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. There have been 1377 species recorded as of 2023, of which 81 are endemic to the country. 212 species are globally threatened. The Indian peafowl (Pavo cristatus) 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 (designation and sequence of orders, families and species) and nomenclature (common and scientific names) follow the conventions of the IOC World Bird List, version 13.1. 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.

• (V) Vagrant - Also known as a rarity, it refers to a species that rarely or accidentally occurs in India-typically less than ten confirmed records.
• (E) Endemic - a species endemic to India
• (Ex) Extirpated - a species that no longer occurs in India although populations exist elsewhere

Ducks, geese, and waterfowl

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 45 species which have been recorded in India.

Bar-headed goose

Mute swan

Common shelduck

Indian spot-billed duck

Common name	Binomial	Comments
Fulvous whistling duck	Dendrocygna bicolor
Lesser whistling duck	Dendrocygna javanica
Red-breasted goose	Branta ruficollis	(V); vulnerable
Bar-headed goose	Anser indicus
Greylag goose	Anser anser
Taiga bean goose	Anser fabalis	(V)
Tundra bean goose	Anser serrirostris	(V); by some authorities considered a variety of Anser fabalis
Greater white-fronted goose	Anser albifrons
Lesser white-fronted goose	Anser erythropus	(V); vulnerable
Mute swan	Cygnus olor	(V)
Tundra swan	Cygnus columbianus	(V); race bewickii sometimes treated as a species
Whooper swan	Cygnus cygnus	(V)
Knob-billed duck	Sarkidiornis melanotos
Common shelduck	Tadorna tadorna
Ruddy shelduck	Tadorna ferruginea
White-winged duck	Asarcornis scutulata	Endangered
Mandarin duck	Aix galericulata	(V)
Wood duck	Aix sponsa	(V)Least concern
Cotton pygmy goose	Nettapus coromandelianus
Baikal teal	Sibirionetta formosa	(V)
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	(V)
Mallard	Anas platyrhynchos
Northern pintail	Anas acuta
Eurasian teal	Anas crecca
Andaman teal	Anas albogularis	(E); vulnerable
Marbled duck	Marmaronetta angustirostris	Vulnerable
Pink-headed duck	Rhodonessa caryophyllacea	critically endangered (possibly extinct)
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	(V); vulnerable
Common goldeneye	Bucephala clangula
Smew	Mergellus albellus
Common merganser	Mergus merganser
Red-breasted merganser	Mergus serrator	(V)
White-headed duck	Oxyura leucocephala	Endangered

Megapodes

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 is one species within India.

Common name	Binomial	Status
Nicobar megapode	Megapodius nicobariensis	(E); vulnerable

Pheasants and allies

Indian peafowl

A covey of jungle bush-quail

Order: Galliformes   Family: Phasianidae

Tibetan snowcock flock

Grey francolin

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.

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	Ortygornis pondicerianus
Swamp francolin	Ortygornis gularis	Vulnerable
Tibetan partridge	Perdix hodgsoniae
Common quail	Coturnix coturnix
Japanese quail	Coturnix japonica	Near threatened
Rain quail	Coturnix coromandelica
King quail	Synoicus chinensis
Jungle bush quail	Perdicula asiatica
Rock bush quail	Perdicula argoondah	(E)
Painted bush quail	Perdicula erythrorhyncha	(E)
Manipur bush quail	Perdicula manipurensis	(E); endangered
Himalayan quail	Ophrysia superciliosa	(E); 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	(E)
Painted spurfowl	Galloperdix lunulata	(E)
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	(E)
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; (Ex)

Frogmouths

Sri Lanka frogmouth

Order: Podargiformes   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 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: 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.

Large-tailed nightjar

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	(E)
Indian nightjar	Caprimulgus asiaticus
Savanna nightjar	Caprimulgus affinis

Treeswifts

Crested treeswift

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 is one species which occurs in India.

Common name	Binomial	Comments
Crested treeswift	Hemiprocne coronata

Swifts

Glossy swiftlet

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 16 species which have been recorded in India.

Young common swift

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	(V)
Pacific swift	Apus pacificus ssp. kurodae
Blyth's swift	Apus leuconyx
Dark-rumped swift	Apus acuticauda	Vulnerable
Little swift	Apus affinis
House swift	Apus nipalensis

Bustards

Great Indian bustard courting pair

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.

Common name	Binomial	Comments
Great Indian bustard	Ardeotis nigriceps	Critically endangered
Asian houbara	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	(V); near threatened

Cuckoos

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 24 species which have been recorded in India.

Jacobin cuckoo in Pune, Maharashtra

Common hawk-cuckoo

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	(V)
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

Sandgrouse

Painted 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 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	(V)
Pin-tailed sandgrouse	Pterocles alchata	(V)
Chestnut-bellied sandgrouse	Pterocles exustus
Spotted sandgrouse	Pterocles senegallus
Black-bellied sandgrouse	Pterocles orientalis
Painted sandgrouse	Pterocles indicus

Pigeons and doves

Andaman green pigeon

Order: Columbiformes   Family: Columbidae

Pigeons and doves are stout-bodied birds with short necks and short slender bills with a fleshy cere.

Laughing dove

Rock pigeon

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	(E); vulnerable
Pale-capped pigeon	Columba punicea	Vulnerable
Andaman wood pigeon	Columba palumboides	(E); near threatened
European turtle dove	Streptopelia turtur	(V); 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	(E); near threatened
Namaqua dove	Oena capensis	(V)
Common emerald dove	Chalcophaps indica
Nicobar pigeon	Caloenas nicobarica	Near threatened
Orange-breasted green pigeon	Treron bicinctus
Grey-fronted green pigeon	Treron affinis	(E)
Ashy-headed green pigeon	Treron phayrei	Near threatened
Andaman green pigeon	Treron chloropterus	(E); 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	(E)
Mountain imperial pigeon	Ducula badia
Malabar imperial pigeon	Ducula cuprea	(E)
Pied imperial pigeon	Ducula bicolor

Finfoots

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 is one species which occurs in India.

Common name	Binomial	Comments
Masked finfoot	Heliopais personatus	Endangered

Rails, crakes, and coots

Andaman crake

White-breasted waterhen

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.

Eurasian coot

Common name	Binomial	Comments
Water rail	Rallus aquaticus
Brown-cheeked rail	Rallus indicus
Corn crake	Crex crex	(V)
Slaty-breasted rail	Lewinia striata
Spotted crake	Porzana porzana
Common moorhen	Gallinula chloropus
Eurasian coot	Fulica atra
Grey-headed swamphen	Porphyrio poliocephalus
Ruddy-breasted crake	Zapornia fusca
Black-tailed crake	Zapornia bicolor
Brown crake	Zapornia akool
Baillon's crake	Zapornia pusilla
Little crake	Zapornia parva	(V)
Slaty-legged crake	Rallina eurizonoides
Andaman crake	Rallina canningi	(E)
Red-legged crake	Rallina fasciata	(V)
White-browed crake	Poliolimnas cinereus	(V)
Watercock	Gallicrex cinerea
White-breasted waterhen	Amaurornis phoenicurus

Cranes

Order: Gruiformes   Family: Gruidae

Sarus crane

Cranes are large, long-legged and long-necked birds. Unlike the similar-looking but unrelated herons, cranes fly with necks outstretched, not pulled back. Most have elaborate and noisy courting displays or "dances". There are five species which have been recorded in India.

