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,[1] of which 81 are endemic to the country. 212 species are globally threatened.[2] The Indian peafowl (Pavo cristatus) is the national bird of India.[3] 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.
Order: AnseriformesFamily: Anatidae
Anatidae includes the ducks and most duck-like waterfowl, such as geese and swans. These birds are adapted to an aquatic existence with webbed feet, flattened bills, and feathers that are excellent at shedding water due to an oily coating. There are 45 species which have been recorded in India.
| Fulvous whistling duck | Dendrocygna bicolor | ||
| Lesser whistling duck | Dendrocygna javanica | ||
| Red-breasted goose | Branta ruficollis | (V);[4] vulnerable | |
| Bar-headed goose | Anser indicus | ||
| Greylag goose | Anser anser | ||
| Taiga bean goose | Anser fabalis | (V) | |
| Tundra bean goose | Anser serrirostris | (V);[5] by some authorities considered a variety of Anser fabalis | |
| Greater white-fronted goose | Anser albifrons | ||
| Lesser white-fronted goose | Anser erythropus | (V);[6] [7] vulnerable | |
| Mute swan | Cygnus olor | (V) | |
| Tundra swan | Cygnus columbianus | (V); race bewickii sometimes treated as a species[8] | |
| 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 |
Order: GalliformesFamily: Megapodiidae
The Megapodiidae are stocky, medium-large chicken-like birds with small heads and large feet. All but the malleefowl occupy jungle habitats and most have brown or black colouring. There is one species within India.
Order: GalliformesFamily: PhasianidaeThe Phasianidae are a family of terrestrial birds which consists of quails, partridges, snowcocks, francolins, spurfowl, tragopans, monals, pheasants, peafowls and jungle fowls. In general, they are plump (although they vary in size) and have broad, relatively short wings.
| 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[9] | |
| 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)[10] |
Order: PodargiformesFamily: 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.
| Sri Lanka frogmouth | Batrachostomus moniliger | ssp. roonwali in India | |
| Hodgson's frogmouth | Batrachostomus hodgsoni |
Order: CaprimulgiformesFamily: Caprimulgidae
Nightjars are medium-sized nocturnal birds that usually nest on the ground. They have long wings, short legs and very short bills. Most have small feet, of little use for walking, and long pointed wings. Their soft plumage is camouflaged to resemble bark or leaves.
| 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 |
Order: ApodiformesFamily: Hemiprocnidae
The treeswifts, or crested swifts, are closely related to the true swifts. They differ from the other swifts in that they have crests, long forked tails and softer plumage. There is one species which occurs in India.
| Crested treeswift | Hemiprocne coronata |
Order: ApodiformesFamily: Apodidae
Swifts are small birds which spend the majority of their lives flying. These birds have very short legs and never settle voluntarily on the ground, perching instead only on vertical surfaces. Many swifts have long swept-back wings which resemble a crescent or boomerang. There are 16 species which have been recorded in India.
| 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 |
Order: OtidiformesFamily: Otididae
Bustards are large terrestrial birds mainly associated with dry open country and steppes in the Old World. They are omnivorous and nest on the ground. They walk steadily on strong legs and big toes, pecking for food as they go. They have long broad wings with "fingered" wingtips and striking patterns in flight. Many have interesting mating displays.
| Great Indian bustard | Ardeotis nigriceps | Critically endangered | |
| MacQueen's bustard | Chlamydotis macqueenii | Vulnerable; earlier as subspecies of houbara bustard, Chlamydotis undulata | |
| Bengal florican | Houbaropsis bengalensis | Critically endangered | |
| Lesser florican | Sypheotides indicus | Endangered | |
| Little bustard | Tetrax tetrax | (V); near threatened |
Order: CuculiformesFamily: Cuculidae
The family Cuculidae includes cuckoos, roadrunners and anis. These birds are of variable size with slender bodies, long tails and strong legs. Many are brood parasites. There are 24 species which have been recorded in India.
| 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 |
Order: PterocliformesFamily: Pteroclidae
Sandgrouse have small, pigeon like heads and necks, but sturdy compact bodies. They have long pointed wings and sometimes tails and a fast direct flight. Flocks fly to watering holes at dawn and dusk. Their legs are feathered down to the toes. There are seven species which have been recorded in India. India has the largest number of sandgrouse of any country.
| 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 |
Order: ColumbiformesFamily: Columbidae
Pigeons and doves are stout-bodied birds with short necks and short slender bills with a fleshy cere.
| 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 |
Order: GruiformesFamily: Heliornithidae
Heliornithidae is a small family of tropical birds with webbed lobes on their feet similar to those of grebes and coots. There is one species which occurs in India.
| Masked finfoot | Heliopais personatus | Endangered |
Order: GruiformesFamily: Rallidae
Rallidae is a large family of small to medium-sized birds which includes the rails, crakes, coots and gallinules. Typically they inhabit dense vegetation in damp environments near lakes, swamps or rivers. In general they are shy and secretive birds, making them difficult to observe. Most species have strong legs and long toes which are well adapted to soft uneven surfaces. They tend to have short, rounded wings and to be weak fliers.
| Water rail | Rallus aquaticus | ||
| Brown-cheeked rail | Rallus indicus | ||
| Corn crake | Crex crex | (V)[11] | |
| 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)[12] | |
| Watercock | Gallicrex cinerea | ||
| White-breasted waterhen | Amaurornis phoenicurus |
Order: GruiformesFamily: GruidaeCranes are large, long-legged and long-necked birds. Unlike the similar-looking but unrelated herons, cranes fly with necks outstretched, not pulled back. Most have elaborate and noisy courting displays or "dances". There are five species which have been recorded in India.
