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.
- Accidental - Also known as a rarity, it refers to a species that rarely or accidentally occurs in India-typically less than ten confirmed records.
- Endemic - a species endemic to India
- Extirpated - a species that no longer occurs in India although populations exist elsewhere
Ducks, geese and swans
Order: AnseriformesFamily: AnatidaeAnatidae 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 name | Binomial | Comments |
Fulvous whistling duck | Dendrocygna bicolor | |
Lesser whistling duck | Dendrocygna javanica | |
Red-breasted goose | Branta ruficollis | ; vulnerable |
Bar-headed goose | Anser indicus | |
Greylag goose | Anser anser | |
Taiga bean-goose | Anser fabalis | |
Tundra bean-goose | Anser serrirostris | ; by some authorities considered a variety of Anser fabalis |
Greater white-fronted goose | Anser albifrons | |
Lesser white-fronted goose | Anser erythropus | ; vulnerable |
Mute swan | Cygnus olor | |
Tundra swan | Cygnus columbianus | ; race bewickii sometimes treated as a species |
Whooper swan | Cygnus cygnus | |
Knob-billed duck | Sarkidiornis melanotos | |
Common shelduck | Tadorna tadorna | |
Ruddy shelduck | Tadorna ferruginea | |
White-winged duck | Asarcornis scutulata | Endangered |
Mandarin duck | Aix galericulata | |
Cotton pygmy-goose | Nettapus coromandelianus | |
Baikal teal | Sibirionetta formosa | |
Garganey | Spatula querquedula | |
Northern shoveler | Spatula clypeata | |
Gadwall | Mareca strepera | |
Falcated duck | Mareca falcata | Near-threatened |
Eurasian wigeon | Mareca penelope | |
Indian spot-billed duck | Anas poecilorhyncha | |
Eastern spot-billed duck | Anas zonorhyncha | |
Mallard | Anas platyrhynchos | |
Northern pintail | Anas acuta | |
Eurasian teal | Anas crecca | |
Andaman teal | Anas albogularis | ; vulnerable |
Marbled duck | Marmaronetta angustirostris | Vulnerable |
Pink-headed duck | Netta caryophyllacea | ; critically endangered |
Red-crested pochard | Netta rufina | |
Common pochard | Aythya ferina | Vulnerable |
Baer's pochard | Aythya baeri | Critically endangered |
Ferruginous duck | Aythya nyroca | Near-threatened |
Tufted duck | Aythya fuligula | |
Greater scaup | Aythya marila | |
Long-tailed duck | Clangula hyemalis | ; vulnerable |
Common goldeneye | Bucephala clangula | |
Smew | Mergellus albellus | |
Common merganser | Mergus merganser | |
Red-breasted merganser | Mergus serrator | |
White-headed duck | Oxyura leucocephala | Endangered |
Megapodes
Order: GalliformesFamily: MegapodiidaeThe 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 name | Binomial | Status |
Nicobar scrubfowl | Megapodius nicobariensis | ; vulnerable |
Pheasants and allies
Order: GalliformesFamily: PhasianidaeThe 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 name | Binomial | Comments |
Snow partridge | Lerwa lerwa | |
Himalayan snowcock | Tetraogallus himalayensis | |
Tibetan snowcock | Tetraogallus tibetanus | |
Chukar partridge | Alectoris chukar | |
Black francolin | Francolinus francolinus | |
Painted francolin | Francolinus pictus | |
Chinese francolin | Francolinus pintadeanus | |
Grey francolin | Francolinus pondicerianus | |
Swamp francolin | Francolinus gularis | Vulnerable |
Tibetan partridge | Perdix hodgsoniae | |
Common quail | Coturnix coturnix | |
Japanese quail | Coturnix japonica | Near-threatened |
Rain quail | Coturnix coromandelica | |
King quail | Excalfactoria chinensis | |
Jungle bush quail | Perdicula asiatica | |
Rock bush quail | Perdicula argoondah | |
Painted bush quail | Perdicula erythrorhyncha | |
Manipur bush quail | Perdicula manipurensis | ; endangered |
Himalayan quail | Ophrysia superciliosa | ; critically endangered |
Hill partridge | Arborophila torqueola | |
Rufous-throated partridge | Arborophila rufogularis | |
White-cheeked partridge | Arborophila atrogularis | Near-threatened |
Chestnut-breasted partridge | Arborophila mandellii | Vulnerable |
Mountain bamboo partridge | Bambusicola fytchii | |
Red spurfowl | Galloperdix spadicea | |
Painted spurfowl | Galloperdix lunulata | |
Blood pheasant | Ithaginis cruentus | |
Western tragopan | Tragopan melanocephalus | Vulnerable |
Satyr tragopan | Tragopan satyra | Near-threatened |
Blyth's tragopan | Tragopan blythii | Vulnerable |
Temminck's tragopan | Tragopan temminckii | |
Koklass pheasant | Pucrasia macrolopha | |
Himalayan monal | Lophophorus impejanus | |
Sclater's monal | Lophophorus sclateri | Vulnerable |
Red junglefowl | Gallus gallus | |
Grey junglefowl | Gallus sonneratii | |
Kalij pheasant | Lophura leucomelanos | |
Cheer pheasant | Catreus wallichii | Vulnerable |
Mrs. Hume's pheasant | Syrmaticus humiae | Near-threatened |
Tibetan eared pheasant | Crossoptilon harmani | |
Grey peacock-pheasant | Polyplectron bicalcaratum | |
Indian peafowl | Pavo cristatus | |
Green peafowl | Pavo muticus | Endangered |
Loons
Order: GaviiformesFamily: GaviidaeLoons, 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 name | Binomial | Comments |
Red-throated loon | Gavia stellata | |
Black-throated loon | Gavia arctica |
Austral storm petrels
Order: ProcellariiformesFamily: OceanitidaeThe 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 name | Binomial | Comments |
Wilson's storm petrel | Oceanites oceanicus | |
White-faced storm petrel | Pelagodroma marina | |
White-bellied storm petrel | Fregetta grallaria | |
Black-bellied storm petrel | Fregetta tropica |
Northern storm petrels
Order: ProcellariiformesFamily: HydrobatidaeThe 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 name | Binomial | Comments |
Swinhoe's storm petrel | Oceanodroma monorhis | Near-threatened |
Petrels, shearwaters, and diving petrels
Order: ProcellariiformesFamily: ProcellariidaeThe 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 name | Binomial | Comments |
Cape petrel | Daption capense | |
Barau's petrel | Pterodroma baraui | Endangered |
Streaked shearwater | Calonectris leucomelas | Near-threatened |
Scopoli's shearwater | Calonectris diomedea | |
Cory's shearwater | Calonectris borealis | |
Wedge-tailed shearwater | Ardenna pacifica | |
Short-tailed shearwater | Ardenna tenuirostris | |
Flesh-footed shearwater | Ardenna carneipes | Near-threatened |
Persian shearwater | Puffinus persicus | |
Tropical shearwater | Puffinus bailloni | |
Jouanin's petrel | Bulweria fallax | Near-threatened |
Grebes
Order: PodicipediformesFamily: PodicipedidaeGrebes 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 name | Binomial | Comments |
Little grebe | Tachybaptus ruficollis | |
Red-necked grebe | Podiceps grisegena | |
Great crested grebe | Podiceps cristatus | |
Horned grebe | Podiceps auritus | ; vulnerable |
Black-necked grebe | Podiceps nigricollis |
Flamingos
Order: PhoenicopteriformesFamily: PhoenicopteridaeFlamingos 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 name | Binomial | Comments |
Greater flamingo | Phoenicopterus roseus | |
Lesser flamingo | Phoeniconaias minor | Near-threatened |
Tropicbirds
Order: PhaethontiformesFamily: PhaethontidaeTropicbirds are slender white birds of tropical oceans, with exceptionally long central tail feathers. Their heads and long wings have black markings.
Common name | Binomial | Comments |
Red-billed tropicbird | Phaethon aethereus | |
Red-tailed tropicbird | Phaethon rubricauda | |
White-tailed tropicbird | Phaethon lepturus |
Storks
Order: CiconiiformesFamily: CiconiidaeStorks 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 name | Binomial | Comments |
Painted stork | Mycteria leucocephala | Near-threatened |
Asian openbill | Anastomus oscitans | |
Black stork | Ciconia nigra | |
Woolly-necked stork | Ciconia episcopus | |
White stork | Ciconia ciconia | |
Black-necked stork | Ephippiorhynchus asiaticus | Near-threatened |
Lesser adjutant | Leptoptilos javanicus | Vulnerable |
Greater adjutant | Leptoptilos dubius | Endangered |
Ibises and spoonbills
Order: PelecaniformesFamily: ThreskiornithidaeThreskiornithidae 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 name | Binomial | Comments |
Black-headed ibis | Threskiornis melanocephalus | Near-threatened |
Red-naped ibis | Pseudibis papillosa | |
Glossy ibis | Plegadis falcinellus | |
Eurasian spoonbill | Platalea leucorodia |
Herons and bitterns
Order: PelecaniformesFamily: ArdeidaeThe 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 name | Binomial | Comments |
Eurasian bittern | Botaurus stellaris | |
Little bittern | Ixobrychus minutus | |
Yellow bittern | Ixobrychus sinensis | |
Cinnamon bittern | Ixobrychus cinnamomeus | |
Black bittern | Ixobrychus flavicollis | |
White-eared night heron | Gorsachius magnificus | |
Malayan night heron | Gorsachius melanolophus | |
Black-crowned night heron | Nycticorax nycticorax | |
Striated heron | Butorides striata | |
Indian pond heron | Ardeola grayii | |
Chinese pond heron | Ardeola bacchus | |
Javan pond heron | Ardeola speciosa | |
Eastern cattle egret | Bubulcus coromandus | |
Grey heron | Ardea cinerea | |
White-bellied heron | Ardea insignis | Critically endangered |
Great-billed heron | Ardea sumatrana | |
Goliath heron | Ardea goliath | |
Purple heron | Ardea purpurea | |
Great egret | Ardea alba | |
Intermediate egret | Ardea intermedia | |
Little egret | Egretta garzetta | |
Western reef heron | Egretta gularis | |
Pacific reef heron | Egretta sacra | |
Chinese egret | Egretta eulophotes |
Pelicans
Order: PelecaniformesFamily: PelecanidaePelicans 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 name | Binomial | Comments |
Great white pelican | Pelecanus onocrotalus | |
Spot-billed pelican | Pelecanus philippensis | |
Dalmatian pelican | Pelecanus crispus |
Frigatebirds
Order: SuliformesFamily: FregatidaeFrigatebirds 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 name | Binomial | Comments |
Christmas frigatebird | Fregata andrewsi | |
Great frigatebird | Fregata minor | |
Lesser frigatebird | Fregata ariel |
Gannets and boobies
Order: SuliformesFamily: SulidaeThe sulids comprise the gannets and boobies. Both groups are medium to large coastal seabirds that plunge-dive for fish.