Common name	Binomial	Comments
Siberian crane	Leucogeranus leucogeranus	Critically endangered, possibly extirpated; 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 (Rasmussen and Anderton, 2005) or even extirpated by more recent workers.

Grebes

Little grebe

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 five species which have been recorded in India.

Common name	Binomial	Comments
Little grebe	Tachybaptus ruficollis
Red-necked grebe	Podiceps grisegena	(V)
Great crested grebe	Podiceps cristatus
Horned grebe	Podiceps auritus	(V); vulnerable
Black-necked grebe	Podiceps nigricollis

Flamingos

Greater flamingo

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 two species which have been recorded in India.

Common name	Binomial	Comments
Greater flamingo	Phoenicopterus roseus
Lesser flamingo	Phoeniconaias minor	Near threatened

Buttonquail

Order: Charadriiformes   Family: Turnicidae

The buttonquail are small, drab, running birds which resemble the true quails. The female is the brighter of the sexes and initiates courtship. The male incubates the eggs and tends the young. There are three species which have been recorded in India.

Barred buttonquail

Common name	Binomial	Comments
Common buttonquail	Turnix sylvaticus
Yellow-legged buttonquail	Turnix tanki
Barred buttonquail	Turnix suscitator

Stone-curlews and thick-knees

Order: Charadriiformes   Family: Burhinidae

Indian stone-curlew

Stone-curlews are a group of largely tropical waders in the family Burhinidae. They are found worldwide within the tropical zone, with some species also breeding in temperate Europe and Australia. They are medium to large waders with strong black or yellow-black bills, large yellow eyes and cryptic plumage. Despite being classed as waders, most species have a preference for arid or semi-arid habitats.

Common 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

Eurasian oystercatcher

Order: Charadriiformes   Family: Haematopodidae

The oystercatchers are large and noisy plover-like birds, with strong bills used for smashing or prising open molluscs. There is one species which occurs in India.

Common name	Binomial	Comments
Eurasian oystercatcher	Haematopus ostralegus	Near threatened

Ibisbill

Ibisbill

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.

Common name	Binomial	Comments
Ibisbill	Ibidorhyncha struthersii

Stilts and avocets

Black-winged stilt

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 two species which have been recorded in India.

Common name	Binomial	Comments
Black-winged stilt	Himantopus himantopus
Pied avocet	Recurvirostra avosetta

Plovers

Grey plover

Red-wattled lapwing

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 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	(V)
Pacific golden plover	Pluvialis fulva
American golden plover	Pluvialis dominica	(V)
Grey plover	Pluvialis squatarola
Common ringed plover	Charadrius hiaticula	(V)
Long-billed plover	Charadrius placidus
Little ringed plover	Charadrius dubius
Kentish plover	Charadrius alexandrinus
White-faced plover	Charadrius dealbatus	(V)
Siberian sand plover	Charadrius mongolus
Greater sand plover	Charadrius leschenaultii
Caspian plover	Charadrius asiaticus	(V)
Oriental plover	Charadrius veredus	(V)

Painted-snipes

Greater painted-snipe

Order: Charadriiformes   Family: Rostratulidae

Painted-snipes are short-legged, long-billed birds similar in shape to the true snipes, but more brightly coloured. There is one species which occurs in India.

Common name	Binomial	Comments
Greater painted-snipe	Rostratula benghalensis

Jacanas

Pheasant-tailed jacana

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 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: 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 41 species which have been recorded in India.

Ruff

Green sandpiper

Common greenshank

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	(V); Near threatened
Ruff	Calidris pugnax
Broad-billed sandpiper	Calidris falcinellus
Sharp-tailed sandpiper	Calidris acuminata	(V)
Stilt sandpiper	Calidris himantopus	(V)
Curlew sandpiper	Calidris ferruginea	Near threatened
Temminck's stint	Calidris temminckii
Long-toed stint	Calidris subminuta
Spoon-billed sandpiper	Calidris pygmaea	(V); critically endangered
Red-necked stint	Calidris ruficollis	Near threatened
Sanderling	Calidris alba
Dunlin	Calidris alpina
Little stint	Calidris minuta
Buff-breasted sandpiper	Calidris subruficollis	(V); near threatened
Pectoral sandpiper	Calidris melanotos	(V)
Asian dowitcher	Limnodromus semipalmatus	Near threatened
Long-billed dowitcher	Limnodromus scolopaceus	(V)
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	(V); near threatened
Common snipe	Gallinago gallinago
Terek sandpiper	Xenus cinereus
Red-necked phalarope	Phalaropus lobatus
Red phalarope	Phalaropus fulicarius	(V)
Common sandpiper	Actitis hypoleucos
Green sandpiper	Tringa ochropus
Grey-tailed tattler	Tringa brevipes	(V)
Common redshank	Tringa totanus
Marsh sandpiper	Tringa stagnatilis
Wood sandpiper	Tringa glareola
Spotted redshank	Tringa erythropus
Common greenshank	Tringa nebularia
Nordmann's greenshank	Tringa guttifer	(V)

Crab-plover

Crab-plover

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.

Common name	Binomial	Comments
Crab-plover	Dromas ardeola

Coursers and pratincoles

Small pratincole

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 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

Common gull

Black-headed gull

Order: Charadriiformes   Family: Laridae

Laridae is a family of medium to large seabirds, the gulls, terns, and skimmers. Gulls are typically grey or white, often with black markings on the head or wings. They have stout, longish bills and webbed feet. Terns are a group of generally medium to large seabirds typically with grey or white plumage, often with black markings on the head. Most terns hunt fish by diving but some pick insects off the surface of fresh water. Terns are generally long-lived birds, with several species known to live in excess of 30 years. Skimmers are a small family of tropical tern-like birds. They have an elongated lower mandible which they use to feed by flying low over the water surface and skimming the water for small fish.

Arctic tern

Indian river tern

Common name	Binomial	Comments
Brown noddy	Anous stolidus
Lesser noddy	Anous tenuirostris	(V)
Black noddy	Anous minutus	(V)
White tern	Gygis alba	(V)
Indian skimmer	Rynchops albicollis	Vulnerable
Black-legged kittiwake	Rissa tridactyla	(V); vulnerable
Sabine's gull	Xema sabini	(V)
Slender-billed gull	Chroicocephalus genei
Brown-headed gull	Chroicocephalus brunnicephalus
Black-headed gull	Chroicocephalus ridibundus
Little gull	Hydrocoloeus minutus	(V)
Franklin's gull	Leucophaeus pipixcan	(V)
Pallas's gull	Ichthyaetus ichthyaetus
White-eyed gull	Ichthyaetus leucophthalmus	(V); near threatened
Sooty gull	Ichthyaetus hemprichii	(V)
Common gull	Larus canus	(V)
Vega gull	Larus vegae	(V)
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	(V)
Black-bellied tern	Sterna acuticauda	Endangered
Whiskered tern	Chlidonias hybrida
White-winged tern	Chlidonias leucopterus
Black tern	Chlidonias niger	(V)

Skuas

Parasitic jaeger

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 five species which have been recorded in India.

