Order: Galliformes Family: Megapodiidae
The Megapodiidae are stocky, medium-large chicken-like birds with small heads and large feet. All but the malleefowl occupy jungle habitats and most have brown or black colouring. There are 21 species worldwide and 1 species within India.
Nicobar scrubfowl, Megapodius nicobariensis (E)
Pheasants and partridges
Order: Galliformes Family: Phasianidae
The Phasianidae are a family of terrestrial birds which consists of quails, partridges, snowcocks, francolins, spurfowl, tragopans, monals, pheasants, peafowls and jungle fowls. In general, they are plump (although they vary in size) and have broad, relatively short wings. There are 156 species worldwide and 46 species which occur in India.
Snow partridge, Lerwa lerwa
Tibetan snowcock, Tetraogallus tibetanus
Himalayan snowcock, Tetraogallus himalayensis
Chukar partridge, Alectoris chukar
Black francolin, Francolinus francolinus
Painted francolin, Francolinus pictus
Chinese francolin, Francolinus pintadeanus
Grey francolin, Francolinus pondicerianus
Swamp francolin, Francolinus gularis
Tibetan partridge, Perdix hodgsoniae
Himalayan quail, Ophrysia superciliosa (E) (Probably extinct )
Japanese quail, Coturnix japonica (A)
Common quail, Coturnix coturnix
Rain quail, Coturnix coromandelica
Blue-breasted quail, Coturnix chinensis
Jungle bush quail, Perdicula asiatica
Rock bush quail, Perdicula argoondah (E)
Painted bush quail, Perdicula erythrorhyncha (E)
Manipur bush quail, Perdicula manipurensis (E)
Hill partridge, Arborophila torqueola
Chestnut-breasted partridge, Arborophila mandellii
Rufous-throated partridge, Arborophila rufogularis
White-cheeked partridge, Arborophila atrogularis
Mountain bamboo partridge, Bambusicola fytchii
Red spurfowl, Galloperdix spadicea (E)
Painted spurfowl, Galloperdix lunulata (E)
Blood pheasant, Ithaginis cruentus
Western tragopan, Tragopan melanocephalus
Satyr tragopan, Tragopan satyra
Blyth's tragopan, Tragopan blythii
Temminck's tragopan, Tragopan temminckii
Koklass pheasant, Pucrasia macrolopha
Himalayan monal, Lophophorus impejanus
Sclater's monal, Lophophorus sclateri
Red junglefowl, Gallus gallus
Grey junglefowl, Gallus sonneratii (E)
Kalij pheasant, Lophura leucomelanos
Cheer pheasant, Catreus wallichii
Mrs. Hume's pheasant, Syrmaticus humiae
Grey peacock-pheasant, Polyplectron bicalcaratum
Indian peafowl, Pavo cristatus
Green peafowl, Pavo muticus
Ducks, geese and swans
Order: Anseriformes Family: Anatidae
Anatidae includes the ducks and most duck-like waterfowl, such as geese and swans. These birds are adapted to an aquatic existence with webbed feet, flattened bills, and feathers that are excellent at shedding water due to an oily coating. There are 131 species worldwide and 42 species which occur in India.
Fulvous whistling duck, Dendrocygna bicolor
Lesser whistling duck, Dendrocygna javanica
White-headed duck, Oxyura leucocephala
Bean goose, Anser fabalis (A)
Greater white-fronted goose, Anser albifrons
Lesser white-fronted goose, Anser erythropus (A)
Greylag goose, Anser anser
Bar-headed goose, Anser indicus
Red-breasted goose, Branta ruficollis (A)
Ruddy shelduck, Tadorna ferruginea
Common shelduck, Tadorna tadorna
White-winged duck, Asarcornis scutulata
Knob-billed duck, Sarkidiornis melanotos
Cotton pygmy goose, Nettapus coromandelianus
Mandarin duck, Aix galericulata (A)
Eurasian wigeon, Anas penelope
Falcated duck, Anas falcata
Gadwall, Anas strepera
Baikal teal, Anas formosa
Eurasian teal, Anas crecca
Andaman teal, Anas albogularis
Mallard, Anas platyrhynchos
Spot-billed duck, Anas poecilorhyncha
Chinese spot-billed duck, Anas zonorhyncha (A)
Northern pintail, Anas acuta
Garganey, Anas querquedula
Northern shoveler, Anas clypeata
Marbled teal, Marmaronetta angustirostris
Red-crested pochard, Netta rufina
Pink-headed duck, Netta caryophyllacea (Ex)
Common pochard, Aythya ferina
Ferruginous pochard, Aythya nyroca
Baer's pochard, Aythya baeri
Tufted duck, Aythya fuligula
Greater scaup, Aythya marila
Long-tailed duck, Clangula hyemalis (A)
Common goldeneye, Bucephala clangula
Smew, Mergellus albellus
Common merganser, Mergus merganser
Tundra swan, Cygnus columbianus (A) (race bewickii sometimes treated as a species)
Mute swan, Cygnus olor (A)
Whooper swan, Cygnus cygnus (A)
Order: Gaviiformes Family: Gaviidae
Loons, known as "divers", in Europe, are a group of aquatic birds found in northern North America and northern Eurasia. They are the size of a large duck or small goose, which they somewhat resemble when swimming, but to which they are completely unrelated. There are 5 species worldwide and 2 species which occur in India.
Black-throated loon (Gavia arctica) (A)
Red-throated loon (Gavia stellata) (A)
Shearwaters and petrels
Order: Procellariiformes Family: Procellariidae
The procellariids are the main group of medium-sized "true petrels", characterised by united nostrils with medium septum and a long outer functional primary. There are 75 species worldwide and 9 species which occur in India.
Cape petrel, Daption capense (A)
Barau's petrel, Pterodroma baraui (A)
Wedge-tailed shearwater, Ardenna pacificus (A)
Flesh-footed shearwater, Ardenna carneipes
Short-tailed shearwater, Ardenna tenuirostris (A)
Streaked shearwater, Calonectris leucomelas (A)
Cory's shearwater, Calonectris borealis (A)
Tropical shearwater, Puffinus bailloni (A)
Persian shearwater, Puffinus persicus (A)
Jouanin's petrel, Bulweria fallax (A)
Order: Procellariiformes Family: Hydrobatidae
The storm petrels are relatives of the petrels and are the smallest seabirds. They feed on planktonic crustaceans and small fish picked from the surface, typically while hovering. The flight is fluttering and sometimes bat-like. There are 21 species worldwide and 4 species which occur in India.
Wilson's storm petrel, Oceanites oceanicus
White-faced storm petrel, Pelagodroma marina (A)
Black-bellied storm petrel, Fregetta tropica (A)
Swinhoe's storm petrel, Oceanodroma monorhis
Order: Podicipediformes Family: Podicipedidae
Grebes are small to medium-large freshwater diving birds. They have lobed toes and are excellent swimmers and divers. However, they have their feet placed far back on the body, making them quite ungainly on land. There are 20 species worldwide and 5 species which occur in India.
Little grebe, Tachybaptus ruficollis
Red-necked grebe, Podiceps grisegena (A) (Pong dam, Rajkot,)
Great crested grebe, Podiceps cristatus
Horned grebe, Podiceps auritus (A)
Black-necked grebe, Podiceps nigricollis
Order: Phoenicopteriformes Family: Phoenicopteridae
Flamingos are gregarious wading birds, usually 3 to 5 feet (0.9 to 1.5 m) 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 6 species worldwide and 2 species which occur in India.
Greater flamingo, Phoenicopterus roseus
Lesser flamingo, Phoenicopterus minor
Order: Phaethontiformes Family: Phaethontidae
Tropicbirds are slender white birds of tropical oceans, with exceptionally long central tail feathers. Their heads and long wings have black markings.
Red-billed tropicbird, Phaethon aethereus
Red-tailed tropicbird, Phaethon rubricauda (A)
White-tailed tropicbird, Phaethon lepturus (A)
Order: Ciconiiformes Family: Ciconiidae
Storks are large, long-legged, long-necked, wading birds with long, stout bills. Storks are mute, but bill-clattering is an important mode of communication at the nest. Their nests can be large and may be reused for many years. Many species are migratory.
Painted stork, Mycteria leucocephala
Asian openbill, Anastomus oscitans
Black stork, Ciconia nigra
Woolly-necked stork, Ciconia episcopus
White stork, Ciconia ciconia
Black-necked stork, Ephippiorhynchus asiaticus
Lesser adjutant, Leptoptilos javanicus
Greater adjutant, Leptoptilos dubius
Ibises and spoonbills
Order: Pelecaniformes Family: Threskiornithidae
Threskiornithidae is a family of large terrestrial and wading birds which includes the ibises and spoonbills. They have long, broad wings with 11 primary and about 20 secondary feathers. They are strong fliers and despite their size and weight, very capable soarers.
Black-headed ibis, Threskiornis melanocephalus
Red-naped ibis, Pseudibis papillosa
Glossy ibis, Plegadis falcinellus
Eurasian spoonbill, Platalea leucorodia
Bitterns, herons and egrets
Order: Pelecaniformes Family: Ardeidae
The family Ardeidae contains the bitterns, herons and egrets. Herons and egrets are medium to large wading birds with long necks and legs. Bitterns tend to be shorter necked and more wary. Members of Ardeidae fly with their necks retracted, unlike other long-necked birds such as storks, ibises and spoonbills.
Grey heron, Ardea cinerea
White-bellied heron, Ardea insignis
Goliath heron, Ardea goliath
Purple heron, Ardea purpurea
Eastern great egret, Ardea modesta
Intermediate egret, Egretta intermedia
Western reef heron, Egretta gularis
Little egret, Egretta garzetta
Pacific reef heron, Egretta sacra
Chinese egret, Egretta eulophotes (A)
Indian pond heron, Ardeola grayii
Chinese pond heron, Ardeola bacchus
Cattle egret, Bubulcus ibis coromandus (Treated as a full species Bubulcus coromandus by Rasmussen and Anderton, 2005 and sometimes called the eastern cattle egret)
Striated heron, Butorides striata
Black-crowned night heron, Nycticorax nycticorax
Malayan night heron, Gorsachius melanolophus
Yellow bittern, Ixobrychus sinensis
Little bittern, Ixobrychus minutus
Cinnamon bittern, Ixobrychus cinnamomeus
Black bittern, Ixobrychus flavicollis
Great bittern, Botaurus stellaris
Order: Pelecaniformes Family: Pelecanidae
Pelicans are large water birds with a distinctive pouch under their beak. As with other members of the order Pelecaniformes, they have webbed feet with four toes. There are 8 species worldwide and 3 species which occur in India.
Great white pelican, Pelecanus onocrotalus
Spot-billed pelican, Pelecanus philippensis
Dalmatian pelican, Pelecanus crispus
Order: Suliformes Family: Fregatidae
Frigatebirds are large seabirds usually found over tropical oceans. They are large, black-and-white or completely black, with long wings and deeply forked tails. The males have coloured inflatable throat pouches. They do not swim or walk and cannot take off from a flat surface. Having the largest wingspan-to-body-weight ratio of any bird, they are essentially aerial, able to stay aloft for more than a week.
Christmas frigatebird, Fregata andrewsi (A)
Great frigatebird, Fregata minor
Lesser frigatebird, Fregata ariel
Boobies and gannets
Order: Suliformes Family: Sulidae
The sulids comprise the gannets and boobies. Both groups are medium to large coastal seabirds that plunge-dive for fish.
