Birds of India - The New Synopsis

A complete checklist of bird species and subspecies found in India

Accipitriformes (Hawks)

Accipitridae (Kites, Hawks and Eagles)

• Elanus de Savigny, 1809 Description de l'Égypte, ou recueil des observations et des recherches qui ont été faites en Égypte pendant l'expédition de l'armée française. Histoire naturelle. Vol. 1 1 p.69,97 Elanus caesius de Savigny, 1809; Type by monotypy = Falco caeruleus Desfontaines, 1789
  • 453. Black-winged Kite Elanus caeruleus (Desfontaines, 1789)
    Original Description: Falco caeruleus Desfontaines, 1789 Histoire de l'Académie Royale des Sciences. Avec les Mémoires de Mathématique & de Physique (1787) p.503 pl.15
    Alternative Names: Black-shouldered Kite
    IUCN: Least Concern. SoIB: Moderate. WLPA: Schedule-II. CITES: Appendix II.
    • 453a. Elanus caeruleus vociferus (Latham, 1790) [HB#124]
      Original Description: Falco vociferus Latham, 1790 Index ornithologicus, sive systema ornithologiæ; complectens avium divisionem in classes, ordines, genera, species, ipsarumque varietates: adjectis synonymis, locis, descriptionibus, &c. 1 p.46 (Coromandel Coast)
      Distribution: Throughout India from Kashmir south till the tip of the peninsula and east through NE India – including lowland Arunachal, Nagaland, Meghalaya, Cachar, Manipur valley, and Tripura; but not reported from Mizoram). Reported from Lakshadweep.
      Specimens: BNHS, ZSI, UMMZ, AMNH, FMNH, MCZ, ROM, USNM, YPM, TNHM, LKO, FTLB
  
  
• Gypaetus Storr, 1784 Alpenreise vom Jahre 1781 p.69 Gypaetus grandis Storr, 1784; Type by monotypy = Vultur aureus Hablizl, 1783
  • 454. Bearded Vulture Gypaetus barbatus (Linnaeus, 1758)
    Alternative Names: Lammergeier
    IUCN: Near Threatened. SoIB: High. WLPA: Schedule-I. CITES: Appendix II. CMS: Appendix II.
    • 454a. Gypaetus barbatus barbatus (Linnaeus, 1758) [HB#188]
      Original Description: Vultur barbatus Linnaeus, 1758 Systema Naturæ per Regna Tria Naturæ, Secundum Classes, Ordines, Genera, Species, cum Characteribus, Differentiis, Synonymis, Locis. Tomus I. Editio decima, reformata 1 p.87
      Distribution: Along the Himalaya from Gilgit, Ladakh, Kashmir, Jammu, Himachal, Uttarakhand, Sikkim, N Bengal, and W Arunachal.
      Specimens: AMNH, LKO
  
  
• Neophron de Savigny, 1809 Description de l'Égypte, ou recueil des observations et des recherches qui ont été faites en Égypte pendant l'expédition de l'armée française. Histoire naturelle. Vol. 1 1 p.68,75 Vultur percnopterus Linnaeus, 1758; Type by monotypy
  • 455. Egyptian Vulture Neophron percnopterus (Linnaeus, 1758)
    Alternative Names: Scavenger Vulture, White Scavenger Vulture
    IUCN: Endangered. SoIB: High. WLPA: Schedule-I. CITES: Appendix II. CMS: Appendix I.
    • 455a. Neophron percnopterus ginginianus (Latham, 1790) [HB#187]
      Original Description: Vultur ginginianus Latham, 1790 Index ornithologicus, sive systema ornithologiæ; complectens avium divisionem in classes, ordines, genera, species, ipsarumque varietates: adjectis synonymis, locis, descriptionibus, &c. 1 p.7 (Gingee, Coromandel)
      Distribution: Throughout India south of the Himalaya and east of NW India – including C India, Deccan; sparingly elsewhere in south and east as well as in NE India; and all the way till the southern tip of the peninsula. Formerly more widespread in S India.
      Specimens: BNHS, AMNH, FMNH, MCZ, TNHM
    • 455b. Neophron percnopterus percnopterus (Linnaeus, 1758) [HB#186]
      Original Description: Vultur Percnopterus Linnaeus, 1758 Systema Naturæ per Regna Tria Naturæ, Secundum Classes, Ordines, Genera, Species, cum Characteribus, Differentiis, Synonymis, Locis. Tomus I. Editio decima, reformata 1 p.87
      Taxonomy: Includes rubipersonatus Zarudny & Härms 1902 which is the name given to the Himalayan breeding population of the nominate subspecies.
      Distribution: NW Himalaya from Kashmir, Jammu, Himachal, and Uttarakhand – as well as Rajasthan, Kachchh, and Uttar Pradesh during winter.
      Specimens: UMMZ, AMNH, MCZ
      Notes: Winter numbers augmented by extralimital visitors.
  
  
• Aviceda Swainson, 1836 On the natural history and classification of birds 1 p.300 Aviceda cuculoides Swainson, 1837; Type by subsequent monotypy (Swainson, 1837, On the natural history and classification of birds, 2, p.214)
  • 456. Jerdon's Baza Aviceda jerdoni (Blyth, 1842)
    Alternative Names: Brown Lizard Hawk
    IUCN: Least Concern. SoIB: Low. WLPA: Schedule-I. CITES: Appendix II. CMS: Appendix II.
    • 456a. Aviceda jerdoni jerdoni (Blyth, 1842) [HB#125]
      Original Description: Pernis Jerdoni Blyth, 1842 Journal of the Asiatic Society of Bengal 11 p.464
      Distribution: N Bengal, Sikkim, Assam, Arunachal, and all NE hill states. Disjunctly in NE Ghats from W Bengal south till Maredumilli, east through Chhattisgarh to Kanha in C India. Sporadic in other parts of C India. Also, Great Nicobar Is.
      Specimens: BNHS, ZSI, BNHM
    • 456b. Aviceda jerdoni ceylonensis (Legge, 1876) [HB#126]
      Original Description: Baza ceylonensis Legge, 1876 Stray Feathers 4 p.247
      Distribution: Central W Ghats from Chikmagalur till Wayanad.
      Specimens: ANSP
      Notes: Reports south of Wayanad in the W Ghats do not have specimen or media support.
  