Common name	Binomial	Comments
South polar skua	Stercorarius maccormicki	(V)
Brown skua	Stercorarius antarcticus	(V)
Pomarine jaeger	Stercorarius pomarinus
Parasitic jaeger	Stercorarius parasiticus
Long-tailed jaeger	Stercorarius longicaudus	(V)

Tropicbirds

Red-tailed tropicbird

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.

Common name	Binomial	Comments
Red-billed tropicbird	Phaethon aethereus	(V)
Red-tailed tropicbird	Phaethon rubricauda
White-tailed tropicbird	Phaethon lepturus	(V)

Loons

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 two species which have been recorded in India.

Common name	Binomial	Comments
Red-throated loon	Gavia stellata	(V)
Black-throated loon	Gavia arctica	(V)

Austral storm petrels

Wilson's storm petrel

Order: Procellariiformes   Family: Oceanitidae

The storm petrels are relatives of the petrels and are the smallest seabirds. They feed on planktonic crustaceans and small fish picked from the surface, typically while hovering. The flight is fluttering and sometimes bat-like.

Common name	Binomial	Comments
Wilson's storm petrel	Oceanites oceanicus
White-faced storm petrel	Pelagodroma marina	(V)
White-bellied storm petrel	Fregetta grallaria
Black-bellied storm petrel	Fregetta tropica	(V)

Albatrosses

Order: Procellariiformes   Family: Diomedeidae

The albatrosses are among the largest of flying birds, and the great albatrosses from the genus Diomedea have the largest wingspans of any extant birds.

Common name	Binomial	Comments
Light-mantled albatross	Phoebetria palpebrata	(V)

Northern storm petrels

Order: Procellariiformes   Family: Hydrobatidae

The northern storm petrels are relatives of the petrels and are the smallest seabirds. They feed on planktonic crustaceans and small fish picked from the surface, typically while hovering. The flight is fluttering and sometimes bat-like.

Common name	Binomial	Comments
Swinhoe's storm petrel	Hydrobates monorhis	Near threatened

Petrels, shearwaters, and diving 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 9 species which have been recorded in India.

Common name	Binomial	Comments
Barau's petrel	Pterodroma baraui	Endangered
Streaked shearwater	Calonectris leucomelas	Near threatened
Cory's shearwater	Calonectris borealis	(V)
Wedge-tailed shearwater	Ardenna pacifica
Sooty shearwater	Ardenna grisea	(V)
Short-tailed shearwater	Ardenna tenuirostris	(V)
Flesh-footed shearwater	Ardenna carneipes	Near threatened
Persian shearwater	Puffinus persicus
Tropical shearwater	Puffinus bailloni
Jouanin's petrel	Bulweria fallax	Near threatened

Storks

Black-necked stork

Painted stork

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.

Common name	Binomial	Comments
Painted stork	Mycteria leucocephala	Near threatened
Asian openbill	Anastomus oscitans
African openbill	Anastomus lamelligerus	(V)
Black stork	Ciconia nigra
Asian 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

Frigatebirds

Great frigatebird

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.

Common name	Binomial	Comments
Christmas frigatebird	Fregata andrewsi	(V)
Great frigatebird	Fregata minor	(V)
Lesser frigatebird	Fregata ariel	(V)

Gannets and boobies

Brown booby

Order: Suliformes   Family: Sulidae

The 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	(V)
Red-footed booby	Sula sula	(V)
Brown booby	Sula leucogaster	(V)

Anhingas and darters

Oriental darter

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.

Common name	Binomial	Comments
Oriental darter	Anhinga melanogaster

Cormorants and shags

Indian cormorant

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.

Common name	Binomial	Comments
Little cormorant	Microcarbo niger
Indian cormorant	Phalacrocorax fuscicollis
Great cormorant	Phalacrocorax carbo

Ibises and spoonbills

Black-headed ibis

Eurasian spoonbill

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.

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

Little bittern

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.

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	(V)
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	(V)
Eastern cattle egret	Bubulcus coromandus
Grey heron	Ardea cinerea
White-bellied heron	Ardea insignis	Critically endangered
Goliath heron	Ardea goliath	(V)
Purple heron	Ardea purpurea
Great egret	Ardea alba
Medium egret	Ardea intermedia
Little egret	Egretta garzetta
Western reef heron	Egretta gularis
Pacific reef heron	Egretta sacra
Chinese egret	Egretta eulophotes	(V)

Pelicans

Great white pelican

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 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

Osprey

Osprey

Order: Accipitriformes   Family: Pandionidae

The family Pandionidae contains usually only one species, the osprey. The osprey is a medium-large raptor which is a specialist fish-eater with most taxonomic authorities consider a worldwide distribution.

Common name	Binomial	Comments
Osprey	Pandion haliaetus

Kites, hawks, and eagles

Crested honey buzzard

Himalayan vulture

Crested hawk eagle

Black kite

Shikra

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.

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	(V)
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	(E)
Andaman serpent eagle	Spilornis elgini	(E)
Short-toed snake eagle	Circaetus gallicus
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 kelaarti
Rufous-bellied eagle	Lophotriorchis kienerii
Black eagle	Ictinaetus malaiensis
Indian spotted eagle	Clanga hastata	(earlier treated as C. pomarina 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	(E)
Chinese sparrowhawk	Accipiter soloensis	(V)
Japanese sparrowhawk	Accipiter gularis	(V)
Besra	Accipiter virgatus
Eurasian sparrowhawk	Accipiter nisus
Eurasian goshawk	Accipiter gentilis
Western marsh harrier	Circus aeruginosus
Eastern marsh harrier	Circus spilonotus	(V)
Hen harrier	Circus cyaneus
Pallid harrier	Circus macrourus	Near threatened
Pied harrier	Circus melanoleucos
Montagu's harrier	Circus pygargus
Red kite	Milvus milvus	(V)
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
Rufous-winged buzzard	Butastur liventer	(V)
Grey-faced buzzard	Butastur indicus	(V)
Rough-legged buzzard	Buteo lagopus	(V)
Upland buzzard	Buteo hemilasius
Himalayan buzzard	Buteo refectus
Long-legged buzzard	Buteo rufinus
Common buzzard	Buteo buteo	(race vulpinus)

Barn owls

Barn owl

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.

Common name	Binomial	Comments
Eastern barn owl	Tyto javanica
Andaman masked owl	Tyto deroepstorffi	(E)
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: 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.

Forest owlet

Tawny owl

Common name	Binomial	Comments
Andaman scops owl	Otus balli	(E); near threatened
Mountain scops owl	Otus spilocephalus
Indian scops owl	Otus bakkamoena
Collared scops owl	Otus lettia
Pallid scops owl	Otus brucei	(V)
Eurasian scops owl	Otus scops
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
Collared owlet	Taenioptynx brodiei
Asian barred owlet	Glaucidium cuculoides
Jungle owlet	Glaucidium radiatum
Little owl	Athene noctua
Spotted owlet	Athene brama
Forest owlet	Athene blewitti	(E); endangered
Boreal owl	Aegolius funereus	(V)
Brown boobook	Ninox scutulata
Hume's boobook	Ninox obscura	(E)
Andaman boobook	Ninox affinis	(E), near threatened
Long-eared owl	Asio otus
Short-eared owl	Asio flammeus

Trogons

Malabar trogon

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 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

Hoopoes

Hoopoe

Order: Bucerotiformes   Family: Upupidae

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

Common name	Binomial	Comments
Eurasian hoopoe	Upupa epops

Hornbills

Oriental pied hornbill

Malabar grey hornbill

Order: Bucerotiformes   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.

