPhylloscopus subviridis
Chinese leaf warblerPhylloscopus yunnanensis
Lemon-rumped warblerPhylloscopus chloronotus
Tytler's leaf warblerPhylloscopus tytleriNear threatened
Sulphur-bellied warblerPhylloscopus griseolus
Tickell's leaf warblerPhylloscopus affinis
Smoky warblerPhylloscopus fuligiventer
Dusky warblerPhylloscopus fuscatus
Plain leaf warblerPhylloscopus neglectus
Buff-throated warblerPhylloscopus subaffinis
Mountain chiffchaffPhylloscopus sindianus
Common chiffchaffPhylloscopus collybita
White-spectacled warblerPhylloscopus intermedius
Grey-cheeked warblerPhylloscopus poliogenys
Green-crowned warblerPhylloscopus burkii
Grey-crowned warblerPhylloscopus tephrocephalus
Whistler's warblerPhylloscopus whistleri
Bianchi's warblerPhylloscopus valentini
Green warblerPhylloscopus nitidus
Two-barred warblerPhylloscopus plumbeitarsus
Greenish warblerPhylloscopus trochiloides
Large-billed leaf warblerPhylloscopus magnirostris
Pale-legged leaf warblerPhylloscopus tenellipes
Arctic warblerPhylloscopus borealis
Chestnut-crowned warblerPhylloscopus castaniceps
Yellow-vented warblerPhylloscopus cantator
Western crowned leaf warblerPhylloscopus occipitalis
Blyth's leaf warblerPhylloscopus reguloides
Claudia's leaf warblerPhylloscopus claudiae
Grey-hooded warblerPhylloscopus xanthoschistos

Reed warblers, Grauer’s warbler, & allies

Order: PasseriformesFamily: Acrocephalidae
The members of this family are usually rather large for "warblers". Most are rather plain olivaceous brown above with much yellow to beige below. They are usually found in open woodland, reedbeds, or tall grass. The family occurs mostly in southern to western Eurasia and surroundings, but it also ranges far into the Pacific, with some species in Africa.
Common nameBinomialComments
Great reed warblerAcrocephalus arundinaceus
Oriental reed warblerAcrocephalus orientalis
Clamorous reed warblerAcrocephalus stentoreus
Black-browed reed warblerAcrocephalus bistrigiceps
Moustached warblerAcrocephalus melanopogon
Sedge warblerAcrocephalus schoenobaenus
Blunt-winged warblerAcrocephalus concinens
Large-billed reed warblerAcrocephalus orinus
Paddyfield warblerAcrocephalus agricola
Blyth's reed warblerAcrocephalus dumetorum
Thick-billed warblerArundinax aedon
Booted warblerIduna caligata
Sykes's warblerIduna rama

Grassbirds & allies

Order: PasseriformesFamily: Locustellidae
Locustellidae are a family of small insectivorous songbirds found mainly in Eurasia, Africa, and the Australian region. They are smallish birds with tails that are usually long and pointed, and tend to be drab brownish or buffy all over.
Common nameBinomialComments
Pallas's grasshopper warblerHelopsaltes certhiola
Lanceolated warblerLocustella lanceolata
Brown bush warblerLocustella luteoventris
Long-billed bush warblerLocustella majorNear threatened
Common grasshopper warblerLocustella naevia
Chinese bush warblerLocustella tacsanowskia
Baikal bush warblerLocustella davidi
Spotted bush warblerLocustella thoracica
West Himalayan bush warblerLocustella kashmirensis
Russet bush warblerLocustella mandelli
Striated grassbirdMegalurus palustris
Broad-tailed grassbirdSchoenicola platyurus; vulnerable
Bristled grassbirdSchoenicola striatusVulnerable

Cisticolas and allies

Order: PasseriformesFamily: Cisticolidae
The Cisticolidae are warblers found mainly in warmer southern regions of the Old World. They are generally very small birds of drab brown or grey appearance found in open country such as grassland or scrub.
Common nameBinomialComments
Zitting cisticolaCisticola juncidis
Golden-headed cisticolaCisticola exilis
Himalayan priniaPrinia crinigera
Swinhoe's priniaPrinia striata
Black-throated priniaPrinia atrogularis
Hill priniaPrinia superciliaris
Grey-crowned priniaPrinia cinereocapilla
Rufous-fronted priniaPrinia buchanani
Rufescent priniaPrinia rufescens
Grey-breasted priniaPrinia hodgsonii
Graceful priniaPrinia gracilis
Jungle priniaPrinia sylvatica
Yellow-bellied priniaPrinia flaviventris
Ashy priniaPrinia socialis
Plain priniaPrinia inornata
Common tailorbirdOrthotomus sutorius
Dark-necked tailorbirdOrthotomus atrogularis