Masked booby, Sula dactylatra
Red-footed booby, Sula sula (A)
Brown booby, Sula leucogaster (A)
Order: Suliformes Family: Phalacrocoracidae
Phalacrocoracidae is a family of medium to large coastal, fish-eating seabirds that includes cormorants and shags. Plumage colouration varies, with the majority having mainly dark plumage, some species being black-and-white and a few being colourful.
Indian cormorant, Phalacrocorax fuscicollis
Great cormorant, Phalacrocorax carbo
Little cormorant, Microcarbo niger
Order: Suliformes Family: Anhingidae
Darters are often called "snake-birds" because of their long thin neck, which gives a snake-like appearance when they swim with their bodies submerged. The males have black and dark-brown plumage, an erectile crest on the nape and a larger bill than the female. The females have much paler plumage especially on the neck and underparts. The darters have completely webbed feet and their legs are short and set far back on the body. Their plumage is somewhat permeable, like that of cormorants, and they spread their wings to dry after diving.
Oriental darter, Anhinga melanogaster
Order: Accipitriformes Family: Pandionidae
The Pandionidae family contains only one species, the osprey. The osprey is a medium-large raptor which is a specialist fish-eater with a worldwide distribution.
Osprey, Pandion haliaetus
Hawks, kites and eagles
Order: Accipitriformes Family: Accipitridae
Accipitridae is a family of birds of prey, which includes hawks, eagles, kites, harriers and Old World vultures. These birds have powerful hooked beaks for tearing flesh from their prey, strong legs, powerful talons and keen eyesight.
Jerdon's baza, Aviceda jerdoni
Black baza, Aviceda leuphotes
Crested honey buzzard, Pernis ptilorhynchus
Black-winged kite, Elanus caeruleus
Red kite, Milvus milvus (Hypothetical according to Rasmussen and Anderton 2005) (A)
Black kite, Milvus migrans
Brahminy kite, Haliastur indus
White-bellied sea eagle, Haliaeetus leucogaster
Pallas's fish eagle, Haliaeetus leucoryphus
White-tailed eagle, Haliaeetus albicilla
Lesser fish eagle, Ichthyophaga humilis
Grey-headed fish eagle, Ichthyophaga ichthyaetus
Lammergeier, Gypaetus barbatus
Egyptian vulture, Neophron percnopterus
White-rumped vulture, Gyps bengalensis
Indian vulture, Gyps indicus
Slender-billed vulture, Gyps tenuirostris
Himalayan vulture, Gyps himalayensis
Griffon vulture, Gyps fulvus
Cinereous vulture, Aegypius monachus
Red-headed vulture, Sarcogyps calvus
Short-toed snake eagle, Circaetus gallicus
Great Nicobar serpent eagle, Spilornis klossi (E)
Crested serpent eagle, Spilornis cheela
Andaman serpent eagle, Spilornis elgini (E)
Western marsh harrier, Circus aeruginosus
Eastern marsh harrier, Circus spilonotus (A)
Northern harrier, Circus cyaneus
Pallid harrier, Circus macrourus
Pied harrier, Circus melanoleucos
Montagu's harrier, Circus pygargus
Crested goshawk, Accipiter trivirgatus
Shikra, Accipiter badius
Nicobar sparrowhawk, Accipiter butleri (E)
Chinese sparrowhawk, Accipiter soloensis
Japanese sparrowhawk, Accipiter gularis (A)
Besra, Accipiter virgatus
Eurasian sparrowhawk, Accipiter nisus
Northern goshawk, Accipiter gentilis
White-eyed buzzard, Butastur teesa
Grey-faced buzzard, Butastur indicus (A)
Eurasian buzzard, Buteo buteo (race vulpinus)
Himalayan buzzard, Buteo burmanicus (earlier treated under Buteo japonicus)
Long-legged buzzard, Buteo rufinus
Upland buzzard, Buteo hemilasius
Black eagle, Ictinaetus malaiensis
Indian spotted eagle, Clanga hastata (earlier treated as C. pomarina hastata)
Greater spotted eagle, Clanga clanga
Tawny eagle, Aquila rapax
Steppe eagle, Aquila nipalensis
Eastern imperial eagle, Aquila heliaca
Golden eagle, Aquila chrysaetos
Bonelli's eagle, Aquila fasciata
Booted eagle, Hieraaetus pennatus
Rufous-bellied hawk-eagle, Lophotriorchis kienerii
Changeable hawk-eagle, Nisaetus cirrhatus (Spizaetus restricted to the neotropics by Gjershaug et al., 2008)
Mountain hawk-eagle, Nisaetus nipalensis
Legge's hawk-eagle, Nisaetus nipalensis kelaarti
Order: Falconiformes Family: Falconidae
Falconidae is a family of diurnal birds of prey. They differ from hawks, eagles and kites in that they kill with their beaks instead of their talons. There are 62 species worldwide and 15 species which occur in India.
Collared falconet, Microhierax caerulescens
Pied falconet, Microhierax melanoleucos
Lesser kestrel, Falco naumanni
Eurasian kestrel, Falco tinnunculus
Red-necked falcon, Falco chicquera
Amur falcon, Falco amurensis
Merlin, Falco columbarius
Eurasian hobby, Falco subbuteo
Oriental hobby, Falco severus
Laggar falcon, Falco jugger
Saker falcon, Falco cherrug
Peregrine falcon, Falco peregrinus
Barbary falcon, Falco peregrinus pelegrinoides
Order: Otidiformes Family: Otididae
Bustards are large terrestrial birds mainly associated with dry open country and steppes in the Old World. They are omnivorous and nest on the ground. They walk steadily on strong legs and big toes, pecking for food as they go. They have long broad wings with "fingered" wingtips and striking patterns in flight. Many have interesting mating displays.
Great Indian bustard, Ardeotis nigriceps
MacQueen's bustard, Chlamydotis macqueenii (earlier as subspecies of houbara bustard, Chlamydotis undulata)
Bengal florican, Houbaropsis bengalensis
Lesser florican, Sypheotides indicus (syn. Eupodotis indica)
Little bustard, Tetrax tetrax (A)
Order: Gruiformes Family: Heliornithidae
Heliornithidae is a small family of tropical birds with webbed lobes on their feet similar to those of grebes and coots. There are 3 species worldwide and 1 species which occurs in India.
Masked finfoot, Heliopais personata
Rails, crakes, gallinules and coots
Order: Gruiformes Family: Rallidae
Rallidae is a large family of small to medium-sized birds which includes the rails, crakes, coots and gallinules. Typically they inhabit dense vegetation in damp environments near lakes, swamps or rivers. In general they are shy and secretive birds, making them difficult to observe. Most species have strong legs and long toes which are well adapted to soft uneven surfaces. They tend to have short, rounded wings and to be weak fliers.
Andaman crake, Rallina canningi (E)
Slaty-legged crake, Rallina eurizonoides
Slaty-breasted rail, Gallirallus striatus
Water rail, Rallus aquaticus
Brown-cheeked rail, Rallus indicus
Corn crake, Crex crex (A)
Brown crake, Amaurornis akool
White-browed crake, Amaurornis cinerea (A)
White-breasted waterhen, Amaurornis phoenicurus
Black-tailed crake, Amaurornis bicolor
Little crake, Porzana parva
Baillon's crake, Porzana pusilla
Spotted crake, Porzana porzana
Ruddy-breasted crake, Porzana fusca
Watercock, Gallicrex cinerea
Grey-headed swamphen, Porphyrio poliocephalus
Common moorhen, Gallinula chloropus
Eurasian coot, Fulica atra
Order: Gruiformes Family: Gruidae
Cranes are large, long-legged and long-necked birds. Unlike the similar-looking but unrelated herons, cranes fly with necks outstretched, not pulled back. Most have elaborate and noisy courting displays or "dances". There are 15 species worldwide and 5 species have been recorded from India.
Demoiselle crane, Anthropoides virgo
Siberian crane, Grus leucogeranus (The population that wintered in India until 2002 is believed to be extinct)
Sarus crane, Grus antigone
Common crane, Grus grus
Black-necked crane, Grus nigricollis
The hooded crane, Grus monacha was included in many older lists but is considered as hypothetical by more recent workers.(Rasmussen and Anderton, 2005)
Order: Charadriiformes Family: Turnicidae
The buttonquails 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 16 species worldwide and 3 species which occur in India.
Common buttonquail, Turnix sylvaticus
Yellow-legged buttonquail, Turnix tanki
Barred buttonquail, Turnix suscitator
Order: Charadriiformes Family: Burhinidae
Stone-curlews are a group of largely tropical waders in the family Burhinidae. They are found worldwide within the tropical zone, with some species also breeding in temperate Europe and Australia. They are medium to large waders with strong black or yellow-black bills, large yellow eyes and cryptic plumage. Despite being classed as waders, most species have a preference for arid or semi-arid habitats.
Indian stone-curlew, Burhinus indicus (Occurrence of Eurasian stone-curlew Burhinus oedicnemus in India is not established )
Great stone-curlew, Esacus recurvirostris
Beach stone-curlew, Esacus magnirostris
Order: Charadriiformes Family: Haematopodidae
The oystercatchers are large and noisy plover-like birds, with strong bills used for smashing or prising open molluscs. There are 11 species worldwide and 1 species which occurs in India.
Eurasian oystercatcher, Haematopus ostralegus
Order: Charadriiformes Family: Dromadidae
The crab-plover is related to the waders. It resembles a plover but with very long grey legs and a strong heavy black bill similar to a tern. It has black-and-white plumage, a long neck, partially webbed feet and a bill designed for eating crabs.
Crab-plover, Dromas ardeola
Order: Charadriiformes Family: Ibidorhynchidae
The ibisbill is related to the waders, but is sufficiently distinctive to be a family unto itself. The adult is grey with a white belly, red legs, a long down curved bill, and a black face and breast band.
Ibisbill, Ibidorhyncha struthersii
Avocets and stilts
Order: Charadriiformes Family: Recurvirostridae
Recurvirostridae is a family of large wading birds, which includes the avocets and stilts. The avocets have long legs and long up-curved bills. The stilts have extremely long legs and long, thin, straight bills. There are 9 species worldwide and 2 species which occur in India.
Black-winged stilt, Himantopus himantopus
Pied avocet, Recurvirostra avosetta
Plovers and lapwings
Order: Charadriiformes Family: Charadriidae
The family Charadriidae includes the plovers, dotterels and lapwings. They are small to medium-sized birds with compact bodies, short, thick necks and long, usually pointed, wings. They are found in open country worldwide, mostly in habitats near water. There are 66 species worldwide and 20 species which occur in India.
Northern lapwing, Vanellus vanellus
River lapwing, Vanellus duvaucelii
Yellow-wattled lapwing, Vanellus malabaricus
Grey-headed lapwing, Vanellus cinereus
Red-wattled lapwing, Vanellus indicus
Sociable lapwing, Vanellus gregarius
White-tailed lapwing, Vanellus leucurus
Pacific golden-plover, Pluvialis fulva
European golden-plover, Pluvialis apricaria (A)
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 (A)
Lesser sandplover, Charadrius mongolus
Greater sandplover, Charadrius leschenaultii
Caspian plover, Charadrius asiaticus
Oriental plover, Charadrius veredus (A)
Order: Charadriiformes Family: Rostratulidae
Painted-snipe are short-legged, long-billed birds similar in shape to the true snipes, but more brightly coloured. There are 2 species worldwide and 1 species which occurs in India.
Greater painted-snipe, Rostratula benghalensis
Order: Charadriiformes Family: Jacanidae
The jacanas are a group of tropical waders in the family Jacanidae. They are found throughout the tropics. They are identifiable by their huge feet and claws which enable them to walk on floating vegetation in the shallow lakes that are their preferred habitat. There 8 species worldwide and 2 species which occur in India.
