Systematic List
BIRDS OF INDIA
A complete Checklist of the Birds of India
Compiled by Sumit K Sen
September 2017
Taxonomy and nomenclature follows BirdLife International's taxonomic Checklist of the world's bird species Version 9.1 whose main source is del Hoyo, J.; Collar, N. J.; Christie, D. A.; Elliott, A.; Fishpool, L. D. C. 2014. HBW and BirdLife International Illustrated Checklist of the Birds of the World.
ORDER: GALLIFORMES
Family: Phasianidae - Pheasants, partridges, turkeys, grouse
Nicobar Scrubfowl Megapodius nicobariensis
Hill Partridge Arborophila torqueola
Rufous-throated Partridge Arborophila rufogularis
White-cheeked Partridge Arborophila atrogularis
Chestnut-breasted Partridge Arborophila mandellii
Red Spurfowl Galloperdix spadicea
Painted Spurfowl Galloperdix lunulata
Indian Peafowl Pavo cristatus
Green Peafowl Pavo muticus
Grey Peacock-pheasant Polyplectron bicalcaratum
Common Quail Coturnix coturnix
Japanese Quail Coturnix japonica
Rain Quail Coturnix coromandelica
Asian Blue Quail Synoicus chinensis
Himalayan Snowcock Tetraogallus himalayensis
Tibetan Snowcock Tetraogallus tibetanus
Chukar Alectoris chukar
Snow Partridge Lerwa lerwa
Jungle Bush-quail Perdicula asiatica
Rock Bush-quail Perdicula argoondah
Painted Bush-quail Perdicula erythrorhyncha
Manipur Bush-quail Perdicula manipurensis
Himalayan Quail Ophrysia superciliosa
Black Francolin Francolinus francolinus
Painted Francolin Francolinus pictus
Chinese Francolin Francolinus pintadeanus
Grey Francolin Francolinus pondicerianus
Swamp Francolin Francolinus gularis
Mountain Bamboo-partridge Bambusicola fytchii
Red Junglefowl Gallus gallus
Grey Junglefowl Gallus sonneratii
Himalayan Monal Lophophorus impejanus
Sclater's Monal Lophophorus sclateri
Western Tragopan Tragopan melanocephalus
Satyr Tragopan Tragopan satyra
Blyth's Tragopan Tragopan blythii
Temminck's Tragopan Tragopan temminckii
Blood Pheasant Ithaginis cruentus
Koklass Pheasant Pucrasia macrolopha
Mrs Hume's Pheasant Syrmaticus humiae
Cheer Pheasant Catreus wallichii
Kalij Pheasant Lophura leucomelanos
Tibetan Partridge Perdix hodgsoniae
ORDER: ANSERIFORMES
Family: Anatidae - Ducks, geese, swans
Fulvous Whistling-duck Dendrocygna bicolor
Lesser Whistling-duck Dendrocygna javanica
White-headed Duck Oxyura leucocephala
Mute Swan Cygnus olor
Whooper Swan Cygnus cygnus
Tundra Swan Cygnus columbianus
Red-breasted Goose Branta ruficollis
Bar-headed Goose Anser indicus
Greylag Goose Anser anser
Bean Goose Anser fabalis
Greater White-fronted Goose Anser albifrons
Lesser White-fronted Goose Anser erythropus
Long-tailed Duck Clangula hyemalis
Common Goldeneye Bucephala clangula
Smew Mergellus albellus
Goosander Mergus merganser
Red-breasted Merganser Mergus serrator
Common Shelduck Tadorna tadorna
Ruddy Shelduck Tadorna ferruginea
African Comb Duck Sarkidiornis melanotos
Cotton Pygmy-goose Nettapus coromandelianus
Mandarin Duck Aix galericulata
Marbled Teal Marmaronetta angustirostris
White-winged Duck Asarcornis scutulata
Red-crested Pochard Netta rufina
Common Pochard Aythya ferina