Babblers and scimitar babblers

Order: PasseriformesFamily: Timaliidae
The babblers, or timaliids, are somewhat diverse in size and colouration, but are characterised by soft fluffy plumage.
Common nameBinomialComments
Large scimitar babblerPomatorhinus hypoleucos
Rusty-cheeked scimitar babblerPomatorhinus erythrogenys
Spot-breasted scimitar babblerPomatorhinus mcclellandi
Indian scimitar babblerPomatorhinus horsfieldii
White-browed scimitar babblerPomatorhinus schisticeps
Streak-breasted scimitar babblerPomatorhinus ruficollis
Red-billed scimitar babblerPomatorhinus ochraceiceps
Coral-billed scimitar babblerPomatorhinus ferruginosus
Slender-billed scimitar babblerPomatorhinus superciliaris
Rufous-throated wren-babblerSpelaeornis caudatus
Rusty-throated wren-babblerSpelaeornis badeigularis
Bar-winged wren-babblerSpelaeornis troglodytoides
Naga wren-babblerSpelaeornis chocolatinus
Grey-bellied wren-babblerSpelaeornis reptatus
Chin Hills wren-babblerSpelaeornis oatesi
Tawny-breasted wren-babblerSpelaeornis longicaudatus
Sikkim wedge-billed babblerSphenocichla humei
Cachar wedge-billed babblerSphenocichla roberti
Grey-throated babblerStachyris nigriceps
Snowy-throated babblerStachyris oglei
Buff-chested babblerStachyridopsis ambigua
Rufous-capped babblerStachyridopsis ruficeps
Black-chinned babblerStachyridopsis pyrrhops
Golden babblerStachyridopsis chrysaea
Tawny-bellied babblerDumetia hyperythra
Dark-fronted babblerRhopocichla atriceps
Pin-striped tit-babblerMacronus gularis
Chestnut-capped babblerTimalia pileata

Fulvettas and ground babblers

Order: PasseriformesFamily: Pellorneidae
These small to medium-sized songbirds have soft fluffy plumage but are otherwise rather diverse. Members of the genus Illadopsis are found in forests, but some other genera are birds of scrublands.
Common nameBinomialComments
Rufous-vented grass babblerLaticilla burnesii
Swamp grass babblerLaticilla cinerascens
Yellow-throated fulvettaAlcippe cinerea
Rufous-winged fulvettaAlcippe castaneceps
Rufous-throated fulvettaAlcippe rufogularis
Rusty-capped fulvettaAlcippe dubia
Brown-cheeked fulvettaAlcippe poioicephala
Nepal fulvettaAlcippe nipalensis
Streaked wren-babblerNapothera brevicaudata
Eyebrowed wren-babblerNapothera epilepidota
White-hooded babblerGampsorhynchus rufulus
Long-billed wren-babblerRimator malacoptilus
Abbott's babblerMalacocincla abbotti
Indian grassbirdGraminicola bengalensis
Spot-throated babblerPellorneum albiventre
Marsh babblerPellorneum palustre
Puff-throated babblerPellorneum ruficeps
Buff-breasted babblerPellorneum tickelli