Common name | Binomial | Comments |
Masked booby | Sula dactylatra | |
Red-footed booby | Sula sula | |
Brown booby | Sula leucogaster |
Cormorants and shags
Order: SuliformesFamily: PhalacrocoracidaePhalacrocoracidae 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 name | Binomial | Comments |
Little cormorant | Microcarbo niger | |
Indian cormorant | Phalacrocorax fuscicollis | |
Great cormorant | Phalacrocorax carbo |
Anhingas and darters
Order: SuliformesFamily: AnhingidaeDarters 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 name | Binomial | Comments |
Oriental darter | Anhinga melanogaster |
Ospreys
Order: AccipitriformesFamily: PandionidaeThe 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 name | Binomial | Comments |
Western osprey | Pandion haliaetus |
Kites, hawks, and eagles
Order: AccipitriformesFamily: AccipitridaeAccipitridae 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 name | Binomial | Comments |
Black-winged kite | Elanus caeruleus | |
Bearded vulture | Gypaetus barbatus | Near threatened |
Egyptian vulture | Neophron percnopterus | Endangered |
European honey buzzard | Pernis apivorus | |
Crested honey buzzard | Pernis ptilorhynchus | |
Jerdon's baza | Aviceda jerdoni | |
Black baza | Aviceda leuphotes | |
White-rumped vulture | Gyps bengalensis | Critically endangered |
Indian vulture | Gyps indicus | Critically endangered |
Slender-billed vulture | Gyps tenuirostris | Critically endangered |
Himalayan vulture | Gyps himalayensis | Near threatened |
Griffon vulture | Gyps fulvus | |
Red-headed vulture | Sarcogyps calvus | Critically endangered |
Cinereous vulture | Aegypius monachus | Near threatened |
Crested serpent eagle | Spilornis cheela | |
Great Nicobar serpent eagle | Spilornis klossi | |
Andaman serpent eagle | Spilornis elgini | |
Short-toed snake eagle | Circaetus gallicus | |
Changeable hawk-eagle | Nisaetus cirrhatus | |
Mountain hawk-eagle | Nisaetus nipalensis | |
Legge's hawk-eagle | Nisaetus kelaarti | |
Rufous-bellied hawk-eagle | Lophotriorchis kienerii | |
Black eagle | Ictinaetus malaiensis | |
Indian spotted eagle | Clanga hastata | |
Greater spotted eagle | Clanga clanga | |
Booted eagle | Hieraaetus pennatus | |
Tawny eagle | Aquila rapax | |
Steppe eagle | Aquila nipalensis | Endangered |
Eastern imperial eagle | Aquila heliaca | |
Golden eagle | Aquila chrysaetos | |
Bonelli's eagle | Aquila fasciata | |
Crested goshawk | Accipiter trivirgatus | |
Shikra | Accipiter badius | |
Nicobar sparrowhawk | Accipiter butleri | |
Chinese sparrowhawk | Accipiter soloensis | |
Japanese sparrowhawk | Accipiter gularis | |
Besra | Accipiter virgatus | |
Eurasian sparrowhawk | Accipiter nisus | |
Northern goshawk | Accipiter gentilis | |
Western marsh harrier | Circus aeruginosus | |
Eastern marsh harrier | Circus spilonotus | |
Hen harrier | Circus cyaneus | |
Pallid harrier | Circus macrourus | Near threatened |
Pied harrier | Circus melanoleucos | |
Montagu's harrier | Circus pygargus | |
Red kite | Milvus milvus | |
Black kite | Milvus migrans | |
Brahminy kite | Haliastur indus | |
White-bellied sea eagle | Haliaeetus leucogaster | |
Pallas's fish eagle | Haliaeetus leucoryphus | Endangered |
White-tailed eagle | Haliaeetus albicilla | |
Lesser fish eagle | Haliaeetus humilis | |
Grey-headed fish eagle | Haliaeetus ichthyaetus | |
White-eyed buzzard | Butastur teesa | |
Grey-faced buzzard | Butastur indicus | |
Upland buzzard | Buteo hemilasius | |
Himalayan buzzard | Buteo burmanicus | |
Long-legged buzzard | Buteo rufinus | |
Common buzzard | Buteo buteo |
Bustards
Order: OtidiformesFamily: OtididaeBustards 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 name | Binomial | Comments |
Great Indian bustard | Ardeotis nigriceps | Critically endangered |
MacQueen's bustard | Chlamydotis macqueenii | Vulnerable; earlier as subspecies of houbara bustard, Chlamydotis undulata |
Bengal florican | Houbaropsis bengalensis | Critically endangered |
Lesser florican | Sypheotides indicus | Endangered |
Little bustard | Tetrax tetrax | ; near threatened |
Finfoots
Order: GruiformesFamily: HeliornithidaeHeliornithidae 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 name | Binomial | Comments |
Masked finfoot | Heliopais personata | Endangered |
Rails, crakes, and coots
Order: GruiformesFamily: RallidaeRallidae 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 name | Binomial | Comments |
Andaman crake | Rallina canningi | |
Slaty-legged crake | Rallina eurizonoides | |
Slaty-breasted rail | Gallirallus striatus | |
Water rail | Rallus aquaticus | |
Brown-cheeked rail | Rallus indicus | |
Corn crake | Crex crex | |
Brown crake | Amaurornis akool | |
White-breasted waterhen | Amaurornis phoenicurus | |
Black-tailed crake | Porzana bicolor | |
Little crake | Porzana parva | |
Baillon's crake | Porzana pusilla | |
Spotted crake | Porzana porzana | |
Ruddy-breasted crake | Porzana fusca | |
White-browed crake | Porzana cinerea | |
Watercock | Gallicrex cinerea | |
Grey-headed swamphen | Porphyrio poliocephalus | |
Common moorhen | Gallinula chloropus | |
Eurasian coot | Fulica atra |
Cranes
Order: GruiformesFamily: GruidaeCranes 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 name | Binomial | Comments |
Siberian crane | Leucogeranus leucogeranus | Critically endangered; last known wintering in India in 2002 |
Sarus crane | Antigone antigone | Vulnerable |
Demoiselle crane | Grus virgo | |
Common crane | Grus grus | |
Black-necked crane | Grus nigricollis | Vulnerable |
The hooded crane, Grus monacha, was included in many older lists but is considered hypothetical by more recent workers.
Buttonquail
Order: CharadriiformesFamily: TurnicidaeThe 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 name | Binomial | Comments |
Common buttonquail | Turnix sylvaticus | |
Yellow-legged buttonquail | Turnix tanki | |
Barred buttonquail | Turnix suscitator |
Stone-curlews and thick-knees
Order: CharadriiformesFamily: BurhinidaeStone-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 name | Binomial | Comments |
Indian stone-curlew | Burhinus indicus | Occurrence of Eurasian stone-curlew, Burhinus oedicnemus, in India is not established |
Great stone-curlew | Esacus recurvirostris | Near threatened |
Beach stone-curlew | Esacus magnirostris | Near threatened |
Oystercatchers
Order: CharadriiformesFamily: HaematopodidaeThe 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 name | Binomial | Comments |
Eurasian oystercatcher | Haematopus ostralegus | Near threatened |
Crab-plover
Order: CharadriiformesFamily: DromadidaeThe 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: IbidorhynchidaeThe 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 name | Binomial | Comments |
Ibisbill | Ibidorhyncha struthersii |
Stilts and avocets
Order: CharadriiformesFamily: RecurvirostridaeRecurvirostridae 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 name | Binomial | Comments |
Black-winged stilt | Himantopus himantopus | |
Pied avocet | Recurvirostra avosetta |
Plovers
Order: CharadriiformesFamily: CharadriidaeThe 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 name | Binomial | Comments |
Northern lapwing | Vanellus vanellus | Near threatened |
River lapwing | Vanellus duvaucelii | Near threatened |
Yellow-wattled lapwing | Vanellus malabaricus | |
Grey-headed lapwing | Vanellus cinereus | |
Red-wattled lapwing | Vanellus indicus | |
Sociable lapwing | Vanellus gregarius | critically endangered |
White-tailed lapwing | Vanellus leucurus | |
European golden plover | Pluvialis apricaria | |
American golden plover | Pluvialis dominica | |
Pacific golden plover | Pluvialis fulva | |
Grey plover | Pluvialis squatarola | |
Common ringed plover | Charadrius hiaticula | |
Long-billed plover | Charadrius placidus | |
Little ringed plover | Charadrius dubius | |
Kentish plover | Charadrius alexandrinus | |
White-faced plover | Charadrius alexandrinus dealbatus | |
Lesser sand plover | Charadrius mongolus | |
Greater sand plover | Charadrius leschenaultii | |
Caspian plover | Charadrius asiaticus | |
Oriental plover | Charadrius veredus |
Painted-snipes
Order: CharadriiformesFamily: RostratulidaePainted-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 name | Binomial | Comments |
Greater painted-snipe | Rostratula benghalensis |
Jacanas
Order: CharadriiformesFamily: JacanidaeThe 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 name | Binomial | Comments |
Pheasant-tailed jacana | Hydrophasianus chirurgus | |
Bronze-winged jacana | Metopidius indicus |
Sandpipers and snipes
Order: CharadriiformesFamily: ScolopacidaeScolopacidae 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 name | Binomial | Comments |
Eurasian whimbrel | Numenius phaeopus | |
Eurasian curlew | Numenius arquata | Near threatened |
Bar-tailed godwit | Limosa lapponica | Near threatened |
Black-tailed godwit | Limosa limosa | Near threatened |
Ruddy turnstone | Arenaria interpres | |
Great knot | Calidris tenuirostris | Endangered |
Red knot | Calidris canutus | ; Near threatened |
Ruff | Calidris pugnax | |
Broad-billed sandpiper | Calidris falcinellus | |
Sharp-tailed sandpiper | Calidris acuminata | |
Curlew sandpiper | Calidris ferruginea | Near threatened |
Temminck's stint | Calidris temminckii | |
Long-toed stint | Calidris subminuta | |
Spoon-billed sandpiper | Calidris pygmeus | ; critically endangered |
Red-necked stint | Calidris ruficollis | Near threatened |
Sanderling | Calidris alba | |
Dunlin | Calidris alpina | |
Little stint | Calidris minuta | |
Buff-breasted sandpiper | Calidris subruficollis | ; near threatened |
Pectoral sandpiper | Calidris melanotos | |
Asian dowitcher | Limnodromus semipalmatus | Near threatened |
Long-billed dowitcher | Limnodromus scolopaceus | |
Eurasian woodcock | Scolopax rusticola | |
Jack snipe | Lymnocryptes minimus | |
Solitary snipe | Gallinago solitaria | |
Wood snipe | Gallinago nemoricola | Vulnerable |
Pin-tailed snipe | Gallinago stenura | Non-breeding range |
Swinhoe's snipe | Gallinago megala | |
Great snipe | Gallinago media | ; near threatened |
Common snipe | Gallinago gallinago | |
Terek sandpiper | Xenus cinereus | |
Red-necked phalarope | Phalaropus lobatus | |
Red phalarope | Phalaropus fulicarius | |
Common sandpiper | Actitis hypoleucos | |
Green sandpiper | Tringa ochropus | |
Grey-tailed tattler | Tringa brevipes | |
Common redshank | Tringa totanus | |
Marsh sandpiper | Tringa stagnatilis | |
Wood sandpiper | Tringa glareola | |
Spotted redshank | Tringa erythropus | |
Common greenshank | Tringa nebularia |
Coursers and pratincoles