Baer's Pochard Aythya baeri
Ferruginous Duck Aythya nyroca
Tufted Duck Aythya fuligula
Greater Scaup Aythya marila
Pink-headed Duck Rhodonessa caryophyllacea
Garganey Spatula querquedula
Northern Shoveler Spatula clypeata
Baikal Teal Sibirionetta formosa
Falcated Duck Mareca falcata
Gadwall Mareca strepera
Eurasian Wigeon Mareca penelope
Chinese Spot-billed Duck Anas zonorhyncha
Indian Spot-billed Duck Anas poecilorhyncha
Mallard Anas platyrhynchos
Andaman Teal Anas albogularis
Northern Pintail Anas acuta
Common Teal Anas crecca
ORDER: PODICIPEDIFORMES
Family: Podicipedidae - Grebes
Little Grebe Tachybaptus ruficollis
Red-necked Grebe Podiceps grisegena
Great Crested Grebe Podiceps cristatus
Horned Grebe Podiceps auritus
Black-necked Grebe Podiceps nigricollis
ORDER: PHOENICOPTERIFORMES
Family: Phoenicopteridae - Flamingos
Greater Flamingo Phoenicopterus roseus
Lesser Flamingo Phoeniconaias minor
ORDER: PHAETHONTIFORMES
Family: Phaethontidae - Tropicbirds
Red-billed Tropicbird Phaethon aethereus
Red-tailed Tropicbird Phaethon rubricauda
White-tailed Tropicbird Phaethon lepturus
ORDER: COLUMBIFORMES
Family: Columbidae - Pigeons, doves
Rock Dove Columba livia
Hill Pigeon Columba rupestris
Snow Pigeon Columba leuconota
Yellow-eyed Pigeon Columba eversmanni
Common Woodpigeon Columba palumbus
Speckled Woodpigeon Columba hodgsonii
Ashy Woodpigeon Columba pulchricollis
Nilgiri Woodpigeon Columba elphinstonii
Pale-capped Pigeon Columba punicea
Andaman Woodpigeon Columba palumboides
European Turtle-dove Streptopelia turtur
Oriental Turtle-dove Streptopelia orientalis
Eurasian Collared-dove Streptopelia decaocto
Red Turtle-dove Streptopelia tranquebarica
Eastern Spotted Dove Spilopelia chinensis
Western Spotted Dove Spilopelia suratensis
Laughing Dove Spilopelia senegalensis
Barred Cuckoo-dove Macropygia unchall
Andaman Cuckoo-dove Macropygia rufipennis
Nicobar Pigeon Caloenas nicobarica
Grey-capped Emerald Dove Chalcophaps indica
Orange-breasted Green-pigeon Treron bicinctus
Ashy-headed Green-pigeon Treron phayrei
Grey-fronted Green-pigeon Treron affinis
Andaman Green-pigeon Treron chloropterus
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
Mountain Imperial-pigeon Ducula badia
Pied Imperial-pigeon Ducula bicolor
ORDER: PTEROCLIFORMES
Family: Pteroclidae - Sandgrouse
Pallas's Sandgrouse Syrrhaptes paradoxus
Tibetan Sandgrouse Syrrhaptes tibetanus
Black-bellied Sandgrouse Pterocles orientalis
Chestnut-bellied Sandgrouse Pterocles exustus
Spotted Sandgrouse Pterocles senegallus
Pin-tailed Sandgrouse Pterocles alchata
Painted Sandgrouse Pterocles indicus
ORDER: CAPRIMULGIFORMES
Family: Podargidae - Frogmouths
Sri Lanka Frogmouth Batrachostomus moniliger
Hodgson's Frogmouth Batrachostomus hodgsoni
Family: Caprimulgidae - Nightjars
Great Eared-nightjar Lyncornis macrotis
Jungle Nightjar Caprimulgus indicus
Grey Nightjar Caprimulgus jotaka
European [Eurasian] Nightjar Caprimulgus europaeus
Sykes's Nightjar Caprimulgus mahrattensis
Jerdon's Nightjar Caprimulgus atripennis