  
  • 457. Black Baza Aviceda leuphotes (Dumont, 1820)
    Alternative Names: Black-crested Baza, Black-crested Lizard Hawk
    IUCN: Least Concern. SoIB: Moderate. WLPA: Schedule-I. CITES: Appendix II. CMS: Appendix II.
    • 457a. Aviceda leuphotes syama (Hodgson, 1837) [HB#128]
      Original Description: Baza Syama Hodgson, 1837 Journal of the Asiatic Society of Bengal 5 p.777
      Distribution: Breeding: N Bengal, Sikkim, along Assam, and all NE hills states. Non-breeding: SW India mostly in Kerala, while other reports from peninsular India are during passage.
      Specimens: BNHS, ZSI, NHMUK, FMNH, BNHM
      Notes: Has bred once in Kanger Ghati, Baster in Chhattisgarh.
    • 457b. Aviceda leuphotes leuphotes (Dumont, 1820) [HB#127]
      Original Description: Falco leuphotes Dumont, 1820 Dictionnaire des sciences naturelles, dans lequel on traite méthodiquement des différens êtres de la nature, considérés soit en eux-mêmes, d'après l'état actuel de nos connoissances, soit relativement à l'utilité qu'en peuvent retirer la médecine, l'agriculture, le commerce et les arts. Suivi d'une biographie des plus célèbres naturalistes ...Par plusieurs professeurs du Jardin du Roi, et des principales écoles de Paris 16 p.217 (Pondicherry)
      Taxonomy: Not always recognised. If leuphotes sensu stricto Dumont 1820 is not the breeding subspecies in SW India, then all birds are from the population (of syama); and hence that subspecies is not needed. Revision required.
      Distribution: Breeding (historical) in SW India.
      Type Specimen: MNHN#MO-2001-385 (Holotype).
      Specimens: BNHS, ZSI, NHMUK, MNHN, MCZ
    • 457c. Aviceda leuphotes andamanica Abdulali & Grubh, 1970 [HB#128a]
      Original Description: Aviceda leuphotes andamanica Abdulali & Grubh, 1970 Journal of the Bombay Natural History Society 67 p.138 (Wrightmyo, South Andaman Is.)
      Distribution: N, Middle, S, and Little Andaman apart from Havelock Is. as well as Kamorta (C Nicobar group) and Great Nicobar Is. (S Nicobar group).
      Type Specimen: BNHS#23112 (Holotype).
      Specimens: BNHS
      Notes: No specimens from Nicobar Is. but believed to be this subspecies.
  
  
• Pernis Cuvier, 1816 Le règne animal distribué d'après son organisation, pour servir de base a l'histoire naturelle des animaux et d'introduction à l'anatomie comparée 1 p.322 Falco apivorus Linnaeus, 1758; Type by monotypy
  • 458. European Honey-buzzard Pernis apivorus (Linnaeus, 1758)
    Original Description: Falco apivorus Linnaeus, 1758 Systema Naturæ per Regna Tria Naturæ, Secundum Classes, Ordines, Genera, Species, cum Characteribus, Differentiis, Synonymis, Locis. Tomus I. Editio decima, reformata ed.10 p.91
    Taxonomy: Hybrids with Oriental Honey Buzzard also occur.
    Distribution: Vagrant. Pure birds reported from various states of the Peninsular India from Gujarat, Maharashtra, Telangana, Kerala, and Tirunelveli.
    IUCN: Least Concern. WLPA: Schedule-II. CITES: Appendix II. CMS: Appendix II.
    Notes: See Anand et al. (2020, IB 16 (2): 45), Vargiya et al. (2020, BA 33: 128).
  
  
  • 459. Oriental Honey-buzzard Pernis ptilorhynchus (Temminck, 1821)
    Original Description: Falco ptilorhyncus Temminck, 1821 Nouveau recueil de planches coloriées d'oiseaux, pour servir de suite et de complément aux planches enluminées de Buffon livr.8 pl.44
    Alternative Names: Crested Honey Buzzard
    IUCN: Least Concern. SoIB: Low. WLPA: Schedule-II. CITES: Appendix II. CMS: Appendix II.
    • 459a. Pernis ptilorhynchus orientalis Taczanowski, 1891 [HB#129]
      Original Description: Pernis apivorus orientalis Taczanowski, 1891 Faune ornithologique de la Sibérie orientale 1 p.50
      Distribution: Winter: Verified reports from Mhow (Madhya Pradesh), Bhandara and Nanded (Maharashtra), Patna (Bihar), Mangpoo (N Bengal), and Charidaur (Assam).
      Specimens: UMMZ, AMNH
    • 459b. Pernis ptilorhynchus ruficollis Lesson, 1830 [HB#130]
      Original Description: Pernis ruficollis Lesson, 1830 Traité d'Ornithologie, ou Tableau Méthodique des ordres, sous-ordres, familles, tribus, genres, sous-genres et races d'oiseaux livr.1 p.77 (Bengal)
      Distribution: Throughout India from Kashmir south till the tip of the peninsula and east including all NE hill states. Passage migrant through Himalaya including trans-Himalaya. Reported regularly from Andaman & Nicobar Is though subspecies is uncertain.
      Specimens: BNHS, UMMZ, AMNH, FMNH, MCZ, USNM, TNHM, FTLB, BNHM
  
  
• Sarcogyps Lesson, 1842 L'Écho du Monde Savant (2), 9 col.1038 Vultur ponticerianus Latham, 1790; Type by monotypy = Vultur calvus Scopoli, 1786
  • 460. Red-headed Vulture Sarcogyps calvus (Scopoli, 1786) [HB#178]
    Original Description: Vultur calvus Scopoli, 1786 Deliciae Florae et Faunae Insubricae 2 p.85 (Puducherry [=Pondicherry])
    Alternative Names: King Vulture, Black Vulture, Pondicherry Vulture
    Distribution: Historically throughout India but presently in N, C, and W India apart from C Assam and SW Karnataka, NE Tamil Nadu, and adjoining Kerala.
    Specimens: BNHS, UMZC, UMMZ, AMNH, FMNH, MCZ, LKO
    IUCN: Critically Endangered. SoIB: High. WLPA: Schedule-I. CITES: Appendix II. CMS: Appendix I.
  