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	(E)
Indian grey hornbill	Ocyceros birostris
Austen's brown hornbill	Anorrhinus austeni	Near threatened
Rufous-necked hornbill	Aceros nipalensis	Vulnerable
Narcondam hornbill	Rhyticeros narcondami	(E); endangered
Wreathed hornbill	Rhyticeros undulatus

Indian grey hornbill

Rollers

Indian roller

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 at the base, but the outer toe is not. There are three or four species (depending on taxonomy followed) 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

Common kingfisher

Stork-billed kingfisher

Order: Coraciiformes   Family: Alcedinidae

Kingfishers are medium-sized birds with large heads, long, pointed bills, short legs and stubby tails. There are 13 species which have been recorded in India.

Common 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
Black-backed dwarf kingfisher	Ceyx erithaca
Crested kingfisher	Megaceryle lugubris
Pied kingfisher	Ceryle rudis

Bee-eaters

Asian green bee-eater

Order: Coraciiformes   Family: Meropidae

Chestnut-headed bee-eater

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 7 species which have been recorded in India.

Common name	Binomial	Comments
Blue-bearded bee-eater	Nyctyornis athertoni
Asian green bee-eater	Merops orientalis
Blue-cheeked bee-eater	Merops persicus
Blue-tailed bee-eater	Merops philippinus
Blue-throated bee-eater	Merops viridis	(V)
Chestnut-headed bee-eater	Merops leschenaulti
European bee-eater	Merops apiaster

Green bee eater

Asian barbets

Blue-throated barbet

Order: Piciformes   Family: Megalaimidae

The Asian barbets are plump birds, with short necks and large heads. They get their name from the bristles which fringe their heavy bills. Most species are brightly coloured.

Common name	Binomial	Comments
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

Honeyguides

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 is one species which occurs in India.

Common name	Binomial	Comments
Yellow-rumped honeyguide	Indicator xanthonotus	Near threatened

Woodpeckers

Eurasian wryneck

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.

Common flameback

Brown-capped pygmy woodpecker

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-naped woodpecker	Dryobates cathpharius
Necklaced woodpecker	Dryobates pernyii
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	(E); 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
Malabar flameback	Chrysocolaptes socialis
White-naped woodpecker	Chrysocolaptes festivus
Pale-headed woodpecker	Gecinulus grantia
Bay woodpecker	Blythipicus pyrrhotis
Rufous woodpecker	Micropternus brachyurus
Great slaty woodpecker	Mulleripicus pulverulentus	Vulnerable

Common woodpecker

Caracaras and falcons

Pied falconet

Peregrine falcon

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 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	(V)
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

Rose-ringed parakeet

Order: Psittaciformes   Family: Psittaculidae

Characteristic features of parrots include a strong curved bill, an upright stance, strong legs, and clawed zygodactyl feet. Many parrots are vividly coloured, and some are multi-coloured. In size they range from 8 cm (3.1 in) to 1 m (3.3 ft) 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	(E)
Alexandrine parakeet	Psittacula eupatria	Near threatened
Rose-ringed parakeet	Psittacula krameri
Nicobar parakeet	Psittacula caniceps	(E); near threatened
Vernal hanging parrot	Loriculus vernalis

Typical broadbills

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 two species which have been recorded in India.

Common name	Binomial	Comments
Long-tailed broadbill	Psarisomus dalhousiae
Grey-lored broadbill	Serilophus rubropygius

Pittas

Hooded pitta

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.

Common name	Binomial	Comments
Blue-naped pitta	Hydrornis nipalensis
Blue pitta	Hydrornis cyanea
Indian pitta	Pitta brachyura
Blue-winged pitta	Pitta moluccensis
Mangrove pitta	Pitta megarhyncha	Near threatened
Western hooded pitta	Pitta sordida

Vangas, helmetshrikes, woodshrikes, and shrike-flycatchers

Bar-winged flycatcher-shrike

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Vangidae

The 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	(E)
Common woodshrike	Tephrodornis pondicerianus

Woodswallows, butcherbirds, and peltops

White-breasted woodswallow

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 two species which have been recorded in India.

Common name	Binomial	Comments
Ashy woodswallow	Artamus fuscus
White-breasted woodswallow	Artamus leucorynchus

Ioras

White-tailed iora female

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 two species which have been recorded in India.

Common name	Binomial	Comments
Common iora	Aegithina tiphia
Marshall's iora	Aegithina nigrolutea

Male common iora

Cuckooshrikes

Scarlet minivet

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 15 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	(V)
Rosy minivet	Pericrocotus roseus
Indian cuckooshrike	Coracina macei
Bar-bellied cuckooshrike	Coracina striata	(V)
Andaman cuckooshrike	Coracina dobsoni	(E); near threatened
Pied triller	Lalage nigra
Black-winged cuckooshrike	Lalage melaschistos
Black-headed cuckooshrike	Lalage melanoptera

Whistlers and allies

Mangrove whistler

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Pachycephalidae

The family Pachycephalidae includes the whistlers, shrikethrushes, and some of the pitohuis. There is one species which occurs in India.

Common name	Binomial	Comments
Mangrove whistler	Pachycephala cinerea

Shrikes

Brown shrike

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.

Long-tailed shrike

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	(V)
Great grey shrike	Lanius excubitor
Woodchat shrike	Lanius senator
Masked shrike	Lanius nubicus	(V)

Vireos, greenlets, and shrike-babblers

Himalayan shrike-babbler

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Vireonidae

Most of the members of this family are found in the New World. However, the shrike-babblers and erpornis, which only slightly resemble the "true" vireos and greenlets, are found in South East Asia.

Common name	Binomial	Comments
White-bellied erpornis	Erpornis zantholeuca
Black-headed shrike-babbler	Pteruthius rufiventer
Himalayan shrike-babbler	Pteruthius ripleyi
White-browed shrike-babbler	Pteruthius aeralatus
Green shrike-babbler	Pteruthius xanthochlorus
Black-eared shrike-babbler	Pteruthius melanotis
Clicking shrike-babbler	Pteruthius intermedius

Figbirds, orioles, and turnagra

Indian golden oriole

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Oriolidae

The Old World orioles are colourful passerine birds. They are not related to the New World orioles. There are six species which have been recorded in India.

Common name	Binomial	Comments
Maroon oriole	Oriolus traillii
Black-hooded oriole	Oriolus xanthornus
Indian golden oriole	Oriolus kundoo
Eurasian golden oriole	Oriolus oriolus
Black-naped oriole	Oriolus chinensis
Slender-billed oriole	Oriolus tenuirostris

Drongos

Black drongo

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 ten species which have been recorded in India.

Common name	Binomial	Comments
Bronzed drongo	Dicrurus aeneus
Lesser racket-tailed drongo	Dicrurus remifer
Crow-billed drongo	Dicrurus annectens
Greater racket-tailed drongo	Dicrurus paradiseus
Andaman drongo	Dicrurus andamanensis	Near threatened
Hair-crested drongo	Dicrurus hottentottus
Ashy drongo	Dicrurus leucophaeus
White-bellied drongo	Dicrurus caerulescens
Black drongo	Dicrurus macrocercus

Fantails and silktails

White-throated fantail

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Rhipiduridae

The 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

Black-naped monarch

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Monarchidae

The monarch flycatchers are small to medium-sized insectivorous passerines which hunt by flycatching. There are four 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	(V)

Crows and jays

Common green magpie

House crow

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.