Pheasant-tailed jacana, Hydrophasianus chirurgus
Bronze-winged jacana, Metopidius indicus
Sandpipers and allies
Order: Charadriiformes Family: Scolopacidae
Scolopacidae is a large diverse family of small to medium-sized shorebirds including the sandpipers, curlews, godwits, shanks, tattlers, woodcocks, snipes, dowitchers and phalaropes. The majority of these species eat small invertebrates picked out of the mud or soil. Variation in length of legs and bills enables multiple species to feed in the same habitat, particularly on the coast, without direct competition for food. There are 89 species worldwide and 43 species which occur in India.
Eurasian woodcock, Scolopax rusticola
Jack snipe, Lymnocryptes minimus
Solitary snipe, Gallinago solitaria
Wood snipe, Gallinago nemoricola
Pintail snipe, Gallinago stenura
Swinhoe's snipe, Gallinago megala
Great snipe, Gallinago media (A)
Common snipe, Gallinago gallinago
Long-billed dowitcher, Limnodromus scolopaceus (A)
Asian dowitcher, Limnodromus semipalmatus
Black-tailed godwit, Limosa limosa
also Limosa limosa melanuroides (coastal and possibly a full species according to Rasmussen and Anderton, 2005)
Bar-tailed godwit, Limosa lapponica
Whimbrel, Numenius phaeopus
Eurasian curlew, Numenius arquata
Spotted redshank, Tringa erythropus
Common redshank, Tringa totanus
Marsh sandpiper, Tringa stagnatilis
Common greenshank, Tringa nebularia
Green sandpiper, Tringa ochropus
Wood sandpiper, Tringa glareola
Terek sandpiper, Xenus cinereus
Common sandpiper, Actitis hypoleucos
Ruddy turnstone, Arenaria interpres
Great knot, Calidris tenuirostris
Red knot, Calidris canutus (A)
Sanderling, Calidris alba
Red-necked stint, Calidris ruficollis
Little stint, Calidris minuta
Temminck's stint, Calidris temminckii
Long-toed stint, Calidris subminuta
Pectoral sandpiper, Calidris melanotos (A)
Sharp-tailed sandpiper, Calidris acuminata (A)
Curlew sandpiper, Calidris ferruginea
Dunlin, Calidris alpina
Spoon-billed sandpiper, Eurynorhynchus pygmeus (A)
Broad-billed sandpiper, Limicola falcinellus
Buff-breasted sandpiper, Tryngites subruficollis (A)
Ruff, Philomachus pugnax
Red-necked phalarope, Phalaropus lobatus
Red phalarope, Phalaropus fulicarius (A)
Pratincoles and coursers
Order: Charadriiformes Family: Glareolidae
Glareolidae is a family of wading birds comprising the pratincoles, which have short legs, long pointed wings and long forked tails, and the coursers, which have long legs, short wings and long, pointed bills which curve downwards. There are 17 species worldwide and 6 species which occur in India.
Cream-coloured courser, Cursorius cursor
Indian courser, Cursorius coromandelicus
Jerdon's courser, Rhinoptilus bitorquatus (E)
Collared pratincole, Glareola pratincola
Oriental pratincole, Glareola maldivarum
Small pratincole, Glareola lactea
Order: Charadriiformes Family: Laridae
Laridae is a family of medium to large seabirds, the gulls and kittiwakes. They are typically grey or white, often with black markings on the head or wings. They have stout, longish bills and webbed feet.
White-eyed gull, Ichthyaetus leucophthalmus (A)
Sooty gull, Ichthyaetus hemprichii (A)
Pallas's gull, Ichthyaetus ichthyaetus
Brown-headed gull, Chroicocephalus brunnicephalus
Black-headed gull, Chroicocephalus ridibundus
Slender-billed gull, Chroicocephalus genei
Little gull, Hydrocoloeus minutus (A)
Franklin's gull, Leucophaeus pipixcan
Common gull, Larus canus (A)
Mongolian gull, Larus smithsonianus mongolicus (A)
Lesser black-backed gull, Larus fuscus (Occurs in India as two subspecies listed below)
Heuglin's gull, Larus fuscus heuglini
Steppe gull, Larus fuscus barabensis
Black-legged kittiwake, Rissa tridactyla (A)
Sabine's gull, Xema sabini (A)
Order: Charadriiformes Family: Sternidae
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. There are 44 species worldwide and 23 species which occur in India.
Gull-billed tern, Gelochelidon nilotica
Caspian tern, Hydroprogne caspia
Lesser crested tern, Thalasseus bengalensis
Sandwich tern, Thalasseus sandvicensis
Great crested tern, Thalasseus bergii
River tern, Sterna aurantia
Roseate tern, Sterna dougallii
Black-naped tern, Sterna sumatrana
Common tern, Sterna hirundo
Arctic tern, Sterna paradisaea (A)
White-cheeked tern, Sterna repressa
Black-bellied tern, Sterna acuticauda
Little tern, Sternula albifrons
Saunders's tern, Sternula saundersi
Bridled tern, Onychoprion anaethetus
Sooty tern, Onychoprion fuscatus
Whiskered tern, Chlidonias hybrida
White-winged tern, Chlidonias leucopterus
Black tern, Chlidonias niger (A)
Lesser noddy, Anous tenuirostris (A)
Black noddy, Anous minutus (A)
Brown noddy, Anous stolidus
White tern, Gygis alba (A)
Order: Charadriiformes Family: Rynchopidae
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. There are 3 species worldwide and 1 species which occurs in India.
Indian skimmer, Rynchops albicollis
Order: Charadriiformes Family: Stercorariidae
The family Stercorariidae are, in general, medium to large birds, typically with grey or brown plumage, often with white markings on the wings. They nest on the ground in temperate and arctic regions and are long-distance migrants. There are 7 species worldwide and 5 species which occur in India.
South polar skua, Stercorarius maccormicki (A)
Pomarine skua, Stercorarius pomarinus
Parasitic jaeger, Stercorarius parasiticus
Long-tailed jaeger, Stercorarius longicaudus (A)
Brown skua, Catharcta antarctica (A)
Sandgrouse
Order: Pterocliformes Family: Pteroclidae
Sandgrouse have small, pigeon like heads and necks, but sturdy compact bodies. They have long pointed wings and sometimes tails and a fast direct flight. Flocks fly to watering holes at dawn and dusk. Their legs are feathered down to the toes. There are 16 species worldwide and 9 species which occur in India. India has the largest number of sandgrouse of any country.
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: Columbiformes Family: Columbidae
Pigeons and doves are stout-bodied birds with short necks and short slender bills with a fleshy cere.
Rock pigeon, Columba livia
Hill pigeon, Columba rupestris
Snow pigeon, Columba leuconota
Yellow-eyed pigeon, Columba eversmanni
Common wood pigeon, Columba palumbus
Speckled wood pigeon, Columba hodgsonii
Ashy wood pigeon, Columba pulchricollis
Nilgiri wood pigeon, Columba elphinstonii (E)
Pale-capped pigeon, Columba punicea
Andaman wood pigeon, Columba palumboides (E)
European turtle dove, Streptopelia turtur (A)
Oriental turtle dove, Streptopelia orientalis
Eurasian collared dove, Streptopelia decaocto
Red collared dove, Streptopelia tranquebarica
Laughing dove, Spilopelia senegalensis
Spotted dove, Spilopelia chinensis
Barred cuckoo-dove, Macropygia unchall
Andaman cuckoo-dove, Macropygia rufipennis (E)
Emerald dove, Chalcophaps indica
Nicobar pigeon, Caloenas nicobarica
Orange-breasted green pigeon, Treron bicinctus
Pompadour green pigeon, Treron pompadora (Occurs in India as three subspecies listed below)
Grey-fronted green pigeon, Treron pompadora affinis (raised to species by Rasmussen and Anderton, 2005)
Ashy-headed green pigeon, Treron pompadora phayrei (raised to species by Rasmussen and Anderton, 2005)
Andaman green pigeon, Treron pompadora chloropterus (raised to species by Rasmussen and Anderton, 2005)
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 aenea nicobarica (raised to species by Rasmussen and Anderton, 2005)
Mountain imperial pigeon, Ducula badia
Nilgiri imperial pigeon, Ducuala badia cuprea
Pied imperial pigeon, Ducula bicolor
Parrots and allies
Order: Psittaciformes Family: Psittaculidae
Alexandrine parakeet, Psittacula eupatria
Rose-ringed parakeet, Psittacula krameri
Slaty-headed parakeet, Psittacula himalayana
Grey-headed parakeet, Psittacula finschii
Plum-headed parakeet, Psittacula cyanocephala
Blossom-headed parakeet, Psittacula roseata
Blue-winged parakeet, Psittacula columboides (E)
Red-breasted parakeet, Psittacula alexandri
Lord Derby's parakeet, Psittacula derbiana
Nicobar parakeet, Psittacula caniceps (E)
Long-tailed parakeet, Psittacula longicauda
Vernal hanging parrot, Loriculus vernalis
Order: Cuculiformes Family: Cuculidae
The family Cuculidae includes cuckoos, roadrunners and anis. These birds are of variable size with slender bodies, long tails and strong legs. Many are brood parasites. There are 138 species worldwide and 21 species which occur in India.
Pied cuckoo, Clamator jacobinus
Chestnut-winged cuckoo, Clamator coromandus
Large hawk-cuckoo, Hierococcyx sparverioides
Common hawk-cuckoo, Hierococcyx varius
Hodgson's hawk-cuckoo, Hierococcyx nisicolor
Indian cuckoo, Cuculus micropterus
Common cuckoo, Cuculus canorus
Himalayan cuckoo, Cuculus saturatus
Lesser cuckoo, Cuculus poliocephalus
Banded bay cuckoo, Cacomantis sonneratii
Plaintive cuckoo, Cacomantis merulinus
Grey-bellied cuckoo, Cacomantis passerinus
Asian emerald cuckoo, Chrysococcyx maculatus
Violet cuckoo, Chrysococcyx xanthorhynchus
Square-tailed drongo-cuckoo, Surniculus lugubris
Fork-tailed drongo-cuckoo, Surniculus dicruroides
Asian koel, Eudynamys scolopaceus
Blue-faced malkoha, Phaenicophaeus viridirostris
Green-billed malkoha, Phaenicophaeus tristis
Sirkeer malkoha, Taccocua leschenaultii
Greater coucal, Centropus sinensis
Andaman coucal, Centropus andamanensis
Lesser coucal, Centropus bengalensis
Order: Strigiformes Family: Tytonidae
Barn owls are medium to large owls with large heads and characteristic heart-shaped faces. They have long strong legs with powerful talons.
Australasian grass owl, Tyto longimembris
Barn owl, Tyto alba
Andaman masked owl, Tyto deroepstorffi (E)(raised to full species by Rasmussen and Anderton, 2005)
Oriental bay owl, Phodilus badius (Eastern Himalayas)
Sri Lanka bay owl, Phodilus assimilis (Western Ghats subspecies ripleyi in India with nominate form in Sri Lanka)
Order: Strigiformes Family: Strigidae
The typical owls are small to large solitary nocturnal birds of prey. They have large forward-facing eyes and ears, a hawk-like beak and a conspicuous circle of feathers around each eye called a facial disk.
