Loons: India Endemic Introduced Extirpated Indian Peacock Bugun Liocichla Arunachal Pradesh Jerdon's Courser
Loons: India Endemic Introduced Extirpated Indian Peacock Bugun Liocichla Arunachal Pradesh Jerdon's Courser
Loons: India Endemic Introduced Extirpated Indian Peacock Bugun Liocichla Arunachal Pradesh Jerdon's Courser
More recent birds discovered in India include the Bugun liocichla which was discovered
in Arunachal Pradesh in 2006. Besides this, a few birds considered to be extinct have
been rediscovered an example being the Jerdon's Courser. Some others have been
elevated from subspecies to full species.
This list's taxonomic treatment (designation and sequence of orders, families, and
species) and nomenclature (common and scientific names) are based on Clements's 5th
edition but include more recent revisions. The family accounts at the beginning of each
heading reflects this taxonomy, as do the species counts found in each family account.
The following tags have been used to highlight certain relevant categories. It must be
noted that not all species fall into one of these categories. Those that do not are
commonly occurring, native species.
Loons
Order: Gaviiformes. Family: Gaviidae
Loons, known as "divers", in Europe, are a group of aquatic birds found in northern
North America and northern Eurasia. They are the size of a large duck or small goose,
which they somewhat resembles in shape when swimming, but they are completely
unrelated to these waterfowl. There are 5 species worldwide and 1 species which occurs
in India.
[edit] Grebes
Little Grebe
Grebes are small to medium-large sized freshwater diving birds. They have lobed toes,
and are excellent swimmers and divers. However, they have their feet placed far back on
the body, making them quite ungainly on land. There are 20 species worldwide and 5
species which occur in India.
The procellariids are the main group of medium-sized 'true petrels', characterised by
united nostrils with a medium septum, and a long outer functional primary. There are 75
species worldwide and 11 species which occur in India.
[edit] Storm-petrels
Wilson's Storm Petrel
The storm-petrels are relatives of the petrels, and are the smallest of seabirds. They feed
on planktonic crustaceans and small fish picked from the surface, typically while
hovering. The flight is fluttering and sometimes bat-like. There are 21 species worldwide
and 6 species which occur in India.
[edit] Tropicbirds
Red-tailed Tropicbird
Tropicbirds are slender white birds of tropical oceans, with exceptionally long central tail
feathers. Their heads and long wings have black markings. There are 3 species worldwide
and 3 species which occur in India.
• Red-billed Tropicbird Phaethon aethereus
• Red-tailed Tropicbird Phaethon rubricauda
• White-tailed Tropicbird Phaethon lepturus
[edit] Pelicans
Pelicans are large water birds with a distinctive pouch under the beak. As with other
members of the order Pelecaniformes, they have webbed feet with four toes. There are 8
species worldwide and 3 species which occur in India.
Brown Booby
The sulids comprise the gannets and boobies. Both groups comprise medium-to-large
coastal seabirds that plunge-dive for fish. There are 9 species worldwide and 4 species
which occur in India.
• Abbott's Booby Sula abbotti (Hypothetical according to Rasmussen & Anderton
2006)
• Masked Booby Sula dactylatra
• Red-footed Booby Sula sula
• Brown Booby Sula leucogaster
[edit] Cormorants
Order: Pelecaniformes. Family: Phalacrocoracidae
[edit] Darters
Order: Pelecaniformes. Family: Anhingidae
Darters are frequently referred to as "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 a 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. There are 4 species worldwide and 1 species
which occurs in India.
[edit] Frigatebirds
Great Frigatebird
Order: Pelecaniformes. Family: Fregatidae
Frigatebirds are large seabirds usually found over tropical oceans. They are large, black
and white or completely black, with long wings and deeply-forked tails. The males have
inflatable coloured 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. There are 5 species worldwide
and 3 species which occur in India.
Little Bittern
The family Ardeidae contains the bitterns, herons and egrets. Herons and egrets are
medium to large sized wading birds with long necks and legs. Bitterns tend to be shorter
necked and more wary. Unlike other long-necked birds suck as storks, ibises and
spoonbills, members of Ardeidae fly with their necks retracted. There are 61 species
worldwide and 21 species which occur in India.
Eastern Great Egret
[edit] Storks
Order: Ciconiiformes. Family: Ciconiidae
Storks are large, long-legged, long-necked, wading birds with long, stout bills. Storks are
mute; bill-clattering is an important mode of stork communication at the nest. Their nests
can be large and may be reused for many years. Many species are migratory. There are 19
species worldwide and 9 species which occur in India.