Turdoides babblers, laughingthrushes, barwings, and sibias

Order: PasseriformesFamily: Leiothrichidae
The members of this family are diverse in size and colouration, though those of genus Turdoides tend to be brown or greyish. The family is found in Africa, India, and southeast Asia.
Common nameBinomialComments
Striated laughingthrushGrammatoptila striatus
Himalayan cutiaCutia nipalensis
Brown-capped laughingthrushTrochalopteron austeni
Scaly laughingthrushTrochalopteron subunicolor
Streaked laughingthrushTrochalopteron lineatum
Striped laughingthrushTrochalopteron virgatum
Blue-winged laughingthrushTrochalopteron squamatum
Variegated laughingthrushTrochalopteron variegatum
Black-faced laughingthrushTrochalopteron affine
Elliot's laughingthrushTrochalopteron elliotii
Chestnut-crowned laughingthrushTrochalopteron erythrocephalum
Bhutan laughingthrushTrochalopteron imbricatum
Assam laughingthrushTrochalopteron chrysopterum
Bar-throated minlaActinodura strigula
Rusty-fronted barwingActinodura egertoni
Blue-winged minlaActinodura cyanouroptera
Hoary-throated barwingActinodura nipalensis
Streak-throated barwingActinodura waldeni
Nilgiri laughingthrushMontecincla cachinnans
Banasura laughingthrushMontecincla jerdoni
Palani laughingthrushMontecincla fairbanki
Ashambu laughingthrushMontecincla meridionalis
Red-tailed minlaMinla ignotincta
Rufous-backed sibiaLeioptila annectens
Red-billed leiothrixLeiothrix lutea
Silver-eared mesiaLeiothrix argentauris
Red-faced liocichlaLiocichla phoenicea
Bugun liocichlaLiocichla bugunorum
Grey sibiaHeterophasia gracilis
Beautiful sibiaHeterophasia pulchella
Rufous sibiaHeterophasia capistrata
Long-tailed sibiaHeterophasia picaoides
Large grey babblerArgya malcolmi
Striated babblerArgya earlei
Common babblerArgya caudata
Yellow-billed babblerArgya affinis
Jungle babblerArgya striata
Slender-billed babblerArgya longirostris
Rufous babblerArgya subrufa
Lesser necklaced laughingthrushGarrulax monileger
White-crested laughingthrushGarrulax leucolophus
Spot-breasted laughingthrushGarrulax merulinus
Spotted laughingthrushIanthocincla ocellata
Moustached laughingthrushIanthocincla cineracea
Rufous-chinned laughingthrushIanthocincla rufogularis
Rufous-necked laughingthrushPterorhinus ruficollis
Chestnut-backed laughingthrushPterorhinus nuchalis
Yellow-throated laughingthrushPterorhinus galbanus
Rufous-vented laughingthrushPterorhinus gularis
Wynaad laughingthrushPterorhinus delesserti
White-throated laughingthrushPterorhinus albogularis
Greater necklaced laughingthrushPterorhinus pectoralis
Grey-sided laughingthrushPterorhinus caerulatus
Chinese babaxPterorhinus lanceolatus
Mount Victoria babaxPterorhinus woodi
White-browed laughingthrushPterorhinus sannio

Sylviid babblers, parrotbills, and Myzornis

Order: PasseriformesFamily: Sylviidae
The family Sylviidae is a group of small insectivorous passerine birds. They mainly occur as breeding species, as the common name implies, in Europe, Asia and, to a lesser extent, Africa. Many species are difficult to identify by appearance, but many have distinctive songs.
Common nameBinomialComments
Fire-tailed myzornisMyzornis pyrrhoura
Garden warblerSylvia borin
Barred warblerSylvia nisoria
Lesser whitethroatSylvia curruca
Desert whitethroatSylvia minula
Hume's whitethroatSylvia althaea
Eastern Orphean warblerSylvia crassirostris
Asian desert warblerSylvia nana
Common whitethroatSylvia communis
Golden-breasted fulvettaLioparus chrysotis
White-browed fulvettaFulvetta vinipectus
Brown-throated fulvettaFulvetta ludlowi
Manipur fulvettaFulvetta manipurensis
Yellow-eyed babblerChrysomma sinense
Jerdon's babblerChrysomma altirostreVulnerable
Great parrotbillConostoma aemodium
Brown parrotbillCholornis unicolor
Fulvous parrotbillSuthora fulvifrons
Black-throated parrotbillSuthora nipalensis
Pale-billed parrotbillChleuasicus atrosuperciliaris
White-breasted parrotbillPsittiparus ruficeps
Rufous-headed parrotbillPsittiparus bakeri
Grey-headed parrotbillPsittiparus gularis
Black-breasted parrotbillParadoxornis flavirostrisVulnerable
Spot-breasted parrotbillParadoxornis guttaticollis