  
• Aegypius de Savigny, 1809 Description de l'Égypte, ou recueil des observations et des recherches qui ont été faites en Égypte pendant l'expédition de l'armée française. Histoire naturelle. Vol. 1 1 p.68,73 Vultur niger Daudin, 1800; Type by monotypy = Vultur monachus Linnaeus, 1766
  • 461. Cinereous Vulture Aegypius monachus (Linnaeus, 1766) [HB#179]
    Original Description: Vultur Monachus Linnaeus, 1766 Systema Naturæ. Editio duodecima reformata. Tomus I [part 1] 12, p.122
    Alternative Names: Black Vulture
    Distribution: Winter: Along the Himalaya, Rajasthan, Gujarat, and C India apart from N Bengal and C Assam. Vagrants to S India.
    Specimens: BNHS, UMMZ, MCZ, USNM
    IUCN: Near Threatened. SoIB: Moderate. WLPA: Schedule-I. CITES: Appendix II. CMS: Appendix II.
  
  
• Gyps de Savigny, 1809 Description de l'Égypte, ou recueil des observations et des recherches qui ont été faites en Égypte pendant l'expédition de l'armée française. Histoire naturelle. Vol. 1 1 p.68,71 Gyps vulgaris de Savigny, 1809; Type by monotypy = Vultur fulvus Hablizl, 1783
  • 462. White-rumped Vulture Gyps bengalensis (Gmelin, 1788) [HB#185]
    Original Description: Vultur bengalensis Gmelin, 1788 Systema Naturae. Editio decima tertia, aucta, reformata. Cura Jo. Frid. Gmelin (etc.). Tomus I [pars I] 13, vol. 1, part 1, p.245 (Bengal)
    Alternative Names: White-backed Vulture
    Distribution: Historically throughout India but presently along the Himalaya, Rajasthan, Gujarat, C India, NW Maharashtra, Assam plains as well as SW Karnataka, NE Tamil Nadu, and adjoining Kerala.
    Specimens: BNHS, ZSI, UMZC, RBINS, UMMZ, AMNH, FMNH, MCZ, YPM, TNHM, LKO, FTLB
    IUCN: Critically Endangered. SoIB: High. WLPA: Schedule-I. CITES: Appendix II. CMS: Appendix I.
  
  
  • 463. Himalayan Vulture Gyps himalayensis Hume, 1869 [HB#181]
    Original Description: Gyps Himalayensis Hume, 1869 My scrapbook: or rough notes on Indian oology and ornithology p.12,15 (Himalaya)
    Alternative Names: Himalayan Griffon
    Distribution: Himalaya from Ladakh and Kashmir till Arunachal. Winter: NE India, Rajasthan, Gujarat and C India, and sparingly further south.
    Type Specimen: NHMUK#1885.8.19.23 (Syntype).
    Specimens: NHMUK, UMMZ, AMNH, MCZ, ROM, USNM, YPM
    IUCN: Near Threatened. SoIB: Moderate. WLPA: Schedule-I. CITES: Appendix II. CMS: Appendix II.
  
  
  • 464. Indian Vulture Gyps indicus (Scopoli, 1786) [HB#182]
    Original Description: Vultur indicus Scopoli, 1786 Deliciae Florae et Faunae Insubricae 2 p.85 (India)
    Alternative Names: Long-billed Vulture (with G. tenuirostris)
    Distribution: Historically throughout India from the base of the Himalayan foothills except E and NE India and extreme S India but now confined, locally, to Rajasthan, Gujarat, NW Maharashtra, C India as well as S Karnataka, and NE Tamil Nadu.
    Specimens: BNHS, AMNH, FMNH, USNM
    IUCN: Critically Endangered. SoIB: High. WLPA: Schedule-I. CITES: Appendix II. CMS: Appendix I.
  
  
  • 465. Slender-billed Vulture Gyps tenuirostris Gray, 1844 [HB#184]
    Original Description: Gyps tenuirostris Gray, 1844 The genera of birds: comprising their generic characters, a notice of the habits of each genus, and an extensive list of species referred to their several genera 1 pt2 p.6 pl. [3]
    Distribution: Historically along the Himalayan terai from Uttarakhand till Assam but now confined to parts of Himalayan foothills of Himachal, Uttarakhand, Assam as well as adjoining Arunachal foothills.
    Specimens: UMMZ, FMNH
    IUCN: Critically Endangered. SoIB: High. WLPA: Schedule-I. CITES: Appendix II. CMS: Appendix I.
  
  
  • 466. Griffon Vulture Gyps fulvus (Hablizl, 1783)
    Original Description: Vultur fulvus Hablizl, 1783 Neue Nordische Beyträge 4 p.58
    Alternative Names: Eurasian Griffon
    IUCN: Least Concern. SoIB: High. WLPA: Schedule-I. CITES: Appendix II. CMS: Appendix II.
    • 466a. Gyps fulvus fulvescens Hume, 1869 [HB#180]
      Original Description: Gyps Fulvescens Hume, 1869 My scrapbook: or rough notes on Indian oology and ornithology p.15,19 (Punjab)
      Distribution: Winter: Throughout N peninsula from Kashmir, through Himachal, Uttarakhand, and Uttar Pradesh terai; NW India including Rajasthan and Gujarat; C India and Assam plains; sporadic in Maharashtra, Telangana and further south and east.
      Type Specimen: NHMUK#1885.8.19.10 (Syntype).
      Specimens: BNHS, NHMUK, UMMZ, FMNH, LKO
      Notes: Breeding in Kashmir not validated (Naoroji 2006, Birds of Prey of the Indian Subcontinent p. 267) despite acceptance in AR2001 and RA2012. Some are birds known to over-summer in N and NW India.
  
  
• Spilornis Gray, 1840 A list of the genera of birds, with an indication of the typical species of each genus p.3 Falco bacha Shaw ; Type by original designation = Falco bassus Forster, 1798
  • 467. Nicobar Serpent-Eagle Spilornis klossi Richmond, 1902 [HB#202]
    Original Description: Spilornis klossi Richmond, 1902 Proceedings of the United States National Museum 25 no.1288 p.304 (Pulo Kunyi, Great Nicobar Is.)
    Alternative Names: Great Nicobar Serpent Eagle
    Distribution: S Nicobar group of Is (Great Nicobar, Little Nicobar, Menchal, and Pulo Milo).
    Type Specimen: USNM#178429 (Holotype).
    Specimens: BNHS, ZSI, USNM
    IUCN: Endangered. SoIB: Moderate. WLPA: Schedule-I. CITES: Appendix II.
    Endemic: Andaman & Nicobar Is.
  