Large-tailed Nightjar Caprimulgus macrurus
Andaman Nightjar Caprimulgus andamanicus
Indian Nightjar Caprimulgus asiaticus
Savanna Nightjar Caprimulgus affinis
Family: Hemiprocnidae - Treeswifts
Crested Treeswift Hemiprocne coronata
Family: Apodidae - Swifts
White-rumped Spinetail Zoonavena sylvatica
White-throated Needletail Hirundapus caudacutus
Silver-backed Needletail Hirundapus cochinchinensis
Brown-backed Needletail Hirundapus giganteus
Glossy Swiftlet Collocalia esculenta
Himalayan Swiftlet Aerodramus brevirostris
Indian Swiftlet Aerodramus unicolor
Edible-nest Swiftlet Aerodramus fuciphagus
Asian Palm-swift Cypsiurus balasiensis
Alpine Swift Tachymarptis melba
Dark-rumped Swift Apus acuticauda
Pacific Swift Apus pacificus
House Swift Apus nipalensis
Little Swift Apus affinis
Common Swift Apus apus
ORDER: CUCULIFORMES
Family: Cuculidae - Cuckoos
Greater Coucal Centropus sinensis
Andaman Coucal Centropus andamanensis
Lesser Coucal Centropus bengalensis
Sirkeer Malkoha Taccocua leschenaultii
Blue-faced Malkoha Phaenicophaeus viridirostris
Green-billed Malkoha Phaenicophaeus tristis
Jacobin Cuckoo Clamator jacobinus
Chestnut-winged Cuckoo Clamator coromandus
Western Koel Eudynamys scolopaceus
Asian Emerald Cuckoo Chrysococcyx maculatus
Violet Cuckoo Chrysococcyx xanthorhynchus
Banded Bay Cuckoo Cacomantis sonneratii
Plaintive Cuckoo Cacomantis merulinus
Grey-bellied Cuckoo Cacomantis passerinus
Fork-tailed Drongo-cuckoo Surniculus dicruroides
Square-tailed Drongo-cuckoo Surniculus lugubris
Large Hawk-cuckoo Hierococcyx sparverioides
Common Hawk-cuckoo Hierococcyx varius
Whistling Hawk-cuckoo Hierococcyx nisicolor
Indian Cuckoo Cuculus micropterus
Common Cuckoo Cuculus canorus
Oriental Cuckoo Cuculus saturatus
Lesser Cuckoo Cuculus poliocephalus
ORDER: GRUIFORMES
Family: Heliornithidae - Finfoots
Masked Finfoot Heliopais personatus
Family: Rallidae - Rails, gallinules, coots
Andaman Crake Rallina canningi
Great Nicobar Crake Rallina sp. <Undescribed>
Slaty-legged Crake Rallina eurizonoides
Western Water Rail Rallus aquaticus
Eastern Water Rail Rallus indicus
Slaty-breasted Rail Lewinia striata
Corncrake Crex crex
Spotted Crake Porzana porzana
Ruddy-breasted Crake Zapornia fusca
Brown Crake Zapornia akool
Little Crake Zapornia parva
Baillon's Crake Zapornia pusilla
Black-tailed Crake Zapornia bicolor
White-breasted Waterhen Amaurornis phoenicurus
White-browed Crake Amaurornis cinerea
Watercock Gallicrex cinerea
Purple Swamphen Porphyrio porphyrio
Common Moorhen Gallinula chloropus
Common Coot Fulica atra
Family: Gruidae - Cranes
Siberian Crane Leucogeranus leucogeranus
Sarus Crane Antigone antigone
Demoiselle Crane Anthropoides virgo
Common Crane Grus grus
Black-necked Crane Grus nigricollis
ORDER: OTIDIFORMES
Family: Otididae - Bustards
Little Bustard Tetrax tetrax
Asian Houbara Chlamydotis macqueenii
Great Indian Bustard Ardeotis nigriceps
Bengal Florican Houbaropsis bengalensis
Lesser Florican Sypheotides indicus
ORDER: GAVIIFORMES
Family: Gaviidae - Loons/divers
Red-throated Loon Gavia stellata
Arctic Loon Gavia arctica