Order: CharadriiformesFamily: GlareolidaeGlareolidae 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 name | Binomial | Comments |
Cream-coloured courser | Cursorius cursor | |
Indian courser | Cursorius coromandelicus | |
Jerdon's courser | Rhinoptilus bitorquatus | Endemic; critically endangered |
Collared pratincole | Glareola pratincola | |
Oriental pratincole | Glareola maldivarum | |
Small pratincole | Glareola lactea |
Gulls, terns, and skimmers
Order: CharadriiformesFamily: LaridaeLaridae 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 name | Binomial | Comments |
Brown noddy | Anous stolidus | |
Lesser noddy | Anous tenuirostris | |
Black noddy | Anous minutus | |
White tern | Gygis alba | |
Indian skimmer | Rynchops albicollis | Vulnerable |
Black-legged kittiwake | Rissa tridactyla | ; vulnerable |
Sabine's gull | Xema sabini | |
Slender-billed gull | Chroicocephalus genei | - |
Brown-headed gull | Chroicocephalus brunnicephalus | |
Black-headed gull | Chroicocephalus ridibundus | |
Little gull | Hydrocoloeus minutus | |
Franklin's gull | Leucophaeus pipixcan | |
Pallas's gull | Ichthyaetus ichthyaetus | |
White-eyed gull | Ichthyaetus leucophthalmus | ; near threatened |
Sooty gull | Ichthyaetus hemprichii | |
Mew gull | Larus canus | |
Vega gull | Larus vegae | |
Caspian gull | Larus cachinnans | |
Lesser black-backed gull | Larus fuscus | |
Gull-billed tern | Gelochelidon nilotica | |
Caspian tern | Hydroprogne caspia | |
Greater crested tern | Thalasseus bergii | |
Lesser crested tern | Thalasseus bengalensis | |
Sandwich tern | Thalasseus sandvicensis | |
Little tern | Sternula albifrons | |
Saunders's tern | Sternula saundersi | |
Bridled tern | Onychoprion anaethetus | |
Sooty tern | Onychoprion fuscatus | |
River tern | Sterna aurantia | Near threatened |
Roseate tern | Sterna dougallii | |
Black-naped tern | Sterna sumatrana | |
Common tern | Sterna hirundo | |
White-cheeked tern | Sterna repressa | |
Arctic tern | Sterna paradisaea | |
Black-bellied tern | Sterna acuticauda | Endangered |
Whiskered tern | Chlidonias hybrida | |
White-winged tern | Chlidonias leucopterus | |
Black tern | Chlidonias niger |
Skuas
Order: CharadriiformesFamily: StercorariidaeThe 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 name | Binomial | Comments |
South polar skua | Stercorarius maccormicki | |
Brown skua | Stercorarius antarcticus | |
Pomarine jaeger | Stercorarius pomarinus | |
Parasitic jaeger | Stercorarius parasiticus | |
Long-tailed jaeger | Stercorarius longicaudus |
Sandgrouse
Order: PterocliformesFamily: PteroclidaeSandgrouse 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 name | Binomial | Comments |
Tibetan sandgrouse | Syrrhaptes tibetanus | |
Pallas's sandgrouse | Syrrhaptes paradoxus | |
Pin-tailed sandgrouse | Pterocles alchata | |
Chestnut-bellied sandgrouse | Pterocles exustus | |
Spotted sandgrouse | Pterocles senegallus | |
Black-bellied sandgrouse | Pterocles orientalis | |
Painted sandgrouse | Pterocles indicus |
Pigeons and doves
Order: ColumbiformesFamily: ColumbidaePigeons and doves are stout-bodied birds with short necks and short slender bills with a fleshy cere.
Common name | Binomial | Comments |
Rock dove | Columba livia | |
Hill pigeon | Columba rupestris | |
Snow pigeon | Columba leuconota | |
Yellow-eyed pigeon | Columba eversmanni | vulnerable |
Common wood pigeon | Columba palumbus | |
Speckled wood pigeon | Columba hodgsonii | |
Ashy wood pigeon | Columba pulchricollis | |
Nilgiri wood pigeon | Columba elphinstonii | ; vulnerable |
Pale-capped pigeon | Columba punicea | Vulnerable |
Andaman wood pigeon | Columba palumboides | ; near threatened |
European turtle dove | Streptopelia turtur | ; vulnerable |
Oriental turtle dove | Streptopelia orientalis | |
Eurasian collared dove | Streptopelia decaocto | |
Red collared dove | Streptopelia tranquebarica | |
Spotted dove | Spilopelia chinensis | |
Laughing dove | Spilopelia senegalensis | |
Barred cuckoo-dove | Macropygia unchall | |
Andaman cuckoo-dove | Macropygia rufipennis | ; near threatened |
Namaqua dove | Oena capensis | |
Common emerald dove | Chalcophaps indica | |
Nicobar pigeon | Caloenas nicobarica | Near threatened |
Orange-breasted green pigeon | Treron bicinctus | |
Grey-fronted green pigeon | Treron affinis | |
Ashy-headed green pigeon | Treron phayrei | Near threatened |
Andaman green pigeon | Treron chloropterus | ; near threatened |
Thick-billed green pigeon | Treron curvirostra | |
Yellow-footed green pigeon | Treron phoenicopterus | |
Pin-tailed green pigeon | Treron apicauda | |
Wedge-tailed green pigeon | Treron sphenurus | |
Green imperial pigeon | Ducula aenea | |
Nicobar imperial pigeon | Ducula nicobarica | |
Mountain imperial pigeon | Ducula badia | |
Pied imperial pigeon | Ducula bicolor |
Cuckoos
Order: CuculiformesFamily: CuculidaeThe 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 name | Binomial | Comments |
Greater coucal | Centropus sinensis | |
Lesser coucal | Centropus bengalensis | |
Andaman coucal | Centropus andamanensis | |
Sirkeer malkoha | Taccocua leschenaultii | |
Blue-faced malkoha | Phaenicophaeus viridirostris | |
Green-billed malkoha | Phaenicophaeus tristis | |
Chestnut-winged cuckoo | Clamator coromandus | |
Jacobin cuckoo | Clamator jacobinus | |
Asian koel | Eudynamys scolopaceus | |
Asian emerald cuckoo | Chrysococcyx maculatus | |
Violet cuckoo | Chrysococcyx xanthorhynchus | |
Horsfield's bronze cuckoo | Chrysococcyx basalis | |
Banded bay cuckoo | Cacomantis sonneratii | |
Plaintive cuckoo | Cacomantis merulinus | |
Grey-bellied cuckoo | Cacomantis passerinus | |
Square-tailed drongo-cuckoo | Surniculus lugubris | |
Fork-tailed drongo-cuckoo | Surniculus dicruroides | |
Large hawk-cuckoo | Hierococcyx sparverioides | |
Common hawk-cuckoo | Hierococcyx varius | |
Hodgson's hawk-cuckoo | Hierococcyx nisicolor | |
Lesser cuckoo | Cuculus poliocephalus | |
Indian cuckoo | Cuculus micropterus | |
Himalayan cuckoo | Cuculus saturatus | |
Common cuckoo | Cuculus canorus |
Barn owls
Order: StrigiformesFamily: TytonidaeBarn owls are medium to large owls with large heads and characteristic heart-shaped faces. They have long strong legs with powerful talons.
Common name | Binomial | Comments |
Western barn owl | Tyto alba | |
Eastern barn owl | Tyto javanica | |
Andaman masked owl | Tyto deroepstorffi | |
Eastern grass owl | Tyto longimembris | |
Oriental bay owl | Phodilus badius | |
Sri Lanka bay owl | Phodilus assimilis | Western Ghats subspecies ripleyi in India with nominate form in Sri Lanka |
Owls
Order: StrigiformesFamily: StrigidaeThe 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 name | Binomial | Comments |
Andaman scops owl | Otus balli | ; near threatened |
Mountain scops owl | Otus spilocephalus | |
Indian scops owl | Otus bakkamoena | |
Collared scops owl | Otus lettia | |
Pallid scops owl | Otus brucei | |
Eurasian scops owl | Otus scops | |
Oriental scops owl | Otus sunia | |
Nicobar scops owl | Otus alius | |
Eurasian eagle-owl | Bubo bubo | |
Indian eagle-owl | Bubo bengalensis | |
Spot-bellied eagle-owl | Bubo nipalensis | |
Dusky eagle-owl | Bubo coromandus | |
Brown fish owl | Ketupa zeylonensis | |
Tawny fish owl | Ketupa flavipes | |
Buffy fish owl | Ketupa ketupu | |
Mottled wood owl | Strix ocellata | |
Brown wood owl | Strix leptogrammica | |
Tawny owl | Strix aluco | |
Himalayan owl | Strix nivicolum | |
Collared owlet | Glaucidium brodiei | |
Asian barred owlet | Glaucidium cuculoides | |
Jungle owlet | Glaucidium radiatum | |
Little owl | Athene noctua | |
Spotted owlet | Athene brama | |
Forest owlet | Athene blewitti | ; endangered |
Boreal owl | Aegolius funereus | |
Brown hawk-owl | Ninox scutulata | |
Hume's hawk-owl | Ninox obscura | |
Andaman hawk-owl | Ninox affinis | , near threatened |
Long-eared owl | Asio otus | |
Short-eared owl | Asio flammeus |
Frogmouths
Order: CaprimulgiformesFamily: PodargidaeThe 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 name | Binomial | Comments |
Sri Lanka frogmouth | Batrachostomus moniliger | ssp. roonwali in India |
Hodgson's frogmouth | Batrachostomus hodgsoni |
Nightjars
Order: CaprimulgiformesFamily: CaprimulgidaeNightjars 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 name | Binomial | Comments |
Great eared nightjar | Lyncornis macrotis | |
Jungle nightjar | Caprimulgus indicus | |
Grey nightjar | Caprimulgus jotaka | |
European nightjar | Caprimulgus europaeus | |
Sykes's nightjar | Caprimulgus mahrattensis | |
Jerdon's nightjar | Caprimulgus atripennis | |
Large-tailed nightjar | Caprimulgus macrurus | |
Andaman nightjar | Caprimulgus andamanicus | |
Indian nightjar | Caprimulgus asiaticus | |
Savanna nightjar | Caprimulgus affinis |
Treeswifts
Order: ApodiformesFamily: HemiprocnidaeThe 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 name | Binomial | Comments |
Crested treeswift | Hemiprocne coronata |
Swifts
Order: ApodiformesFamily: ApodidaeSwifts 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 name | Binomial | Comments |
Plume-toed swiftlet | Collocalia affinis | |
Indian swiftlet | Aerodramus unicolor | |
Himalayan swiftlet | Aerodramus brevirostris | |
Edible-nest swiftlet | Aerodramus fuciphagus | |
White-rumped spinetail | Zoonavena sylvatica | |
White-throated needletail | Hirundapus caudacutus | |
Silver-backed needletail | Hirundapus cochinchinensis | |
Brown-backed needletail | Hirundapus giganteus | |
Asian palm swift | Cypsiurus balasiensis | |
Alpine swift | Tachymarptis melba | |
Common swift | Apus apus | |
Pallid swift | Apus pallidus | |
Pacific swift | Apus pacificus ssp. kurodae | |
Salim Ali's swift | Apus salimalii | |
Blyth's swift | Apus leuconyx | |
Dark-rumped swift | Apus acuticauda | Vulnerable |
Little swift | Apus affinis | |
House swift | Apus nipalensis |
Trogons
Order: TrogoniformesFamily: TrogonidaeThe 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 name | Binomial | Comments |
Malabar trogon | Harpactes fasciatus | |
Red-headed trogon | Harpactes erythrocephalus | |
Ward's trogon | Harpactes wardi | Near threatened |
Rollers
Order: CoraciiformesFamily: CoraciidaeRollers 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 name | Binomial | Comments |
Indian roller | Coracias benghalensis | |
Indochinese roller | Coracias affinis | Said to intergrade with above but distinctive in plumage in core range |
European roller | Coracias garrulus | |
Oriental dollarbird | Eurystomus orientalis |
Kingfishers
Order: CoraciiformesFamily: AlcedinidaeKingfishers 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 name | Binomial | Comments |
Stork-billed kingfisher | Pelargopsis capensis | |