Black-necked Stork
Eurasian Spoonbill
The 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. There are 36 species worldwide and 5 species which occur in India.
• Black-headed Ibis Threskiornis melanocephalus
• Black Ibis Pseudibis papillosa
• Glossy Ibis Plegadis falcinellus
• Eurasian Spoonbill Platalea leucorodia
[edit] Flamingos
Order: Phoenicopteriformes. Family: Phoenicopteridae
Flamingos are gregarious wading birds, usually 3 to 5 feet high, found in both the
Western and Eastern Hemispheres. They are more numerous in the latter. 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 are uniquely used upside-down.
There are 6 species worldwide and 2 species which occur in India.
The family Anatidae includes the ducks and most duck-like waterfowl, such as geese and
swans. These are birds that are modified for an aquatic existence with webbed feet,
flattened bills and feathers that are excellent at shedding water due to an oily coating.
There are 131 species worldwide and 45 species which occur in India.
Bar-headed Goose
Tufted Duck
[edit] Osprey
Order: Falconiformes. Family: Pandionidae
The Pandionidae family contains only one species, the Osprey. The Osprey is a medium
large raptor which is a specialist fish-eater with a worldwide distribution.
Black Kite
Accipitridae is a family of birds of prey and include 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. There are 233 species worldwide
and 57 species which occur in India.
Shikra
[edit] Falcons
Order: Falconiformes. Family: Falconidae
Falconidae is a family of diurnal birds of prey. They differ from hawks, eagles, and kites
in that they kill with their beaks instead of their feet. There are 62 species worldwide and
15 species which occur in India.
Red-necked Falcon
[edit] Megapodes
Order: Galliformes. Family: Megapodiidae
The Megapodiidae are stocky, medium-large chicken-like birds with small heads and
large feet. All but the Malleefowl occupy jungle habitats, and most have brown or black
colouring. There are 21 species worldwide and 1 species which occurs in India.
Indian Peafowl
The Phasianidae are a family of terrestrial birds which consists of quails, partridges,
snowcocks, francolins, spurfowls, tragopans, monals, pheasants, peafowls and jungle
fowls. In general, they are plump (although they may vary in size) and have broad,
relatively short wings. There are 156 species worldwide and 46 species which occur in
India.
White Eared-Pheasant
[edit] Buttonquails
Order: Gruiformes. Family: Turnicidae
The buttonquails are small, drab, running birds which resemble the true quails.The
female is the brighter of the sexes, and initiates courtship. The male incubates the eggs
and tends the young. There are 16 species worldwide and 3 species which occur in India.
Barred Buttonquail
[edit] Cranes
Sarus Crane
Cranes are large, long-legged and long-necked birds. Unlike the similar-looking but
unrelated herons, cranes fly with necks outstretched, not pulled back. Most have
elaborate and noisy courting displays or "dances". There are 15 species worldwide and 5
species have been recorded from India.
The Hooded Crane Grus monacha was included in many older lists but is considered as
hypothetical by more recent workers.(Rasmussen and Anderton, 2005)
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, difficult to observe.
Most species have strong legs, and have long toes which are well adapted to soft, uneven
surfaces. They tend to have short, rounded wings and be weak fliers. There are 143
species worldwide and 17 species which occur in India.
Eurasian Coot
[edit] Finfoot
Order: Gruiformes. Family: Heliornithidae
The Heliornithidae are small family of tropical birds with webbed lobes on their feet
similar to those of grebes and coots. There are 3 species worldwide and 1 species which
occurs in India.
[edit] Bustards
Order: Gruiformes. Family: Otididae
Bustards are large terrestrial birds mainly associated with dry open country and steppes in
the Old World. They are omnivorous and nest on the ground. They walk steadily on
strong legs and big toes, pecking for food as they go. They have long broad wings with
"fingered" wingtips, and striking patterns in flight. Many have interesting mating
displays. There are 26 species worldwide and 7 species which occur in India.
[edit] Jacanas
Order: Charadriiformes. Family: Jacanidae
The jacanas are a group of tropical waders in the family Jacanidae. They are found
worldwide in the Tropics. They are identifiable by their huge feet and claws which enable
them to walk on floating vegetation in the shallow lakes that are their preferred habitat.
There 8 species worldwide and 2 species which occur in India.