| Siberian crane | Leucogeranus leucogeranus | Critically endangered, possibly extirpated;[13] last known wintering in India in 2002[14] | |
| Sarus crane | Antigone antigone | Vulnerable | |
| Demoiselle crane | Grus virgo | ||
| Common crane | Grus grus | ||
| Black-necked crane | Grus nigricollis | Vulnerable |
Order: PodicipediformesFamily: Podicipedidae
Grebes are small to medium-large freshwater diving birds. They have lobed toes and are excellent swimmers and divers. However, they have their feet placed far back on the body, making them quite ungainly on land. There are five species which have been recorded in India.
| 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 |
Order: PhoenicopteriformesFamily: Phoenicopteridae
Flamingos are gregarious wading birds, usually 3to 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.
| Greater flamingo | Phoenicopterus roseus | ||
| Lesser flamingo | Phoeniconaias minor | Near threatened |
Order: CharadriiformesFamily: Turnicidae
The buttonquail are small, drab, running birds which resemble the true quails. The female is the brighter of the sexes and initiates courtship. The male incubates the eggs and tends the young. There are three species which have been recorded in India.
| Common buttonquail | Turnix sylvaticus | ||
| Yellow-legged buttonquail | Turnix tanki | ||
| Barred buttonquail | Turnix suscitator |
Order: CharadriiformesFamily: BurhinidaeStone-curlews are a group of largely tropical waders in the family Burhinidae. They are found worldwide within the tropical zone, with some species also breeding in temperate Europe and Australia. They are medium to large waders with strong black or yellow-black bills, large yellow eyes and cryptic plumage. Despite being classed as waders, most species have a preference for arid or semi-arid habitats.
| Indian stone-curlew | Burhinus indicus | Occurrence of Eurasian stone-curlew, Burhinus oedicnemus, in India is not established[16] | |
| Great stone-curlew | Esacus recurvirostris | Near threatened | |
| Beach stone-curlew | Esacus magnirostris | Near threatened |
Order: CharadriiformesFamily: Haematopodidae
The oystercatchers are large and noisy plover-like birds, with strong bills used for smashing or prising open molluscs. There is one species which occurs in India.
| Eurasian oystercatcher | Haematopus ostralegus | Near threatened |
Order: CharadriiformesFamily: Ibidorhynchidae
The ibisbill is related to the waders, but is sufficiently distinctive to be a family unto itself. The adult is grey with a white belly, red legs, a long down curved bill, and a black face and breast band.
| Ibisbill | Ibidorhyncha struthersii |
Order: CharadriiformesFamily: Recurvirostridae
Recurvirostridae is a family of large wading birds, which includes the avocets and stilts. The avocets have long legs and long up-curved bills. The stilts have extremely long legs and long, thin, straight bills. There are two species which have been recorded in India.
| Black-winged stilt | Himantopus himantopus | ||
| Pied avocet | Recurvirostra avosetta |
Order: CharadriiformesFamily: Charadriidae
The family Charadriidae includes the plovers, dotterels and lapwings. They are small to medium-sized birds with compact bodies, short, thick necks and long, usually pointed, wings. They are found in open country worldwide, mostly in habitats near water. There are 20 species which have been recorded in India.
| Common 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)[17] | |
| 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)[18] | |
| Lesser sand plover | Charadrius mongolus | ||
| Greater sand plover | Charadrius leschenaultii | ||
| Caspian plover | Charadrius asiaticus | (V) | |
| Oriental plover | Charadrius veredus | (V) |
Order: CharadriiformesFamily: Rostratulidae
Painted-snipes are short-legged, long-billed birds similar in shape to the true snipes, but more brightly coloured. There is one species which occurs in India.
Order: CharadriiformesFamily: Jacanidae
The jacanas are a group of tropical waders in the family Jacanidae. They are found throughout the tropics. They are identifiable by their huge feet and claws which enable them to walk on floating vegetation in the shallow lakes that are their preferred habitat. There are two species which have been recorded in India.
| Common name | Binomial | Comments | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pheasant-tailed jacana | Hydrophasianus chirurgus | ||
| Bronze-winged jacana | Metopidius indicus |
Order: CharadriiformesFamily: Scolopacidae
Scolopacidae is a large diverse family of small to medium-sized shorebirds including the sandpipers, curlews, godwits, shanks, tattlers, woodcocks, snipes, dowitchers and phalaropes. The majority of these species eat small invertebrates picked out of the mud or soil. Variation in length of legs and bills enables multiple species to feed in the same habitat, particularly on the coast, without direct competition for food. There are 41 species which have been recorded in India.
| Common 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)[19] | |
| 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) |
Order: CharadriiformesFamily: Dromadidae
The crab-plover is related to the waders. It resembles a plover but with very long grey legs and a strong heavy black bill similar to a tern. It has black-and-white plumage, a long neck, partially webbed feet and a bill designed for eating crabs.
| Crab-plover | Dromas ardeola |
Order: CharadriiformesFamily: Glareolidae
Glareolidae is a family of wading birds comprising the pratincoles, which have short legs, long pointed wings and long forked tails, and the coursers, which have long legs, short wings and long, pointed bills which curve downwards. There are six species which have been recorded in India.
| 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 |
Order: CharadriiformesFamily: Laridae
Laridae is a family of medium to large seabirds, the gulls, terns, and skimmers. Gulls are typically grey or white, often with black markings on the head or wings. They have stout, longish bills and webbed feet. Terns are a group of generally medium to large seabirds typically with grey or white plumage, often with black markings on the head. Most terns hunt fish by diving but some pick insects off the surface of fresh water. Terns are generally long-lived birds, with several species known to live in excess of 30 years. Skimmers are a small family of tropical tern-like birds. They have an elongated lower mandible which they use to feed by flying low over the water surface and skimming the water for small fish.