  
  • 468. Crested Serpent-Eagle Spilornis cheela (Latham, 1790)
    Alternative Names: Central Nicobar Serpent Eagle S. [c.] minimus
    IUCN: Least Concern. SoIB: Low. WLPA: Schedule-I. CITES: Appendix II.
    • 468a. Spilornis cheela cheela (Latham, 1790) [HB#196]
      Original Description: Falco Cheela Latham, 1790 Index ornithologicus, sive systema ornithologiæ; complectens avium divisionem in classes, ordines, genera, species, ipsarumque varietates: adjectis synonymis, locis, descriptionibus, &c. 1 p.4 (Lucknow)
      Distribution: Jammu south through the Himalayan ranges and Indo-Gangetic plains east through N Bengal, Sikkim into Assam, Arunachal, and NE hill states.
      Specimens: BNHS, NHMUK, UMMZ, FMNH, MCZ, BNHM
      Notes: 25°N latitude set as a southern demarcation line for this subspecies (AR2001).
    • 468b. Spilornis cheela melanotis (Jerdon, 1841) [HB#197]
      Original Description: Buteo melanotis Jerdon, 1841 Madras Journal of Literature and Science 13 no.30 p.166 (Foot of the Nilgiris)
      Taxonomy: Includes albidus Temminck 1820 from Pondicherry [=Puducherry], and minor Hume 1873 from Raipoor [=Raipur].
      Distribution: Gujarat, C Indian highlands, W Bengal and hills of peninsular India including W Ghats, E Ghats, and hillocks of Deccan.
      Specimens: BNHS, NHMUK, AMNH, FMNH, MCZ, ROM, USNM, TNHM
    • 468c. Spilornis cheela davisoni Hume, 1873 [HB#200a]
      Original Description: Spilornis Davisoni Hume, 1873 Stray Feathers 1 p.307 (South Andamans)
      Taxonomy: Specimens in the S Nicobar Island group, previously reported as S c. malayensis, may relate to an undescribed subspecies (RA2012) – but is closest to this subspecies.
      Distribution: N, Middle, S, and Little Andaman apart from islets of Interview, Havelock, Neil, Tarmugli, Alexandra, Boat, Jolly Buoy, and Rutland Is. Disjunctly in the S Nicobar group (Great Nicobar Is., Kondul, Menchal, Pilo Milo Is.).
      Type Specimen: NHMUK#1885.8.19.1596 (Holotype).
      Specimens: BNHS, ZSI, NHMUK, ROM
    • 468d. Spilornis cheela minimus Hume, 1873 [HB#201]
      Original Description: Spilornis minimus Hume, 1873 Stray Feathers 1 p.464 (Kamorta Is., C Nicobar Is)
      Distribution: Teressa, Kamorta, Nancowry, and Katchal Is. in the C Nicobar group.
      Type Specimen: NHMUK#1885.8.19.1608 (Syntype).
      Specimens: NHMUK, MCZ
  
  
  • 469. Andaman Serpent-Eagle Spilornis elgini (Blyth, 1863) [HB#200]
    Original Description: Haematornis elgini Blyth, 1863 Ibis p.118 (South Andaman Is.)
    Alternative Names: Andaman Dark Serpent Eagle
    Distribution: N, Middle and S Andaman Is. including islets of Interview, Outram, Havelock, Neil, Tarmugli, Alexandra, Boat, and Rutland Is. as well as Little Andaman Is.
    Specimens: BNHS, ZSI, RBINS, ROM
    IUCN: Vulnerable. SoIB: High. WLPA: Schedule-I. CITES: Appendix II.
    Endemic: Andaman & Nicobar Is.
  
  
• Circaetus Vieillot, 1816 Analyse d'une Nouvelle Ornithologie Élémentaire p.23 Le Jean-le-Blanc Buffon ; Type by monotypy = Falco gallicus Gmelin, 1788
  • 470. Short-toed Snake-Eagle Circaetus gallicus (Gmelin, 1788)
    Alternative Names: Short-toed Eagle
    IUCN: Least Concern. SoIB: High. WLPA: Schedule-I. CITES: Appendix II. CMS: Appendix II.
    • 470a. Circaetus gallicus gallicus (Gmelin, 1788) [HB#195]
      Original Description: Falco gallicus Gmelin, 1788 Systema Naturae. Editio decima tertia, aucta, reformata. Cura Jo. Frid. Gmelin (etc.). Tomus I [pars I] 13, vol. 1, part 1, p.259
      Distribution: Throughout India from Kashmir south through till the southern tip of the peninsular except SW coast. Also, Brahmaputra plains of Assam and sporadically elsewhere in NE hill states.
      Specimens: BNHS, UMZC, FMNH, ROM, FTLB
      Notes: In winter, an influx of migrants from elsewhere noted.
  
  
• Nisaetus Hodgson, 1836 Journal of the Asiatic Society of Bengal 6, pt. 1, no. 65 p.361 Nisaetus nipalensis Hodgson, 1836; Type by original designation
  • 471. Legge's Hawk-Eagle Nisaetus kelaarti (Legge, 1878) [HB#159]
    Original Description: Spizaetus kelaarti Legge, 1878 Ibis p.202
    Taxonomy: Despite Gjershaug et al. (2008, Zootaxa 1792: 54) arguing for a species status, some taxonomies do not follow it.
    Distribution: W Ghats south of SW Maharashtra till the southern tip of Ghats in Kalakkad (Tamil Nadu) and Neyyar (Kerala); east till Biligirirangans (S Karnataka) as well as Palani hills (Tamil Nadu).
    Specimens: BNHS, AMNH
    IUCN: Not Recognised. SoIB: Moderate. WLPA: Schedule-II. CITES: Appendix II.
  