Greater Painted-snipe
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.
[edit] Oystercatchers
Order: Charadriiformes. Family: Haematopodidae
The oystercatchers are large and noisy plover-like birds, with strong bills used for
smashing or prising open molluscs. There are 11 species worldwide and 1 species which
occurs in India.
[edit] Ibisbill
Ibisbill
Recurvirostridae is a family of large wading birds, which includes the avocets and the
stilts. The avocets have long legs and long up-curved bills. The stilts have extremely long
legs and long, thin, straight bills. There are 9 species worldwide and 2 species which
occur in India.
[edit] Thick-knees
Order: Charadriiformes. Family: Burhinidae
The thick-knees 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. There are 9 species worldwide
and 3 species which occur in India.
Small Pratincole
Order: Charadriiformes. Family: Glareolidae
Glareolidae is a family of wading birds comprising the pratincoles, which have short legs,
long pointed wings and long forked tails, and the coursers, which have long legs, short
wings and long pointed bills which curve downwards. There are 17 species worldwide
and 6 species which occur in India.
Grey Plover
Red-wattled Lapwing
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,
although there are some exceptions. There are 66 species worldwide and 20 species
which occur in India.
The Scolopacidae are 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 species eat small invertebrates picked out of
the mud or soil. Variation in length of legs and bills enable different species to feed in the
same habitat, particularly on the coast, without direct competition for food. There are 89
species worldwide and 43 species which occur in India.
Common Greenshank
Green Sandpiper
[edit] Skuas
Arctic Skua
The family Stercorariidae are, in general, medium to large birds, typically with grey or
brown plumage, often with white markings on the wings. They nest on the ground in
temperate and arctic regions and are long-distance migrants. There are 7 species
worldwide and 4 species which occur in India.
[edit] Gulls
Common Gull
Laridae is a family of medium to large birds seabirds and includes gulls and kittiwakes.
They are typically grey or white, often with black markings on the head or wings. They
have stout, longish bills and webbed feet. There are 55 species worldwide and around 11
species which occur in India. The identity of some species earlier included under Herring
Gull are now questioned.
[edit] Terns
Order: Charadriiformes. Family: Sternidae
Terns are a group of generally general 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 now known to live in excess of 25 to 30 years. There are 44 species
worldwide and 23 species which occur in India.
Caspian Tern
[edit] Skimmers
Order: Charadriiformes. Family: Rynchopidae
Skimmers are a small family of tropical tern-like birds. They have an elongated lower
mandible which they use to feed by flying low over the water surface and skimming the
water for small fish. There are 3 species worldwide and 1 species which occurs in India.
[edit] Sandgrouse
Painted Sandgrouse
Sandgrouse have small, pigeon like heads and necks, but sturdy compact bodies. They
have long pointed wings and sometimes tails and a fast direct flight. Flocks fly to
watering holes at dawn and dusk. Their legs are feathered down to the toes. There are 16
species worldwide and 9 species which occur in India. India has the largest number of
sandgrouse of any country.
Pigeons and doves are stout-bodied birds with short necks and short slender bills with a
fleshy cere. There are 308 species worldwide and 28 species which occur in India.
Rock Pigeon
Laughing Dove
Rose-ringed Parakeet
Parrots are small to large birds with a characteristic curved beak shape. Their upper
mandibles have slight mobility in the joint with the skull and the have a generally erect
stance. All parrots are zygodactyl, having the four toes on each foot placed two at the
front and two back. There are 335 species worldwide and 11 species which occur in
India.
[edit] Cuckoos
Order: Cuculiformes. Family: Cuculidae
The family Cuculidae includes cuckoos, roadrunners and anis. These birds are of variable
size with slender bodies, long tails and strong legs. Many are brood parasites. There are
138 species worldwide and 21 species which occur in India.
Common Hawk-Cuckoo
Barn owls are medium to large sized owls with large heads and characteristic heart-
shaped faces. They have long strong legs with powerful talons. There are 16 species
worldwide and 3 species which occur in India.
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. There are 195 species worldwide and 33 species which occur in
India.
• Andaman Scops-Owl Otus balli
• Mountain Scops-Owl Otus spilocephalus
• Indian Scops-Owl Otus bakkamoena
• Collared Scops-Owl Otus lettia
• Pallid Scops-Owl Otus brucei
Tawny Owl
[edit] Frogmouths
Order: Caprimulgiformes. Family: Podargidae
The frogmouths are a group of nocturnal birds related to the nightjars. They are named
for their large flattened hooked bills and huge frog-like gape, which they use to take
insects. There are 12 species worldwide and 2 species which occur in India.