White-eyes

Order: PasseriformesFamily: Zosteropidae
The white-eyes are small and mostly undistinguished, their plumage above being generally some dull colour like greenish-olive, but some species have a white or bright yellow throat, breast or lower parts, and several have buff flanks. As their name suggests, many species have a white ring around each eye.
Common nameBinomialComments
Striated yuhinaYuhina castaniceps
White-naped yuhinaYuhina bakeri
Whiskered yuhinaYuhina flavicollis
Stripe-throated yuhinaYuhina gularis
Rufous-vented yuhinaYuhina occipitalis
Black-chinned yuhinaYuhina nigrimenta
Chestnut-flanked white-eyeZosterops erythropleurus
Indian white-eyeZosterops palpebrosus

Fairy-bluebirds

Order: PasseriformesFamily: Irenidae
The fairy-bluebirds are bulbul-like birds of open forest or thorn scrub. The males are dark-blue and the females a duller green. There is one species which occurs in India.
Common nameBinomialComments
Asian fairy-bluebirdIrena puella

Goldcrests and kinglets

Order: PasseriformesFamily: Regulidae
The kinglets, also called crests, are a small group of birds often included in the Old World warblers, but frequently given family status because they also resemble the titmice. There is one species which occurs in India.

Elachura

Order: PasseriformesFamily: Elachuridae
This species, the only one in its family, inhabits forest undergrowth throughout South East Asia.
Common nameBinomialComments
Spotted elachuraElachura formosa

Wrens

Order: PasseriformesFamily: Troglodytidae
The wrens are mainly small and inconspicuous except for their loud songs. These birds have short wings and thin down-turned bills. Several species often hold their tails upright. All are insectivorous. There is one species which occurs in India.
Common nameBinomialComments
Eurasian wrenTroglodytes troglodytes

Nuthatches

Order: PasseriformesFamily: Sittidae
Nuthatches are small woodland birds. They have the unusual ability to climb down trees head first, unlike other birds which can only go upwards. Nuthatches have big heads, short tails and powerful bills and feet.
Common nameBinomialComments
Chestnut-vented nuthatchSitta nagaensis
Kashmir nuthatchSitta cashmirensis
Indian nuthatchSitta castanea
Chestnut-bellied nuthatchSitta cinnamoventris
White-tailed nuthatchSitta himalayensis
Yunnan nuthatchSitta yunnanensis
White-cheeked nuthatchSitta leucopsis
Przevalski's nuthatchSitta przewalskii
Velvet-fronted nuthatchSitta frontalis
Beautiful nuthatchSitta formosa

Wallcreeper

Order: PasseriformesFamily: Tichodromidae
The wallcreeper is a small bird related to the nuthatch family, which has stunning crimson, grey and black plumage.
Common nameBinomialComments
WallcreeperTichodroma muraria

Treecreepers

Order: PasseriformesFamily: Certhiidae
Treecreepers are small woodland birds, brown above and white below. They have thin pointed down-curved bills, which they use to extricate insects from bark. They have stiff tail feathers, like woodpeckers, which they use to support themselves on vertical trees.
Common nameBinomialComments
Hodgson's treecreeperCerthia hodgsoni
Bar-tailed treecreeperCerthia himalayana
Rusty-flanked treecreeperCerthia nipalensis
Sikkim treecreeperCerthia discolor
Hume's treecreeperCerthia manipurensis
Indian spotted creeperSalpornis spilonota

Starlings and Rhabdornis

Order: PasseriformesFamily: Sturnidae
Starlings are small to medium-sized passerine birds. Their flight is strong and direct and they are very gregarious. Their preferred habitat is fairly open country. They eat insects and fruit. Plumage is typically dark with a metallic sheen.
Common nameBinomialComments
Asian glossy starlingAplonis panayensis
Spot-winged starlingSaroglossa spilopterus
Golden-crested mynaAmpeliceps coronatus
Common hill mynaGracula religiosa
Southern hill mynaGracula indica
Great mynaAcridotheres grandis
Jungle mynaAcridotheres fuscus
Collared mynaAcridotheres albocinctus
Bank mynaAcridotheres ginginianus
Common mynaAcridotheres tristis
White-cheeked starlingSpodiopsar cineraceus
Pied mynaGracupica contra
Daurian starlingAgropsar sturninus
Chestnut-cheeked starlingAgropsar philippensis
Chestnut-tailed starlingSturnia malabarica
White-headed starlingSturnia erythropygia
Malabar starlingSturnia blythii
Brahminy starlingSturnia pagodarum
Rosy starlingPastor roseus
Common starlingSturnus vulgaris