| Brown noddy | Anous stolidus | ||
| Lesser noddy | Anous tenuirostris | (V) | |
| Black noddy | Anous minutus | (V) | |
| White tern | Gygis alba | (V)[20] | |
| Indian skimmer | Rynchops albicollis | Vulnerable | |
| Black-legged kittiwake | Rissa tridactyla | (V); vulnerable | |
| Sabine's gull | Xema sabini | (V)[21] | |
| 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)[22] | |
| Pallas's gull | Ichthyaetus ichthyaetus | ||
| White-eyed gull | Ichthyaetus leucophthalmus | (V);[23] near threatened | |
| Sooty gull | Ichthyaetus hemprichii | (V)[24] | |
| 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) |
Order: CharadriiformesFamily: Stercorariidae
The family Stercorariidae are, in general, medium to large birds, typically with grey or brown plumage, often with white markings on the wings. They nest on the ground in temperate and arctic regions and are long-distance migrants. There are five species which have been recorded in India.
| 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)[25] |
Order: PhaethontiformesFamily: Phaethontidae
Tropicbirds are slender white birds of tropical oceans, with exceptionally long central tail feathers. Their heads and long wings have black markings.
| Red-billed tropicbird | Phaethon aethereus | (V) | |
| Red-tailed tropicbird | Phaethon rubricauda | ||
| White-tailed tropicbird | Phaethon lepturus | (V) |
Order: GaviiformesFamily: Gaviidae
Loons, known as "divers" in Europe, are a group of aquatic birds found in northern North America and northern Eurasia. They are the size of a large duck or small goose, which they somewhat resemble when swimming, but to which they are completely unrelated. There are two species which have been recorded in India.
| Red-throated loon | Gavia stellata | (V) | |
| Black-throated loon | Gavia arctica | (V) |
Order: ProcellariiformesFamily: Oceanitidae
The storm petrels are relatives of the petrels and are the smallest seabirds. They feed on planktonic crustaceans and small fish picked from the surface, typically while hovering. The flight is fluttering and sometimes bat-like.
| 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) |
Order: ProcellariiformesFamily: 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.
| Light-mantled albatross | Phoebetria palpebrata | (V) |
Order: ProcellariiformesFamily: Hydrobatidae
The northern storm petrels are relatives of the petrels and are the smallest seabirds. They feed on planktonic crustaceans and small fish picked from the surface, typically while hovering. The flight is fluttering and sometimes bat-like.
| Swinhoe's storm petrel | Hydrobates monorhis | Near threatened |
Order: ProcellariiformesFamily: Procellariidae
The procellariids are the main group of medium-sized "true petrels", characterised by united nostrils with medium septum and a long outer functional primary. There are 9 species which have been recorded in India.
| Barau's petrel | Pterodroma baraui | Endangered | |
| Streaked shearwater | Calonectris leucomelas | Near threatened | |
| Cory's shearwater | Calonectris borealis | (V) [26] | |
| 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 |
Order: CiconiiformesFamily: Ciconiidae
Storks are large, long-legged, long-necked, wading birds with long, stout bills. Storks are mute, but bill-clattering is an important mode of communication at the nest. Their nests can be large and may be reused for many years. Many species are migratory.
| 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 |
Order: SuliformesFamily: Fregatidae
Frigatebirds are large seabirds usually found over tropical oceans. They are large, black-and-white or completely black, with long wings and deeply forked tails. The males have coloured inflatable throat pouches. They do not swim or walk and cannot take off from a flat surface. Having the largest wingspan-to-body-weight ratio of any bird, they are essentially aerial, able to stay aloft for more than a week.[27]
| Christmas frigatebird | Fregata andrewsi | (V) | |
| Great frigatebird | Fregata minor | (V) | |
| Lesser frigatebird | Fregata ariel | (V) |
Order: SuliformesFamily: Sulidae
The sulids comprise the gannets and boobies. Both groups are medium to large coastal seabirds that plunge-dive for fish.
| Masked booby | Sula dactylatra | (V) | |
| Red-footed booby | Sula sula | (V) | |
| Brown booby | Sula leucogaster | (V) |
Order: SuliformesFamily: Anhingidae
Darters are often called "snake-birds" because of their long thin neck, which gives a snake-like appearance when they swim with their bodies submerged. The males have black and dark-brown plumage, an erectile crest on the nape and a larger bill than the female. The females have much paler plumage especially on the neck and underparts. The darters have completely webbed feet and their legs are short and set far back on the body. Their plumage is somewhat permeable, like that of cormorants, and they spread their wings to dry after diving.
| Oriental darter | Anhinga melanogaster |
Order: SuliformesFamily: Phalacrocoracidae
Phalacrocoracidae is a family of medium to large coastal, fish-eating seabirds that includes cormorants and shags. Plumage colouration varies, with the majority having mainly dark plumage, some species being black-and-white and a few being colourful.
| Little cormorant | Microcarbo niger | ||
| Indian cormorant | Phalacrocorax fuscicollis | ||
| Great cormorant | Phalacrocorax carbo |
Order: PelecaniformesFamily: Threskiornithidae
Threskiornithidae is a family of large terrestrial and wading birds which includes the ibises and spoonbills. They have long, broad wings with 11 primary and about 20 secondary feathers. They are strong fliers and despite their size and weight, very capable soarers.