[edit] Nightjars
Order: Caprimulgiformes. Family: Caprimulgidae
Nightjars are medium-sized nocturnal birds with long wings, short legs and very short
bills that usually nest on the ground. Most have small feet, of little use for walking, and
long pointed wings. Their soft plumage is camouflaged to resemble bark or leaves. There
are 86 species worldwide and 9 species which occur in India.
Large-tailed Nightjar
[edit] Swifts
Order: Apodiformes. Family: Apodidae
Swifts are small aerial birds, spending 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 that resemble a crescent or a
boomerang. There are 98 species worldwide and 17 species which occur in India.
Crested Treeswift
The treeswifts or crested swifts are aerial near passerine birds, closely related to the true
swifts. They differ from the other swifts in that they have crests, long forked tails and
softer plumage. There are 4 species worldwide and 1 species which occurs in India.
[edit] Trogons
Order: Trogoniformes. Family: Trogonidae
The family Trogonidae includes trogons and quetzals. Found in tropical woodlands
worldwide, they feed on insects and fruit, and their broad bills and weak legs reflect their
diet and arboreal habits. Although their flight is fast, they are reluctant to fly any
distance. Trogons have soft, often colourful, feathers with distinctive male and female
plumage. There are 33 species worldwide and 3 species which occur in India.
[edit] Kingfishers
Order: Coraciiformes. Family: Alcedinidae
Kingfishers are medium-sized birds with large heads, long pointed bills, short legs, and
stubby tails. There are 93 species worldwide and 13 species which occur in India.
Common Kingfisher
[edit] Bee-eaters
Green Bee-eater
The bee-eaters are a group of near passerine birds in the family Meropidae. Most species
are found in Africa but others occur in southern Europe, Madagascar, Australia and New
Guinea. They are characterised by richly coloured plumage, slender bodies and usually
elongated central tail feathers. All are colorful and have long downturned bills and
pointed wings, which give them a swallow-like appearance when seen from afar. There
are 26 species worldwide and 6 species which occur in India.
European Roller
Rollers resemble crows in size and build, but are more closely related to the kingfishers
and bee-eaters. They share the colourful appearance of those groups with blues and
browns predominating. The two inner front toes are connected, but the outer toe is not.
There are 12 species worldwide and 3 species which occur in India.
[edit] Hoopoes
Order: Coraciiformes. Family: Upupidae
Hoopoes have black, white and orangey-pink colouring with a large erectile crest on their
head. There are 2 species worldwide and 1 species which occurs in India.
[edit] Hornbills
Indian Grey Hornbill
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.
There are 57 species worldwide and 10 species which occur in India.
[edit] Barbets
Blue-throated Barbet
[edit] Honeyguides
Order: Piciformes. Family: Indicatoridae
Honeyguides are among the few birds that feed on wax. They are named for the
behaviour of the Greater Honeyguide which leads large animals to bees' nests and then
feeds on the wax once the animal has broken the nest open to get at the honey. There are
17 species worldwide and 1 species which occurs in India.
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. There are
218 species worldwide and 33 species which occur in India.
Brown-capped Woodpecker
[edit] Broadbills
Order: Passeriformes. Family: Eurylaimidae
The broadbills are small, brightly coloured birds that feed on fruit and also take insects in
flycatcher fashion, snapping their broad bills. Their habitat is canopies of wet forests.
There are 15 species worldwide and 2 species which occur in India.
[edit] Pittas
Hooded Pitta
Pittas are medium-sized by passerine standards, and stocky, with fairly long, strong legs,
short tails and stout bills. Many, but not all, are brightly coloured. They are spend the
majority of their time on wet forest floors, eating snails, insects and similar invertebrate
prey which they find there. There are 32 species worldwide and 5 species which occur in
India.
[edit] Larks
Order: Passeriformes. Family: Alaudidae
Larks are small terrestrial birds with often extravagant songs and display flights. Most
larks are fairly dull in appearance. Their food is insects and seeds. There are 91 species
worldwide and 22 species which occur in India.
Bengal Bushlark
Barn Swallow
The Motacillidae are a family of small passerine birds with medium to long tails. They
include the wagtails, longclaws and pipits. They are slender, ground feeding insectivores
of open country. There are 54 species worldwide and 20 species which occur in India.