Brown-winged kingfisher | Pelargopsis amauroptera | Near threatened |
Ruddy kingfisher | Halcyon coromanda | |
White-throated kingfisher | Halcyon smyrnensis | |
Black-capped kingfisher | Halcyon pileata | |
Collared kingfisher | Todiramphus chloris | |
Blue-eared kingfisher | Alcedo meninting | |
Common kingfisher | Alcedo atthis | |
Blyth's kingfisher | Alcedo hercules | Near threatened |
Oriental dwarf kingfisher | Ceyx erithaca | |
Crested kingfisher | Megaceryle lugubris | |
Pied kingfisher | Ceryle rudis |
Bee-eaters
Order: CoraciiformesFamily: MeropidaeThe 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 name | Binomial | Comments |
Blue-bearded bee-eater | Nyctyornis athertoni | |
Green bee-eater | Merops orientalis | |
Blue-cheeked bee-eater | Merops persicus | |
Blue-tailed bee-eater | Merops philippinus | |
Blue-throated bee-eater | Merops viridis | |
Chestnut-headed bee-eater | Merops leschenaulti | |
European bee-eater | Merops apiaster |
Hoopoes
Order: BucerotiformesFamily: UpupidaeHoopoes 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: BucerotidaeHornbills 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 name | Binomial | Comments |
Great hornbill | Buceros bicornis | Near threatened |
Oriental pied hornbill | Anthracoceros albirostris | |
Malabar pied hornbill | Anthracoceros coronatus | Near threatened |
Malabar grey hornbill | Ocyceros griseus | |
Indian grey hornbill | Ocyceros birostris | |
Austen's brown hornbill | Anorrhinus austeni | Near threatened |
Rufous-necked hornbill | Aceros nipalensis | Vulnerable |
Narcondam hornbill | Rhyticeros narcondami | ; endangered |
Wreathed hornbill | Rhyticeros undulatus |
Asian barbets
Order: PiciformesFamily: MegalaimidaeThe 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 name | Binomial | Comments |
Great barbet | Psilopogon virens | |
Brown-headed barbet | Psilopogon zeylanicus | |
Lineated barbet | Psilopogon lineatus | |
White-cheeked barbet | Psilopogon viridis | |
Golden-throated barbet | Psilopogon franklinii | |
Blue-throated barbet | Psilopogon asiaticus | |
Blue-eared barbet | Psilopogon duvaucelii | |
Malabar barbet | Psilopogon malabaricus | |
Coppersmith barbet | Psilopogon haemacephalus |
Honeyguides
Order: PiciformesFamily: IndicatoridaeHoneyguides 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 name | Binomial | Comments |
Yellow-rumped honeyguide | Indicator xanthonotus | Near threatened |
Woodpeckers
Order: PiciformesFamily: PicidaeWoodpeckers 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 name | Binomial | Comments |
Eurasian wryneck | Jynx torquilla | |
Speckled piculet | Picumnus innominatus | |
White-browed piculet | Sasia ochracea | |
Heart-spotted woodpecker | Hemicircus canente | |
Brown-capped pygmy woodpecker | Yungipicus nanus | |
Grey-capped pygmy woodpecker | Yungipicus canicapillus | |
Brown-fronted woodpecker | Dendrocoptes auriceps | |
Yellow-crowned woodpecker | Leiopicus mahrattensis | |
Crimson-breasted woodpecker | Dryobates cathpharius | |
Rufous-bellied woodpecker | Dendrocopos hyperythrus | |
Fulvous-breasted woodpecker | Dendrocopos macei | |
Freckle-breasted woodpecker | Dendrocopos analis | |
Stripe-breasted woodpecker | Dendrocopos atratus | |
Darjeeling woodpecker | Dendrocopos darjellensis | |
Himalayan woodpecker | Dendrocopos himalayensis | |
Sind woodpecker | Dendrocopos assimilis | |
Great spotted woodpecker | Dendrocopos major | |
White-bellied woodpecker | Dryocopus javensis | |
Andaman woodpecker | Dryocopus hodgei | ; near threatened |
Greater yellownape | Chrysophlegma flavinucha | |
Lesser yellownape | Picus chlorolophus | |
Streak-throated woodpecker | Picus xanthopygaeus | |
Scaly-bellied woodpecker | Picus squamatus | |
Grey-headed woodpecker | Picus canus | |
Himalayan flameback | Dinopium shorii | |
Common flameback | Dinopium javanense | |
Black-rumped flameback | Dinopium benghalense | |
Greater flameback | Chrysocolaptes guttacristatus | |
White-naped woodpecker | Chrysocolaptes festivus | |
Pale-headed woodpecker | Gecinulus grantia | |
Bay woodpecker | Blythipicus pyrrhotis | |
Rufous woodpecker | Micropternus brachyurus | |
Great slaty woodpecker | Mulleripicus pulverulentus | Vulnerable |
Caracaras and falcons
Order: FalconiformesFamily: FalconidaeFalconidae 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 name | Binomial | Comments |
Collared falconet | Microhierax caerulescens | |
Pied falconet | Microhierax melanoleucos | |
Lesser kestrel | Falco naumanni | |
Common kestrel | Falco tinnunculus | |
Red-necked falcon | Falco chicquera | Near threatened |
Red-footed falcon | Falco vespertinus | |
Amur falcon | Falco amurensis | |
Merlin | Falco columbarius | |
Eurasian hobby | Falco subbuteo | |
Oriental hobby | Falco severus | |
Laggar falcon | Falco jugger | Near threatened |
Saker falcon | Falco cherrug | Endangered |
Peregrine falcon | Falco peregrinus |
Old World parrots
Order: PsittaciformesFamily: PsittaculidaeCharacteristic 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 name | Binomial | Comments |
Grey-headed parakeet | Psittacula finschii | Near threatened |
Slaty-headed parakeet | Psittacula himalayana | |
Blossom-headed parakeet | Psittacula roseata | Near threatened |
Plum-headed parakeet | Psittacula cyanocephala | |
Red-breasted parakeet | Psittacula alexandri | Near threatened |
Lord Derby's parakeet | Psittacula derbiana | near threatened |
Long-tailed parakeet | Psittacula longicauda | Near threatened |
Blue-winged parakeet | Psittacula columboides | |
Alexandrine parakeet | Psittacula eupatria | Near threatened |
Rose-ringed parakeet | Psittacula krameri | |
Nicobar parakeet | Psittacula caniceps | ; near threatened |
Vernal hanging parrot | Loriculus vernalis |
Typical broadbills
Order: PasseriformesFamily: EurylaimidaeThe 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 name | Binomial | Comments |
Long-tailed broadbill | Psarisomus dalhousiae | |
Silver-breasted broadbill | Serilophus lunatus |
Pittas
Order: PasseriformesFamily: PittidaePittas 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 name | Binomial | Comments |
Blue-naped pitta | Hydrornis nipalensis | |
Blue pitta | Hydrornis cyanea | |
Hooded pitta | Pitta sordida | |
Indian pitta | Pitta brachyura | |
Blue-winged pitta | Pitta moluccensis | |
Mangrove pitta | Pitta megarhyncha | Near threatened |
Vangas, helmetshrikes, woodshrikes, and shrike-flycatchers
Order: PasseriformesFamily: VangidaeThe woodshrikes are similar in build to the shrikes.
Common name | Binomial | Comments |
Bar-winged flycatcher-shrike | Hemipus picatus | |
Large woodshrike | Tephrodornis virgatus | |
Malabar woodshrike | Tephrodornis sylvicola | |
Common woodshrike | Tephrodornis pondicerianus |
Woodswallows, butcherbirds, and peltops
Order: PasseriformesFamily: ArtamidaeThe 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 name | Binomial | Comments |
Ashy woodswallow | Artamus fuscus | |
White-breasted woodswallow | Artamus leucorynchus |
Ioras
Order: PasseriformesFamily: AegithinidaeThe 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 name | Binomial | Comments |
Common iora | Aegithina tiphia | |
Marshall's iora | Aegithina nigrolutea |
Cuckooshrikes
Order: PasseriformesFamily: CampephagidaeThe 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 name | Binomial | Comments |
White-bellied minivet | Pericrocotus erythropygius | |
Small minivet | Pericrocotus cinnamomeus | |
Grey-chinned minivet | Pericrocotus solaris | |
Short-billed minivet | Pericrocotus brevirostris | |
Long-tailed minivet | Pericrocotus ethologus | |
Orange minivet | Pericrocotus flammeus | |
Scarlet minivet | Pericrocotus speciosus | |
Ashy minivet | Pericrocotus divaricatus | |
Swinhoe's minivet | Pericrocotus cantonensis | |
Rosy minivet | Pericrocotus roseus | |
Large cuckooshrike | Coracina macei | |
Andaman cuckooshrike | Coracina dobsoni | ; near threatened |
Pied triller | Lalage nigra | |
Black-winged cuckooshrike | Lalage melaschistos | |
Black-headed cuckooshrike | Lalage melanoptera |
Whistlers and allies
Order: PasseriformesFamily: PachycephalidaeThe family Pachycephalidae includes the whistlers, shrike-thrushes, shrike-tits, pitohuis and crested bellbird. There is one species which occurs in India.
Common name | Binomial | Comments |
Mangrove whistler | Pachycephala cinerea |
Shrikes
Order: PasseriformesFamily: LaniidaeShrikes 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 name | Binomial | Comments |
Brown shrike | Lanius cristatus | |
Red-backed shrike | Lanius collurio | |
Isabelline shrike | Lanius isabellinus | |
Red-tailed shrike | Lanius phoenicuroides | |
Burmese shrike | Lanius collurioides | |
Bay-backed shrike | Lanius vittatus | |
Long-tailed shrike | Lanius schach | |
Grey-backed shrike | Lanius tephronotus | |
Lesser grey shrike | Lanius minor | |
Great grey shrike | Lanius excubitor | |
Woodchat shrike | Lanius senator | |
Masked shrike | Lanius nubicus |
Vireos, greenlets, and shrike-babblers
Order: PasseriformesFamily: VireonidaeMost 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 name | Binomial | Comments |
White-bellied erpornis | Erpornis zantholeuca | |
Black-headed shrike-babbler | Pteruthius rufiventer | |
Himalayan shrike-babbler | Pteruthius ripleyi | |
Blyth's shrike-babbler | Pteruthius aeralatus | |
Green shrike-babbler | Pteruthius xanthochlorus | |
Black-eared shrike-babbler | Pteruthius melanotis | |
Clicking shrike-babbler | Pteruthius intermedius |
Figbirds, orioles, and Turnagra
Order: PasseriformesFamily: OriolidaeThe 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 name | Binomial | Comments |
Eurasian golden oriole | Oriolus oriolus | |
Indian golden oriole | Oriolus kundoo | |
Slender-billed oriole | Oriolus tenuirostris | |
Black-naped oriole | Oriolus chinensis | |
Black-hooded oriole | Oriolus xanthornus | |
Maroon oriole | Oriolus traillii |
Drongos
Order: PasseriformesFamily: DicruridaeThe 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 name | Binomial | Comments |
Black drongo | Dicrurus macrocercus | |
Ashy drongo | Dicrurus leucophaeus | |
White-bellied drongo | Dicrurus caerulescens | |
Crow-billed drongo | Dicrurus annectens | |
Bronzed drongo | Dicrurus aeneus | |
Lesser racket-tailed drongo | Dicrurus remifer | |
Hair-crested drongo | Dicrurus hottentottus | |
Andaman drongo | Dicrurus andamanensis | Near threatened |
Greater racket-tailed drongo | Dicrurus paradiseus |
Fantails and silktails
Order: PasseriformesFamily: RhipiduridaeThe fantails are small insectivorous birds which are specialist aerial feeders. There are three species which occur in India.