| Black-headed ibis | Threskiornis melanocephalus | Near threatened | |
| Red-naped ibis | Pseudibis papillosa | ||
| Glossy ibis | Plegadis falcinellus | ||
| Eurasian spoonbill | Platalea leucorodia |
Order: PelecaniformesFamily: Ardeidae
The family Ardeidae contains the bitterns, herons and egrets. Herons and egrets are medium to large wading birds with long necks and legs. Bitterns tend to be shorter necked and more wary. Members of Ardeidae fly with their necks retracted, unlike other long-necked birds such as storks, ibises and spoonbills.
| 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 | ||
| Intermediate egret | Ardea intermedia | ||
| Little egret | Egretta garzetta | ||
| Western reef heron | Egretta gularis | ||
| Pacific reef heron | Egretta sacra | ||
| Chinese egret | Egretta eulophotes | (V) |
Order: PelecaniformesFamily: Pelecanidae
Pelicans are large water birds with a distinctive pouch under their beak. As with other members of the order Pelecaniformes, they have webbed feet with four toes. There are three species which have been recorded in India.
| Great white pelican | Pelecanus onocrotalus | ||
| Spot-billed pelican | Pelecanus philippensis | ||
| Dalmatian pelican | Pelecanus crispus |
Order: AccipitriformesFamily: Pandionidae
The family Pandionidae contains usually only one species, the osprey. The osprey is a medium-large raptor which is a specialist fish-eater with most taxonomic authorities consider a worldwide distribution.
| Osprey | Pandion haliaetus |
Order: AccipitriformesFamily: Accipitridae
Accipitridae is a family of birds of prey, which includes hawks, eagles, kites, harriers and Old World vultures. These birds have powerful hooked beaks for tearing flesh from their prey, strong legs, powerful talons and keen eyesight.
| 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)[28] | |
| Mountain hawk-eagle | Nisaetus nipalensis | ||
| Legge's hawk-eagle | Nisaetus kelaarti[29] | ||
| 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[30] | ||
| 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)[31] | |
| 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) |
Order: StrigiformesFamily: Tytonidae
Barn owls are medium to large owls with large heads and characteristic heart-shaped faces. They have long strong legs with powerful talons.
| 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 |
Order: StrigiformesFamily: Strigidae
The typical owls are small to large solitary nocturnal birds of prey. They have large forward-facing eyes and ears, a hawk-like beak and a conspicuous circle of feathers around each eye called a facial disk.
| 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 |
Order: TrogoniformesFamily: Trogonidae
The family Trogonidae includes trogons and quetzals. Found in tropical woodlands worldwide, they feed on insects and fruit, and their broad bills and weak legs reflect their diet and arboreal habits. Although their flight is fast, they are reluctant to fly any distance. Trogons have soft, often colourful, feathers with distinctive male and female plumage. There are three species which have been recorded in India.
| Malabar trogon | Harpactes fasciatus | ||
| Red-headed trogon | Harpactes erythrocephalus | ||
| Ward's trogon | Harpactes wardi | Near threatened |
Order: BucerotiformesFamily: Upupidae
Hoopoes have black, white and orangey-pink colouring with a large erectile crest on their head. There is one species which occurs in India.
| Eurasian hoopoe | Upupa epops |
Order: BucerotiformesFamily: Bucerotidae
Hornbills are a group of birds whose bill is shaped like a cow's horn, but without a twist, sometimes with a casque on the upper mandible. Frequently, the bill is brightly coloured.
| 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 |
Order: CoraciiformesFamily: Coraciidae
Rollers resemble crows in size and build, but are more closely related to the kingfishers and bee-eaters. They share the colourful appearance of those groups with blues and browns predominating. The two inner front toes are connected at the base, but the outer toe is not. There are three or four species (depending on taxonomy followed) which have been recorded in India.
| Indian roller | Coracias benghalensis | ||
| Indochinese roller | Coracias affinis | Said to intergrade with above but distinctive in plumage in core range[32] | |
| European roller | Coracias garrulus | ||
| Oriental dollarbird | Eurystomus orientalis |
Order: CoraciiformesFamily: Alcedinidae
Kingfishers are medium-sized birds with large heads, long, pointed bills, short legs and stubby tails. There are 13 species which have been recorded in India.
| Stork-billed kingfisher | Pelargopsis capensis | ||
| Brown-winged kingfisher | Pelargopsis amauroptera | Near threatened | |
| Ruddy kingfisher | Halcyon coromanda | ||
| White-throated kingfisher | Halcyon smyrnensis | ||
| Black-capped kingfisher | Halcyon pileata | ||
| Collared kingfisher | Todiramphus chloris | ||
| Blue-eared kingfisher | Alcedo meninting | ||
| Common kingfisher | Alcedo atthis | ||
| Blyth's kingfisher | Alcedo hercules | Near threatened | |
| Oriental dwarf kingfisher | Ceyx erithaca | ||
| Crested kingfisher | Megaceryle lugubris | ||
| Pied kingfisher | Ceryle rudis |
Order: CoraciiformesFamily: MeropidaeThe bee-eaters are a group of near passerine birds in the family Meropidae. Most species are found in Africa but others occur in southern Europe, Madagascar, Australia and New Guinea. They are characterised by richly coloured plumage, slender bodies and usually elongated central tail feathers. All are colourful and have long downturned bills and pointed wings, which give them a swallow-like appearance when seen from afar. There are 7 species which have been recorded in India.
| 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 |
Order: PiciformesFamily: Megalaimidae
The Asian barbets are plump birds, with short necks and large heads. They get their name from the bristles which fringe their heavy bills. Most species are brightly coloured.