Andaman scops owl, Otus balli (E)
Mountain scops owl, Otus spilocephalus
Indian scops owl, Otus bakkamoena
Collared scops owl, Otus lettia
Pallid scops owl, Otus brucei
Oriental scops owl, Otus sunia
Nicobar scops owl, Otus alius (E)
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 (Elevated to species by Rasmussen and Anderton, 2005)
Collared owlet, Glaucidium brodiei
Asian barred owlet, Glaucidium cuculoides
Jungle owlet, Glaucidium radiatum
Spotted owlet, Athene brama
Forest owlet, Athene blewitti (E)
Little owl, Athene noctua
Boreal owl, Aegolius funereus (A)
Andaman hawk-owl, Ninox affinis (E)
Brown hawk-owl, Ninox scutulata
Hume's hawk-owl, Ninox obscura (Elevated to species by Rasmussen and Anderton, 2005)
Long-eared owl, Asio otus
Short-eared owl, Asio flammeus
Order: Caprimulgiformes Family: Podargidae
The frogmouths are a group of nocturnal birds related to the nightjars. They are named for their large flattened hooked bill and huge frog-like gape, which they use to take insects. There are 12 species worldwide and 2 species which occur in India.
Ceylon frogmouth, Batrachostomus moniliger (ssp. roonwali in India)
Hodgson's frogmouth, Batrachostomus hodgsoni
Order: Caprimulgiformes Family: Caprimulgidae
Nightjars are medium-sized nocturnal birds that usually nest on the ground. They have long wings, short legs and very short bills. Most have small feet, of little use for walking, and long pointed wings. Their soft plumage is camouflaged to resemble bark or leaves.
Great eared-nightjar, Eurostopodus macrotis
Jungle nightjar, Caprimulgus indicus
Grey nightjar, Caprimulgus jotaka (Elevated to species by Rasmussen and Anderton, 2005)
Eurasian nightjar, Caprimulgus europaeus
Sykes's nightjar, Caprimulgus mahrattensis
Large-tailed nightjar, Caprimulgus macrurus
Andaman nightjar, Caprimulgus andamanicus (E)
Jerdon's nightjar, Caprimulgus atripennis
Indian nightjar, Caprimulgus asiaticus
Savanna nightjar, Caprimulgus affinis
Order: Apodiformes Family: Hemiprocnidae
The treeswifts, or crested swifts, are closely related to the true swifts. They differ from the other swifts in that they have crests, long forked tails and softer plumage. There are 4 species worldwide and 1 species which occurs in India.
Crested treeswift, Hemiprocne coronata
Order: Apodiformes Family: Apodidae
Swifts are small birds which spend the majority of their lives flying. These birds have very short legs and never settle voluntarily on the ground, perching instead only on vertical surfaces. Many swifts have long swept-back wings which resemble a crescent or boomerang. There are 17 species which have been recorded in India.
Glossy swiftlet, Collocalia esculenta
Indian swiftlet, Aerodramus unicolor
Himalayan swiftlet, Aerodramus brevirostris
Edible-nest swiftlet, Aerodramus fuciphagus
White-rumped needletail, 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
Blyth's swift, Apus leuconyx
Pacific swift, Apus pacificus ssp. kurodae that includes kanoi unclear status.
Dark-rumped swift, Apus acuticauda
Nepal house swift, Apus nipalensis
Indian house swift, Apus affinis (Nepal house swift, Apus nipalensis needs study per Rasmussen and Anderton, 2005)
Order: Trogoniformes Family: Trogonidae
The family Trogonidae includes trogons and quetzals. Found in tropical woodlands worldwide, they feed on insects and fruit, and their broad bills and weak legs reflect their diet and arboreal habits. Although their flight is fast, they are reluctant to fly any distance. Trogons have soft, often colourful, feathers with distinctive male and female plumage. There are 33 species worldwide and 3 species which occur in India.
Malabar trogon, Harpactes fasciatus
Red-headed trogon, Harpactes erythrocephalus
Ward's trogon, Harpactes wardi
Order: Coraciiformes Family: Coraciidae
Rollers resemble crows in size and build, but are more closely related to the kingfishers and bee-eaters. They share the colourful appearance of those groups with blues and browns predominating. The two inner front toes are connected, but the outer toe is not. There are 12 species worldwide and 3 species which occur in India.
European roller, Coracias garrulus
Indian roller, Coracias benghalensis
Dollarbird, Eurystomus orientalis.
Order: Coraciiformes Family: Alcedinidae
Kingfishers are medium-sized birds with large heads, long, pointed bills, short legs and stubby tails. There are 93 species worldwide and 13 species which occur in India.
Blyth's kingfisher, Alcedo hercules
Common kingfisher, Alcedo atthis
Blue-eared kingfisher, Alcedo meninting
Oriental dwarf kingfisher, Ceyx erithaca
Rufous-backed kingfisher, Ceyx erithaca rufidorsa (A)(Accidental from 'Sikkim terai' - included by Rasmussen and Anderton,2005)
Brown-winged kingfisher, Pelargopsis amauroptera
Stork-billed kingfisher, Pelargopsis capensis
Ruddy kingfisher, Halcyon coromanda
White-throated kingfisher, Halcyon smyrnensis
Black-capped kingfisher, Halcyon pileata
Collared kingfisher, Todirhamphus chloris
Crested kingfisher, Ceryle lugubris
Pied kingfisher, Ceryle rudis
Order: Coraciiformes Family: Meropidae
The bee-eaters are a group of near passerine birds in the family Meropidae. Most species are found in Africa but others occur in southern Europe, Madagascar, Australia and New Guinea. They are characterised by richly coloured plumage, slender bodies and usually elongated central tail feathers. All are colourful and have long downturned bills and pointed wings, which give them a swallow-like appearance when seen from afar. There are 26 species worldwide and 6 species which occur in India.
Blue-bearded bee-eater, Nyctyornis athertoni
Green bee-eater, Merops orientalis
Blue-cheeked bee-eater, Merops persicus
Blue-tailed bee-eater, Merops philippinus
European bee-eater, Merops apiaster
Chestnut-headed bee-eater, Merops leschenaulti
Order: Coraciiformes Family: Upupidae
Hoopoes have black, white and orangey-pink colouring with a large erectile crest on their head. There are 2 species worldwide and 1 species which occurs in India.
Hoopoe, Upupa epops
Order: Coraciiformes Family: Bucerotidae
Hornbills are a group of birds whose bill is shaped like a cow's horn, but without a twist, sometimes with a casque on the upper mandible. Frequently, the bill is brightly coloured.
Malabar grey hornbill, Ocyceros griseus (E)
Indian grey hornbill, Ocyceros birostris
Malabar pied hornbill, Anthracoceros coronatus
Oriental pied hornbill, Anthracoceros albirostris
Great hornbill, Buceros bicornis
Austen's brown hornbill, Anorrhinus austeni
Rufous-necked hornbill, Aceros nipalensis
Wreathed hornbill, Aceros undulatus
Narcondam hornbill, Aceros narcondami (E)
Order: Piciformes Family: Megalaimidae
The 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.
Great barbet, Psilopogon virens
Brown-headed barbet, Psilopogon zeylanicus
Lineated barbet, Psilopogon lineatus
White-cheeked barbet, Psilopogon viridis (E)
Golden-throated barbet, Psilopogon franklinii
Blue-throated barbet, Psilopogon asiaticus
Blue-eared barbet, Psilopogon duvaucelii
Malabar barbet, Psilopogon malabaricus (E)
Coppersmith barbet, Psilopogon haemacephalus
Order: Piciformes Family: Indicatoridae
Honeyguides are among the few birds that feed on wax. They are named for the greater honeyguide which leads traditional honey-hunters to bees' nests and, after the hunters have harvested the honey, feeds on the remaining contents of the hive. There are 17 species worldwide and 1 species which occurs in India.
Yellow-rumped honeyguide, Indicator xanthonotus
Woodpeckers and allies
Order: Piciformes Family: Picidae
Woodpeckers are small to medium-sized birds with chisel-like beaks, short legs, stiff tails and long tongues used for capturing insects. Some species have feet with two toes pointing forward and two backward, while several species have only three toes. Many woodpeckers have the habit of tapping noisily on tree trunks with their beaks.
Eurasian wryneck, Jynx torquilla
Speckled piculet, Picumnus innominatus
White-browed piculet, Sasia ochracea
Brown-capped pygmy woodpecker, Yungipicus nanus
Grey-capped pygmy woodpecker, Yungipicus canicapillus
Brown-fronted woodpecker, Dendrocoptes auriceps
Fulvous-breasted woodpecker, Dendrocopos macei
Stripe-breasted woodpecker, Dendrocopos atratus
Darjeeling woodpecker, Dendrocopos darjellensis
Great spotted woodpecker, Dendrocopos major
Sind woodpecker, Dendrocopos assimilis
Himalayan woodpecker, Dendrocopos himalayensis
Rufous-bellied woodpecker, Dendrocopos hyperythrus
Crimson-breasted woodpecker, Dryobates cathpharius
Rufous woodpecker, Micropternus brachyurus
Yellow-crowned woodpecker, Leiopicus mahrattensis
White-bellied woodpecker, Dryocopus javensis
Andaman woodpecker, Dryocopus hodgei (E)
Greater yellownape, Chrysophlegma flavinucha
Lesser yellownape, Picus chlorolophus
Streak-throated woodpecker, Picus xanthopygaeus
Scaly-bellied woodpecker, Picus squamatus
Grey-faced woodpecker, Picus canus
Himalayan flameback, Dinopium shorii
Common flameback, Dinopium javanense
Black-rumped flameback, Dinopium benghalense
White-naped woodpecker, Chrysocolaptes festivus
Greater flameback, Chrysocolaptes guttacristatus
Pale-headed woodpecker, Gecinulus grantia
Bay woodpecker, Blythipicus pyrrhotis
Heart-spotted woodpecker, Hemicircus canente
Great slaty woodpecker, Mulleripicus pulverulentus
Order: Passeriformes Family: Eurylaimidae
The broadbills are small, brightly coloured birds, which feed on fruit and also take insects in flycatcher fashion, snapping their broad bills. Their habitat is canopies of wet forests. There are 15 species worldwide and 2 species which occur in India.
Long-tailed broadbill, Psarisomus dalhousiae
Silver-breasted broadbill, Serilophus lunatus
Order: Passeriformes Family: Pittidae
Pittas are medium-sized by passerine standards and are stocky, with fairly long, strong legs, short tails and stout bills. Many are brightly coloured. They spend the majority of their time on wet forest floors, eating snails, insects and similar invertebrates.
Blue-naped pitta, Hydrornis nipalensis
Blue pitta, Hydrornis cyanea
Hooded pitta, Pitta sordida
Indian pitta, Pitta brachyura
Mangrove pitta, Pitta megarhyncha
Blue-winged pitta, Pitta moluccensis
Order: Passeriformes Family: Tephrodornithidae
Large woodshrike, Tephrodornis virgatus (virgatus followed here as per Dickinson & Christidis (2014) rather than gularis)
Malabar woodshrike, Tephrodornis sylvicola (E)
Common woodshrike, Tephrodornis pondicerianus
Bar-winged flycatcher-shrike, Hemipus picatus
Order: Passeriformes Family: Artamidae
The woodswallows are soft-plumaged, somber-coloured passerine birds. They are smooth, agile flyers with moderately large, semi-triangular wings. There are 11 species worldwide and 2 species which occur in India.
Ashy woodswallow, Artamus fuscus
White-breasted woodswallow, Artamus leucorynchus
Order: Passeriformes Family: Aegithinidae
The ioras are bulbul-like birds of open forest or thorn scrub, but whereas that group tends to be drab in colouration, ioras are sexually dimorphic, with the males being brightly plumaged in yellows and greens. There are 4 species worldwide and 2 species which occur in India.
Common iora, Aegithina tiphia
White-tailed iora, Aegithina nigrolutea
Order: Passeriformes Family: Campephagidae
The cuckooshrikes are small to medium-sized passerine birds. They are predominantly greyish with white and black, although some species are brightly coloured. There are 82 species worldwide and 15 species which occur in India.