Common name | Binomial | Comments |
White-throated fantail | Rhipidura albicollis | |
White-spotted fantail | Rhipidura albogularis | |
White-browed fantail | Rhipidura aureola |
Monarchs
Order: PasseriformesFamily: MonarchidaeThe monarch flycatchers are small to medium-sized insectivorous passerines which hunt by flycatching. There are five species which have been recorded in India.
Common name | Binomial | Comments |
Black-naped monarch | Hypothymis azurea | |
Indian paradise flycatcher | Terpsiphone paradisi | |
Blyth's paradise flycatcher | Terpsiphone affinis | |
Amur paradise flycatcher | Terpsiphone incei | |
Japanese paradise flycatcher | Terpsiphone atrocaudata |
Crows and jays
Order: PasseriformesFamily: CorvidaeThe 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 name | Binomial | Comments |
Eurasian jay | Garrulus glandarius | |
Black-headed jay | Garrulus lanceolatus | |
Yellow-billed blue magpie | Urocissa flavirostris | |
Red-billed blue magpie | Urocissa erythroryncha | |
Common green magpie | Cissa chinensis | |
Rufous treepie | Dendrocitta vagabunda | |
Grey treepie | Dendrocitta formosae | |
White-bellied treepie | Dendrocitta leucogastra | |
Collared treepie | Dendrocitta frontalis | |
Andaman treepie | Dendrocitta bayleyii | ; near threatened |
Eurasian magpie | Pica pica | |
Black-rumped magpie | Pica bottanensis | |
Eurasian nutcracker | Nucifraga caryocatactes | |
Large-spotted nutcracker | Nucifraga multipunctata | |
Red-billed chough | Pyrrhocorax pyrrhocorax | |
Alpine chough | Pyrrhocorax graculus | |
Western jackdaw | Corvus monedula | |
House crow | Corvus splendens | |
Rook | Corvus frugilegus | |
Carrion crow | Corvus corone | |
Hooded crow | Corvus cornix | |
Large-billed crow | Corvus macrorhynchos | |
Eastern jungle crow | Corvus levaillantii | |
Indian jungle crow | Corvus culminatus | |
Pied crow | Corvus albus | |
Common raven | Corvus corax |
Waxwings
Order: PasseriformesFamily: BombycillidaeThe 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 name | Binomial | Comments |
Bohemian waxwing | Bombycilla garrulus |
Hypocolius
Order: PasseriformesFamily: HypocoliidaeThe 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 name | Binomial | Comments |
Grey hypocolius | Hypocolius ampelinus |
Fairy flycatchers
Order: PasseriformesFamily: StenostiridaeMost 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 name | Binomial | Comments |
Yellow-bellied fantail | Chelidorhynx hypoxanthus | |
Grey-headed canary-flycatcher | Culicicapa ceylonensis |
Tits and chickadees
Order: PasseriformesFamily: ParidaeThe 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 name | Binomial | Comments |
Fire-capped tit | Cephalopyrus flammiceps | |
Yellow-browed tit | Sylviparus modestus | |
Sultan tit | Melanochlora sultanea | |
Rufous-naped tit | Periparus rufonuchalis | |
Rufous-vented tit | Periparus rubidiventris | |
Coal tit | Periparus ater | |
Grey-crested tit | Lophophanes dichrous | |
Azure tit | Cyanistes cyanus | |
Ground tit | Pseudopodoces humilis | |
Great tit | Parus major | |
Japanese tit | Parus minor | |
Cinereous tit | Parus cinereus | |
Green-backed tit | Parus monticolus | |
White-naped tit | Machlolophus nuchalis | ; vulnerable |
Himalayan black-lored tit | Machlolophus xanthogenys | |
Indian black-lored tit | Machlolophus aplonotus | |
Yellow-cheeked tit | Machlolophus spilonotus |
Penduline tits
Order: PasseriformesFamily: RemizidaeThe 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 name | Binomial | Comments |
White-crowned penduline tit | Remiz coronatus |
Larks
Order: PasseriformesFamily: AlaudidaeLarks 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 name | Binomial | Comments |
Greater hoopoe-lark | Alaemon alaudipes | |
Desert lark | Ammomanes deserti | |
Rufous-tailed lark | Ammomanes phoenicura | |
Black-crowned sparrow-lark | Eremopterix nigriceps | |
Ashy-crowned sparrow-lark | Eremopterix griseus | |
Singing bush lark | Mirafra cantillans | |
Bengal bush lark | Mirafra assamica | |
Indian bush lark | Mirafra erythroptera | |
Jerdon's bush lark | Mirafra affinis | |
Oriental skylark | Alauda gulgula | |
Eurasian skylark | Alauda arvensis | |
Sykes's lark | Galerida deva | |
Crested lark | Galerida cristata | |
Malabar lark | Galerida malabarica | |
Horned lark | Eremophila alpestris | |
Hume's short-toed lark | Calandrella acutirostris | |
Mongolian short-toed lark | Calandrella dukhunensis | |
Greater short-toed lark | Calandrella brachydactyla | |
Bimaculated lark | Melanocorypha bimaculata | |
Tibetan lark | Melanocorypha maxima | |
Asian short-toed lark | Alaudala cheleensis | |
Lesser short-toed lark | Alaudala rufescens | |
Sand lark | Alaudala raytal |
Bulbuls
Order: PasseriformesFamily: PycnonotidaeBulbuls 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 name | Binomial | Comments |
Crested finchbill | Spizixos canifrons | |
Striated bulbul | Pycnonotus striatus | |
Grey-headed bulbul | Pycnonotus priocephalus | ; near threatened |
Black-headed bulbul | Pycnonotus atriceps | |
Andaman bulbul | Pycnonotus fuscoflavescens | ; near threatened |
Black-crested bulbul | Pycnonotus flaviventris | |
Flame-throated bulbul | Pycnonotus gularis | |
Red-whiskered bulbul | Pycnonotus jocosus | |
Himalayan bulbul | Pycnonotus leucogenys | |
White-eared bulbul | Pycnonotus leucotis | |
Red-vented bulbul | Pycnonotus cafer | |
Yellow-throated bulbul | Pycnonotus xantholaemus | ; vulnerable |
Flavescent bulbul | Pycnonotus flavescens | |
White-browed bulbul | Pycnonotus luteolus | |
White-throated bulbul | Alophoixus flaveolus | |
Yellow-browed bulbul | Acritillas indica | |
Cachar bulbul | Iole cacharensis | |
Nicobar bulbul | Hypsipetes nicobariensis | ; near threatened |
Mountain bulbul | Ixos mcclellandii | |
Ashy bulbul | Hemixos flavala | |
Black bulbul | Hypsipetes leucocephalus | |
Square-tailed bulbul | Hypsipetes ganeesa |
Swallows and martins
Order: PasseriformesFamily: HirundinidaeThe 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 name | Binomial | Comments |
Grey-throated martin | Riparia chinensis | |
Sand martin | Riparia riparia | |
Pale martin | Riparia diluta | |
Barn swallow | Hirundo rustica | |
Pacific swallow | Hirundo tahitica | |
Hill swallow | Hirundo domicola | |
Wire-tailed swallow | Hirundo smithii | |
Eurasian crag martin | Ptyonoprogne rupestris | |
Dusky crag martin | Ptyonoprogne concolor | |
Common house martin | Delichon urbicum | |
Asian house martin | Delichon dasypus | |
Nepal house martin | Delichon nipalense | |
Red-rumped swallow | Cecropis daurica | |
Striated swallow | Cecropis striolata | |
Streak-throated swallow | Petrochelidon fluvicola |
Cupwings
Order: PasseriformesFamily: PnoepygidaeThe members of this small family are found in mountainous parts of South and South East Asia.