Thrushes

Order: PasseriformesFamily: Turdidae
The thrushes are a group of passerine birds that occur mainly in the Old World. They are plump, soft plumaged, small to medium-sized insectivores or sometimes omnivores, often feeding on the ground. Many have attractive songs.
Common nameBinomialComments
Pied thrushGeokichla wardii
Orange-headed thrushGeokichla citrina
Siberian thrushGeokichla sibirica
Alpine thrushZoothera mollissima
Himalayan thrushZoothera salimalii
Long-tailed thrushZoothera dixoni
Scaly thrushZoothera dauma
Nilgiri thrushZoothera neilgherriensis
Long-billed thrushZoothera monticola
Dark-sided thrushZoothera marginata
GrandalaGrandala coelicolor
Tickell's thrushTurdus unicolor
Black-breasted thrushTurdus dissimilis
White-collared blackbirdTurdus albocinctus
Grey-winged blackbirdTurdus boulboul
Tibetan blackbirdTurdus maximus
Indian blackbirdTurdus simillimus
Chestnut thrushTurdus rubrocanus
Kessler's thrushTurdus kessleri
Grey-sided thrushTurdus feae
Eyebrowed thrushTurdus obscurus
Black-throated thrushTurdus atrogularis
Red-throated thrushTurdus ruficollis
Naumann's thrushTurdus naumanni
Dusky thrushTurdus euonomus
FieldfareTurdus pilaris
Song thrushTurdus philomelos
Chinese thrushTurdus mupinensis
Mistle thrushTurdus viscivorus
Purple cochoaCochoa purpurea
Green cochoaCochoa viridis