| Great barbet | Psilopogon virens | ||
| Brown-headed barbet | Psilopogon zeylanicus | ||
| Lineated barbet | Psilopogon lineatus | ||
| White-cheeked barbet | Psilopogon viridis | (E) | |
| Golden-throated barbet | Psilopogon franklinii | ||
| Blue-throated barbet | Psilopogon asiaticus | ||
| Blue-eared barbet | Psilopogon duvaucelii | ||
| Malabar barbet | Psilopogon malabaricus | (E) | |
| Coppersmith barbet | Psilopogon haemacephalus |
Order: PiciformesFamily: Indicatoridae
Honeyguides are among the few birds that feed on wax. They are named for the greater honeyguide which leads traditional honey-hunters to bees' nests and, after the hunters have harvested the honey, feeds on the remaining contents of the hive. There is one species which occurs in India.
| Yellow-rumped honeyguide | Indicator xanthonotus | Near threatened |
Order: PiciformesFamily: Picidae
Woodpeckers are small to medium-sized birds with chisel-like beaks, short legs, stiff tails and long tongues used for capturing insects. Some species have feet with two toes pointing forward and two backward, while several species have only three toes. Many woodpeckers have the habit of tapping noisily on tree trunks with their beaks.
| 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 |
Order: FalconiformesFamily: Falconidae
Falconidae is a family of diurnal birds of prey. They differ from hawks, eagles and kites in that they kill with their beaks instead of their talons. There are thirteen species which have been recorded in India.
| 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 |
Order: PsittaciformesFamily: Psittaculidae
Characteristic features of parrots include a strong curved bill, an upright stance, strong legs, and clawed zygodactyl feet. Many parrots are vividly coloured, and some are multi-coloured. In size they range from 81NaN1 to 11NaN1 in length. Old World parrots are found from Africa east across south and southeast Asia and Oceania to Australia and New Zealand.
| 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 | [33] 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 |
Order: PasseriformesFamily: Eurylaimidae
The broadbills are small, brightly coloured birds, which feed on fruit and also take insects in flycatcher fashion, snapping their broad bills. Their habitat is canopies of wet forests. There are two species which have been recorded in India.
| Long-tailed broadbill | Psarisomus dalhousiae | ||
| Grey-lored broadbill | Serilophus rubropygius |
Order: PasseriformesFamily: Pittidae
Pittas are medium-sized by passerine standards and are stocky, with fairly long, strong legs, short tails and stout bills. Many are brightly coloured. They spend the majority of their time on wet forest floors, eating snails, insects and similar invertebrates.
| Blue-naped pitta | Hydrornis nipalensis | ||
| Blue pitta | Hydrornis cyanea | ||
| Indian pitta | Pitta brachyura | ||
| Blue-winged pitta | Pitta moluccensis | [34] | |
| Mangrove pitta | Pitta megarhyncha | [35] [36] Near threatened | |
| Hooded pitta | Pitta sordida |
Order: PasseriformesFamily: Vangidae
The woodshrikes are similar in build to the shrikes.
| Bar-winged flycatcher-shrike | Hemipus picatus | ||
| Large woodshrike | Tephrodornis virgatus | ||
| Malabar woodshrike | Tephrodornis sylvicola | (E) | |
| Common woodshrike | Tephrodornis pondicerianus |
Order: PasseriformesFamily: Artamidae
The woodswallows are soft-plumaged, somber-coloured passerine birds. They are smooth, agile flyers with moderately large, semi-triangular wings. There are two species which have been recorded in India.
| Ashy woodswallow | Artamus fuscus | ||
| White-breasted woodswallow | Artamus leucorynchus |
Order: PasseriformesFamily: Aegithinidae
The ioras are bulbul-like birds of open forest or thorn scrub, but whereas that group tends to be drab in colouration, ioras are sexually dimorphic, with the males being brightly plumaged in yellows and greens. There are two species which have been recorded in India.
| Common iora | Aegithina tiphia | ||
| Marshall's iora | Aegithina nigrolutea |
Order: PasseriformesFamily: Campephagidae
The cuckooshrikes are small to medium-sized passerine birds. They are predominantly greyish with white and black, although some species are brightly coloured. There are 15 species which have been recorded in India.
| 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 | ||
| Large 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 |
Order: PasseriformesFamily: Pachycephalidae
The family Pachycephalidae includes the whistlers, shrikethrushes, and some of the pitohuis. There is one species which occurs in India.
| Mangrove whistler | Pachycephala cinerea |
Order: PasseriformesFamily: LaniidaeShrikes are passerine birds known for their habit of catching other birds and small animals and impaling the uneaten portions of their bodies on thorns. A typical shrike's beak is hooked, like a bird of prey.
| 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 | [37] | |
| Masked shrike | Lanius nubicus | (V) |
Order: PasseriformesFamily: Vireonidae
Most of the members of this family are found in the New World. However, the shrike-babblers and erpornis, which only slightly resemble the "true" vireos and greenlets, are found in South East Asia.
| White-bellied erpornis | Erpornis zantholeuca | ||
| Black-headed shrike-babbler | Pteruthius rufiventer | ||
| Himalayan shrike-babbler | Pteruthius ripleyi | ||
| Blyth's shrike-babbler | Pteruthius aeralatus | ||
| Green shrike-babbler | Pteruthius xanthochlorus | ||
| Black-eared shrike-babbler | Pteruthius melanotis | ||
| Clicking shrike-babbler | Pteruthius intermedius |
Order: PasseriformesFamily: Oriolidae
The Old World orioles are colourful passerine birds. They are not related to the New World orioles. There are six species which have been recorded in India.