Rufous treepie

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	(E)
Collared treepie	Dendrocitta frontalis
Andaman treepie	Dendrocitta bayleii	(E); near threatened
Eurasian magpie	Pica pica
Black-rumped magpie	Pica bottanensis	(V)
Northern nutcracker	Nucifraga caryocatactes
Kashmir nutcracker	Nucifraga multipunctata
Red-billed chough	Pyrrhocorax pyrrhocorax
Alpine chough	Pyrrhocorax graculus
Western jackdaw	Coloeus 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	(V)
Common raven	Corvus corax

Waxwings

Bohemian waxwing

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 is one species which occurs in India.

Common name	Binomial	Comments
Bohemian waxwing	Bombycilla garrulus

Hypocolius

Hypocolius

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.

Common name	Binomial	Comments
Grey hypocolius	Hypocolius ampelinus

Fairy flycatchers

Grey-headed canary-flycatcher

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Stenostiridae

Most of the species of this small family are found in Africa, though a few inhabit tropical Asia. They are not closely related to other birds called "flycatchers".

Common name	Binomial	Comments
Yellow-bellied fantail	Chelidorhynx hypoxanthus
Grey-headed canary-flycatcher	Culicicapa ceylonensis

Tits and chickadees

Cinereous tit

Coal tit

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.

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
Cinereous tit	Parus cinereus
Green-backed tit	Parus monticolus
White-naped tit	Machlolophus nuchalis	(E); vulnerable
Himalayan black-lored tit	Machlolophus xanthogenys
Indian black-lored tit	Machlolophus aplonotus	(E)
Yellow-cheeked tit	Machlolophus spilonotus

Penduline tits

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Remizidae

The penduline tits are a group of small passerine birds related to the true tits. They are insectivores. There is one species which has been recorded in India.

Common name	Binomial	Comments
White-crowned penduline tit	Remiz coronatus

Larks

Malabar lark

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Alaudidae

Rufous-tailed lark

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.

Bengal bushlark

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	(E)
Crested lark	Galerida cristata
Malabar lark	Galerida malabarica	(E)
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
Turkestan short-toed lark	Alaudala heinei
Sand lark	Alaudala raytal

Bulbuls

Yellow-throated bulbul

White-eared bulbul

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Pycnonotidae

Red-vented bulbul

Bulbuls are medium-sized songbirds. Some are colourful with yellow, red or orange vents, cheeks, throats or supercilia, but most are drab, with uniform olive-brown to black plumage. Some species have distinct crests.

Common name	Binomial	Comments
White-throated bulbul	Alophoixus flaveolus
Striated bulbul	Alcurus striatus
Cachar bulbul	Iole cacharensis	(E)
Grey-eyed bulbul	Iole propinqua	(V)
Ashy bulbul	Hemixos flavala
Yellow-browed bulbul	Acritillas indica
Mountain bulbul	Ixos mcclellandii
Nicobar bulbul	Ixos nicobariensis	near threatened
Black bulbul	Hypsipetes leucocephalus
Square-tailed bulbul	Hypsipetes ganeesa
Grey-headed bulbul	Brachypodius priocephalus	(E); near threatened
Black-headed bulbul	Brachypodius melanocephalos
Andaman bulbul	Brachypodius fuscoflavescens	(E); near threatened
Black-crested bulbul	Rubigula flaviventris
Flame-throated bulbul	Rubigula gularis	(E)
Crested finchbill	Spizixos canifrons
White-browed bulbul	Pycnonotus luteolus
Flavescent bulbul	Pycnonotus flavescens
Yellow-throated bulbul	Pycnonotus xantholaemus	(E); vulnerable
Red-whiskered bulbul	Pycnonotus jocosus
Red-vented bulbul	Pycnonotus cafer
White-eared bulbul	Pycnonotus leucotis
Himalayan bulbul	Pycnonotus leucogenys

Red whiskered bulbul

Swallows and martins

Streak-throated swallow

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.

Barn swallow

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

Scaly-breasted cupwing

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Pnoepygidae

The 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

Chestnut-headed tesia

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Cettiidae

Cettiidae is a family of small insectivorous songbirds. It contains the typical bush warblers (Cettia) 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 canturians
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	(V)
Pale-footed bush warbler	Hemitesia pallidipes

Bushtits

Black-throated tit

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.

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
White-browed tit-warbler	Leptopoecile sophiae
Crested tit-warbler	Leptopoecile elegans	(V)

Leaf warblers and allies

Tickell's leaf warbler

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Phylloscopidae

Greenish warbler

Pale-rumped warbler

Leaf warblers are a family of small insectivorous birds found mostly in Eurasia and ranging into Wallacea and Africa. The species are of various sizes, often green-plumaged above and yellow below, or more subdued with grayish-green to grayish-brown colors.

Common name	Binomial	Comments
Wood warbler	Phylloscopus sibilatrix	(V)
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	(V)
Lemon-rumped warbler	Phylloscopus chloronotus
Sichuan leaf warbler	Phylloscopus forresti	(V)
Pallas's leaf warbler	Phylloscopus proregulus	(V)
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	(V)
Willow warbler	Phylloscopus trochilus	(V)
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	(V)
Green warbler	Phylloscopus nitidus
Two-barred warbler	Phylloscopus plumbeitarsus	(V)
Greenish warbler	Phylloscopus trochiloides
Large-billed leaf warbler	Phylloscopus magnirostris
Pale-legged leaf warbler	Phylloscopus tenellipes	(V)
Sakhalin leaf warbler	Phylloscopus borealoides	(V)
Arctic warbler	Phylloscopus borealis	(V)
Chestnut-crowned warbler	Phylloscopus castaniceps
Yellow-vented warbler	Phylloscopus cantator
Western crowned 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, and allies

Thick-billed warbler

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Acrocephalidae

Blyth's reed warbler

The members of this family are usually rather large for "warblers". Most are rather plain olivaceous brown above with much yellow to beige below. They are usually found in open woodland, reedbeds, or tall grass. The family occurs mostly in southern to western Eurasia and surroundings, but it also ranges far into the Pacific, with some species in Africa.

Common 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 and allies

Broad-tailed grassbird

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Locustellidae

Striated grassbird

Locustellidae are a family of small insectivorous songbirds found mainly in Eurasia, Africa, and the Australian region. They are smallish birds with tails that are usually long and pointed, and tend to be drab brownish or buffy all over.

Common name	Binomial	Comments
Pallas's grasshopper warbler	Helopsaltes certhiola
Lanceolated warbler	Locustella lanceolata
Long-billed bush warbler	Locustella major	Near threatened
Brown bush warbler	Locustella luteoventris
Common grasshopper warbler	Locustella naevia
Chinese bush warbler	Locustella tacsanowskia	(V)
Baikal bush warbler	Locustella davidi	(V)
West Himalayan bush warbler	Locustella kashmirensis
Spotted bush warbler	Locustella thoracica
Russet bush warbler	Locustella mandelli
Striated grassbird	Megalurus palustris
Broad-tailed grassbird	Schoenicola platyurus	(E); vulnerable
Bristled grassbird	Schoenicola striatus	Vulnerable

Cisticolas and allies

Zitting cisticola

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.