ORDER: PROCELLARIIFORMES
Family: Oceanitidae - Southern storm-petrels
Wilson's Storm-petrel Oceanites oceanicus
White-faced Storm-petrel Pelagodroma marina
Black-bellied Storm-petrel Fregetta tropica
Family: Hydrobatidae - Northern storm-petrels
Swinhoe's Storm-petrel Hydrobates monorhis
Family: Procellariidae - Petrels, shearwaters
Cape Petrel Daption capense
Barau's Petrel Pterodroma baraui
Wedge-tailed Shearwater Ardenna pacifica
Short-tailed Shearwater Ardenna tenuirostris
Flesh-footed Shearwater Ardenna carneipes
Streaked Shearwater Calonectris leucomelas
Cory's Shearwater Calonectris borealis
Tropical Shearwater Puffinus bailloni
Persian Shearwater Puffinus persicus
Jouanin's Petrel Bulweria fallax
ORDER: CICONIIFORMES
Family: Ciconiidae - Storks
Greater Adjutant Leptoptilos dubius
Lesser Adjutant Leptoptilos javanicus
Painted Stork Mycteria leucocephala
Asian Openbill Anastomus oscitans
Black Stork Ciconia nigra
Asian Woollyneck Ciconia episcopus
White Stork Ciconia ciconia
Black-necked Stork Ephippiorhynchus asiaticus
ORDER: PELECANIFORMES
Family: Threskiornithidae - Ibises, spoonbills
Eurasian Spoonbill Platalea leucorodia
Black-headed Ibis Threskiornis melanocephalus
Red-naped Ibis Pseudibis papillosa
Glossy Ibis Plegadis falcinellus
Family: Ardeidae - Herons
Eurasian Bittern Botaurus stellaris
Common Little Bittern Ixobrychus minutus
Yellow Bittern Ixobrychus sinensis
Cinnamon Bittern Ixobrychus cinnamomeus
Black Bittern Ixobrychus flavicollis
Malay Night-heron Gorsachius melanolophus
Black-crowned Night-heron Nycticorax nycticorax
Green-backed Heron Butorides striata
Indian Pond-heron Ardeola grayii
Chinese Pond-heron Ardeola bacchus
Cattle Egret Bubulcus ibis
Grey Heron Ardea cinerea
White-bellied Heron Ardea insignis
Goliath Heron Ardea goliath
Purple Heron Ardea purpurea
Great White Egret Ardea alba
Intermediate Egret Ardea intermedia
Little Egret Egretta garzetta
Western Reef-egret Egretta gularis
Pacific Reef-egret Egretta sacra
Family: Pelecanidae - Pelicans
Dalmatian Pelican Pelecanus crispus
Spot-billed Pelican Pelecanus philippensis
Great White Pelican Pelecanus onocrotalus
ORDER: SULIFORMES
Family: Fregatidae - Frigatebirds
Lesser Frigatebird Fregata ariel
Great Frigatebird Fregata minor
Christmas Frigatebird Fregata andrewsi
Family: Sulidae - Gannets, boobies
Red-footed Booby Sula sula
Brown Booby Sula leucogaster
Masked Booby Sula dactylatra
Family: Phalacrocoracidae - Cormorants
Little Cormorant Microcarbo niger
Great Cormorant Phalacrocorax carbo
Indian Cormorant Phalacrocorax fuscicollis
Family: Anhingidae - Darters
Oriental Darter Anhinga melanogaster
ORDER: CHARADRIIFORMES
Family: Burhinidae - Thick-knees
Indian Thick-knee Burhinus indicus
Great Thick-knee Esacus recurvirostris
Beach Thick-knee Esacus magnirostris
Family: Haematopodidae - Oystercatchers
Eurasian Oystercatcher Haematopus ostralegus
Family: Ibidorhynchidae - Ibisbill
Ibisbill Ibidorhyncha struthersii
Family: Recurvirostridae - Avocets, stilts
Pied Avocet Recurvirostra avosetta