| Maroon oriole | Oriolus traillii | ||
| Black-hooded oriole | Oriolus xanthornus | ||
| Indian golden oriole | Oriolus kundoo | [38] | |
| Eurasian golden oriole | Oriolus oriolus | ||
| Black-naped oriole | Oriolus chinensis | ||
| Slender-billed oriole | Oriolus tenuirostris |
Order: PasseriformesFamily: Dicruridae
The drongos are mostly black or dark grey in colour, sometimes with metallic tints. They have long forked tails, and some Asian species have elaborate tail decorations. They have short legs and sit very upright when perched, like a shrike. They flycatch or take prey from the ground. There are ten species which have been recorded in India.
| 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 |
Order: PasseriformesFamily: Rhipiduridae
The fantails are small insectivorous birds which are specialist aerial feeders. There are three species which occur in India.
| White-throated fantail | Rhipidura albicollis | ||
| White-spotted fantail | Rhipidura albogularis | ||
| White-browed fantail | Rhipidura aureola |
Order: PasseriformesFamily: 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.
| Black-naped monarch | Hypothymis azurea | ||
| Indian paradise flycatcher | Terpsiphone paradisi | ||
| Blyth's paradise flycatcher | Terpsiphone affinis | ||
| Amur paradise flycatcher | Terpsiphone incei | (V) |
Order: PasseriformesFamily: Corvidae
The family Corvidae includes crows, ravens, jays, choughs, magpies, treepies, nutcrackers and ground jays. Corvids are above average in size among the Passeriformes, and some of the larger species show high levels of intelligence.
| 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) | |
| Eurasian 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) | |
| Northern raven | Corvus corax |
Order: PasseriformesFamily: Bombycillidae
The waxwings are a group of birds with soft silky plumage and unique red tips to some of the wing feathers. In the Bohemian and cedar waxwings, these tips look like sealing wax and give the group its name. These are arboreal birds of northern forests. They live on insects in summer and berries in winter. There is one species which occurs in India.
| Bohemian waxwing | Bombycilla garrulus |
Order: PasseriformesFamily: Hypocoliidae
The grey hypocolius is a small Middle Eastern bird with the shape and soft plumage of a waxwing. They are mainly a uniform grey colour except the males have a black triangular mask around their eyes.
| Grey hypocolius | Hypocolius ampelinus |
Order: PasseriformesFamily: Stenostiridae
Most of the species of this small family are found in Africa, though a few inhabit tropical Asia. They are not closely related to other birds called "flycatchers".
| Yellow-bellied fantail | Chelidorhynx hypoxanthus | ||
| Grey-headed canary-flycatcher | Culicicapa ceylonensis |
Order: PasseriformesFamily: Paridae
The Paridae are mainly small stocky woodland species with short stout bills. Some have crests. They are adaptable birds, with a mixed diet including seeds and insects.
| 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 | [39] | |
| 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)[40] | |
| Yellow-cheeked tit | Machlolophus spilonotus |
Order: PasseriformesFamily: Remizidae
The penduline tits are a group of small passerine birds related to the true tits. They are insectivores. There is one species which has been recorded in India.
| White-crowned penduline tit | Remiz coronatus |
Order: PasseriformesFamily: AlaudidaeLarks are small terrestrial birds with often extravagant songs and display flights. Most larks are fairly dull in appearance. Their food is insects and seeds.
| 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 |
Order: PasseriformesFamily: PycnonotidaeBulbuls are medium-sized songbirds. Some are colourful with yellow, red or orange vents, cheeks, throats or supercilia, but most are drab, with uniform olive-brown to black plumage. Some species have distinct crests.
| 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 |
Order: PasseriformesFamily: Hirundinidae
The family Hirundinidae is adapted to aerial feeding. They have a slender streamlined body, long pointed wings and a short bill with a wide gape. The feet are adapted to perching rather than walking, and the front toes are partially joined at the base.
| 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 |
Order: PasseriformesFamily: Pnoepygidae
The members of this small family are found in mountainous parts of South and South East Asia.
| Scaly-breasted cupwing | Pnoepyga albiventer | ||
| Nepal cupwing | Pnoepyga immaculata | ||
| Pygmy cupwing | Pnoepyga pusilla |
Order: PasseriformesFamily: 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.
| 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)[41] | |
| Pale-footed bush warbler | Hemitesia pallidipes |
Order: PasseriformesFamily: Aegithalidae
Long-tailed tits are a group of small passerine birds with medium to long tails. They make woven bag nests in trees. Most eat a mixed diet which includes insects.
| 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 | [42] | |
| White-browed tit-warbler | Leptopoecile sophiae | ||
| Crested tit-warbler | Leptopoecile elegans | (V)[43] |
Order: PasseriformesFamily: Phylloscopidae
Leaf warblers are a family of small insectivorous birds found mostly in Eurasia and ranging into Wallacea and Africa. The species are of various sizes, often green-plumaged above and yellow below, or more subdued with grayish-green to grayish-brown colors.
| 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 |
Order: PasseriformesFamily: Acrocephalidae
The members of this family are usually rather large for "warblers". Most are rather plain olivaceous brown above with much yellow to beige below. They are usually found in open woodland, reedbeds, or tall grass. The family occurs mostly in southern to western Eurasia and surroundings, but it also ranges far into the Pacific, with some species in Africa.
| 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 |
Order: PasseriformesFamily: Locustellidae
Locustellidae are a family of small insectivorous songbirds found mainly in Eurasia, Africa, and the Australian region. They are smallish birds with tails that are usually long and pointed, and tend to be drab brownish or buffy all over.