Large cuckooshrike, Coracina macei
Andaman cuckooshrike, Coracina dobsoni (E) (Split by Rasmussen and Anderton, 2005 from bar-bellied cuckoo-shrike, Coracina striata)
Black-winged cuckooshrike, Coracina melaschistos
Black-headed cuckooshrike, Coracina melanoptera
Pied triller, Lalage nigra
Rosy minivet, Pericrocotus roseus
Ashy minivet, Pericrocotus divaricatus
Small minivet, Pericrocotus cinnamomeus
White-bellied minivet, Pericrocotus erythropygius
Long-tailed minivet, Pericrocotus ethologus
Short-billed minivet, Pericrocotus brevirostris
Orange minivet, Pericrocotus flammeus
Scarlet minivet, Pericrocotus speciosus (E) (Elevated by Rasmussen and Anderton, 2005)
Grey-chinned minivet, Pericrocotus solaris
Whistlers and allies
Order: Passeriformes Family: Pachycephalidae
The family Pachycephalidae includes the whistlers, shrike-thrushes, shrike-tits, pitohuis and crested bellbird. There are 57 species worldwide and 1 species which occurs in India.
Mangrove whistler, Pachycephala cinerea
Order: Passeriformes Family: Laniidae Shrikes are passerine birds known for their habit of catching other birds and small animals and impaling the uneaten portions of their bodies on thorns. A typical shrike's beak is hooked, like a bird of prey.
Woodchat shrike, Lanius senator
Red-backed shrike, Lanius collurio
Isabelline shrike, Lanius isabellinus
Red-tailed shrike, Lanius phoenicuroides (Split by Rasmussen and Anderton, 2005)
Brown shrike, Lanius cristatus
Burmese shrike, Lanius collurioides
Bay-backed shrike, Lanius vittatus
Long-tailed shrike, Lanius schach
Grey-backed shrike, Lanius tephronotus
Northern shrike, Lanius excubitor (Three subspecies occur as listed below )
Great grey shrike, Lanius excubitor homeyeri
Southern grey shrike, Lanius excubitor lahtora
Steppe grey shrike, Lanius excubitor pallidirostris
Lesser grey shrike, Lanius minor
Order: Passeriformes Family: Oriolidae
The Old World orioles are colourful passerine birds. They are not related to the New World orioles. There are 29 species worldwide and 5 species which occur in India.
Eurasian golden oriole, Oriolus oriolus
Indian golden oriole, Oriolus kundoo
Black-naped oriole, Oriolus chinensis
Slender-billed oriole, Oriolus tenuirostris
Black-hooded oriole, Oriolus xanthornus
Maroon oriole, Oriolus traillii
Order: Passeriformes Family: Dicruridae
The drongos are mostly black or dark grey in colour, sometimes with metallic tints. They have long forked tails, and some Asian species have elaborate tail decorations. They have short legs and sit very upright when perched, like a shrike. They flycatch or take prey from the ground. There are 24 species worldwide and 9 species which occur in India.
Black drongo, Dicrurus macrocercus
Ashy drongo, Dicrurus leucophaeus
White-bellied drongo, Dicrurus caerulescens
Crow-billed drongo, Dicrurus annectans
Bronzed drongo, Dicrurus aeneus
Lesser racket-tailed drongo, Dicrurus remifer
Hair-crested drongo, Dicrurus hottentottus
Andaman drongo, Dicrurus andamanensis
Greater racket-tailed drongo, Dicrurus paradiseus
Order: Passeriformes Family: Rhipiduridae
The fantails are small insectivorous birds which are specialist aerial feeders. There are 44 species worldwide and 4 species which occur in India.
White-throated fantail, Rhipidura albicollis
White-spotted fantail, Rhipidura albicollis albogularis
White-browed fantail, Rhipidura aureola
Order: Passeriformes Family: Monarchidae
The monarch flycatchers are small to medium-sized insectivorous passerines which hunt by flycatching. There are 99 species worldwide and 2 species which occur in India.
Black-naped monarch, Hypothymis azurea
Indian paradise flycatcher, Terpsiphone paradisi
Crows, jays, ravens and magpies
Order: Passeriformes Family: Corvidae
The family Corvidae includes crows, ravens, jays, choughs, magpies, treepies, nutcrackers and ground jays. Corvids are above average in size among the Passeriformes, and some of the larger species show high levels of intelligence.
Eurasian jay, Garrulus glandarius
Black-headed jay, Garrulus lanceolatus
Gold-billed magpie, Urocissa flavirostris
Red-billed blue magpie, Urocissa erythrorhyncha
Yellow-billed blue magpie, Urocissa flavirostris
Green magpie, Cissa chinensis
Rufous treepie, Dendrocitta vagabunda
Grey treepie, Dendrocitta formosae
White-bellied treepie, Dendrocitta leucogastra (E)
Collared treepie, Dendrocitta frontalis
Andaman treepie, Dendrocitta bayleyii (E)
Eurasian magpie, Pica pica
Eurasian nutcracker, Nucifraga caryocatactes
Large-spotted nutcracker, Nucifraga caryocatactes multipunctata
Red-billed chough, Pyrrhocorax pyrrhocorax
Yellow-billed chough, Pyrrhocorax graculus
Eurasian jackdaw, Corvus monedula
House crow, Corvus splendens
Rook, Corvus frugilegus
Carrion crow, Corvus corone
Hooded crow, Corvus corone cornix
Large-billed crow, Corvus macrorhynchos
Indian jungle crow, Corvus macrorhynchos culminatus
Eastern jungle crow, Corvus macrorhynchos levaillantii
Common raven, Corvus corax
Order: Passeriformes Family: Bombycillidae
The waxwings are a group of birds with soft silky plumage and unique red tips to some of the wing feathers. In the Bohemian and cedar waxwings, these tips look like sealing wax and give the group its name. These are arboreal birds of northern forests. They live on insects in summer and berries in winter. There are 3 species worldwide and 1 species which occurs in India.
Bohemian waxwing, Bombycilla garrulus
Order: Passeriformes Family: Hypocoliidae
The grey hypocolius is a small Middle Eastern bird with the shape and soft plumage of a waxwing. They are mainly a uniform grey colour except the males have a black triangular mask around their eyes.
Hypocolius, Hypocolius ampelinus
Order: Passeriformes Family: Stenostiridae
Yellow-bellied fantail, Chelidorhynx hypoxantha
Grey-headed canary-flycatcher, Culicicapa ceylonensis
Order: Passeriformes Family: Paridae
The Paridae are mainly small stocky woodland species with short stout bills. Some have crests. They are adaptable birds, with a mixed diet including seeds and insects.
Coal tit, Periparus ater
Spot-winged tit, Periparus ater melanolophus
Black-breasted tit, Periparus rufonuchalis
Rufous-vented tit, Periparus rubidiventris
Black-crested tit, Periparus melanolophus
Grey-crested tit, Lophophanes dichrous
Cinereous tit, Parus cinereus
Green-backed tit, Parus monticolus
White-winged tit, Parus nuchalis (E)
Himalayan black-lored tit, Parus xanthogenys
Indian black-lored tit, Parus xanthogenys aplonotus (
Yellow-cheeked tit, Parus spilonotus
Yellow-breasted tit, Cyanistes flavipectus
Yellow-browed tit, Sylviparus modestus
Sultan tit, Melanochlora sultanea
Hume's ground tit, Pseudopodoces humilis
Fire-capped tit, Cephalopyrus flammiceps
Order: Passeriformes Family: Remizidae
The penduline tits are a group of small passerine birds related to the true tits. They are insectivores. There is 1 species which has been recorded in India.
White-crowned penduline tit, Remiz coronatus
Order: Passeriformes Family: Alaudidae
Larks are small terrestrial birds with often extravagant songs and display flights. Most larks are fairly dull in appearance. Their food is insects and seeds.
Singing bushlark, Mirafra cantillans
Indian bushlark, Mirafra erythroptera
Bengal bushlark, Mirafra assamica
Jerdon's bushlark, Mirafra affinis
Black-crowned sparrow-lark, Eremopterix nigriceps
Ashy-crowned sparrow-lark, Eremopterix griseus
Rufous-tailed lark, Ammomanes phoenicura
Desert lark, Ammomanes deserti
Bimaculated lark, Melanocorypha bimaculata
Tibetan lark, Melanocorypha maxima
Greater short-toed lark, Calandrella brachydactyla
Mongolian short-toed lark, Calandrella dukhunensis
Hume's short-toed lark, Calandrella acutirostris
Lesser short-toed lark, Alaudala rufescens
Sand lark, Alaudala raytal
Crested lark, Galerida cristata
Malabar lark, Galerida malabarica (E)
Sykes's lark, Galerida deva (E)
Eurasian skylark, Alauda arvensis
Oriental skylark, Alauda gulgula
Horned lark, Eremophila alpestris
Greater hoopoe-lark, Alaemon alaudipes
Order: Passeriformes Family: Pycnonotidae
Bulbuls are medium-sized songbirds. Some are colourful with yellow, red or orange vents, cheeks, throats or supercilia, but most are drab, with uniform olive-brown to black plumage. Some species have distinct crests. There are 130 species worldwide and 19 species which occur in India.
Crested finchbill, Spizixos canifrons
Striated bulbul, Pycnonotus striatus
Grey-headed bulbul, Pycnonotus priocephalus (E)
Black-headed bulbul, Pycnonotus atriceps
Andaman bulbul, Pycnonotus fuscoflavescens (E) (Split by Rasmussen and Anderton, 2005)
Black-crested bulbul, Pycnonotus flaviventris (Split by Rasmussen and Anderton, 2005)
Flame-throated bulbul, Pycnonotus flaviventris gularis (Split by Rasmussen and Anderton, 2005 with Pycnonotus melanicterus restricted to the black-capped bulbul endemic to Sri Lanka)
Red-whiskered bulbul, Pycnonotus jocosus
White-eared bulbul, Pycnonotus leucotis
White-cheeked bulbul, Pycnonotus leucogenys
Red-vented bulbul, Pycnonotus cafer
Yellow-throated bulbul, Pycnonotus xantholaemus (E)
Flavescent bulbul, Pycnonotus flavescens
White-browed bulbul, Pycnonotus luteolus
White-throated bulbul, Alophoixus flaveolus
Olive bulbul, Iole virescens
Yellow-browed bulbul, Acritillas indica
Ashy bulbul, Hemixos flavala
Mountain bulbul, Hypsipetes mcclellandi
Black bulbul, Hypsipetes leucocephalus
Square-tailed bulbul, Hypsipetes leucocephalus ganeesa (Split by Rasmussen and Anderton, 2005)
Nicobar bulbul, Hypsipetes nicobariensis (E)
Swallows and martins
Order: Passeriformes Family: Hirundinidae
The family Hirundinidae is adapted to aerial feeding. They have a slender streamlined body, long pointed wings and a short bill with a wide gape. The feet are adapted to perching rather than walking, and the front toes are partially joined at the base.
Sand martin, Riparia riparia
Pale martin, Riparia diluta
Grey-throated martin, Riparia chinensis
Eurasian crag martin, Ptyonoprogne rupestris
Dusky crag martin, Ptyonoprogne concolor
Barn swallow, Hirundo rustica
Pacific swallow, Hirundo tahitica
Hill swallow, Hirundo tahitica domicola
Wire-tailed swallow, Hirundo smithii
Red-rumped swallow, Cecropis daurica
Striated swallow, Cecropis striolata
Streak-throated swallow, Hirundo fluvicola
Common house martin, Delichon urbicum
Asian martin, Delichon dasypus
Nepal martin, Delichon nipalense
Order: Passeriformes Family: Aegithalidae
Long-tailed tits are a group of small passerine birds with medium to long tails. They make woven bag nests in trees. Most eat a mixed diet which includes insects.