Black-winged Stilt Himantopus himantopus
Family: Charadriidae - Plovers
Grey Plover Pluvialis squatarola
Eurasian Golden Plover Pluvialis apricaria
Pacific Golden Plover Pluvialis fulva
Common Ringed Plover Charadrius hiaticula
Long-billed Plover Charadrius placidus
Little Ringed Plover Charadrius dubius
Kentish Plover Charadrius alexandrinus
Lesser Sandplover Charadrius mongolus
Greater Sandplover Charadrius leschenaultii
Caspian Plover Charadrius asiaticus
Oriental Plover Charadrius veredus
Northern Lapwing Vanellus vanellus
River Lapwing Vanellus duvaucelii
Yellow-wattled Lapwing Vanellus malabaricus
Grey-headed Lapwing Vanellus cinereus
Red-wattled Lapwing Vanellus indicus
Sociable Lapwing Vanellus gregarius
White-tailed Lapwing Vanellus leucurus
Family: Rostratulidae - Painted-snipes
Greater Painted-snipe Rostratula benghalensis
Family: Jacanidae - Jacanas
Pheasant-tailed Jacana Hydrophasianus chirurgus
Bronze-winged Jacana Metopidius indicus
Family: Scolopacidae - Sandpipers, snipes, phalaropes
Whimbrel Numenius phaeopus
Eurasian Curlew Numenius arquata
Bar-tailed Godwit Limosa lapponica
Black-tailed Godwit Limosa limosa
Ruddy Turnstone Arenaria interpres
Great Knot Calidris tenuirostris
Red Knot Calidris canutus
Ruff Calidris pugnax
Broad-billed Sandpiper Calidris falcinellus
Sharp-tailed Sandpiper Calidris acuminata
Curlew Sandpiper Calidris ferruginea
Temminck's Stint Calidris temminckii
Long-toed Stint Calidris subminuta
Spoon-billed Sandpiper Calidris pygmaea
Red-necked Stint Calidris ruficollis
Sanderling Calidris alba
Dunlin Calidris alpina
Little Stint Calidris minuta
Buff-breasted Sandpiper Calidris subruficollis
Pectoral Sandpiper Calidris melanotos
Asian Dowitcher Limnodromus semipalmatus
Long-billed Dowitcher Limnodromus scolopaceus
Eurasian Woodcock Scolopax rusticola
Solitary Snipe Gallinago solitaria
Wood Snipe Gallinago nemoricola
Pintail Snipe Gallinago stenura
Swinhoe's Snipe Gallinago megala
Great Snipe Gallinago media
Common Snipe Gallinago gallinago
Jack Snipe Lymnocryptes minimus
Red-necked Phalarope Phalaropus lobatus
Red Phalarope Phalaropus fulicarius
Terek Sandpiper Xenus cinereus
Common Sandpiper Actitis hypoleucos
Green Sandpiper Tringa ochropus
Grey-tailed Tattler Tringa brevipes
Spotted Redshank Tringa erythropus
Common Greenshank Tringa nebularia
Common Redshank Tringa totanus
Wood Sandpiper Tringa glareola
Marsh Sandpiper Tringa stagnatilis
Family: Turnicidae - Turnicidae
Common Buttonquail Turnix sylvaticus
Yellow-legged Buttonquail Turnix tanki
Barred Buttonquail Turnix suscitator
Family: Dromadidae - Crab-plover
Crab-plover Dromas ardeola
Family: Glareolidae - Coursers, pratincoles
Jerdon's Courser Rhinoptilus bitorquatus
Cream-coloured Courser Cursorius cursor
Indian Courser Cursorius coromandelicus
Collared Pratincole Glareola pratincola
Oriental Pratincole Glareola maldivarum
Little Pratincole Glareola lactea
Family: Laridae - Gulls, terns, skimmers
Brown Noddy Anous stolidus
Lesser Noddy Anous tenuirostris
Black Noddy Anous minutus
Common White Tern Gygis alba