Ashy prinia

Common name	Binomial	Comments
Zitting cisticola	Cisticola juncidis
Golden-headed cisticola	Cisticola exilis
Himalayan prinia	Prinia crinigera	Circumscription changed in 2020
Rufous-crowned prinia	Prinia khasiana
Hill prinia	Prinia superciliaris
Grey-crowned prinia	Prinia cinereocapilla
Rufous-fronted prinia	Prinia buchanani
Rufescent prinia	Prinia rufescens
Grey-breasted prinia	Prinia hodgsonii
Delicate prinia	Prinia lepida
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

Sylviid babblers

Lesser whitethroat

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.

Common name	Binomial	Comments
Eurasian blackcap	Sylvia atricapilla	(V)
Garden warbler	Sylvia borin
Barred warbler	Curruca nisoria
Desert whitethroat	Curruca minula
Lesser whitethroat	Curruca curruca
Hume's whitethroat	Curruca althaea
Eastern Orphean warbler	Curruca crassirostris
Asian desert warbler	Curruca nana
Common whitethroat	Curruca communis

Parrotbills and allies

Yellow-eyed babbler

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Paradoxornithidae

The parrotbills are a group of peculiar birds which are diverse along the Himalayas east into Southeast Asia, though feral populations exist elsewhere. They are generally small, long-tailed birds which inhabit reedbeds and similar habitat. They feed mainly on seeds, e.g. of grasses, to which their bill, as the name implies, is well-adapted.

Common name	Binomial	Comments
Fire-tailed myzornis	Myzornis pyrrhoura
Golden-breasted fulvetta	Lioparus chrysotis
Yellow-eyed babbler	Chrysomma sinense
Jerdon's babbler	Chrysomma altirostre	Vulnerable
White-browed fulvetta	Fulvetta vinipectus
Brown-throated fulvetta	Fulvetta ludlowi
Manipur fulvetta	Fulvetta manipurensis
Black-breasted parrotbill	Paradoxornis flavirostris	Vulnerable
Spot-breasted parrotbill	Paradoxornis guttaticollis
Great parrotbill	Conostoma aemodium
Brown parrotbill	Cholornis unicolor
Grey-headed parrotbill	Psittiparus gularis
White-breasted parrotbill	Psittiparus ruficeps
Rufous-headed parrotbill	Psittiparus bakeri
Fulvous parrotbill	Suthora fulvifrons
Black-throated parrotbill	Suthora nipalensis
Pale-billed parrotbill	Chleuasicus atrosuperciliaris

White-eyes

Indian white-eye

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.

Common name	Binomial	Comments
Striated yuhina	Staphida castaniceps
Black-chinned yuhina	Yuhina nigrimenta
Whiskered yuhina	Yuhina flavicollis
White-naped yuhina	Yuhina bakeri
Stripe-throated yuhina	Yuhina gularis
Rufous-vented yuhina	Yuhina occipitalis
Chestnut-flanked white-eye	Zosterops erythropleurus	(V)
Indian white-eye	Zosterops palpebrosus

Babblers and scimitar babblers

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Timaliidae

Rusty-cheeked scimitar babbler

The babblers, or timaliids, are somewhat diverse in size and colouration, but are characterised by soft fluffy plumage.

Golden babbler

Indian scimitar babbler

Common name	Binomial	Comments
Chestnut-capped babbler	Timalia pileata
Tawny-bellied babbler	Dumetia hyperythra
Dark-fronted babbler	Dumetia atriceps
Pin-striped tit-babbler	Mixornis gularis
Golden babbler	Cyanoderma chrysaeum
Black-chinned babbler	Cyanoderma pyrrhops
Rufous-capped babbler	Cyanoderma ruficeps
Buff-chested babbler	Cyanoderma ambiguum
Rufous-throated wren-babbler	Spelaeornis caudatus
Mishmi wren-babbler	Spelaeornis badeigularis	(E)
Bar-winged wren-babbler	Spelaeornis troglodytoides
Naga wren-babbler	Spelaeornis chocolatinus	(E)
Chin Hills wren-babbler	Spelaeornis oatesi
Tawny-breasted wren-babbler	Spelaeornis longicaudatus	(E)
Grey-bellied wren-babbler	Spelaeornis reptatus
Coral-billed scimitar babbler	Pomatorhinus ferruginosus
Red-billed scimitar babbler	Pomatorhinus ochraceiceps
Slender-billed scimitar babbler	Pomatorhinus superciliaris
Streak-breasted scimitar babbler	Pomatorhinus ruficollis
White-browed scimitar babbler	Pomatorhinus schisticeps
Indian scimitar babbler	Pomatorhinus horsfieldii
Large scimitar babbler	Erythrogenys hypoleucos
Rusty-cheeked scimitar babbler	Erythrogenys erythrogenys
Spot-breasted scimitar babbler	Erythrogenys mcclellandi
Grey-throated babbler	Stachyris nigriceps
Sikkim wedge-billed babbler	Stachyris humei
Cachar wedge-billed babbler	Stachyris roberti
Snowy-throated babbler	Stachyris oglei

Ground babblers

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Pellorneidae

These small to medium-sized songbirds have soft fluffy plumage but are otherwise rather diverse. Members of the genus Illadopsis are found in forests, but some other genera are birds of scrublands.

Common name	Binomial	Comments
Indian grassbird	Graminicola bengalensis
White-hooded babbler	Gampsorhynchus rufulus
Yellow-throated fulvetta	Schoeniparus cinereus
Rufous-winged fulvetta	Schoeniparus castaneceps
Rufous-throated fulvetta	Schoeniparus rufogularis
Rusty-capped fulvetta	Schoeniparus dubius
Puff-throated babbler	Pellorneum ruficeps
Marsh babbler	Pellorneum palustre
Spot-throated babbler	Pellorneum albiventre
Buff-breasted babbler	Pellorneum tickelli
Rufous-vented grass babbler	Laticilla burnesii
Swamp grass babbler	Laticilla cinerascens
Abbott's babbler	Malacocincla abbotti
Streaked wren-babbler	Gypsophila brevicaudata
Eyebrowed wren-babbler	Napothera epilepidota
Long-billed wren-babbler	Napothera malacoptila

Alcippe fulvettas

Brown-cheeked fulvetta or Quaker babbler

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Alcippeidae

The genus once included many other fulvettas and was previously placed in families Pellorneidae or Timaliidae.

Common name	Binomial	Comments
Brown-cheeked fulvetta	Alcippe poioicephala
Nepal fulvetta	Alcippe nipalensis

Laughingthrushes and allies

Nilgiri laughingthrush

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Leiothrichidae

Bar-throated minla

Rufous sibia

Red-billed leiothrix

Jungle babbler

Streaked laughingthrush

The members of this family are diverse in size and colouration, though those of genus Turdoides tend to be brown or greyish. The family is found in Africa, India, and southeast Asia.