  
  • 472. Mountain Hawk-Eagle Nisaetus nipalensis Hodgson, 1836
    Alternative Names: [Hodgson's Hawk Eagle]
    IUCN: Near Threatened. SoIB: Low. WLPA: Schedule-I. CITES: Appendix II.
    • 472a. Nisaetus nipalensis nipalensis Hodgson, 1836 [HB#158]
      Original Description: Nisaëtus Nipalensis Hodgson, 1836 Journal of the Asiatic Society of Bengal 5 p.229 pl.7
      Distribution: Along the Himalaya from Kashmir through Himachal, Uttarakhand, adjoining Uttar Pradesh, N Bengal, Sikkim, Assam, Arunachal, and NE hill states; sporadically wintering till C India.
      Specimens: BNHS, UMZC, AMNH, FMNH, LKO, BNHM
  
  
  • 473. Changeable Hawk-Eagle Nisaetus cirrhatus (Gmelin, 1788)
    Alternative Names: Crested Hawk Eagle N. [c.] cirrhatus & N. [c.] ceylanensis
    IUCN: Least Concern. SoIB: Low. WLPA: Schedule-I. CITES: Appendix II.
    • 473a. Nisaetus cirrhatus limnaeetus (Horsfield, 1821) [HB#160]
      Original Description: Falco Limnaëetus Horsfield, 1821 Transactions of the Linnean Society of London (1), 13 p.138
      Taxonomy: Formerly considered a separate species (RA2012).
      Distribution: Himalayan foothills and terai from Himachal, east through Uttarakhand, N Uttar Pradesh, W Bengal, Sikkim, Assam, Arunachal, and NE hill states.
      Specimens: BNHS, UMMZ, AMNH, FMNH, BNHM
    • 473b. Nisaetus cirrhatus cirrhatus (Gmelin, 1788) [HB#161]
      Original Description: Falco cirrhatus Gmelin, 1788 Systema Naturae. Editio decima tertia, aucta, reformata. Cura Jo. Frid. Gmelin (etc.). Tomus I [pars I] 13, vol. 1, part 1, p.274 (India)
      Distribution: Peninsular India – Gujarat, E Rajasthan, C Indian highlands, Chota Nagpur plateau, NE and SE Ghats, Deccan hillocks, W Ghats from Surat Dangs south till Kanyakumari district (Tamil Nadu). Sporadically in N India.
      Specimens: BNHS, RBINS, FMNH, TNHM
      Notes: See Singh & Antaal (2025, IB 21 (4): 115).
    • 473c. Nisaetus cirrhatus andamanensis (Tytler, 1865) [HB#162]
      Original Description: Spizaetus Andamanensis Tytler, 1865 Proceedings of the Asiatic Society of Bengal p.112 (Port Blair, South Andaman Is.)
      Distribution: N, Middle, S, and Little Andaman Is, as well as Narcondam, Havelok, Neil, Boat, and Rutland Is.
      Specimens: AMNH
  
  
• Lophotriorchis Sharpe, 1874 Catalogue of the birds in the British Museum 1 p.255 Astur kienerii de Sparre, 1835; Type by subsequent designation (Blanford, 1895, The fauna of British India, including Ceylon and Burma. Birds. 1st ed., ed. 1, 3, p.345)
  • 474. Rufous-bellied Eagle Lophotriorchis kienerii (de Sparre, 1835)
    Alternative Names: Rufous-bellied Hawk Eagle
    IUCN: Near Threatened. SoIB: Low. WLPA: Schedule-I. CITES: Appendix II.
    • 474a. Lophotriorchis kienerii kienerii (de Sparre, 1835) [HB#165]
      Original Description: Astur Kienerii de Sparre, 1835 Magasin de Zoologie 5 cl.2 textpl.35
      Distribution: Along the Himalaya from Uttarakhand, N Bengal, Sikkim, Arunachal, Assam, and all NE hill states. Disjunctly in EC Indian hills and NE Ghats, and a third disjunct population along the W Ghats from about Mumbai south till Kanyakumari district and extending east into SE Ghats till about Sirumalai, Servarayan hills and the hills of mid-Kaveri basin and sparingly till Tirumala hills.
      Specimens: BNHS, AMNH, FMNH, TNHM, BNHM
  
  
• Ictinaetus Blyth, 1843 Journal of the Asiatic Society of Bengal 12 p.128 cdP Ictinaëtus ovivorus Hodgson ; Type by monotypy = Aquila pernigra Hodgson, 1836
  • 475. Black Eagle Ictinaetus malaiensis (Temminck, 1822)
    Original Description: Falco malayensis Temminck, 1822 Nouveau recueil de planches coloriées d'oiseaux, pour servir de suite et de complément aux planches enluminées de Buffon livr.20 pl.117
    IUCN: Least Concern. SoIB: Low. WLPA: Schedule-I. CITES: Appendix II.
    • 475a. Ictinaetus malaiensis perniger (Hodgson, 1836) [HB#172]
      Original Description: Aquila Pernigra Hodgson, 1836 Journal of the Asiatic Society of Bengal 5 p.227
      Taxonomy: S Indian birds (not named) smaller than N Indian birds.
      Distribution: Along the Himalaya from Jammu through Himachal, Uttarakhand, sporadically in the terai region of N India, N Bengal, Sikkim, Arunachal, Assam, and all the NE hill states. Hills of peninsular India from E Rajasthan, S Gujarat, C Indian highlands, NE Ghats, W Ghats from Surat Dangs till its southern tip, SE and CE Ghats, as well as Deccan hillocks.
      Specimens: BNHS, UMMZ, AMNH, FMNH, MCZ, TNHM, BNHM
  
  
• Clanga Adamowicz, 1858 Revue et Magasin de Zoologie Pure et Appliquée ser.2, pt. 9 p.604 Falco maculatus Gmelin, 1788; Type by tautonymy = Aquila clanga Pallas, 1811
  • 476. Indian Spotted Eagle Clanga hastata (Lesson, 1831) [HB#171]
    Original Description: Morphnus hastatus Lesson, 1831 Voyage aux Indes Orientales par le Nord de l'Europe, les provinces du Caucase, la Géorgie, l'Arménie et la Perse (etc.). Zoologie Zool. pt3 p.217 (Bengal)
    Alternative Names: Lesser Spotted Eagle (with C. pomarina EL)
    Distribution: Throughout India south of Jammu & Kashmir but patchily distributed with noticeable large gaps of absence in NC India and much of Odisha.
    Specimens: BNHS, UMMZ, AMNH, FMNH, MCZ, LKO, BNHM
    IUCN: Vulnerable. SoIB: Moderate. WLPA: Schedule-I. CITES: Appendix II.
    Notes: Breeding and winter distribution not properly worked out.
  