Chats and Old World flycatchers

Order: PasseriformesFamily: Muscicapidae
Old World flycatchers are a large group of small passerine birds native to the Old World. They are mainly small arboreal insectivores. The appearance of these birds is highly varied, but they mostly have weak songs and harsh calls.
Common nameBinomialComments
Rufous-tailed scrub robinCercotrichas galactotes
Indian robinCopsychus fulicatus
Oriental magpie-robinCopsychus saularis
White-rumped shamaCopsychus malabaricus
Andaman shamaCopsychus albiventris
White-crowned shamaCopsychus stricklandii
Spotted flycatcherMuscicapa striata
Dark-sided flycatcherMuscicapa sibirica
Asian brown flycatcherMuscicapa dauurica
Brown-breasted flycatcherMuscicapa muttui
Ferruginous flycatcherMuscicapa ferruginea
White-gorgeted flycatcherAnthipes monileger
Pale blue flycatcherCyornis unicolor
White-bellied blue flycatcherCyornis pallidipes
Pale-chinned blue flycatcherCyornis poliogenys
Hill blue flycatcherCyornis banyumas
Large blue flycatcherCyornis magnirostris
Tickell's blue flycatcherCyornis tickelliae
Blue-throated flycatcherCyornis rubeculoides
White-tailed flycatcherCyornis concretus
Nicobar jungle flycatcherCyornis nicobaricus
Rufous-bellied niltavaNiltava sundara
Vivid niltavaNiltava vivida
Large niltavaNiltava grandis
Small niltavaNiltava macgrigoriae
Blue-and-white flycatcherCyanoptila cyanomelana
Zappey's flycatcherCyanoptila cumatilis
Verditer flycatcherEumyias thalassinus
Nilgiri flycatcherEumyias albicaudatus
Gould's shortwingHeteroxenicus stellatus
Rusty-bellied shortwingBrachypteryx hyperythra
Lesser shortwingBrachypteryx leucophris
Himalayan shortwingBrachypteryx cruralis
Indian blue robinLarvivora brunnea
Siberian blue robinLarvivora cyane
BluethroatLuscinia svecica
White-bellied redstartLuscinia phoenicuroides
Himalayan rubythroatCalliope pectoralis
Chinese rubythroatCalliope tschebaiewi
Siberian rubythroatCalliope calliope
FirethroatCalliope pectardens
White-tailed robinMyiomela leucura
Nilgiri blue robinSholicola major
White-bellied blue robinSholicola albiventris
White-browed bush robinTarsiger indicus
Rufous-breasted bush robinTarsiger hyperythrus
Red-flanked bluetailTarsiger cyanurus
Himalayan bluetailTarsiger rufilatus
Golden bush robinTarsiger chrysaeus
Little forktailEnicurus scouleri
Black-backed forktailEnicurus immaculatus
Slaty-backed forktailEnicurus schistaceus
White-crowned forktailEnicurus leschenaulti
Spotted forktailEnicurus maculatus
Malabar whistling thrushMyophonus horsfieldii
Blue whistling thrushMyophonus caeruleus
Blue-fronted robinCinclidium frontale
Rusty-tailed flycatcherFicedula ruficauda
Yellow-rumped flycatcherFicedula zanthopygia
Mugimaki flycatcherFicedula mugimaki
Slaty-backed flycatcherFicedula erithacus
Rufous-gorgeted flycatcherFicedula strophiata
Red-breasted flycatcherFicedula parva
Taiga flycatcherFicedula albicilla
Kashmir flycatcherFicedula subrubra
Snowy-browed flycatcherFicedula hyperythra
Little pied flycatcherFicedula westermanni
Ultramarine flycatcherFicedula superciliaris
Slaty-blue flycatcherFicedula tricolor
Sapphire flycatcherFicedula sapphira
Black-and-orange flycatcherFicedula nigrorufa
Pygmy flycatcherMuscicapella hodgsoni
Eversmann's redstartPhoenicurus erythronotus
Blue-capped redstartPhoenicurus coeruleocephala
Black redstartPhoenicurus ochruros
Common redstartPhoenicurus phoenicurus
Hodgson's redstartPhoenicurus hodgsoni
White-throated redstartPhoenicurus schisticeps
Daurian redstartPhoenicurus auroreus
Güldenstädt's redstartPhoenicurus erythrogastrus
Blue-fronted redstartPhoenicurus frontalis
Plumbeous water redstartPhoenicurus fuliginosus
White-capped redstartPhoenicurus leucocephalus
Common rock thrushMonticola saxatilis
Blue rock thrushMonticola solitarius
Chestnut-bellied rock thrushMonticola rufiventris
Blue-capped rock thrushMonticola cinclorhyncha
White-browed bush chatSaxicola macrorhynchus
White-throated bush chatSaxicola insignis
Siberian stonechatSaxicola maurus
Stejneger's stonechatSaxicola stejnegeri
White-tailed stonechatSaxicola leucurus
Pied bush chatSaxicola caprata
Jerdon's bush chatSaxicola jerdoni
Grey bush chatSaxicola ferreus
Northern wheatearOenanthe oenanthe
Isabelline wheatearOenanthe isabellina
Desert wheatearOenanthe deserti
Pied wheatearOenanthe pleschanka
Brown rock chatOenanthe fusca
Variable wheatearOenanthe picata
Hume's wheatearOenanthe albonigra
Finsch's wheatearOenanthe finschii
Red-tailed wheatearOenanthe chrysopygia

Dippers

Order: PasseriformesFamily: Cinclidae
Dippers are a group of perching birds whose habitat includes aquatic environments in the Americas, Europe and Asia. They are named for their bobbing or dipping movements. There are two species which have been recorded in India.
Common nameBinomialComments
White-throated dipperCinclus cinclus
Brown dipperCinclus pallasii

Leafbirds

Order: PasseriformesFamily: Chloropseidae
The leafbirds are small, bulbul-like birds. The males are brightly plumaged, usually in greens and yellows.
Common nameBinomialComments
Jerdon's leafbirdChloropsis jerdoni
Golden-fronted leafbirdChloropsis aurifrons
Orange-bellied leafbirdChloropsis hardwickii

Flowerpeckers

Order: PasseriformesFamily: Dicaeidae
The flowerpeckers are very small, stout, often brightly coloured birds, with short tails, short thick curved bills and tubular tongues.
Common nameBinomialComments
Thick-billed flowerpeckerDicaeum agile
Yellow-vented flowerpeckerDicaeum chrysorrheum
Yellow-bellied flowerpeckerDicaeum melanozanthum
Pale-billed flowerpeckerDicaeum erythrorhynchos
Nilgiri flowerpeckerDicaeum concolor
Plain flowerpeckerDicaeum minullum
Andaman flowerpeckerDicaeum virescens
Fire-breasted flowerpeckerDicaeum ignipectus
Scarlet-backed flowerpeckerDicaeum cruentatum