| 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) [44] | |
| 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 |
Order: PasseriformesFamily: Cisticolidae
The Cisticolidae are warblers found mainly in warmer southern regions of the Old World. They are generally very small birds of drab brown or grey appearance found in open country such as grassland or scrub.
| Zitting cisticola | Cisticola juncidis | ||
| Golden-headed cisticola | Cisticola exilis | ||
| Himalayan prinia | Prinia crinigera | Circumscription changed in 2020[45] | |
| 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 |
Order: PasseriformesFamily: Sylviidae
The family Sylviidae is a group of small insectivorous passerine birds. They mainly occur as breeding species, as the common name implies, in Europe, Asia and, to a lesser extent, Africa. Many species are difficult to identify by appearance, but many have distinctive songs.
| 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 |
Order: PasseriformesFamily: 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.
| 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 |
Order: PasseriformesFamily: Zosteropidae
The white-eyes are small and mostly undistinguished, their plumage above being generally some dull colour like greenish-olive, but some species have a white or bright yellow throat, breast or lower parts, and several have buff flanks. As their name suggests, many species have a white ring around each eye.
| 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 |
Order: PasseriformesFamily: TimaliidaeThe babblers, or timaliids, are somewhat diverse in size and colouration, but are characterised by soft fluffy plumage.
Order: PasseriformesFamily: Pellorneidae
These small to medium-sized songbirds have soft fluffy plumage but are otherwise rather diverse. Members of the genus Illadopsis are found in forests, but some other genera are birds of scrublands.
| 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 |
Order: PasseriformesFamily: Alcippeidae
The genus once included many other fulvettas and was previously placed in families Pellorneidae or Timaliidae.
| Brown-cheeked fulvetta | Alcippe poioicephala | ||
| Nepal fulvetta | Alcippe nipalensis |
Order: PasseriformesFamily: Leiothrichidae
The members of this family are diverse in size and colouration, though those of genus Turdoides tend to be brown or greyish. The family is found in Africa, India, and southeast Asia.
Order: PasseriformesFamily: Irenidae
The fairy-bluebirds are bulbul-like birds of open forest or thorn scrub. The males are dark-blue and the females a duller green. There is one species which occurs in India.
| Asian fairy-bluebird | Irena puella |
Order: PasseriformesFamily: Regulidae
The kinglets, also called crests, are a small group of birds often included in the Old World warblers, but frequently given family status because they also resemble the titmice. There is one species which occurs in India.
| Goldcrest | Regulus regulus |
Order: PasseriformesFamily: Elachuridae
This species, the only one in its family, inhabits forest undergrowth throughout South East Asia.
| Spotted elachura | Elachura formosa |
Order: PasseriformesFamily: Troglodytidae
The wrens are mainly small and inconspicuous except for their loud songs. These birds have short wings and thin down-turned bills. Several species often hold their tails upright. All are insectivorous. There is one species which occurs in India.
| Eurasian wren | Troglodytes troglodytes |
Order: PasseriformesFamily: Sittidae
Nuthatches are small woodland birds. They have the unusual ability to climb down trees head first, unlike other birds which can only go upwards. Nuthatches have big heads, short tails and powerful bills and feet.
| White-cheeked nuthatch | Sitta leucopsis | ||
| Beautiful nuthatch | Sitta formosa | ||
| Velvet-fronted nuthatch | Sitta frontalis | ||
| Yunnan nuthatch | Sitta yunnanensis | (V)[48] | |
| White-tailed nuthatch | Sitta himalayensis | ||
| Chestnut-vented nuthatch | Sitta nagaensis | ||
| Kashmir nuthatch | Sitta cashmirensis | ||
| Indian nuthatch | Sitta castanea | ||
| Chestnut-bellied nuthatch | Sitta cinnamoventris |
Order: PasseriformesFamily: Tichodromidae
The wallcreeper is a small bird related to the nuthatch family, which has stunning crimson, grey and black plumage.
| Wallcreeper | Tichodroma muraria |
Order: PasseriformesFamily: Certhiidae
Treecreepers are small woodland birds, brown above and white below. They have thin pointed down-curved bills, which they use to extricate insects from bark. They have stiff tail feathers, like woodpeckers, which they use to support themselves on vertical trees.
| Hodgson's treecreeper | Certhia hodgsoni | ||
| Bar-tailed treecreeper | Certhia himalayana | ||
| Rusty-flanked treecreeper | Certhia nipalensis | ||
| Sikkim treecreeper | Certhia discolor | ||
| Hume's treecreeper | Certhia manipurensis | [49] [50] | |
| Indian spotted creeper | Salpornis spilonota |
Order: PasseriformesFamily: Sturnidae
Starlings are small to medium-sized passerine birds. Their flight is strong and direct and they are very gregarious. Their preferred habitat is fairly open country. They eat insects and fruit. Plumage is typically dark with a metallic sheen.
| 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)[51] | |
| White-shouldered starling | Sturnia sinensis | (V) | |
| Chestnut-tailed starling | Sturnia malabarica | [52] | |
| White-headed starling | Sturnia erythropygia | (E) | |
| Malabar starling | Sturnia blythii | (E) | |
| Brahminy starling | Sturnia pagodarum | ||
| Rosy starling | Pastor roseus | ||
| Common starling | Sturnus vulgaris |
Order: PasseriformesFamily: Turdidae
The thrushes are a group of passerine birds that occur mainly in the Old World. They are plump, soft plumaged, small to medium-sized insectivores or sometimes omnivores, often feeding on the ground. Many have attractive songs.