Common name	Binomial	Comments
Striated laughingthrush	Grammatoptila striata
Himalayan cutia	Cutia nipalensis
Scaly laughingthrush	Trochalopteron subunicolor
Brown-capped laughingthrush	Trochalopteron austeni
Blue-winged laughingthrush	Trochalopteron squamatum
Streaked laughingthrush	Trochalopteron lineatum
Bhutan laughingthrush	Trochalopteron imbricatum
Striped laughingthrush	Trochalopteron virgatum
Variegated laughingthrush	Trochalopteron variegatum
Black-faced laughingthrush	Trochalopteron affine
Elliot's laughingthrush	Trochalopteron elliotii
Chestnut-crowned laughingthrush	Trochalopteron erythrocephalum
Assam laughingthrush	Trochalopteron chrysopterum
Banasura laughingthrush	Montecincla jerdoni	(E)
Nilgiri laughingthrush	Montecincla cachinnans	(E)
Palani laughingthrush	Montecincla fairbanki	(E)
Ashambu laughingthrush	Montecincla meridionalis	(E)
Long-tailed sibia	Heterophasia picaoides
Rufous sibia	Heterophasia capistrata
Beautiful sibia	Heterophasia pulchella
Grey sibia	Heterophasia gracilis
Hoary-throated barwing	Actinodura nipalensis
Streak-throated barwing	Actinodura waldeni
Blue-winged minla	Actinodura cyanouroptera
Bar-throated minla	Actinodura strigula
Rusty-fronted barwing	Actinodura egertoni
Red-billed leiothrix	Leiothrix lutea
Silver-eared mesia	Leiothrix argentauris
Red-tailed minla	Minla ignotincta
Rufous-backed sibia	Leioptila annectens
Bugun liocichla	Liocichla bugunorum	(E)
Red-faced liocichla	Liocichla phoenicea
Large grey babbler	Argya malcolmi
Slender-billed babbler	Argya longirostris
Rufous babbler	Argya subrufa	(E)
Jungle babbler	Argya striata
Yellow-billed babbler	Argya affinis
Common babbler	Argya caudata
Striated babbler	Argya earlei
Spot-breasted laughingthrush	Garrulax merulinus
Lesser necklaced laughingthrush	Garrulax monileger
White-crested laughingthrush	Garrulax leucolophus
Rufous-chinned laughingthrush	Ianthocincla rufogularis
Moustached laughingthrush	Ianthocincla cineracea
Spotted laughingthrush	Ianthocincla ocellata
Wynaad laughingthrush	Pterorhinus delesserti	(E)
Rufous-vented laughingthrush	Pterorhinus gularis
Yellow-throated laughingthrush	Pterorhinus galbanus
Rufous-necked laughingthrush	Pterorhinus ruficollis
Chestnut-backed laughingthrush	Pterorhinus nuchalis
White-browed laughingthrush	Pterorhinus sannio
Greater necklaced laughingthrush	Pterorhinus pectoralis
Mount Victoria babax	Pterorhinus woodi
White-throated laughingthrush	Pterorhinus albogularis
Grey-sided laughingthrush	Pterorhinus caerulatus

Fairy-bluebirds

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 is one species which occurs in India.

Common name	Binomial	Comments
Asian fairy-bluebird	Irena puella

Goldcrests and kinglets

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 is one species which occurs in India.

Common name	Binomial	Comments
Goldcrest	Regulus regulus

Elachura

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Elachuridae

This species, the only one in its family, inhabits forest undergrowth throughout South East Asia.

Common name	Binomial	Comments
Spotted elachura	Elachura formosa

Wrens

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 is one species which occurs in India.

Common name	Binomial	Comments
Eurasian wren	Troglodytes troglodytes

Nuthatches

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.

Common name	Binomial	Comments
White-cheeked nuthatch	Sitta leucopsis
Beautiful nuthatch	Sitta formosa
Velvet-fronted nuthatch	Sitta frontalis
Yunnan nuthatch	Sitta yunnanensis	(V)
White-tailed nuthatch	Sitta himalayensis
Chestnut-vented nuthatch	Sitta nagaensis
Kashmir nuthatch	Sitta cashmirensis
Indian nuthatch	Sitta castanea
Chestnut-bellied nuthatch	Sitta cinnamoventris

Wallcreeper

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Tichodromidae

The 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: 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.

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: 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.

Common starling

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
Red-billed starling	Spodiopsar sericeus	(V)
White-cheeked starling	Spodiopsar cineraceus	(V)
Indian pied myna	Gracupica contra
Daurian starling	Agropsar sturninus
Chestnut-cheeked starling	Agropsar philippensis	(V)
White-shouldered starling	Sturnia sinensis	(V)
Chestnut-tailed starling	Sturnia malabarica
White-headed starling	Sturnia erythropygia	(E)
Malabar starling	Sturnia blythii	(E)
Brahminy starling	Sturnia pagodarum
Rosy starling	Pastor roseus
Common starling	Sturnus vulgaris

Thrushes

White-collared blackbird

Chestnut thrush

Black-throated thrush

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.

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	(E)
Long-billed thrush	Zoothera monticola
Dark-sided thrush	Zoothera marginata
Grandala	Grandala coelicolor
Tickell's thrush	Turdus unicolor
Black-breasted thrush	Turdus dissimilis
Japanese thrush	Turdus cardis	(V)
White-collared blackbird	Turdus albocinctus
Grey-winged blackbird	Turdus boulboul
Tibetan blackbird	Turdus maximus
Indian blackbird	Turdus simillimus
Chestnut thrush	Turdus rubrocanus
White-backed thrush	Turdus kessleri	(V)
Grey-sided thrush	Turdus feae
Eyebrowed thrush	Turdus obscurus
Black-throated thrush	Turdus atrogularis
Red-throated thrush	Turdus ruficollis
Naumann's thrush	Turdus naumanni	(V)
Dusky thrush	Turdus eunomus
Fieldfare	Turdus pilaris	(V)
Song thrush	Turdus philomelos	(V)
Chinese thrush	Turdus mupinensis	(V)
Mistle thrush	Turdus viscivorus
Purple cochoa	Cochoa purpurea
Green cochoa	Cochoa viridis