White-cheeked bushtit, Aegithalos leucogenys
Black-throated bushtit, Aegithalos concinnus
Black-browed bushtit, Aegithalos bonvaloti
White-throated bushtit, Aegithalos niveogularis
Rufous-fronted bushtit, Aegithalos iouschistos
Crested tit-warbler, Leptopoecile elegans
White-browed tit-warbler, Leptopoecile sophiae
Order: Passeriformes Family: Cettiidae
Slaty-bellied tesia, Tesia olivea
Grey-bellied tesia, Tesia cyaniventer
Asian stubtail, Urosphena squameiceps
Pale-footed bush warbler, Urosphena pallidipes
Manchurian bush warbler, Horornis borealis
Brown-flanked bush warbler, Horornis fortipes
Aberrant bush warbler, Horornis flavolivacea
Hume's bush warbler, Horornis brunnescens
Chestnut-headed tesia, Cettia castaneocoronata
Chestnut-crowned bush warbler, Cettia major
Grey-sided bush warbler, Cettia brunnifrons
Cetti's warbler, Cettia cetti
Mountain tailorbird, Phyllergates cuculatus
Rufous-faced warbler, Abroscopus albogularis
Yellow-bellied warbler, Abroscopus superciliaris
Black-faced warbler, Abroscopus schisticeps
Broad-billed warbler, Tickellia hodgsoni
Order: Passeriformes Family: Locustellidae
Spotted bush warbler, Locustella thoracica
West Himalayan bush warbler, Locustella kashmirensis (E)
Long-billed bush warbler, Locustella major
Chinese bush warbler, Locustella tacsanowskia
Russet bush warbler, Locustella mandelli
Brown bush warbler, Locustella luteoventris
Lanceolated warbler, Locustella lanceolata
Common grasshopper warbler, Locustella naevia
Baikal bush warbler, Locustella davidi
Pallas's grasshopper warbler, Locustella certhiola
Striated grassbird, Megalurus palustris
Bristled grassbird, Chaetornis striatus
Broad-tailed grassbird, Schoenicola platyura (E)
Order: Passeriformes Family: Acrocephalidae
Moustached warbler, Acrocephalus melanopogon
Sedge warbler, Acrocephalus schoenobaenus
Black-browed reed warbler, Acrocephalus bistrigiceps
Paddyfield warbler, Acrocephalus agricola
Blunt-winged warbler, Acrocephalus concinens
Blyth's reed warbler, Acrocephalus dumetorum
Great reed warbler, Acrocephalus arundinaceus
Oriental reed warbler, Acrocephalus orientalis
Clamorous reed warbler, Acrocephalus stentoreus
Large-billed reed warbler, Acrocephalus orinus
Thick-billed warbler, Iduna aedon
Booted warbler, Iduna caligata
Sykes's warbler, Iduna rama
Order: Passeriformes Family: Phylloscopidae
Common chiffchaff, Phylloscopus collybita
Mountain chiffchaff, Phylloscopus sindianus
Plain leaf warbler, Phylloscopus neglectus
Dusky warbler, Phylloscopus fuscatus
Smoky warbler, Phylloscopus fuligiventer
Tickell's leaf warbler, Phylloscopus affinis
Buff-throated warbler, Phylloscopus subaffinis (A)
Sulphur-bellied warbler, Phylloscopus griseolus
Buff-barred warbler, Phylloscopus pulcher
Ashy-throated warbler, Phylloscopus maculipennis
Pale-rumped warbler, Phylloscopus chloronotus
Brooks's leaf warbler, Phylloscopus subviridis
Yellow-browed warbler, Phylloscopus inornatus
Hume's leaf warbler, Phylloscopus humei
Arctic warbler, Phylloscopus borealis
Greenish warbler, Phylloscopus trochiloides
Green warbler, Phylloscopus nitidus
Pale-legged leaf warbler, Phylloscopus tenellipes
Large-billed leaf warbler, Phylloscopus magnirostris
Tytler's leaf warbler, Phylloscopus tytleri
Western crowned leaf warbler, Phylloscopus occipitalis
Blyth's leaf warbler, Phylloscopus reguloides
Yellow-vented warbler, Phylloscopus cantator
Green-crowned warbler, Seicercus burkii
Whistler's warbler, Seicercus whistleri
Grey-crowned warbler, Seicercus tephrocephalus
Grey-hooded warbler, Seicercus xanthoschistos
White-spectacled warbler, Seicercus affinis
Grey-cheeked warbler, Seicercus poliogenys
Chestnut-crowned warbler, Seicercus castaniceps
Order: Passeriformes Family: Sylviidae
The family Sylviidae is a group of small insectivorous passerine birds. They mainly occur as breeding species, as the common name implies, in Europe, Asia and, to a lesser extent, Africa. Many species are difficult to identify by appearance, but many have distinctive songs.
Garden warbler, Sylvia borin
Greater whitethroat, Sylvia communis
Lesser whitethroat, Sylvia curruca
Small whitethroat, Sylvia curruca minula
Hume's whitethroat, Sylvia curruca althaea
Asian desert warbler, Sylvia nana
Barred warbler, Sylvia nisoria
Eastern Orphean warbler, Sylvia crassirostris
Yellow-eyed babbler, Chrysomma sinense
Jerdon's babbler, Chrysomma altirostre
White-browed fulvetta, Fulvetta vinipectus
Manipur fulvetta, Fulvetta manipurensis
Brown-throated fulvetta, Fulvetta ludlowi
Fire-tailed myzornis, Myzornis pyrrhoura
Great parrotbill, Conostoma aemodium
Brown parrotbill, Cholornis unicolor
Grey-headed parrotbill, Psittiparus gularis
Black-breasted parrotbill, Paradoxornis flavirostris
Spot-breasted parrotbill, Paradoxornis guttaticollis
Fulvous parrotbill, Suthora fulvifrons
Black-throated parrotbill, Suthora nipalensis
Pale-billed parrotbill, Chleuasicus atrosuperciliaris
Rufous-headed parrotbill, Psittiparus bakeri
Cisticolas and allies
Order: Passeriformes Family: Cisticolidae
The Cisticolidae are warblers found mainly in warmer southern regions of the Old World. They are generally very small birds of drab brown or grey appearance found in open country such as grassland or scrub.
Zitting cisticola, Cisticola juncidis
Golden-headed cisticola, Cisticola exilis
Rufous-vented prinia, Prinia burnesii
Swamp prinia, Prinia cinerascens
Striated prinia, Prinia criniger
Hill prinia, Prinia superciliaris
Black-throated prinia, Prinia superciliaris atrogularis
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
Order: Passeriformes Family: Leiothrichidae
White-throated laughingthrush, Garrulax albogularis
White-crested laughingthrush, Garrulax leucolophus
Lesser necklaced laughingthrush, Garrulax monileger
Greater necklaced laughingthrush, Garrulax pectoralis
Striated laughingthrush, Garrulax striatus (=Grammatoptila striata per Rasmussen and Anderton, 2005)
Rufous-necked laughingthrush, Garrulax ruficollis (=Dryonastes ruficollis)
Chestnut-backed laughingthrush, Garrulax nuchalis (=Dryonastes nuchalis)
Yellow-throated laughingthrush, Garrulax galbanus (=Dryonastes galbanus)
Wynaad laughingthrush, Garrulax delesserti (E) (=Dryonastes delesserti)
Rufous-vented laughingthrush, Garrulax gularis (=Dryonastes gularis)
Moustached laughingthrush, Garrulax cineraceus (=Ianthocincla cineracea)
Rufous-chinned laughingthrush, Garrulax rufogularis (=Ianthocincla rufogularis)
Spotted laughingthrush, Garrulax ocellatus (=Ianthocincla ocellata)
Grey-sided laughingthrush, Garrulax caerulatus (=Dryonastes caerulatus)
Spot-breasted laughingthrush, Garrulax merulinus (=Stactocichla merulina)
White-browed laughingthrush, Garrulax sannio (=Dryonastes sannio)
Black-chinned laughingthrush, Montecincla cachinnans (E)
Kerala laughingthrush, Montecincla fairbanki (E)
Ashambu laughingthrush, Montecincla meridionale (E)
Streaked laughingthrush, Trochalopteron lineatum
Bhutan laughingthrush, Trochalopteron lineatum imbricatum (Elevated to full species by Rasmussen and Anderton, 2005)
Striped laughingthrush, Garrulax virgatus (=Trochalopteron virgatum)
Scaly laughingthrush, Garrulax subunicolor (=Trochalopteron subunicolor)
Elliot's laughingthrush, Trochalopteron elliotii (A)
Brown-capped laughingthrush, Garrulax austeni (=Ianthocincla austeni)
Blue-winged laughingthrush, Garrulax squamatus (=Trochalopteron squamatum)
Variegated laughingthrush, Garrulax variegatus (=Trochalopteron variegatum)
Black-faced laughingthrush, Garrulax affinis (=Trochalopteron affine)
Chestnut-crowned laughingthrush, Trochalopteron erythrocephalum
Assam laughingthrush, Trochalopteron erythrocephalum chrysopterum
Red-faced liocichla, Liocichla phoenicea
Bugun liocichla, Liocichla bugunorum (E)
Common babbler, Turdoides caudatus (T. caudata spelling emendation - Rasmussen & Anderton, 2005)
Striated babbler, Turdoides earlei
Slender-billed babbler, Turdoides longirostris
Large grey babbler, Turdoides malcolmi
Rufous babbler, Turdoides subrufa (E)
Jungle babbler, Turdoides striata
Yellow-billed babbler, Turdoides affinis
Chinese babax, Babax lanceolatus (Mount Victoria babax, Babax lanceolatus woodi is treated under this species)
Silver-eared mesia, Leiothrix argentauris
Red-billed leiothrix, Leiothrix lutea
Himalayan cutia, Cutia nipalensis
Rusty-fronted barwing, Actinodura egertoni
Hoary-throated barwing, Actinodura nipalensis
Streak-throated barwing, Actinodura waldeni
Blue-winged minla, Minla cyanouroptera
Chestnut-tailed minla, Minla strigula
Red-tailed minla, Minla ignotincta
Rufous-backed sibia, Heterophasia annectens
Rufous sibia, Heterophasia capistrata
Grey sibia, Heterophasia gracilis
Beautiful sibia, Heterophasia pulchella
Long-tailed sibia, Heterophasia picaoides
Order: Passeriformes Family: Pellorneidae
Abbott's babbler, Malacocincla abbotti
Marsh babbler, Pellorneum palustre
Buff-breasted babbler, Pellorneum tickelli
Spot-throated babbler, Pellorneum albiventre
Puff-throated babbler, Pellorneum ruficeps
Long-billed wren-babbler, Rimator malacoptilus
Streaked wren-babbler, Napothera brevicaudata
Eyebrowed wren-babbler, Napothera epilepidota
Indian grassbird, Graminicola bengalensis
White-hooded babbler, Gampsorhynchus rufulus
Golden-breasted fulvetta, Alcippe chrysotis
Yellow-throated fulvetta, Alcippe cinerea
Rufous-winged fulvetta, Alcippe castaneceps
Rufous-throated fulvetta, Alcippe rufogularis
Rusty-capped fulvetta, Alcippe dubia
Quaker babbler, Alcippe poioicephala
Nepal fulvetta, Alcippe nipalensis
Order: Passeriformes Family: Timaliidae
The babblers, or timaliids, are somewhat diverse in size and colouration, but are characterised by soft fluffy plumage.