Sunbirds

Order: PasseriformesFamily: Nectariniidae
The sunbirds and spiderhunters are very small passerine birds which feed largely on nectar, although they will also take insects, especially when feeding young. Flight is fast and direct on their short wings. Most species can take nectar by hovering like a hummingbird, but usually perch to feed.
Common nameBinomialComments
Ruby-cheeked sunbirdChalcoparia singalensis
Purple-rumped sunbirdLeptocoma zeylonica
Crimson-backed sunbirdLeptocoma minima
Van Hasselt's sunbirdLeptocoma brasiliana
Purple sunbirdCinnyris asiaticus
Olive-backed sunbirdCinnyris jugularis
Loten's sunbirdCinnyris lotenius
Mrs. Gould's sunbirdAethopyga gouldiae
Green-tailed sunbirdAethopyga nipalensis
Black-throated sunbirdAethopyga saturata
Crimson sunbirdAethopyga siparaja
Vigors's sunbirdAethopyga vigorsii
Fire-tailed sunbirdAethopyga ignicauda
Little spiderhunterArachnothera longirostra
Streaked spiderhunterArachnothera magna

Old World sparrows and snowfinches

Order: PasseriformesFamily: Passeridae
Sparrows are small passerine birds. In general, sparrows tend to be small, plump, brown or grey birds with short tails and short powerful beaks. Sparrows are seed eaters, but they also consume small insects.
Common nameBinomialComments
House sparrowPasser domesticus
Spanish sparrowPasser hispaniolensis
Sind sparrowPasser pyrrhonotus
Russet sparrowPasser cinnamomeus
Eurasian tree sparrowPasser montanus
Pale rockfinchCarpospiza brachydactyla
Rock sparrowPetronia petronia
Yellow-throated sparrowGymnoris xanthocollis
Black-winged snowfinchMontifringilla adamsi
White-rumped snowfinchOnychostruthus taczanowskii
Rufous-necked snowfinchPyrgilauda ruficollis
Blanford's snowfinchPyrgilauda blanfordi

Weavers and widowbirds

Order: PasseriformesFamily: Ploceidae
The weavers are small passerine birds related to the finches. They are seed-eating birds with rounded conical bills. The males of many species are brightly coloured, usually in red or yellow and black, some species show variation in colour only in the breeding season. There are four species which have been recorded in India.
Common nameBinomialComments
Black-breasted weaverPloceus benghalensis
Streaked weaverPloceus manyar
Baya weaverPloceus philippinus
Finn's weaverPloceus megarhynchus

Waxbills, munias, and allies

Order: PasseriformesFamily: Estrildidae
The estrildid finches are small passerine birds of the Old World tropics and Australasia. They are gregarious and often colonial seed eaters with short thick but pointed bills. They are all similar in structure and habits, but have wide variation in plumage colours and patterns.
Common nameBinomialComments
Red avadavatAmandava amandava
Green avadavatAmandava formosa
Indian silverbillEuodice malabarica
White-rumped muniaLonchura striata
Scaly-breasted muniaLonchura punctulata
Black-throated muniaLonchura kelaarti
Tricoloured muniaLonchura malacca
Chestnut muniaLonchura atricapilla

Accentors

Order: PasseriformesFamily: Prunellidae
The accentors are in the only bird family, Prunellidae, which is completely endemic to the Palearctic. They are small, fairly drab species superficially similar to sparrows. There are seven species which have been recorded in India.
Common nameBinomialComments
Alpine accentorPrunella collaris
Altai accentorPrunella himalayana
Robin accentorPrunella rubeculoides
Rufous-breasted accentorPrunella strophiata
Brown accentorPrunella fulvescens
Black-throated accentorPrunella atrogularis
Maroon-backed accentorPrunella immaculata

Wagtails and pipits

Order: PasseriformesFamily: Motacillidae
Motacillidae is a family of small passerine birds with medium to long tails. They include the wagtails, longclaws and pipits. They are slender, ground feeding insectivores of open country. There are 20 species which have been recorded in India.
Common nameBinomialComments
Forest wagtailDendronanthus indicus
Western yellow wagtailMotacilla flava
Eastern yellow wagtailMotacilla tschutschensis
Citrine wagtailMotacilla citreola
Grey wagtailMotacilla cinerea
White wagtailMotacilla alba
White-browed wagtailMotacilla maderaspatensis
Richard's pipitAnthus richardi
Paddyfield pipitAnthus rufulus
Blyth's pipitAnthus godlewskii
Tawny pipitAnthus campestris
Long-billed pipitAnthus similis
Tree pipitAnthus trivialis
Olive-backed pipitAnthus hodgsoni
Rosy pipitAnthus roseatus
Red-throated pipitAnthus cervinus
Buff-bellied pipitAnthus rubescens
Water pipitAnthus spinoletta
Nilgiri pipitAnthus nilghiriensis
Upland pipitAnthus sylvanus