Common name | Binomial | Comments |
Scaly-breasted cupwing | Pnoepyga albiventer | |
Nepal cupwing | Pnoepyga immaculata | |
Pygmy cupwing | Pnoepyga pusilla |
Cettia bush warblers and allies
Order: PasseriformesFamily: CettiidaeCettiidae 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 name | Binomial | Comments |
Yellow-bellied warbler | Abroscopus superciliaris | |
Rufous-faced warbler | Abroscopus albogularis | |
Black-faced warbler | Abroscopus schisticeps | |
Mountain tailorbird | Phyllergates cucullatus | |
Broad-billed warbler | Tickellia hodgsoni | |
Manchurian bush warbler | Horornis borealis | |
Brown-flanked bush warbler | Horornis fortipes | |
Hume's bush warbler | Horornis brunnescens | |
Aberrant bush warbler | Horornis flavolivaceus | |
Grey-bellied tesia | Tesia cyaniventer | |
Slaty-bellied tesia | Tesia olivea | |
Cetti's warbler | Cettia cetti | |
Chestnut-crowned bush warbler | Cettia major | |
Grey-sided bush warbler | Cettia brunnifrons | |
Chestnut-headed tesia | Cettia castaneocoronata | |
Asian stubtail | Urosphena squameiceps | |
Pale-footed bush warbler | Urosphena pallidipes |
Bushtits
Order: PasseriformesFamily: AegithalidaeLong-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 name | Binomial | Comments |
White-cheeked bushtit | Aegithalos leucogenys | |
Black-throated bushtit | Aegithalos concinnus | |
White-throated bushtit | Aegithalos niveogularis | |
Rufous-fronted bushtit | Aegithalos iouschistos | |
Black-browed bushtit | Aegithalos bonvaloti | |
Burmese bushtit | Aegithalos sharpei | |
White-browed tit-warbler | Leptopoecile sophiae | |
Crested tit-warbler | Leptopoecile elegans |
Leaf warblers & allies
Order: PasseriformesFamily: PhylloscopidaeLeaf 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 name | Binomial | Comments |
Wood warbler | Phylloscopus sibilatrix | |
Buff-barred warbler | Phylloscopus pulcher | |
Ashy-throated warbler | Phylloscopus maculipennis | |
Hume's leaf warbler | Phylloscopus humei | |
Yellow-browed warbler | Phylloscopus inornatus | |
Brooks's leaf warbler | Phylloscopus subviridis | |
Chinese leaf warbler | Phylloscopus yunnanensis | |
Lemon-rumped warbler | Phylloscopus chloronotus | |
Tytler's leaf warbler | Phylloscopus tytleri | Near threatened |
Sulphur-bellied warbler | Phylloscopus griseolus | |
Tickell's leaf warbler | Phylloscopus affinis | |
Smoky warbler | Phylloscopus fuligiventer | |
Dusky warbler | Phylloscopus fuscatus | |
Plain leaf warbler | Phylloscopus neglectus | |
Buff-throated warbler | Phylloscopus subaffinis | |
Mountain chiffchaff | Phylloscopus sindianus | |
Common chiffchaff | Phylloscopus collybita | |
White-spectacled warbler | Phylloscopus intermedius | |
Grey-cheeked warbler | Phylloscopus poliogenys | |
Green-crowned warbler | Phylloscopus burkii | |
Grey-crowned warbler | Phylloscopus tephrocephalus | |
Whistler's warbler | Phylloscopus whistleri | |
Bianchi's warbler | Phylloscopus valentini | |
Green warbler | Phylloscopus nitidus | |
Two-barred warbler | Phylloscopus plumbeitarsus | |
Greenish warbler | Phylloscopus trochiloides | |
Large-billed leaf warbler | Phylloscopus magnirostris | |
Pale-legged leaf warbler | Phylloscopus tenellipes | |
Arctic warbler | Phylloscopus borealis | |
Chestnut-crowned warbler | Phylloscopus castaniceps | |
Yellow-vented warbler | Phylloscopus cantator | |
Western crowned leaf warbler | Phylloscopus occipitalis | |
Blyth's leaf warbler | Phylloscopus reguloides | |
Claudia's leaf warbler | Phylloscopus claudiae | |
Grey-hooded warbler | Phylloscopus xanthoschistos |
Reed warblers, Grauer’s warbler, & allies
Order: PasseriformesFamily: AcrocephalidaeThe 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 name | Binomial | Comments |
Great reed warbler | Acrocephalus arundinaceus | |
Oriental reed warbler | Acrocephalus orientalis | |
Clamorous reed warbler | Acrocephalus stentoreus | |
Black-browed reed warbler | Acrocephalus bistrigiceps | |
Moustached warbler | Acrocephalus melanopogon | |
Sedge warbler | Acrocephalus schoenobaenus | |
Blunt-winged warbler | Acrocephalus concinens | |
Large-billed reed warbler | Acrocephalus orinus | |
Paddyfield warbler | Acrocephalus agricola | |
Blyth's reed warbler | Acrocephalus dumetorum | |
Thick-billed warbler | Arundinax aedon | |
Booted warbler | Iduna caligata | |
Sykes's warbler | Iduna rama |
Grassbirds & allies
Order: PasseriformesFamily: LocustellidaeLocustellidae 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 name | Binomial | Comments |
Pallas's grasshopper warbler | Helopsaltes certhiola | |
Lanceolated warbler | Locustella lanceolata | |
Brown bush warbler | Locustella luteoventris | |
Long-billed bush warbler | Locustella major | Near threatened |
Common grasshopper warbler | Locustella naevia | |
Chinese bush warbler | Locustella tacsanowskia | |
Baikal bush warbler | Locustella davidi | |
Spotted bush warbler | Locustella thoracica | |
West Himalayan bush warbler | Locustella kashmirensis | |
Russet bush warbler | Locustella mandelli | |
Striated grassbird | Megalurus palustris | |
Broad-tailed grassbird | Schoenicola platyurus | ; vulnerable |
Bristled grassbird | Schoenicola striatus | Vulnerable |
Cisticolas and allies
Order: PasseriformesFamily: CisticolidaeThe 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 name | Binomial | Comments |
Zitting cisticola | Cisticola juncidis | |
Golden-headed cisticola | Cisticola exilis | |
Himalayan prinia | Prinia crinigera | |
Swinhoe's prinia | Prinia striata | |
Black-throated prinia | Prinia atrogularis | |
Hill prinia | Prinia superciliaris | |
Grey-crowned prinia | Prinia cinereocapilla | |
Rufous-fronted prinia | Prinia buchanani | |
Rufescent prinia | Prinia rufescens | |
Grey-breasted prinia | Prinia hodgsonii | |
Graceful prinia | Prinia gracilis | |
Jungle prinia | Prinia sylvatica | |
Yellow-bellied prinia | Prinia flaviventris | |
Ashy prinia | Prinia socialis | |
Plain prinia | Prinia inornata | |
Common tailorbird | Orthotomus sutorius | |
Dark-necked tailorbird | Orthotomus atrogularis |
Babblers and scimitar babblers
Order: PasseriformesFamily: TimaliidaeThe babblers, or timaliids, are somewhat diverse in size and colouration, but are characterised by soft fluffy plumage.
Common name | Binomial | Comments |
Large scimitar babbler | Pomatorhinus hypoleucos | |
Rusty-cheeked scimitar babbler | Pomatorhinus erythrogenys | |
Spot-breasted scimitar babbler | Pomatorhinus mcclellandi | |
Indian scimitar babbler | Pomatorhinus horsfieldii | |
White-browed scimitar babbler | Pomatorhinus schisticeps | |
Streak-breasted scimitar babbler | Pomatorhinus ruficollis | |
Red-billed scimitar babbler | Pomatorhinus ochraceiceps | |
Coral-billed scimitar babbler | Pomatorhinus ferruginosus | |
Slender-billed scimitar babbler | Pomatorhinus superciliaris | |
Rufous-throated wren-babbler | Spelaeornis caudatus | |
Rusty-throated wren-babbler | Spelaeornis badeigularis | |
Bar-winged wren-babbler | Spelaeornis troglodytoides | |
Naga wren-babbler | Spelaeornis chocolatinus | |
Grey-bellied wren-babbler | Spelaeornis reptatus | |
Chin Hills wren-babbler | Spelaeornis oatesi | |
Tawny-breasted wren-babbler | Spelaeornis longicaudatus | |
Sikkim wedge-billed babbler | Sphenocichla humei | |
Cachar wedge-billed babbler | Sphenocichla roberti | |
Grey-throated babbler | Stachyris nigriceps | |
Snowy-throated babbler | Stachyris oglei | |
Buff-chested babbler | Stachyridopsis ambigua | |
Rufous-capped babbler | Stachyridopsis ruficeps | |
Black-chinned babbler | Stachyridopsis pyrrhops | |
Golden babbler | Stachyridopsis chrysaea | |
Tawny-bellied babbler | Dumetia hyperythra | |
Dark-fronted babbler | Rhopocichla atriceps | |
Pin-striped tit-babbler | Macronus gularis | |
Chestnut-capped babbler | Timalia pileata |
Fulvettas and ground babblers
Order: PasseriformesFamily: PellorneidaeThese 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 name | Binomial | Comments |
Rufous-vented grass babbler | Laticilla burnesii | |
Swamp grass babbler | Laticilla cinerascens | |
Yellow-throated fulvetta | Alcippe cinerea | |
Rufous-winged fulvetta | Alcippe castaneceps | |
Rufous-throated fulvetta | Alcippe rufogularis | |
Rusty-capped fulvetta | Alcippe dubia | |
Brown-cheeked fulvetta | Alcippe poioicephala | |
Nepal fulvetta | Alcippe nipalensis | |
Streaked wren-babbler | Napothera brevicaudata | |
Eyebrowed wren-babbler | Napothera epilepidota | |
White-hooded babbler | Gampsorhynchus rufulus | |
Long-billed wren-babbler | Rimator malacoptilus | |
Abbott's babbler | Malacocincla abbotti | |
Indian grassbird | Graminicola bengalensis | |
Spot-throated babbler | Pellorneum albiventre | |
Marsh babbler | Pellorneum palustre | |
Puff-throated babbler | Pellorneum ruficeps | |
Buff-breasted babbler | Pellorneum tickelli |
Turdoides babblers, laughingthrushes, barwings, and sibias
Order: PasseriformesFamily: LeiothrichidaeThe 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 name | Binomial | Comments |
Striated laughingthrush | Grammatoptila striatus | |
Himalayan cutia | Cutia nipalensis | |
Brown-capped laughingthrush | Trochalopteron austeni | |
Scaly laughingthrush | Trochalopteron subunicolor | |
Streaked laughingthrush | Trochalopteron lineatum | |
Striped laughingthrush | Trochalopteron virgatum | |
Blue-winged laughingthrush | Trochalopteron squamatum | |
Variegated laughingthrush | Trochalopteron variegatum | |
Black-faced laughingthrush | Trochalopteron affine | |
Elliot's laughingthrush | Trochalopteron elliotii | |
Chestnut-crowned laughingthrush | Trochalopteron erythrocephalum | |
Bhutan laughingthrush | Trochalopteron imbricatum | |
Assam laughingthrush | Trochalopteron chrysopterum | |
Bar-throated minla | Actinodura strigula | |
Rusty-fronted barwing | Actinodura egertoni | |
Blue-winged minla | Actinodura cyanouroptera | |
Hoary-throated barwing | Actinodura nipalensis | |
Streak-throated barwing | Actinodura waldeni | |
Nilgiri laughingthrush | Montecincla cachinnans | |
Banasura laughingthrush | Montecincla jerdoni | |
Palani laughingthrush | Montecincla fairbanki | |
Ashambu laughingthrush | Montecincla meridionalis | |
Red-tailed minla | Minla ignotincta | |
Rufous-backed sibia | Leioptila annectens | |
Red-billed leiothrix | Leiothrix lutea | |
Silver-eared mesia | Leiothrix argentauris | |
Red-faced liocichla | Liocichla phoenicea | |
Bugun liocichla | Liocichla bugunorum | |
Grey sibia | Heterophasia gracilis | |
Beautiful sibia | Heterophasia pulchella | |
Rufous sibia | Heterophasia capistrata | |
Long-tailed sibia | Heterophasia picaoides | |
Large grey babbler | Argya malcolmi | |
Striated babbler | Argya earlei | |
Common babbler | Argya caudata | |
Yellow-billed babbler | Argya affinis | |
Jungle babbler | Argya striata | |
Slender-billed babbler | Argya longirostris | |
Rufous babbler | Argya subrufa | |
Lesser necklaced laughingthrush | Garrulax monileger | |
White-crested laughingthrush | Garrulax leucolophus | |
Spot-breasted laughingthrush | Garrulax merulinus | |
Spotted laughingthrush | Ianthocincla ocellata | |
Moustached laughingthrush | Ianthocincla cineracea | |
Rufous-chinned laughingthrush | Ianthocincla rufogularis | |
Rufous-necked laughingthrush | Pterorhinus ruficollis | |
Chestnut-backed laughingthrush | Pterorhinus nuchalis | |
Yellow-throated laughingthrush | Pterorhinus galbanus | |
Rufous-vented laughingthrush | Pterorhinus gularis | |
Wynaad laughingthrush | Pterorhinus delesserti | |
White-throated laughingthrush | Pterorhinus albogularis | |
Greater necklaced laughingthrush | Pterorhinus pectoralis | |
Grey-sided laughingthrush | Pterorhinus caerulatus | |
Chinese babax | Pterorhinus lanceolatus | |
Mount Victoria babax | Pterorhinus woodi | |
White-browed laughingthrush | Pterorhinus sannio |
Sylviid babblers, parrotbills, and Myzornis
Order: PasseriformesFamily: SylviidaeThe 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 name | Binomial | Comments |
Fire-tailed myzornis | Myzornis pyrrhoura | |
Garden warbler | Sylvia borin | |
Barred warbler | Sylvia nisoria | |
Lesser whitethroat | Sylvia curruca | |
Desert whitethroat | Sylvia minula | |
Hume's whitethroat | Sylvia althaea | |
Eastern Orphean warbler | Sylvia crassirostris | |
Asian desert warbler | Sylvia nana | |
Common whitethroat | Sylvia communis | |
Golden-breasted fulvetta | Lioparus chrysotis | |
White-browed fulvetta | Fulvetta vinipectus | |
Brown-throated fulvetta | Fulvetta ludlowi | |
Manipur fulvetta | Fulvetta manipurensis | |
Yellow-eyed babbler | Chrysomma sinense | |
Jerdon's babbler | Chrysomma altirostre | Vulnerable |
Great parrotbill | Conostoma aemodium | |
Brown parrotbill | Cholornis unicolor | |
Fulvous parrotbill | Suthora fulvifrons | |
Black-throated parrotbill | Suthora nipalensis | |
Pale-billed parrotbill | Chleuasicus atrosuperciliaris | |
White-breasted parrotbill | Psittiparus ruficeps | |
Rufous-headed parrotbill | Psittiparus bakeri | |
Grey-headed parrotbill | Psittiparus gularis | |
Black-breasted parrotbill | Paradoxornis flavirostris | Vulnerable |
Spot-breasted parrotbill | Paradoxornis guttaticollis |
White-eyes
Order: PasseriformesFamily: ZosteropidaeThe 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 name | Binomial | Comments |
Striated yuhina | Yuhina castaniceps | |
White-naped yuhina | Yuhina bakeri | |
Whiskered yuhina | Yuhina flavicollis | |
Stripe-throated yuhina | Yuhina gularis | |
Rufous-vented yuhina | Yuhina occipitalis | |
Black-chinned yuhina | Yuhina nigrimenta | |
Chestnut-flanked white-eye | Zosterops erythropleurus | |
Indian white-eye | Zosterops palpebrosus |
Fairy-bluebirds
Order: PasseriformesFamily: IrenidaeThe 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 name | Binomial | Comments |
Asian fairy-bluebird | Irena puella |
Goldcrests and kinglets
Order: PasseriformesFamily: RegulidaeThe 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: ElachuridaeThis species, the only one in its family, inhabits forest undergrowth throughout South East Asia.