  
  • 477. Greater Spotted Eagle Clanga clanga (Pallas, 1811) [HB#170]
    Original Description: Aquila Clanga Pallas, 1811 Zoographia Rosso-Asiatica, sistens omnium animalium in extenso Imperio Rossico (etc.) 1 p.351
    Distribution: Winter: Throughout India except in extreme NE in the states of Nagaland, Manipur, and Mizoram as well as trans Himalaya.
    Specimens: BNHS, UMMZ, AMNH, FMNH, MCZ, LKO, FTLB
    IUCN: Vulnerable. SoIB: Low. WLPA: Schedule-I. CITES: Appendix II. CMS: Appendix I.
  
  
• Hieraaetus Kaup, 1844 Classification der Säugethiere und Vögel p.120 Falco pennatus Gmelin, 1788; Type by original designation
  • 478. Booted Eagle Hieraaetus pennatus (Gmelin, 1788) [HB#164]
    Original Description: Falco pennatus Gmelin, 1788 Systema Naturae. Editio decima tertia, aucta, reformata. Cura Jo. Frid. Gmelin (etc.). Tomus I [pars I] 13, vol. 1, part 1, p.272
    Alternative Names: Booted Hawk Eagle
    Distribution: Summer: W Himalaya from Gilgit, Ladakh, Kashmir, Himachal, and Uttarakhand. Winter: Throughout the Indian peninsula and NE India. Straggler to Narcondam Is.
    Specimens: BNHS, UMMZ, AMNH, FMNH, MCZ, ROM, USNM, TNHM, FTLB, BNHM
    IUCN: Least Concern. SoIB: Low. WLPA: Schedule-I. CITES: Appendix II. CMS: Appendix II.
  
  
• Aquila Brisson, 1760 Ornithologia sive synopsis methodica sistens avium divisionem in ordines, sectiones, genera, species, ipsarumaque varietates 1 p.28,419 Aquila Brisson ; Type by tautonymy = Falco chrysaetos Linnaeus, 1758
  • 479. Steppe Eagle Aquila nipalensis Hodgson, 1833
    IUCN: Endangered. SoIB: Low. WLPA: Schedule-I. CITES: Appendix II. CMS: Appendix I.
    • [Aquila nipalensis orientalis Cabanis, 1854 ]
      Original Description: Aquila orientalis Cabanis, 1854 Journal für Ornithologie 10 p.369
      Distribution: NW India.
      Notes: A poorly differentiated subspecies (see Clark 2005, Bulletin of the British Ornithologists' Club 125 (2): 149) but may occur in NW India during migration (see RA2012).
    • 479a. Aquila nipalensis nipalensis Hodgson, 1833 [HB#169]
      Original Description: Circæëtus nipalensis Hodgson, 1833 Asiatic Researches; or, Transactions of the Society instituted in Bengal, for enquiring into the history, the antiquities, the arts and sciences, and literature of Asia 18, pt.2 p.13 pl.1
      Taxonomy: The correct spelling of the protonym genus is Circæëtus and not Circaëtus.
      Distribution: Winter: Along the Himalaya from Gilgit, Ladakh, Kashmir, and the entire northern peninsula from Gujarat till W Bengal and Assam. Also, in Arunachal, Meghalaya, Manipur valley, and Tripura. Further south through S Deccan; sporadically in W coast.
      Specimens: BNHS, UMMZ, AMNH, MCZ
  
  
  • 480. Tawny Eagle Aquila rapax (Temminck, 1828)
    Original Description: Falco rapax Temminck, 1828 Nouveau recueil de planches coloriées d'oiseaux, pour servir de suite et de complément aux planches enluminées de Buffon livr.76[=77] pl.455
    IUCN: Vulnerable. SoIB: High. WLPA: Schedule-I. CITES: Appendix II. CMS: Appendix II.
    • 480a. Aquila rapax vindhiana Franklin, 1831 [HB#168]
      Original Description: Aquila Vindhiana Franklin, 1831 Proceedings of the Committee of Science and Correspondence of the Zoological Society of London Part 1, 1831 p.114 (Vindhya hills, central India)
      Distribution: Along the Himalayan foothills from Kashmir, through Jammu, Himachal, Uttarakhand, along the Indo-Gangetic plains till Bihar; Rajasthan, Gujarat, C India, peninsular India through Deccan, and S Tamil Nadu. Rare in E India. Absent along the western coastal zone and W Ghats.
      Specimens: BNHS, ZSI, UMZC, UMMZ, AMNH, FMNH, MCZ, ROM, YPM, LKO, BNHM
      Notes: Exceptionally migrates to C Asia as evident from satellite tracking from Gujarat (Ram et al. 2022, Birds 3 (3): 293).
  
  
  • 481. Imperial Eagle Aquila heliaca de Savigny, 1809 [HB#167]
    Original Description: Aquila heliaca de Savigny, 1809 Description de l'Égypte, ou recueil des observations et des recherches qui ont été faites en Égypte pendant l'expédition de l'armée française. Histoire naturelle. Vol. 1 1 p.82 pl.12
    Alternative Names: Eastern Imperial Eagle
    Distribution: Winter: W Himalaya excluding trans-Himalaya, entire NW India reaching W Madhya Pradesh and NW Maharashtra, N Bengal and Brahmaputra plains – straggling to rest of C India, E India and further south.
    Specimens: BNHS, UMZC, UMMZ, FMNH, MCZ, USNM, LKO
    IUCN: Vulnerable. SoIB: Moderate. WLPA: Schedule-I. CITES: Appendix I. CMS: Appendix I.
  