| Pied thrush | Geokichla wardii | ||
| Orange-headed thrush | Geokichla citrina | ||
| Siberian thrush | Geokichla sibirica | ||
| Alpine thrush | Zoothera mollissima | ||
| Himalayan thrush | Zoothera salimalii | [53] | |
| 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)[54] | |
| Mistle thrush | Turdus viscivorus | ||
| Purple cochoa | Cochoa purpurea | ||
| Green cochoa | Cochoa viridis |
Order: PasseriformesFamily: Muscicapidae
Old World flycatchers are a large group of small passerine birds native to the Old World. They are mainly small arboreal insectivores. The appearance of these birds is highly varied, but they mostly have weak songs and harsh calls.
| 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[55] | |
| 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 | ||
| Vivid niltava | Niltava vivida | ||
| Large niltava | Niltava grandis | ||
| Small niltava | Niltava macgrigoriae | ||
| Blue-and-white flycatcher | Cyanoptila cyanomelana | (V)[56] | |
| 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) [57] | |
| 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 | [58] | |
| 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)[59] | |
| 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 |
Order: PasseriformesFamily: Cinclidae
Dippers are a group of perching birds whose habitat includes aquatic environments in the Americas, Europe and Asia. They are named for their bobbing or dipping movements. There are two species which have been recorded in India.
| White-throated dipper | Cinclus cinclus | ||
| Brown dipper | Cinclus pallasii |
Order: PasseriformesFamily: Chloropseidae
The leafbirds are small, bulbul-like birds. The males are brightly plumaged, usually in greens and yellows.
| Blue-winged leafbird | Chloropsis cochinchinensis | ||
| Jerdon's leafbird | Chloropsis jerdoni | ||
| Golden-fronted leafbird | Chloropsis aurifrons | ||
| Orange-bellied leafbird | Chloropsis hardwickii |
Order: PasseriformesFamily: DicaeidaeThe flowerpeckers are very small, stout, often brightly coloured birds, with short tails, short thick curved bills and tubular tongues.
| Thick-billed flowerpecker | Dicaeum agile | ||
| Yellow-vented flowerpecker | Dicaeum chrysorrheum | ||
| Yellow-bellied flowerpecker | Dicaeum 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 |
Order: PasseriformesFamily: NectariniidaeThe sunbirds and spiderhunters are very small passerine birds which feed largely on nectar, although they will also take insects, especially when feeding young. Flight is fast and direct on their short wings. Most species can take nectar by hovering like a hummingbird, but usually perch to feed.
| Ruby-cheeked sunbird | Chalcoparia singalensis | ||
| Purple-rumped sunbird | Leptocoma zeylonica | ||
| Crimson-backed sunbird | Leptocoma minima | (E) | |
| Van Hasselt's sunbird | Leptocoma brasiliana | ||
| Purple sunbird | Cinnyris asiaticus | ||
| Olive-backed sunbird | Cinnyris jugularis | ||
| 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 |
Order: PasseriformesFamily: Passeridae
Sparrows are small passerine birds. In general, sparrows tend to be small, plump, brown or grey birds with short tails and short powerful beaks. Sparrows are seed eaters, but they also consume small insects.
| 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)[60] [61] | |
| Rock sparrow | Petronia petronia | [62] | |
| 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 |
Order: PasseriformesFamily: Ploceidae
The weavers are small passerine birds related to the finches. They are seed-eating birds with rounded conical bills. The males of many species are brightly coloured, usually in red or yellow and black, some species show variation in colour only in the breeding season. There are four species which have been recorded in India.
| Black-breasted weaver | Ploceus benghalensis | ||
| Streaked weaver | Ploceus manyar | ||
| Baya weaver | Ploceus philippinus | ||
| Finn's weaver | Ploceus megarhynchus |
Order: PasseriformesFamily: EstrildidaeThe estrildid finches are small passerine birds of the Old World tropics and Australasia. They are gregarious and often colonial seed eaters with short thick but pointed bills. They are all similar in structure and habits, but have wide variation in plumage colours and patterns.
| 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 |
Order: PasseriformesFamily: Prunellidae
The accentors are in the only bird family, Prunellidae, which is completely endemic to the Palearctic. They are small, fairly drab species superficially similar to sparrows. There are seven species which have been recorded in India.
| 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 |
Order: PasseriformesFamily: MotacillidaeMotacillidae is a family of small passerine birds with medium to long tails. They include the wagtails, longclaws and pipits. They are slender, ground feeding insectivores of open country. There are 21 species which have been recorded in India.
| 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) |
Order: PasseriformesFamily: Fringillidae
Finches are seed-eating passerine birds, that are small to moderately large and have a strong beak, usually conical and in some species very large. All have twelve tail feathers and nine primaries. These birds have a bouncing flight with alternating bouts of flapping and gliding on closed wings, and most sing well. There are 44 species which have been recorded in India.
| 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)[63] | |
| Red-fronted rosefinch | Carpodacus puniceus | ||
| Crimson-browed finch | Carpodacus subhimachalus | ||
| Three-banded rosefinch | Carpodacus trifasciatus | [64] | |
| 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) |
Order: PasseriformesFamily: Emberizidae
The emberizids are a large family of passerine birds. They are seed-eating birds with distinctively shaped bills. Many emberizid species have distinctive head patterns.
| Crested bunting | Emberiza lathami | ||
| Yellowhammer | Emberiza citrinella | (V)[65] | |
| Pine bunting | Emberiza leucocephalos | ||
| Rock bunting | Emberiza cia | ||
| Godlewski's bunting | Emberiza godlewskii | [66] | |
| 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)[67] | |
| 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 |