Oriental Pipit
[edit] Cuckoo-shrikes
Order: Passeriformes. Family: Campephagidae
The cuckoo-shrikes are small to medium-sized passerine birds. They are predominantly
greyish with white and black, although some species are brightly coloured. There are 82
species worldwide and 15 species which occur in India.
[edit] Woodshrikes
Order: Passeriformes. Family: Prionopidae
The woodshrikes are similar in build to the shrikes. There are 12 species worldwide and 2
species which occur in India.
[edit] Waxwings
Bohemian Waxwing
The waxwings are a group of passerine birds characterized by soft silky plumage and
unique red tips to some of the wing feathers. In the Bohemian and Cedar Waxwings,
these tips look like sealing wax, and give the group its name. These are arboreal birds of
northern forests. They live on insects in summer and berries in winter. There are 3
species worldwide and 1 species which occurs in India.
The Grey Hypocolius is a small Middle Eastern bird. They are mainly a uniform grey
color, with males having a black triangular mask around the eyes, and with the shape and
soft plumage of the waxwings.
The monarch flycatchers are small to medium-sized insectivorous passerines, which hunt
by flycatching. There are 99 species worldwide and 2 species which occur in India.
[edit] Fantails
White-throated Fantail
The Fantails are small insectivorous birds which are specialist aerial feeders. There are 44
species worldwide and 4 species which occur in India.
[edit] Bulbuls
Order: Passeriformes. Family: Pycnonotidae
Bulbuls are medium-sized songbirds. Some are colourful with yellow, red or orange
vents, cheeks, throat or supercilia, but most are drab, with uniform olive brown to black
plumage. Some species have distinct crests.There are 130 species worldwide and 19
species which occur in India.
[edit] Ioras
Order: Passeriformes. Family: Aegithinidae
The ioras are bulbul-like birds of open forest or thorn scrub, but whereas that group tends
to be drab in coloration, ioras are sexually dimorphic, with the males being brightly
plumaged in yellows and greens. There are 4 species worldwide and 2 species which
occur in India.
[edit] Leafbirds
Orange-bellied Leafbird
Order: Passeriformes. Family: Chloropseidae
The Leafbirds are small, bulbul-like birds. The males are brightly plumaged, usually in
greens and yellows. There are 9 species worldwide and 4 species which occur in India.
[edit] Shrikes
Brown Shrike
Order: Passeriformes. Family: Laniidae Shrikes are passerine birds known for their habit
of catching other birds and small animals and impaling the uneaten portions of their
bodies on thorns. A typical shrike's beak is hooked, like a bird of prey. There are 31
species worldwide and 9 species which occur in India.
[edit] Dippers
Order: Passeriformes. Family: Cinclidae
Dippers are a group of perching birds whose habitat includes aquatic environments in the
Americas, Europe, and Asia. They are named for their bobbing or dipping movements.
There are 5 species worldwide and 2 species which occur in India.
[edit] Goldcrest
Order: Passeriformes. Family: Regulidae
The kinglets or crests are a small group of birds often included in the Old World
warblers, but frequently given family status because they also resemble the titmice. There
are 7 species worldwide and 1 species which occurs in India.
[edit] Wrens
Order: Passeriformes. Family: Troglodytidae
The wrens are mainly small and inconspicuous except for their loud songs. These birds
have short wings and a thin down-turned bill. Several species often hold their tails
upright. All are insectivorous. There are 80 species worldwide (of which all but one are
New World species) and 1 species which occurs in India.
[edit] Accentors
Alpine Accentor
Order: Passeriformes. Family: Prunellidae
The accentors are in the only bird family, Prunellidae, which is completely endemic to
the Palearctic. They are small, fairly drab species superficially similar to sparrows. There
are 13 species worldwide and 8 species which occur in India.
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. There are 335 species
worldwide and 34 species which occur in India.
White-collared Blackbird
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 very varied,
but they mostly have weak songs and harsh calls. There 274 species worldwide and 89
species which occur in India.
Plumbeous Water-redstart
Red-flanked Bluetail
[edit] Babblers
Order: Passeriformes. Family: Timaliidae
The babblers or timaliids are somewhat diverse in size and coloration, but are
characterised by soft fluffy plumage. There are 270 species worldwide and 117 species
which occur in India. India has the largest number of babblers of any country and this
represents the largest bird family grouping in any country outside of South America.