  
  • 482. Golden Eagle Aquila chrysaetos (Linnaeus, 1758)
    Original Description: Falco Chrysaëtos Linnaeus, 1758 Systema Naturæ per Regna Tria Naturæ, Secundum Classes, Ordines, Genera, Species, cum Characteribus, Differentiis, Synonymis, Locis. Tomus I. Editio decima, reformata 1 p.88
    IUCN: Least Concern. SoIB: Low. WLPA: Schedule-I. CITES: Appendix II. CMS: Appendix II.
    • 482a. Aquila chrysaetos daphanea Severtsov, 1888 [HB#166]
      Original Description: Aquila daphanea Severtsov, 1888 Nouveaux Mémoires de la Société Impériale des Naturalistes de Moscou 15 p.190
      Taxonomy: A. c. daphanea Severtsov 1888 supersedes A. intermedia Severtzov, 1872. Includes hodgsoni Ticehurst, 1931 of Ri1961.
      Distribution: Himalaya from Gilgit, Ladakh, Kashmir, Jammu through Himachal, Uttarakhand, and rarely in the adjoining plains of Haryana in winter. Also, Sikkim and Arunachal. Stragglers reported in winter from E Gujarat and Thar (W Rajasthan).
      Specimens: BNHS, MCZ
  
  
  • 483. Bonelli's Eagle Aquila fasciata Vieillot, 1822
    Alternative Names: Bonelli's Hawk Eagle
    IUCN: Least Concern. SoIB: Low. WLPA: Schedule-I. CITES: Appendix II.
    • 483a. Aquila fasciata fasciata Vieillot, 1822 [HB#163]
      Original Description: Aquila fasciata Vieillot, 1822 Mémoires de la Société Linnéenne de Paris 2 pt2 p.152
      Distribution: Throughout the peninsula from Kashmir, south till Kanyakumari and east till Sikkim/N Bengal, Sporadic in NE and SW India though occurs in Assam, Manipur valley, and Kerala.
      Specimens: BNHS, RBINS, UMMZ, FMNH, FTLB
  
  
• Lophospiza Kaup, 1844 Classification der Säugethiere und Vögel p.118 Falco trvirgatus Temminck, 1824; Type by original designation
  • 484. Crested Goshawk Lophospiza trivirgata (Temminck, 1824)
    Original Description: Falco trivirgatus Temminck, 1824 Nouveau recueil de planches coloriées d'oiseaux, pour servir de suite et de complément aux planches enluminées de Buffon livr.51 pl.303
    IUCN: Least Concern. SoIB: Moderate. WLPA: Schedule-I. CITES: Appendix II.
    • 484a. Lophospiza trivirgata indica (Hodgson, 1836) [HB#144]
      Original Description: Astur indicus Hodgson, 1836 The Bengal Sporting Magazine 8 p.177
      Taxonomy: Includes rufitinctus McClelland 1840 from the 'banks of Brahmaputra, Assam'.
      Distribution: Himalaya of Uttarakhand, N Bihar (terai), N Bengal, Sikkim, Arunachal as well as Assam and all NE hill states. Locally in EC India and NE Ghats till about Nallamala hills.
      Specimens: BNHS, UMMZ, AMNH, FMNH, MCZ, ROM, USNM, BNHM
    • 484b. Lophospiza trivirgata peninsulae (Koelz, 1949) [HB#145]
      Original Description: Accipiter trivirgatus peninsulae Koelz, 1949 The Auk 66 p.83 (Londa, Uttar Kannada, Karnataka)
      Distribution: SW India from SW Maharashtra till the tip in Kanyakumari; east till Nilgiris and Palanis.
      Type Specimen: FMNH#246474 (Holotype).
      Specimens: BNHS, FMNH, USNM, TNHM
      Notes: Reports further east of Nilgiris in SE Ghats not evaluated.
  
  
• Tachyspiza Kaup, 1844 Classification der Säugethiere und Vögel p.116 Falco soloensis Horsfield, 1821; Type by original designation
  • 485. Besra Tachyspiza virgata (Temminck, 1822)
    Original Description: Falco virgatus Temminck, 1822 Nouveau recueil de planches coloriées d'oiseaux, pour servir de suite et de complément aux planches enluminées de Buffon livr.19 pl.109
    IUCN: Least Concern. SoIB: Low. WLPA: Schedule-I. CITES: Appendix II. CMS: Appendix II.
    • 485a. Tachyspiza virgata affinis (Hodgson, 1836) [HB#150]
      Original Description: Accipiter affinis Hodgson, 1836 The Bengal Sporting Magazine 8 p.179
      Taxonomy: Subspecies kashmiriensis Whistler & Kinnear 1936 of W Himalaya included here.
      Distribution: Himalaya from Gilgit, Kashmir through Himachal, Uttarakhand, N Bengal, Sikkim, Assam, Arunachal, and all NE hill states. Winter straggler to the plains.
      Specimens: BNHS, ZSI, UMMZ, AMNH, FMNH, MCZ, YPM, LKO
    • 485b. Tachyspiza virgata besra (Jerdon, 1839) [HB#151]
      Original Description: Accipiter Besra Jerdon, 1839 Madras Journal of Literature and Science 10 no.24 p.84 (Sonda [=Soonda] Jungles, Uttar Kannada, Karnataka)
      Distribution: W Ghats from Surat Dangs till S Kerala and east till Biligirirangans and Palanis; locally in C Indian highlights and E Ghats.
      Specimens: BNHS, AMNH, FMNH, ROM, USNM, TNHM
    • 485c. Tachyspiza virgata abdulalii (Mees, 1981)
      Original Description: Accipiter virgatus abdulalii Mees, 1981 Journal of the Bombay Natural History Society 77 p.387 (Middle and S Andaman Is.)
      Distribution: Middle and S Andaman Is. as well as Nicobar Is.
      Type Specimen: BNHS#21897 (Holotype).
      Specimens: BNHS, NHMUK
      Notes: Little known and exact range uncertain (Mees 1981, JBNHS 77 (3): 387). Specimens previously identified as Nicobar Sparrowhawk from the islands of Great Nicobar and Kamorta (C Nicobars) have been identified as this taxon (see RA2012).
  
  
  • 486. Japanese Sparrowhawk Tachyspiza gularis (Temminck & Schlegel, 1844)
    Original Description: Astur (Nisus) gularis Temminck & Schlegel, 1844 Fauna Japonica sive descriptio animalium, quae in itinere per Japoniam, jussu et auspiciis superiorum, qui summum in India Batava imperium tenent, suscepto, annis 1825-1830 collegit, notis, observationibus et adumbrationibus illustravit. Vol. 4. Aves p.5 pl.2
    Alternative Names: Eastern Sparrowhawk
    IUCN: Least Concern. WLPA: Schedule-I. CITES: Appendix II. CMS: Appendix II.
    • 486a. Tachyspiza gularis sibirica (Stepanyan, 1959) [HB#152]
      Original Description: Accipiter gularis sibiricus Stepanyan, 1959 Ornitologiia 2 p.78
      Distribution: Winter: Andaman Is (N, S, Little, and Havelock) as well as Nicobar Is (Kamorta, Nancowry, and Great Nicobar Is.). Straggler to E Arunachal, E Assam, and Mizoram.
      Specimens: BNHS, UMZC, AMNH
      Notes: Regional specimens believed to be this subspecies though several authors consider it a synonym of the nominate (Mees 1981 JBNHS 77 (3): 392).
  