Indian Skimmer Rynchops albicollis
Little Gull Hydrocoloeus minutus
Sabine's Gull Xema sabini
Black-legged Kittiwake Rissa tridactyla
Slender-billed Gull Larus genei
Brown-headed Gull Larus brunnicephalus
Black-headed Gull Larus ridibundus
Franklin's Gull Larus pipixcan
Pallas's Gull Larus ichthyaetus
Sooty Gull Larus hemprichii
Mew Gull Larus canus
Lesser Black-backed Gull Larus fuscus
Caspian Gull Larus cachinnans
Arctic Herring Gull Larus smithsonianus
Sooty Tern Onychoprion fuscatus
Bridled Tern Onychoprion anaethetus
Little Tern Sternula albifrons
Saunders's Tern Sternula saundersi
Common Gull-billed Tern Gelochelidon nilotica
Caspian Tern Hydroprogne caspia
Whiskered Tern Chlidonias hybrida
White-winged Tern Chlidonias leucopterus
Black Tern Chlidonias niger
River Tern Sterna aurantia
Roseate Tern Sterna dougallii
Black-naped Tern Sterna sumatrana
Common Tern Sterna hirundo
White-cheeked Tern Sterna repressa
Arctic Tern Sterna paradisaea
Black-bellied Tern Sterna acuticauda
Lesser Crested Tern Thalasseus bengalensis
Sandwich Tern Thalasseus sandvicensis
Greater Crested Tern Thalasseus bergii
Family: Stercorariidae - Skuas
Long-tailed Jaeger Stercorarius longicaudus
Arctic Jaeger Stercorarius parasiticus
Pomarine Jaeger Stercorarius pomarinus
South Polar Skua Catharacta maccormicki
Brown Skua Catharacta antarctica
ORDER: STRIGIFORMES
Family: Tytonidae - Barn-owls
Oriental Bay-owl Phodilus badius
Eastern Grass-owl Tyto longimembris
Common Barn-owl Tyto alba
Family: Strigidae - Typical owls
Brown Boobook Ninox scutulata
Andaman Boobook Ninox affinis
Collared Owlet Glaucidium brodiei
Asian Barred Owlet Glaucidium cuculoides
Jungle Owlet Glaucidium radiatum
Spotted Owlet Athene brama
Little Owl Athene noctua
Forest Owlet Heteroglaux blewitti
Boreal Owl Aegolius funereus
Collared Scops-owl Otus lettia
Indian Scops-owl Otus bakkamoena
Nicobar Scops-owl Otus alius
Andaman Scops-owl Otus balli
Mountain Scops-owl Otus spilocephalus
Eurasian Scops-owl Otus scops
Pallid Scops-owl Otus brucei
Oriental Scops-owl Otus sunia
Northern Long-eared Owl Asio otus
Short-eared Owl Asio flammeus
Mottled Wood-owl Strix ocellata
Brown Wood-owl Strix leptogrammica
Tawny Owl Strix aluco
Himalayan Owl Strix nivicolum
Eurasian Eagle-owl Bubo bubo
Rock 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
ORDER: ACCIPITRIFORMES
Family: Pandionidae - Osprey
Osprey Pandion haliaetus
Family: Accipitridae - Hawks, eagles
Black-winged Kite Elanus caeruleus
Oriental Honey-buzzard Pernis ptilorhynchus
Jerdon's Baza Aviceda jerdoni
Black Baza Aviceda leuphotes
Bearded Vulture Gypaetus barbatus
Egyptian Vulture Neophron percnopterus
Crested Serpent-eagle Spilornis cheela
Great Nicobar Serpent-eagle Spilornis klossi
Andaman Serpent-eagle Spilornis elgini
Short-toed Snake-eagle Circaetus gallicus
Red-headed Vulture Sarcogyps calvus
Himalayan Griffon Gyps himalayensis
White-rumped Vulture Gyps bengalensis
Indian Vulture Gyps indicus
Slender-billed Vulture Gyps tenuirostris
Griffon Vulture Gyps fulvus
Cinereous Vulture Aegypius monachus