Large scimitar babbler, Pomatorhinus hypoleucos
Spot-breasted scimitar babbler, Pomatorhinus mcclellandi
Rusty-cheeked scimitar babbler, Pomatorhinus erythrogenys
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
Mishmi wren-babbler, Spelaeornis badeigularis (E)
Bar-winged wren-babbler, Spelaeornis troglodytoides
Naga wren-babbler, Spelaeornis chocolatinus (E)
Grey-bellied wren-babbler, Spelaeornis reptatus (Elevated by Rasmussen & Anderton 2005)
Chin Hills wren-babbler, Spelaeornis oatesi (Elevated by Rasmussen & Anderton 2005)
Tawny-breasted wren-babbler, Spelaeornis longicaudatus (E)
Sikkim wedge-billed babbler, Sphenocichla humei
Cachar wedge-billed babbler, Sphenocichla humei roberti (Elevated by Rasmussen & Anderton 2005)
Buff-chested babbler, Stachyridopsis ambigua
Rufous-capped babbler, Stachyridopsis ruficeps
Black-chinned babbler, Stachyridopsis pyrrhops
Golden babbler, Stachyridopsis chrysaea
Grey-throated babbler, Stachyris nigriceps
Snowy-throated babbler, Stachyris oglei
Tawny-bellied babbler, Dumetia hyperythra
Dark-fronted babbler, Rhopocichla atriceps
Pin-striped tit-babbler, Macronus gularis
Chestnut-capped babbler, Timalia pileata
Order: Passeriformes Family: Pnoepygidae
Scaly-breasted wren-babbler, Pnoepyga albiventer
Immaculate wren-babbler, Pnoepyga immaculata
Pygmy wren-babbler, Pnoepyga pusilla
Order: Passeriformes Family: Vireonidae
Black-headed shrike-babbler, Pteruthius rufiventer
Himalayan shrike-babbler, Pteruthius ripleyi
Blyth's shrike-babbler, Pteruthius aeralatus validirostris
Green shrike-babbler, Pteruthius xanthochlorus
Black-eared shrike-babbler, Pteruthius melanotis
Clicking shrike-babbler, Pteruthius intermedius
White-bellied erpornis, Erpornis zantholeuca
Order: Passeriformes Family: Elachuridae
Spotted elachura, Elachura formosa
Order: Passeriformes Family: Zosteropidae
The white-eyes are small and mostly undistinguished, their plumage above being generally some dull colour like greenish-olive, but some species have a white or bright yellow throat, breast or lower parts, and several have buff flanks. As their name suggests, many species have a white ring around each eye.
Oriental white-eye, Zosterops palpebrosus
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
Order: Passeriformes Family: Irenidae
The fairy-bluebirds are bulbul-like birds of open forest or thorn scrub. The males are dark-blue and the females a duller green. There are 2 species worldwide and 1 species which occurs in India.
Asian fairy-bluebird, Irena puella
Order: Passeriformes Family: Regulidae
The kinglets, also called crests, are a small group of birds often included in the Old World warblers, but frequently given family status because they also resemble the titmice. There are 7 species worldwide and 1 species which occurs in India.
Goldcrest, Regulus regulus
Order: Passeriformes Family: Troglodytidae
The wrens are mainly small and inconspicuous except for their loud songs. These birds have short wings and thin down-turned bills. Several species often hold their tails upright. All are insectivorous. There are 80 species worldwide (of which all but one are New World species) and 1 species which occurs in India.
Eurasian wren, Troglodytes troglodytes
Order: Passeriformes Family: Sittidae
Nuthatches are small woodland birds. They have the unusual ability to climb down trees head first, unlike other birds which can only go upwards. Nuthatches have big heads, short tails and powerful bills and feet.
Indian nuthatch, Sitta castanea
Chestnut-bellied nuthatch, Sitta castanea cinnamoventris (Split from Sitta castanea by Rasmussen & Anderton, 2005)
Chestnut-vented nuthatch, Sitta nagaensis
Kashmir nuthatch, Sitta cashmirensis
White-tailed nuthatch, Sitta himalayensis
White-cheeked nuthatch, Sitta leucopsis
Velvet-fronted nuthatch, Sitta frontalis
Beautiful nuthatch, Sitta formosa
Yunnan nuthatch, Sitta yunnanensis
Order: Passeriformes Family: Tichodromidae
The wallcreeper is a small bird related to the nuthatch family, which has stunning crimson, grey and black plumage.
Wallcreeper, Tichodroma muraria
Order: Passeriformes Family: Certhiidae
Treecreepers are small woodland birds, brown above and white below. They have thin pointed down-curved bills, which they use to extricate insects from bark. They have stiff tail feathers, like woodpeckers, which they use to support themselves on vertical trees.
Himalayan treecreeper, Certhia himalayana
Hodgson's treecreeper, Certhia hodgsoni
Nepal treecreeper, Certhia nipalensis
Sikkim treecreeper, Certhia discolor
Manipur treecreeper, Certhia manipurensis
Indian spotted creeper, Salpornis spilonotus (E)
Order: Passeriformes Family: Sturnidae
Starlings are small to medium-sized passerine birds. Their flight is strong and direct and they are very gregarious. Their preferred habitat is fairly open country. They eat insects and fruit. Plumage is typically dark with a metallic sheen.
Asian glossy starling, Aplonis panayensis
Spot-winged starling, Saroglossa spiloptera
Golden-crested myna, Ampeliceps coronatus
Common hill myna, Gracula religiosa
Southern hill myna, Gracula religiosa indica
Great myna, Acridotheres grandis
Jungle myna, Acridotheres fuscus
Collared myna, Acridotheres albocinctus
Bank myna, Acridotheres ginginianus
Common myna, Acridotheres tristis
Asian pied starling, Gracupica contra
Daurian starling, Agropsar sturninus
Chestnut-cheeked starling, Agropsar philippensis (A)
Chestnut-tailed starling, Sturnia malabaricaMalabar starling, Sturnia malabarica blythii
White-headed starling, Sturnia erythropygia (E)
Brahminy starling, Sturnia pagodarum
Rosy starling, Pastor roseus
European starling, Sturnus vulgaris
Thrushes and allies
Order: Passeriformes Family: Turdidae
The thrushes are a group of passerine birds that occur mainly in the Old World. They are plump, soft plumaged, small to medium-sized insectivores or sometimes omnivores, often feeding on the ground. Many have attractive songs.
Pied thrush, Geokichla wardii
Orange-headed thrush, Geokichla citrina
Siberian thrush, Geokichla sibirica
Alpine thrush, Zoothera mollissima (Formerly Plain-backed thrush when it included the next species)
Himalayan thrush, Zoothera salimalii
Long-tailed thrush, Zoothera dixoni
Chinese thrush, Zoothera mupinensis
Scaly thrush, Zoothera dauma
Nilgiri thrush, Zoothera dauma neilgherriensis
Long-billed thrush, Zoothera monticola
Dark-sided thrush, Zoothera marginata
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 (Elevated to species by Rasmussen and Anderton, 2005)
Chestnut thrush, Turdus rubrocanus
White-backed thrush, Turdus kessleri
Grey-sided thrush, Turdus feae
Eyebrowed thrush, Turdus obscurus
Red-throated thrush, Turdus ruficollis
Black-throated thrush, Turdus atrogularis (Elevated to species by Rasmussen and Anderton, 2005)
Dusky thrush, Turdus euonomus (earlier included in Turdus naumanni - Rasmussen and Anderton, 2005)
Fieldfare, Turdus pilaris
Redwing, Turdus iliacus
Song thrush, Turdus philomelos
Mistle thrush, Turdus viscivorus
Purple cochoa, Cochoa purpurea
Green cochoa, Cochoa viridis
Grandala, Grandala coelicolor
Order: Passeriformes Family: Muscicapidae
Old World flycatchers are a large group of small passerine birds native to the Old World. They are mainly small arboreal insectivores. The appearance of these birds is highly varied, but they mostly have weak songs and harsh calls.
Common rock thrush, Monticola saxatilis
Blue-capped rock thrush, Monticola cinclorhynchus
Chestnut-bellied rock thrush, Monticola rufiventris
Blue rock thrush, Monticola solitarius
Rusty-bellied shortwing, Brachypteryx hyperythra
Gould's shortwing, Brachypteryx stellata
Lesser shortwing, Brachypteryx leucophrys
White-browed shortwing, Brachypteryx montana
Nilgiri blue robin, Sholicola major (E)
White-bellied blue robin, Sholicola albiventris (E)
Ashambu blue robin, Sholicola ashambuensis (E)
Malabar whistling thrush, Myophonus horsfieldii (E)
Blue whistling thrush, Myophonus caeruleus
Nicobar jungle flycatcher, Rhinomyias nicobaricus (E)(Split by Rasmussen and Anderton, 2005)
Spotted flycatcher, Muscicapa striata
Dark-sided flycatcher, Muscicapa sibirica
Asian brown flycatcher, Muscicapa dauurica
Brown-breasted flycatcher, Muscicapa muttui
Ferruginous flycatcher, Muscicapa ferruginea
Rusty-tailed flycatcher, Ficedula ruficauda
Yellow-rumped flycatcher, Ficedula zanthopygia
Mugimaki flycatcher, Ficedula mugimaki (A) (Neil Island in 2013)
Slaty-backed flycatcher, Ficedula hodgsonii
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
Black-and-rufous flycatcher, Ficedula nigrorufa (E)
Sapphire flycatcher, Ficedula sapphira
White-gorgeted flycatcher, Anthipes monileger
Verditer flycatcher, Eumyias thalassinus
Nilgiri flycatcher, Eumyias albicaudatus (E)
Large niltava, Niltava grandis
Small niltava, Niltava macgrigoriae
Rufous-bellied niltava, Niltava sundara
Vivid niltava, Niltava vivida (Rasmussen and Anderton suggest possible elevation of N. vivida oatesi)
Blue-and-white flycatcher, Cyanoptila cyanomelana (A)
White-tailed flycatcher, Cyornis concretus
White-bellied blue flycatcher, Cyornis pallipes (E)
Pale-chinned blue flycatcher, Cyornis poliogenys
Pale blue flycatcher, Cyornis unicolor
Blue-throated flycatcher, Cyornis rubeculoides
Hill blue flycatcher, Cyornis banyumas
Large blue flycatcher, Cyornis magnirostris (Elevated to species by Rasmussen and Anderton, 2005)
Tickell's blue flycatcher, Cyornis tickelliae
Pygmy blue flycatcher, Muscicapella hodgsoni
Siberian rubythroat, Luscinia calliope
White-tailed rubythroat, Luscinia pectoralis
Bluethroat, Luscinia svecica
Firethroat, Luscinia pectardens
Indian blue robin, Luscinia brunnea
Siberian blue robin, Luscinia cyane
White-bellied redstart, Luscinia phaenicuroides
Red-flanked bluetail, Tarsiger cyanurus
Himalayan bluetail, Tarsiger rufilatus (Elevated by Rasmussen and Anderton, 2005)
Golden bush-robin, Tarsiger chrysaeus
White-browed bush-robin, Tarsiger indicus
Rufous-breasted bush-robin, Tarsiger hyperythrus
Rufous-tailed scrub-robin, Cercotrichas galactotes
Oriental magpie-robin, Copsychus saularis
White-rumped shama, Copsychus malabaricus
Andaman shama, Copsychus malabaricus albiventris
Indian robin, Copsychus fulicatus
Rufous-backed redstart, Phoenicurus erythronotus
Blue-capped redstart, Phoenicurus caeruleocephala
Common redstart, Phoenicurus phoenicurus
Black redstart, Phoenicurus ochruros
Hodgson's redstart, Phoenicurus hodgsoni
White-throated redstart, Phoenicurus schisticeps
Daurian redstart, Phoenicurus auroreus
White-winged redstart, Phoenicurus erythrogaster
Blue-fronted redstart, Phoenicurus frontalis
White-capped redstart, Chaimarrornis leucocephalus
Plumbeous redstart, Rhyacornis fuliginosa
White-tailed robin, Myiomela leucura (=Cinclidium leucurum)
Blue-fronted robin, Cinclidium frontale
Little forktail, Enicurus scouleri
Black-backed forktail, Enicurus immaculatus
Slaty-backed forktail, Enicurus schistaceus
White-crowned forktail, Enicurus leschenaulti
Spotted forktail, Enicurus maculatus
Siberian stonechat, Saxicola maurus
White-browed bush chat, Saxicola macrorhynchus
White-throated bush chat, Saxicola insignis
White-tailed stonechat, Saxicola leucurus
Pied bushchat, Saxicola caprata
Jerdon's bush chat, Saxicola jerdoni
Grey bushchat, Saxicola ferreus
Hume's wheatear, Oenanthe alboniger (albonigra per Rasmussen and Anderton, 2005)
Northern wheatear, Oenanthe oenanthe (A)
Variable wheatear, Oenanthe picata
Pied wheatear, Oenanthe pleschanka
Red-tailed wheatear, Oenanthe chrysopygia (Elevated from Oenanthe xanthoprymna race by Rasmussen and Anderton, 2005)
Desert wheatear, Oenanthe deserti
Isabelline wheatear, Oenanthe isabellina
Brown rock chat, Oenanthe fusca
Order: Passeriformes Family: Cinclidae
Dippers are a group of perching birds whose habitat includes aquatic environments in the Americas, Europe and Asia. They are named for their bobbing or dipping movements. There are 5 species worldwide and 2 species which occur in India.