Common name | Binomial | Comments |
Spotted elachura | Elachura formosa |
Wrens
Order: PasseriformesFamily: TroglodytidaeThe 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 name | Binomial | Comments |
Eurasian wren | Troglodytes troglodytes |
Nuthatches
Order: PasseriformesFamily: SittidaeNuthatches 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 name | Binomial | Comments |
Chestnut-vented nuthatch | Sitta nagaensis | |
Kashmir nuthatch | Sitta cashmirensis | |
Indian nuthatch | Sitta castanea | |
Chestnut-bellied nuthatch | Sitta cinnamoventris | |
White-tailed nuthatch | Sitta himalayensis | |
Yunnan nuthatch | Sitta yunnanensis | |
White-cheeked nuthatch | Sitta leucopsis | |
Przevalski's nuthatch | Sitta przewalskii | |
Velvet-fronted nuthatch | Sitta frontalis | |
Beautiful nuthatch | Sitta formosa |
Wallcreeper
Order: PasseriformesFamily: TichodromidaeThe wallcreeper is a small bird related to the nuthatch family, which has stunning crimson, grey and black plumage.
Common name | Binomial | Comments |
Wallcreeper | Tichodroma muraria |
Treecreepers
Order: PasseriformesFamily: CerthiidaeTreecreepers 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 name | Binomial | Comments |
Hodgson's treecreeper | Certhia hodgsoni | |
Bar-tailed treecreeper | Certhia himalayana | |
Rusty-flanked treecreeper | Certhia nipalensis | |
Sikkim treecreeper | Certhia discolor | |
Hume's treecreeper | Certhia manipurensis | |
Indian spotted creeper | Salpornis spilonota |
Starlings and Rhabdornis
Order: PasseriformesFamily: SturnidaeStarlings 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 name | Binomial | Comments |
Asian glossy starling | Aplonis panayensis | |
Spot-winged starling | Saroglossa spilopterus | |
Golden-crested myna | Ampeliceps coronatus | |
Common hill myna | Gracula religiosa | |
Southern hill myna | Gracula indica | |
Great myna | Acridotheres grandis | |
Jungle myna | Acridotheres fuscus | |
Collared myna | Acridotheres albocinctus | |
Bank myna | Acridotheres ginginianus | |
Common myna | Acridotheres tristis | |
White-cheeked starling | Spodiopsar cineraceus | |
Pied myna | Gracupica contra | |
Daurian starling | Agropsar sturninus | |
Chestnut-cheeked starling | Agropsar philippensis | |
Chestnut-tailed starling | Sturnia malabarica | |
White-headed starling | Sturnia erythropygia | |
Malabar starling | Sturnia blythii | |
Brahminy starling | Sturnia pagodarum | |
Rosy starling | Pastor roseus | |
Common starling | Sturnus vulgaris |
Thrushes
Order: PasseriformesFamily: TurdidaeThe 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 name | Binomial | Comments |
Pied thrush | Geokichla wardii | |
Orange-headed thrush | Geokichla citrina | |
Siberian thrush | Geokichla sibirica | |
Alpine thrush | Zoothera mollissima | |
Himalayan thrush | Zoothera salimalii | |
Long-tailed thrush | Zoothera dixoni | |
Scaly thrush | Zoothera dauma | |
Nilgiri thrush | Zoothera neilgherriensis | |
Long-billed thrush | Zoothera monticola | |
Dark-sided thrush | Zoothera marginata | |
Grandala | Grandala coelicolor | |
Tickell's thrush | Turdus unicolor | |
Black-breasted thrush | Turdus dissimilis | |
White-collared blackbird | Turdus albocinctus | |
Grey-winged blackbird | Turdus boulboul | |
Tibetan blackbird | Turdus maximus | |
Indian blackbird | Turdus simillimus | |
Chestnut thrush | Turdus rubrocanus | |
Kessler's thrush | Turdus kessleri | |
Grey-sided thrush | Turdus feae | |
Eyebrowed thrush | Turdus obscurus | |
Black-throated thrush | Turdus atrogularis | |
Red-throated thrush | Turdus ruficollis | |
Naumann's thrush | Turdus naumanni | |
Dusky thrush | Turdus euonomus | |
Fieldfare | Turdus pilaris | |
Song thrush | Turdus philomelos | |
Chinese thrush | Turdus mupinensis | |
Mistle thrush | Turdus viscivorus | |
Purple cochoa | Cochoa purpurea | |
Green cochoa | Cochoa viridis |
Chats and Old World flycatchers
Order: PasseriformesFamily: MuscicapidaeOld 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 name | Binomial | Comments |
Rufous-tailed scrub robin | Cercotrichas galactotes | |
Indian robin | Copsychus fulicatus | |
Oriental magpie-robin | Copsychus saularis | |
White-rumped shama | Copsychus malabaricus | |
Andaman shama | Copsychus albiventris | |
White-crowned shama | Copsychus stricklandii | |
Spotted flycatcher | Muscicapa striata | |
Dark-sided flycatcher | Muscicapa sibirica | |
Asian brown flycatcher | Muscicapa dauurica | |
Brown-breasted flycatcher | Muscicapa muttui | |
Ferruginous flycatcher | Muscicapa ferruginea | |
White-gorgeted flycatcher | Anthipes monileger | |
Pale blue flycatcher | Cyornis unicolor | |
White-bellied blue flycatcher | Cyornis pallidipes | |
Pale-chinned blue flycatcher | Cyornis poliogenys | |
Hill blue flycatcher | Cyornis banyumas | |
Large blue flycatcher | Cyornis magnirostris | |
Tickell's blue flycatcher | Cyornis tickelliae | |
Blue-throated flycatcher | Cyornis rubeculoides | |
White-tailed flycatcher | Cyornis concretus | |
Nicobar jungle flycatcher | Cyornis nicobaricus | |
Rufous-bellied niltava | Niltava sundara | |
Vivid niltava | Niltava vivida | |
Large niltava | Niltava grandis | |
Small niltava | Niltava macgrigoriae | |
Blue-and-white flycatcher | Cyanoptila cyanomelana | |
Zappey's flycatcher | Cyanoptila cumatilis | |
Verditer flycatcher | Eumyias thalassinus | |
Nilgiri flycatcher | Eumyias albicaudatus | |
Gould's shortwing | Heteroxenicus stellatus | |
Rusty-bellied shortwing | Brachypteryx hyperythra | |
Lesser shortwing | Brachypteryx leucophris | |
Himalayan shortwing | Brachypteryx cruralis | |
Indian blue robin | Larvivora brunnea | |
Siberian blue robin | Larvivora cyane | |
Bluethroat | Luscinia svecica | |
White-bellied redstart | Luscinia phoenicuroides | |
Himalayan rubythroat | Calliope pectoralis | |
Chinese rubythroat | Calliope tschebaiewi | |
Siberian rubythroat | Calliope calliope | |
Firethroat | Calliope pectardens | |
White-tailed robin | Myiomela leucura | |
Nilgiri blue robin | Sholicola major | |
White-bellied blue robin | Sholicola albiventris | |
White-browed bush robin | Tarsiger indicus | |
Rufous-breasted bush robin | Tarsiger hyperythrus | |
Red-flanked bluetail | Tarsiger cyanurus | |
Himalayan bluetail | Tarsiger rufilatus | |
Golden bush robin | Tarsiger chrysaeus | |
Little forktail | Enicurus scouleri | |
Black-backed forktail | Enicurus immaculatus | |
Slaty-backed forktail | Enicurus schistaceus | |
White-crowned forktail | Enicurus leschenaulti | |
Spotted forktail | Enicurus maculatus | |
Malabar whistling thrush | Myophonus horsfieldii | |
Blue whistling thrush | Myophonus caeruleus | |
Blue-fronted robin | Cinclidium frontale | |
Rusty-tailed flycatcher | Ficedula ruficauda | |
Yellow-rumped flycatcher | Ficedula zanthopygia | |
Mugimaki flycatcher | Ficedula mugimaki | |
Slaty-backed flycatcher | Ficedula erithacus | |
Rufous-gorgeted flycatcher | Ficedula strophiata | |
Red-breasted flycatcher | Ficedula parva | |
Taiga flycatcher | Ficedula albicilla | |
Kashmir flycatcher | Ficedula subrubra | |
Snowy-browed flycatcher | Ficedula hyperythra | |
Little pied flycatcher | Ficedula westermanni | |
Ultramarine flycatcher | Ficedula superciliaris | |
Slaty-blue flycatcher | Ficedula tricolor | |
Sapphire flycatcher | Ficedula sapphira | |
Black-and-orange flycatcher | Ficedula nigrorufa | |
Pygmy flycatcher | Muscicapella hodgsoni | |
Eversmann's redstart | Phoenicurus erythronotus | |
Blue-capped redstart | Phoenicurus coeruleocephala | |
Black redstart | Phoenicurus ochruros | |
Common redstart | Phoenicurus phoenicurus | |
Hodgson's redstart | Phoenicurus hodgsoni | |
White-throated redstart | Phoenicurus schisticeps | |
Daurian redstart | Phoenicurus auroreus | |
Güldenstädt's redstart | Phoenicurus erythrogastrus | |
Blue-fronted redstart | Phoenicurus frontalis | |
Plumbeous water redstart | Phoenicurus fuliginosus | |
White-capped redstart | Phoenicurus leucocephalus | |
Common rock thrush | Monticola saxatilis | |
Blue rock thrush | Monticola solitarius | |
Chestnut-bellied rock thrush | Monticola rufiventris | |
Blue-capped rock thrush | Monticola cinclorhyncha | |
White-browed bush chat | Saxicola macrorhynchus | |
White-throated bush chat | Saxicola insignis | |
Siberian stonechat | Saxicola maurus | |
Stejneger's stonechat | Saxicola stejnegeri | |
White-tailed stonechat | Saxicola leucurus | |
Pied bush chat | Saxicola caprata | |
Jerdon's bush chat | Saxicola jerdoni | |
Grey bush chat | Saxicola ferreus | |
Northern wheatear | Oenanthe oenanthe | |
Isabelline wheatear | Oenanthe isabellina | |
Desert wheatear | Oenanthe deserti | |
Pied wheatear | Oenanthe pleschanka | |
Brown rock chat | Oenanthe fusca | |
Variable wheatear | Oenanthe picata | |
Hume's wheatear | Oenanthe albonigra | |
Finsch's wheatear | Oenanthe finschii | |
Red-tailed wheatear | Oenanthe chrysopygia |
Dippers
Order: PasseriformesFamily: CinclidaeDippers 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 name | Binomial | Comments |
White-throated dipper | Cinclus cinclus | |
Brown dipper | Cinclus pallasii |
Leafbirds
Order: PasseriformesFamily: ChloropseidaeThe leafbirds are small, bulbul-like birds. The males are brightly plumaged, usually in greens and yellows.