Finches and euphonias

Order: PasseriformesFamily: Fringillidae
Finches are seed-eating passerine birds, that are small to moderately large and have a strong beak, usually conical and in some species very large. All have twelve tail feathers and nine primaries. These birds have a bouncing flight with alternating bouts of flapping and gliding on closed wings, and most sing well. There are 44 species which have been recorded in India.
Common nameBinomialComments
Common chaffinchFringilla coelebs
BramblingFringilla montifringilla
Black-and-yellow grosbeakMycerobas icterioides
Collared grosbeakMycerobas affinis
Spot-winged grosbeakMycerobas melanozanthos
White-winged grosbeakMycerobas carnipes
HawfinchCoccothraustes coccothraustes
Brown bullfinchPyrrhula nipalensis
Orange bullfinchPyrrhula aurantiaca
Red-headed bullfinchPyrrhula erythrocephala
Grey-headed bullfinchPyrrhula erythaca
Asian crimson-winged finchRhodopechys sanguineus
Trumpeter finchBucanetes githaginea
Mongolian finchBucanetes mongolicus
Blanford's rosefinchAgraphospiza rubescens
Spectacled finchCallacanthis burtoni
Golden-naped finchPyrrhoplectes epauletta
Dark-breasted rosefinchProcarduelis nipalensis
Plain mountain finchLeucosticte nemoricola
Brandt's mountain finchLeucosticte brandti
Common rosefinchCarpodacus erythrinus
Scarlet finchCarpodacus sipahi
Streaked rosefinchCarpodacus rubicilloides
Great rosefinchCarpodacus rubicilla
Blyth's rosefinchCarpodacus grandis
Himalayan beautiful rosefinchCarpodacus pulcherrimus
Pink-rumped rosefinchCarpodacus waltoni
Pink-browed rosefinchCarpodacus rodochroa
Dark-rumped rosefinchCarpodacus edwardsii
Spot-winged rosefinchCarpodacus rodopeplus
Vinaceous rosefinchCarpodacus vinaceus
Pale rosefinchCarpodacus stoliczkae
Himalayan white-browed rosefinchCarpodacus thura
Chinese white-browed rosefinchCarpodacus dubius
Red-fronted rosefinchCarpodacus puniceus
Crimson-browed finchCarpodacus subhimachalus
European greenfinchChloris chloris
Yellow-breasted greenfinchChloris spinoides
Black-headed greenfinchChloris ambigua
Desert finchRhodospiza obsoleta
TwiteLinaria flavirostris
Common linnetLinaria cannabina
Red crossbillLoxia curvirostra
European goldfinchCarduelis carduelis
Red-fronted serinSerinus pusillus
Tibetan serinSpinus thibetanus
Eurasian siskinSpinus spinus

Buntings

Order: PasseriformesFamily: Emberizidae
The emberizids are a large family of passerine birds. They are seed-eating birds with distinctively shaped bills. Many emberizid species have distinctive head patterns.
Common nameBinomialComments
Crested buntingEmberiza lathami
YellowhammerEmberiza citrinella
Pine buntingEmberiza leucocephalos
Rock buntingEmberiza cia
Godlewski's buntingEmberiza godlewskii
White-capped buntingEmberiza stewarti
Grey-necked buntingEmberiza buchanani
Ortolan buntingEmberiza hortulana
Striolated buntingEmberiza striolata
Tristram's buntingEmberiza tristrami
Chestnut-eared buntingEmberiza fucata
Little buntingEmberiza pusilla
Yellow-browed buntingEmberiza chrysophrys
Rustic buntingEmberiza rustica
Yellow-breasted buntingEmberiza aureola
Chestnut buntingEmberiza rutila
Black-headed buntingEmberiza melanocephala
Red-headed buntingEmberiza bruniceps
Black-faced buntingEmberiza spodocephala
Common reed buntingEmberiza schoeniclus