White-throated dipper, Cinclus cinclus
Brown dipper, Cinclus pallasii
Order: Passeriformes Family: Chloropseidae
The leafbirds are small, bulbul-like birds. The males are brightly plumaged, usually in greens and yellows.
Jerdon's leafbird, Chloropsis jerdoni
Golden-fronted leafbird, Chloropsis aurifrons
Orange-bellied leafbird, Chloropsis hardwickii
Order: Passeriformes Family: Dicaeidae
The flowerpeckers are very small, stout, often brightly coloured birds, with short tails, short thick curved bills and tubular tongues.
Thick-billed flowerpecker, Dicaeum agile
Yellow-vented flowerpecker, Dicaeum chrysorrheum
Yellow-bellied flowerpecker, Dicaeum melanoxanthum
Pale-billed flowerpecker, Dicaeum erythrorhynchos
Nilgiri flowerpecker, Dicaeum concolor
Andaman flowerpecker, Dicaeum virescens
Plain flowerpecker, Dicaeum minullum
Fire-breasted flowerpecker, Dicaeum ignipectus
Scarlet-backed flowerpecker, Dicaeum cruentatum
Sunbirds and spiderhunters
Order: Passeriformes Family: Nectariniidae
The sunbirds and spiderhunters are very small passerine birds which feed largely on nectar, although they will also take insects, especially when feeding young. Flight is fast and direct on their short wings. Most species can take nectar by hovering like a hummingbird, but usually perch to feed.
Ruby-cheeked sunbird, Chalcoparia singalensis
Purple-rumped sunbird, Leptocoma zeylonica
Crimson-backed sunbird, Leptocoma minima (E)
Van Hasselt's sunbird, Leptocoma brasiliana
Purple sunbird, Cinnyris asiaticus
Olive-backed sunbird, Cinnyris jugularis
Long-billed sunbird, Cinnyris lotenius
Mrs. Gould's sunbird, Aethopyga gouldiae
Green-tailed sunbird, Aethopyga nipalensis
Black-throated sunbird, Aethopyga saturata
Vigors's sunbird, Aethopyga vigorsii (E)
Crimson sunbird, Aethopyga siparaja
Fire-tailed sunbird, Aethopyga ignicauda
Little spiderhunter, Arachnothera longirostra
Streaked spiderhunter, Arachnothera magna
Order: Passeriformes Family: Passeridae
Sparrows are small passerine birds. In general, sparrows tend to be small, plump, brown or grey birds with short tails and short powerful beaks. Sparrows are seed eaters, but they also consume small insects. There are 35 species worldwide and 13 species which occur in India.
House sparrow, Passer domesticus
Spanish sparrow, Passer hispaniolensis
Sind sparrow, Passer pyrrhonotus
Russet sparrow, Passer rutilans
Eurasian tree sparrow, Passer montanus
Yellow-throated sparrow, Petronia xanthocollis
Rock sparrow, Petronia petronia
Pale rock sparrow, Carpospiza brachydactyla
Black-winged snowfinch, Montifringilla adamsi
White-rumped snowfinch, Montifringilla taczanowskii
Rufous-necked snowfinch, Montifringilla ruficollis (=Pyrgilauda ruficollis)
Plain-backed snowfinch, Montifringilla blanfordi (=Pyrgilauda blanfordi)
Weavers and allies
Order: Passeriformes Family: Ploceidae
The weavers are small passerine birds related to the finches. They are seed-eating birds with rounded conical bills. The males of many species are brightly coloured, usually in red or yellow and black, some species show variation in colour only in the breeding season. There are 116 species worldwide and 4 species which occur in India.
Streaked weaver, Ploceus manyar
Baya weaver, Ploceus philippinus
Finn's weaver, Ploceus megarhynchus
Black-breasted weaver, Ploceus benghalensis
Waxbills and allies
Order: Passeriformes Family: Estrildidae
The estrildid finches are small passerine birds of the Old World tropics and Australasia. They are gregarious and often colonial seed eaters with short thick but pointed bills. They are all similar in structure and habits, but have wide variation in plumage colours and patterns.
Red avadavat, Amandava amandava
Green avadavat, Amandava formosa (E)
White-throated munia, Euodice malabarica
White-rumped munia, Lonchura striata
Black-throated munia, Lonchura kelaarti
Scaly-breasted munia, Lonchura punctulata
Tricoloured munia, Lonchura malacca
Chestnut munia, Lonchura malacca atricapilla
Order: Passeriformes Family: Prunellidae
The accentors are in the only bird family, Prunellidae, which is completely endemic to the Palearctic. They are small, fairly drab species superficially similar to sparrows. There are 13 species worldwide and 8 species which occur in India.
Alpine accentor, Prunella collaris
Himalayan 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: Passeriformes Family: Motacillidae
Motacillidae is a family of small passerine birds with medium to long tails. They include the wagtails, longclaws and pipits. They are slender, ground feeding insectivores of open country. There are 54 species worldwide and 20 species which occur in India.
Forest wagtail, Dendronanthus indicus
White wagtail, Motacilla alba
White-browed wagtail, Motacilla maderaspatensis
Citrine wagtail, Motacilla citreola
Yellow wagtail, Motacilla flava
Grey wagtail, Motacilla cinerea
Oriental pipit, Anthus rufulus
Tawny pipit, Anthus campestris
Blyth's pipit, Anthus godlewskii
Richard's pipit, Anthus richardi
Long-billed pipit, Anthus similis
Tree pipit, Anthus trivialis
Olive-backed pipit, Anthus hodgsoni
Red-throated pipit, Anthus cervinus
Rosy pipit, Anthus roseatus
Water pipit, Anthus spinoletta
Upland pipit, Anthus sylvanus
American pipit, Anthus rubescens
Nilgiri pipit, Anthus nilghiriensis (E)
Order: Passeriformes Family: Emberizidae
The emberizids are a large family of passerine birds. They are seed-eating birds with distinctively shaped bills. In Europe, most species are called buntings. In North America, most of the species in this family are known as sparrows, but these birds are not closely related to the Old World sparrows which are in the family Passeridae. Many emberizid species have distinctive head patterns.
Crested bunting, Emberiza lathami
Yellowhammer, Emberiza citrinella
Pine bunting, Emberiza leucocephalos
Rock bunting, Emberiza cia
Godlewski's bunting, Emberiza godlewskii
Grey-hooded bunting, Emberiza buchanani
Ortolan bunting, Emberiza hortulana
Chestnut-breasted bunting, Emberiza stewarti
Striolated bunting, Emberiza striolata
Chestnut-eared bunting, Emberiza fucata
Little bunting, Emberiza pusilla
Yellow-breasted bunting, Emberiza aureola
Chestnut bunting, Emberiza rutila
Black-headed bunting, Emberiza melanocephala
Red-headed bunting, Emberiza bruniceps
Black-faced bunting, Emberiza spodocephala
Reed bunting, Emberiza schoeniclus
Tristram's bunting, Emberiza tristrami
Siskins, crossbills and allies
Order: Passeriformes Family: Fringillidae
Finches are seed-eating passerine birds, that are small to moderately large and have a strong beak, usually conical and in some species very large. All have twelve tail feathers and nine primaries. These birds have a bouncing flight with alternating bouts of flapping and gliding on closed wings, and most sing well. There are 45 species which have been recorded in India.
Common chaffinch, Fringilla coelebs
Brambling, Fringilla montifringilla
Plain mountain-finch, Leucosticte nemoricola
Black-headed mountain-finch, Leucosticte brandti
Tawny-headed mountain-finch, Leucosticte sillemi
Crimson-browed finch, Pinicola subhimachalus
Crimson rosefinch, Carpodacus rubescens
Dark-breasted rosefinch, Carpodacus nipalensis
Common rosefinch, Carpodacus erythrinus
Beautiful rosefinch, Carpodacus pulcherrimus
Pink-browed rosefinch, Carpodacus rhodochrous
Vinaceous rosefinch, Carpodacus vinaceus
Dark-rumped rosefinch, Carpodacus edwardsii
Spot-winged rosefinch, Carpodacus rhodopeplus
Himalayan white-browed rosefinch, Carpodacus thura
Chinese white-browed rosefinch, Carpodacus dubius
Blyth's rosefinch, Carpodacus grandis (formerly red-manted rosefinch - with C. rhodochlamys)
Streaked rosefinch, Carpodacus rubicilloides
Great rosefinch, Carpodacus rubicilla
Red-fronted rosefinch, Carpodacus puniceus
Common crossbill, Loxia curvirostra
Black-headed greenfinch, Chloris ambigua
Yellow-breasted greenfinch, Chloris spinoides
Fire-fronted serin, Serinus pusillus
Tibetan serin, Spinus thibetanus
Eurasian siskin, Spinus spinus
European goldfinch, Carduelis carduelis
Twite, Linaria flavirostris
Eurasian linnet, Linaria cannabina
Brown bullfinch, Pyrrhula nipalensis
Orange bullfinch, Pyrrhula aurantiaca
Red-headed bullfinch, Pyrrhula erythrocephala
Grey-headed bullfinch, Pyrrhula erythaca
Hawfinch, Coccothraustes coccothraustes
Black-and-yellow grosbeak, Mycerobas icterioides
Collared grosbeak, Mycerobas affinis
Spot-winged grosbeak, Mycerobas melanozanthos
White-winged grosbeak, Mycerobas carnipes
Golden-naped finch, Pyrrhoplectes epauletta
Spectacled finch, Callacanthis burtoni
Mongolian finch, Rhodopechys mongolica
Trumpeter finch, Bucanetes githaginea
Scarlet finch, Haematospiza sipahi