Chestnut-tailed Minla
Yellow-eyed Babbler
• Blue-winged Laughingthrush Garrulax squamatus (=Trochalopteron squamatum)
• Variegated Laughingthrush Garrulax variegatus (=Trochalopteron variegatum)
• Prince Henry's Laughingthrush Garrulax henrici (Hypothetical per Rasmussen &
Anderton, 2005)
• Black-faced Laughingthrush Garrulax affinis (=Trochalopteron affine)
• Chestnut-crowned Laughingthrush Garrulax erythrocephalus (=Trochalopteron
erythrocephalum)
• Red-faced Liocichla Liocichla phoenicea
• Bugun Liocichla Liocichla bugunorum[5]
• Abbott's Babbler Malacocincla abbotti
• Marsh Babbler Pellorneum palustre (E)
• Buff-breasted Babbler Pellorneum tickelli
• Spot-throated Babbler Pellorneum albiventre
• Puff-throated Babbler Pellorneum ruficeps
• Large Scimitar-Babbler Pomatorhinus hypoleucos
• Spot-breasted Scimitar-Babbler Pomatorhinus erythrocnemis
• Rusty-cheeked Scimitar-Babbler Pomatorhinus erythrogenys
• Indian Scimitar-Babbler Pomatorhinus horsfieldii
• White-browed Scimitar-Babbler Pomatorhinus schisticeps
• Streak-breasted Scimitar-Babbler Pomatorhinus ruficollis
• Red-billed Scimitar-Babbler Pomatorhinus ochraceiceps
• Coral-billed Scimitar-Babbler Pomatorhinus ferruginosus
• Slender-billed Scimitar-Babbler Xiphirhynchus superciliaris
• Long-billed Wren-babbler Rimator malacoptilus
• Streaked Wren-babbler Napothera brevicaudata
• Eyebrowed Wren-babbler Napothera epilepidota
Jungle Babbler
Rufous Sibia
Red-billed Leiothrix
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. There are 111 species worldwide and 16 species
which occur in India.
Ashy Prinia
The family Sylviidae is a group of small insectivorous passerine birds. The Sylviidae
mainly occur as breeding species, as the common name implies, in Europe, Asia and, to a
lesser extent Africa. Most are of generally undistinguished appearance, but many have
distinctive songs. There are 291 species worldwide and 88 species which occur in India.
Blyth's Reed-warbler
Common Tailorbird
Striated Grassbird
Greenish Warbler
[edit] Parrotbills
Order: Passeriformes. Family: Paradoxornithidae
The parrotbills are a group of birds native to East and Southeast Asia, though feral
populations are known from elsewhere. They are generally small, long-tailed birds which
inhabit reedbeds and similar habitats. There are 20 species worldwide and 9 species
which occur in India.
Black-throated Tit
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 that includes insects. There are 9
species worldwide and 4 species which occur in India.
[edit] Titmice
Cinereous Tit
Coal Tit
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. There are
species 59 worldwide and 14 species which occur in India.
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. There are 24 species worldwide and 7 species
which occur in India.
[edit] Wallcreeper
Order: Passeriformes. Family: Tichodromidae
The Wallcreeper is a small bird with stunning crimson, grey and black plumage, related
to the nuthatch family.
[edit] Treecreepers
Order: Passeriformes. Family: Certhiidae
Treecreepers are small woodland birds, brown above and white below. They have thin
pointed down-curved bills, which they use to extricate insects from bark. They have stiff
tail feathers, like woodpeckers, which they use to support themselves on vertical trees.
There are 6 species worldwide and 5 species which occur in India.
The penduline tits are a group of small passerine birds, related to the true tits. They are
insectivores. There are 13 species worldwide and 3 species which occur in India.
The sunbirds and spiderhunters are very small passerine birds which feed largely on
nectar, although they will also take insects, especially when feeding young. Flight is fast
and direct on their short wings. Most species can take nectar by hovering like a
hummingbird, but usually perch to feed. There are 131 species worldwide and 15 species
which occur in India.
Crimson Sunbird
[edit] Flowerpeckers
Order: Passeriformes. Family: Dicaeidae
The flowerpeckers are very small, stout, often brightly coloured birds, with short tails,
short thick curved bills and tubular tongues. There are 44 species worldwide and 10
species which occur in India.