Chats and Old World flycatchers

Indian robin

Oriental magpie robin, male on the left and female

Pale blue flycatcher

Verditer flycatcher

Himalayan rubythroat

Golden bush robin

Malabar whistling thrush

Red-flanked bluetail

Plumbeous water redstart

Blue rock thrush

Pied bush chat

Red-tailed wheatear

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 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	(E)
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	(E)
Pale-chinned blue flycatcher	Cyornis poliogenys
Hill blue flycatcher	Cyornis whitei	Split from C. banyumas
Large blue flycatcher	Cyornis magnirostris
Tickell's blue flycatcher	Cyornis tickelliae
Blue-throated blue flycatcher	Cyornis rubeculoides
White-tailed flycatcher	Cyornis concretus
Nicobar jungle flycatcher	Cyornis nicobaricus	(E)
Rufous-bellied niltava	Niltava sundara
Chinese_vivid_niltava	Niltava oatesi
Large niltava	Niltava grandis
Small niltava	Niltava macgrigoriae
Blue-and-white flycatcher	Cyanoptila cyanomelana	(V)
Zappey's flycatcher	Cyanoptila cumatilis	(V)
Verditer flycatcher	Eumyias thalassinus
Nilgiri flycatcher	Eumyias albicaudatus	(E)
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	(V)
Bluethroat	Luscinia svecica
White-bellied redstart	Luscinia phaenicuroides
Himalayan rubythroat	Calliope pectoralis
Chinese rubythroat	Calliope tschebaiewi
Siberian rubythroat	Calliope calliope
Firethroat	Calliope pectardens	(V)
White-tailed robin	Myiomela leucura
Nilgiri blue robin	Sholicola major	(E)
White-bellied blue robin	Sholicola albiventris	(E)
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	(E)
Blue whistling thrush	Myophonus caeruleus
Blue-fronted robin	Cinclidium frontale
Yellow-rumped flycatcher	Ficedula zanthopygia	(V)
Slaty-backed flycatcher	Ficedula erithacus
Mugimaki flycatcher	Ficedula mugimaki	(V)
Pygmy flycatcher	Ficedula hodgsoni
Rufous-gorgeted flycatcher	Ficedula strophiata
Sapphire flycatcher	Ficedula sapphira
Ultramarine flycatcher	Ficedula superciliaris
Little pied flycatcher	Ficedula westermanni
Slaty-blue flycatcher	Ficedula tricolor
Snowy-browed flycatcher	Ficedula hyperythra
Rusty-tailed flycatcher	Ficedula ruficauda
Taiga flycatcher	Ficedula albicilla
Red-breasted flycatcher	Ficedula parva
Kashmir flycatcher	Ficedula subrubra
Black-and-orange flycatcher	Ficedula nigrorufa	(E)
Eversmann's redstart	Phoenicurus erythronotus
Blue-capped redstart	Phoenicurus coeruleocephala
Black redstart	Phoenicurus ochruros
Common redstart	Phoenicurus phoenicurus	(V)
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
Whinchat	Saxicola rubetra	(V)
White-browed bush chat	Saxicola macrorhynchus
White-throated bush chat	Saxicola insignis
Siberian stonechat	Saxicola maurus
Amur 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	(V)
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	(V)
Red-tailed wheatear	Oenanthe chrysopygia

Common tailorbird

Dippers

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 two species which have been recorded in India.

Common name	Binomial	Comments
White-throated dipper	Cinclus cinclus
Brown dipper	Cinclus pallasii

Leafbirds

Orange-bellied leafbird

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Chloropseidae

The leafbirds are small, bulbul-like birds. The males are brightly plumaged, usually in greens and yellows.

Common name	Binomial	Comments
Blue-winged leafbird	Chloropsis cochinchinensis
Jerdon's leafbird	Chloropsis jerdoni
Golden-fronted leafbird	Chloropsis aurifrons
Orange-bellied leafbird	Chloropsis hardwickii

Flowerpeckers

Thick-billed flowerpecker

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Dicaeidae

Pale-billed flowerpecker

The 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	(E)
Fire-breasted flowerpecker	Dicaeum ignipectus
Scarlet-backed flowerpecker	Dicaeum cruentatum

Sunbirds

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Nectariniidae

Green-tailed sunbird

Purple-rumped sunbird

The sunbirds and spiderhunters are very small passerine birds which feed largely on nectar, although they will also take insects, especially when feeding young. Flight is fast and direct on their short wings. Most species can take nectar by hovering like a hummingbird, but usually perch to feed.

Common name	Binomial	Comments
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
Ornate sunbird	Cinnyris ornatus
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	(E)
Fire-tailed sunbird	Aethopyga ignicauda
Little spiderhunter	Arachnothera longirostra
Streaked spiderhunter	Arachnothera magna

Old World sparrows and snowfinches

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.

House sparrow

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	(V)
Rock sparrow	Petronia petronia
Yellow-throated sparrow	Gymnoris xanthocollis
Black-winged snowfinch	Montifringilla adamsi
White-rumped snowfinch	Onychostruthus taczanowskii	(V)
Rufous-necked snowfinch	Pyrgilauda ruficollis
Blanford's snowfinch	Pyrgilauda blanfordi

Weavers and widowbirds

Baya weaver

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 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

Chestnut munia

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Estrildidae

Black-throated munia

The estrildid finches are small passerine birds of the Old World tropics and Australasia. They are gregarious and often colonial seed eaters with short thick but pointed bills. They are all similar in structure and habits, but have wide variation in plumage colours and patterns.

Common name	Binomial	Comments
Indian silverbill	Euodice malabarica
Scaly-breasted munia	Lonchura punctulata
Black-throated munia	Lonchura kelaarti
White-rumped munia	Lonchura striata
Tricoloured munia	Lonchura malacca
Chestnut munia	Lonchura atricapilla
Green avadavat	Amandava formosa	(E)
Red avadavat	Amandava amandava

Accentors

Alpine accentor

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 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

Citrine wagtail

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Motacillidae

Long-billed pipit

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 21 species which have been recorded in India.

Oriental pipit

Common name	Binomial	Comments
Forest wagtail	Dendronanthus indicus
Western yellow wagtail	Motacilla flava
Eastern yellow wagtail	Motacilla tschutschensis	(V)
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	(E)
Upland pipit	Anthus sylvanus
Meadow pipit	Anthus pratensis	(V)

Finches and euphonias

Pink-browed rosefinch

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 44 species which have been recorded in India.

Chaffinch

Hawfinch

Common name	Binomial	Comments
Eurasian 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	(V)
Trumpeter finch	Bucanetes githagineus
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	(V)
Pink-browed rosefinch	Carpodacus rodochroa
Dark-rumped rosefinch	Carpodacus edwardsii
Spot-winged rosefinch	Carpodacus rodopeplus
Vinaceous rosefinch	Carpodacus vinaceus
Pale rosefinch	Carpodacus stoliczkae	(V)
Sillem's rosefinch	Carpodacus sillemi
Himalayan white-browed rosefinch	Carpodacus thura
Chinese white-browed rosefinch	Carpodacus dubius	(V)
Red-fronted rosefinch	Carpodacus puniceus
Crimson-browed finch	Carpodacus subhimachalus
Three-banded rosefinch	Carpodacus trifasciatus
Yellow-breasted greenfinch	Chloris spinoides
Black-headed greenfinch	Chloris ambigua
Desert finch	Rhodospiza obsoleta	(V)
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	(V)

Buntings

Yellowhammer

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Emberizidae

The emberizids are a large family of passerine birds. They are seed-eating birds with distinctively shaped bills. Many emberizid species have distinctive head patterns.

Reed bunting

Common name	Binomial	Comments
Crested bunting	Emberiza lathami
Yellowhammer	Emberiza citrinella	(V)
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	(V)
Striolated bunting	Emberiza striolata
Tristram's bunting	Emberiza tristrami	(V)
Chestnut-eared bunting	Emberiza fucata
Little bunting	Emberiza pusilla
Yellow-browed bunting	Emberiza chrysophrys	(V)
Rustic bunting	Emberiza rustica	(V)
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

See also

• List of Indian state birds
• Birds of the Central Indian Highlands
• Lists of birds by region

Other sources

• Rasmussen, Pamela C.; Anderton, J. C. (2005). Birds of South Asia: The Ripley Guide. Smithsonian Institution & Lynx Edicions. ISBN 978-84-87334-67-2.
• Clements, James F. (2000). Birds of the World: A Checklist. Cornell University Press. p. 880. ISBN 978-0-934797-16-0.