Common name | Binomial | Comments |
Jerdon's leafbird | Chloropsis jerdoni | |
Golden-fronted leafbird | Chloropsis aurifrons | |
Orange-bellied leafbird | Chloropsis hardwickii |
Flowerpeckers
Order: PasseriformesFamily: DicaeidaeThe flowerpeckers are very small, stout, often brightly coloured birds, with short tails, short thick curved bills and tubular tongues.
Common name | Binomial | Comments |
Thick-billed flowerpecker | Dicaeum agile | |
Yellow-vented flowerpecker | Dicaeum chrysorrheum | |
Yellow-bellied flowerpecker | Dicaeum melanozanthum | |
Pale-billed flowerpecker | Dicaeum erythrorhynchos | |
Nilgiri flowerpecker | Dicaeum concolor | |
Plain flowerpecker | Dicaeum minullum | |
Andaman flowerpecker | Dicaeum virescens | |
Fire-breasted flowerpecker | Dicaeum ignipectus | |
Scarlet-backed flowerpecker | Dicaeum cruentatum |
Sunbirds
Order: PasseriformesFamily: NectariniidaeThe 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 name | Binomial | Comments |
Ruby-cheeked sunbird | Chalcoparia singalensis | |
Purple-rumped sunbird | Leptocoma zeylonica | |
Crimson-backed sunbird | Leptocoma minima | |
Van Hasselt's sunbird | Leptocoma brasiliana | |
Purple sunbird | Cinnyris asiaticus | |
Olive-backed sunbird | Cinnyris jugularis | |
Loten's sunbird | Cinnyris lotenius | |
Mrs. Gould's sunbird | Aethopyga gouldiae | |
Green-tailed sunbird | Aethopyga nipalensis | |
Black-throated sunbird | Aethopyga saturata | |
Crimson sunbird | Aethopyga siparaja | |
Vigors's sunbird | Aethopyga vigorsii | |
Fire-tailed sunbird | Aethopyga ignicauda | |
Little spiderhunter | Arachnothera longirostra | |
Streaked spiderhunter | Arachnothera magna |
Old World sparrows and snowfinches
Order: PasseriformesFamily: PasseridaeSparrows 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 name | Binomial | Comments |
House sparrow | Passer domesticus | |
Spanish sparrow | Passer hispaniolensis | |
Sind sparrow | Passer pyrrhonotus | |
Russet sparrow | Passer cinnamomeus | |
Eurasian tree sparrow | Passer montanus | |
Pale rockfinch | Carpospiza brachydactyla | |
Rock sparrow | Petronia petronia | |
Yellow-throated sparrow | Gymnoris xanthocollis | |
Black-winged snowfinch | Montifringilla adamsi | |
White-rumped snowfinch | Onychostruthus taczanowskii | |
Rufous-necked snowfinch | Pyrgilauda ruficollis | |
Blanford's snowfinch | Pyrgilauda blanfordi |
Weavers and widowbirds
Order: PasseriformesFamily: PloceidaeThe 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 name | Binomial | Comments |
Black-breasted weaver | Ploceus benghalensis | |
Streaked weaver | Ploceus manyar | |
Baya weaver | Ploceus philippinus | |
Finn's weaver | Ploceus megarhynchus |
Waxbills, munias, and allies
Order: PasseriformesFamily: EstrildidaeThe 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 name | Binomial | Comments |
Red avadavat | Amandava amandava | |
Green avadavat | Amandava formosa | |
Indian silverbill | Euodice malabarica | |
White-rumped munia | Lonchura striata | |
Scaly-breasted munia | Lonchura punctulata | |
Black-throated munia | Lonchura kelaarti | |
Tricoloured munia | Lonchura malacca | |
Chestnut munia | Lonchura atricapilla |
Accentors
Order: PasseriformesFamily: PrunellidaeThe 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 name | Binomial | Comments |
Alpine accentor | Prunella collaris | |
Altai accentor | Prunella himalayana | |
Robin accentor | Prunella rubeculoides | |
Rufous-breasted accentor | Prunella strophiata | |
Brown accentor | Prunella fulvescens | |
Black-throated accentor | Prunella atrogularis | |
Maroon-backed accentor | Prunella immaculata |
Wagtails and pipits
Order: PasseriformesFamily: MotacillidaeMotacillidae 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 name | Binomial | Comments |
Forest wagtail | Dendronanthus indicus | |
Western yellow wagtail | Motacilla flava | |
Eastern yellow wagtail | Motacilla tschutschensis | |
Citrine wagtail | Motacilla citreola | |
Grey wagtail | Motacilla cinerea | |
White wagtail | Motacilla alba | |
White-browed wagtail | Motacilla maderaspatensis | |
Richard's pipit | Anthus richardi | |
Paddyfield pipit | Anthus rufulus | |
Blyth's pipit | Anthus godlewskii | |
Tawny pipit | Anthus campestris | |
Long-billed pipit | Anthus similis | |
Tree pipit | Anthus trivialis | |
Olive-backed pipit | Anthus hodgsoni | |
Rosy pipit | Anthus roseatus | |
Red-throated pipit | Anthus cervinus | |
Buff-bellied pipit | Anthus rubescens | |
Water pipit | Anthus spinoletta | |
Nilgiri pipit | Anthus nilghiriensis | |
Upland pipit | Anthus sylvanus |
Finches and euphonias
Order: PasseriformesFamily: FringillidaeFinches 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 name | Binomial | Comments |
Common chaffinch | Fringilla coelebs | |
Brambling | Fringilla montifringilla | |
Black-and-yellow grosbeak | Mycerobas icterioides | |
Collared grosbeak | Mycerobas affinis | |
Spot-winged grosbeak | Mycerobas melanozanthos | |
White-winged grosbeak | Mycerobas carnipes | |
Hawfinch | Coccothraustes coccothraustes | |
Brown bullfinch | Pyrrhula nipalensis | |
Orange bullfinch | Pyrrhula aurantiaca | |
Red-headed bullfinch | Pyrrhula erythrocephala | |
Grey-headed bullfinch | Pyrrhula erythaca | |
Asian crimson-winged finch | Rhodopechys sanguineus | |
Trumpeter finch | Bucanetes githaginea | |
Mongolian finch | Bucanetes mongolicus | |
Blanford's rosefinch | Agraphospiza rubescens | |
Spectacled finch | Callacanthis burtoni | |
Golden-naped finch | Pyrrhoplectes epauletta | |
Dark-breasted rosefinch | Procarduelis nipalensis | |
Plain mountain finch | Leucosticte nemoricola | |
Brandt's mountain finch | Leucosticte brandti | |
Common rosefinch | Carpodacus erythrinus | |
Scarlet finch | Carpodacus sipahi | |
Streaked rosefinch | Carpodacus rubicilloides | |
Great rosefinch | Carpodacus rubicilla | |
Blyth's rosefinch | Carpodacus grandis | |
Himalayan beautiful rosefinch | Carpodacus pulcherrimus | |
Pink-rumped rosefinch | Carpodacus waltoni | |
Pink-browed rosefinch | Carpodacus rodochroa | |
Dark-rumped rosefinch | Carpodacus edwardsii | |
Spot-winged rosefinch | Carpodacus rodopeplus | |
Vinaceous rosefinch | Carpodacus vinaceus | |
Pale rosefinch | Carpodacus stoliczkae | |
Himalayan white-browed rosefinch | Carpodacus thura | |
Chinese white-browed rosefinch | Carpodacus dubius | |
Red-fronted rosefinch | Carpodacus puniceus | |
Crimson-browed finch | Carpodacus subhimachalus | |
European greenfinch | Chloris chloris | |
Yellow-breasted greenfinch | Chloris spinoides | |
Black-headed greenfinch | Chloris ambigua | |
Desert finch | Rhodospiza obsoleta | |
Twite | Linaria flavirostris | |
Common linnet | Linaria cannabina | |
Red crossbill | Loxia curvirostra | |
European goldfinch | Carduelis carduelis | |
Red-fronted serin | Serinus pusillus | |
Tibetan serin | Spinus thibetanus | |
Eurasian siskin | Spinus spinus |
Buntings
Order: PasseriformesFamily: EmberizidaeThe 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 name | Binomial | Comments |
Crested bunting | Emberiza lathami | |
Yellowhammer | Emberiza citrinella | |
Pine bunting | Emberiza leucocephalos | |
Rock bunting | Emberiza cia | |
Godlewski's bunting | Emberiza godlewskii | |
White-capped bunting | Emberiza stewarti | |
Grey-necked bunting | Emberiza buchanani | |
Ortolan bunting | Emberiza hortulana | |
Striolated bunting | Emberiza striolata | |
Tristram's bunting | Emberiza tristrami | |
Chestnut-eared bunting | Emberiza fucata | |
Little bunting | Emberiza pusilla | |
Yellow-browed bunting | Emberiza chrysophrys | |
Rustic bunting | Emberiza rustica | |
Yellow-breasted bunting | Emberiza aureola | |
Chestnut bunting | Emberiza rutila | |
Black-headed bunting | Emberiza melanocephala | |
Red-headed bunting | Emberiza bruniceps | |
Black-faced bunting | Emberiza spodocephala | |
Common reed bunting | Emberiza schoeniclus |