[edit] White-eyes
Order: Passeriformes. Family: Zosteropidae
The white-eyes are small and are mostly of undistinguished appearance, the plumage
above being generally either some dull color 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 the eyes. There are 96 species
worldwide and 1 species which occurs in India.
The Old World Orioles are colourful passerine birds. They are not related to the New
World orioles. There are 29 species worldwide and 5 species which occur in India.
• Eurasian Golden Oriole Oriolus oriolus
• Indian Golden Oriole Oriolus kundoo (Split suggested[12])
• Black-naped Oriole Oriolus chinensis
• Slender-billed Oriole Oriolus tenuirostris
• Black-hooded Oriole Oriolus xanthornus
• Maroon Oriole Oriolus traillii
[edit] Fairy-bluebirds
Order: Passeriformes. Family: Irenidae
The Fairy-bluebirds are bulbul-like birds of open forest or thorn scrub. The males are
dark-blue and the females a duller green. There are 2 species worldwide and 1 species
which occurs in India.
[edit] Drongos
Black Drongo
The drongos are mostly are 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 whilst perched, like a shrike. They flycatch or
take prey from the ground. There are 24 species worldwide and 9 species which occur in
India.
• Black Drongo Dicrurus macrocercus
• Ashy Drongo Dicrurus leucophaeus
• White-bellied Drongo Dicrurus caerulescens
• Crow-billed Drongo Dicrurus annectans
• Bronzed Drongo Dicrurus aeneus
• Lesser Racket-tailed Drongo Dicrurus remifer
• Hair-crested Drongo Dicrurus hottentottus
• Andaman Drongo Dicrurus andamanensis
• Greater Racket-tailed Drongo Dicrurus paradiseus
[edit] Woodswallows
Order: Passeriformes. Family: Artamidae
Green Magpie
House Crow
The Corvidae family includes crows, ravens, jays, choughs, magpies, treepies,
nutcrackers, and ground jays. Corvids are above average in size for the bird order
Passeriformes. Some of the larger species show high levels of learning behaviour. There
are 120 species worldwide and 22 species which occur in India.
[edit] Starlings
Order: Passeriformes. Family: Sturnidae
Starlings are small to medium-sized passerine birds. Their flight is strong and direct, and
they are very gregarious. Their preferred habitat is fairly open country. They eat insects
and fruit. Plumage is typically dark with a metallic sheen. There are 125 species
worldwide and 18 species which occur in India.
European Starling
The weavers are small passerine birds related to the finches. They are seed-eating birds
with rounded conical bills. The males of many species are brightly coloured, usually in
red or yellow and black, some species show variation in colour only in the breeding
season. There are 116 species worldwide and 4 species which occur in India.
Black-headed Munia
The estrildid finches are small passerine birds of the Old World tropics and Australasia.
They are gregarious and often colonial seed-eaters with short thick but pointed bills. They
are all similar in structure and habits, but have a wide variation in plumage colours and
pattern. There are 141 species worldwide and 9 species which occur in India.
• Red Avadavat Amandava amandava
• Green Avadavat Amandava formosa (E)
• White-throated Munia Euodice malabarica
• White-rumped Munia Lonchura striata
• Black-throated Munia Lonchura kelaarti
• Scaly-breasted Munia Lonchura punctulata
• Tricoloured Munia Lonchura malacca
• Chestnut Munia Lonchura atricapilla
• Java Sparrow Padda oryzivora (I)
[edit] Buntings
Yellowhammer
The emberizids are a large family of passerine birds. They are seed-eating birds with a
distinctively shaped bill. In Europe, most species are named as buntings. In North
America, most of the species in this family are known as Sparrows, but these birds are
not closely related to the Old World sparrows which are in the family Passeridae. Many
emberizid species have distinctive head patterns. There are species 275 worldwide and 18
species which occur in India.
Pink-browed Rosefinch
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 12 tail feathers and
9 primaries. These birds have a bouncing flight with alternating bouts of flapping and
gliding on closed wings, and most sing well. There are 137 species worldwide and 44
species which occur in India.
Hawfinch
{The Black-headed Greenfinch Carduelis ambigua was included in older lists but
Rasmussen and Anderton (2005) consider this as hypothetical)
[edit] Sparrows
Order: Passeriformes. Family: Passeridae
Sparrows are small passerine birds. In general, sparrows tend to be small, plump, brown
or grey birds with short tails and short powerful beaks. Sparrows are seed-eaters, and they
also consume small insects. There are 35 species worldwide and 12 species which occur
in India.
House Sparrow