  
  • 487. Shikra Tachyspiza badia (Gmelin, 1788)
    IUCN: Least Concern. SoIB: Low. WLPA: Schedule-I. CITES: Appendix II. CMS: Appendix II.
    • 487a. Tachyspiza badia cenchroides (Severtsov, 1873) [HB#137]
      Original Description: Astur cenchroides Severtsov, 1873 Izvestiya Imperatorskago Obshchestva Lyubitelei Estestvoznaniya, Antropologii i Etnografii 8 pt2 p.113
      Distribution: Winter Straggler? Known only from specimens from Delhi and Mumbai regions.
      Specimens: BNHS
      Notes: Specimen (#12630, #12645) in BNHS from Mumbai (Abdulali 1969, JBNHS 63 (3): 100).
    • 487b. Tachyspiza badia dussumieri (Temminck, 1824) [HB#138]
      Original Description: Falco dussumieri Temminck, 1824 Nouveau recueil de planches coloriées d'oiseaux, pour servir de suite et de complément aux planches enluminées de Buffon livr.52 pl.308,336 (Bengal)
      Distribution: Kashmir south through N, C, W, and E India south till Kanyakumari with the exception of SW India. Also, Assam, Arunachal, and NE hill states.
      Specimens: BNHS, ZSI, NHMUK, UMMZ, AMNH, FMNH, MCZ, ROM, USNM, YPM, TNHM, MYS, FTLB
      Notes: Migration not worked out.
    • [Tachyspiza badia poliopsis (Hume, 1874) [HB#140]]
      Original Description: Micronisus poliopsis Hume, 1874 Stray Feathers 2 p.325
      Distribution: NE India.
      Notes: No definitive specimens but could occur. Birds from NE India (specimens in NHMUK) were historically assigned to this subspecies (AR2001) but challenged by RA2012.
    • 487c. Tachyspiza badia badia (Gmelin, 1788) [HB#139]
      Original Description: Falco badius Gmelin, 1788 Systema Naturae. Editio decima tertia, aucta, reformata. Cura Jo. Frid. Gmelin (etc.). Tomus I [pars I] 13, vol. 1, part 1, p.280
      Taxonomy: Sometimes this subspecies is restricted to Sri Lanka whence Kerala birds are assigned to dussumieri.
      Distribution: SW India, mainly Kerala.
      Specimens: NHMUK, MCZ, YPM
  
  
  • 488. Nicobar Sparrowhawk Tachyspiza butleri (Gurney, 1898)
    IUCN: Vulnerable. SoIB: High. WLPA: Schedule-I. CITES: Appendix II.
    Endemic: Andaman & Nicobar Is.
    • 488a. Tachyspiza butleri butleri (Gurney, 1898) [HB#141]
      Original Description: Astur butleri Gurney, 1898 Bulletin of the British Ornithologists' Club 7 p.27 (Car Nicobar Is.)
      Distribution: Car Nicobar Is.
      Type Specimen: NHMUK#1955.6.N.20.3075a (Syntype).
      Specimens: NHMUK, AMNH
    • 488b. Tachyspiza butleri obsoleta (Richmond, 1902) [HB#142]
      Original Description: Astur obsoletus Richmond, 1902 Proceedings of the United States National Museum 25 no.1288 p.306 (Katchal Is., C Nicobar Is)
      Distribution: Kamorta, Nancowry, and Katchal Is. (all in C Nicobar group).
      Type Specimen: USNM#178448 (Holotype).
      Specimens: BNHS, USNM
  
  
  • 489. Levant Sparrowhawk Tachyspiza brevipes (Severtsov, 1850)
    Original Description: Astur brevipes Severtsov, 1850 Bulletin de la Société Impériale des Naturalistes de Moscou 23 no.3, p.234 pl.1,2,3
    Distribution: Vagrant. Reported once from Chavakkad (C Kerala).
    IUCN: Least Concern. WLPA: Recent addition. CITES: Appendix II. CMS: Appendix II.
    Notes: See Eshaal et al. (2024, IB 20 (5): 129).
  
  
  • 490. Chinese Sparrowhawk Tachyspiza soloensis (Horsfield, 1821) [HB#143]
    Original Description: Falco Soloënsis Horsfield, 1821 Transactions of the Linnean Society of London (1), 13 p.137
    Alternative Names: Horsfield's Sparrowhawk, Chinese Goshawk
    Distribution: Winter: Andaman & Nicobar Is. Straggler to the mainland (Mizoram and coastal Andhra).
    Specimens: NHMUK, USNM
    IUCN: Least Concern. WLPA: Schedule-I. CITES: Appendix II. CMS: Appendix II.
    Notes: See Bandi et al. (2021, IB 17 (4): 119).
  
  
• Accipiter Brisson, 1760 Ornithologia sive synopsis methodica sistens avium divisionem in ordines, sectiones, genera, species, ipsarumaque varietates 1 p.28,310 Accipiter Brisson ; Type by tautonymy = Falco nisus Linnaeus, 1758
  • 491. Eurasian Sparrowhawk Accipiter nisus (Linnaeus, 1758)
    Original Description: Falco Nisus Linnaeus, 1758 Systema Naturæ per Regna Tria Naturæ, Secundum Classes, Ordines, Genera, Species, cum Characteribus, Differentiis, Synonymis, Locis. Tomus I. Editio decima, reformata 1 p.92
    Alternative Names: Sparrowhawk
    IUCN: Least Concern. SoIB: Low. WLPA: Schedule-I. CITES: Appendix II. CMS: Appendix II.
    • 491a. Accipiter nisus nisosimilis (Tickell, 1833) [HB#147]
      Original Description: Falco Nisosimilis Tickell, 1833 Journal of the Asiatic Society of Bengal 2 p.571 (Marcha, Borabhum, E India)
      Distribution: Winter: Entire peninsula from Kashmir till S Tamil Nadu, more concentrated on the western half of the peninsula and vagrant to E Andhra, Odisha, S W Bengal, and Andaman Is.
      Specimens: BNHS, ZSI, UMZC, UMMZ, AMNH, FMNH, MCZ, YPM
    • 491b. Accipiter nisus melaschistos Hume, 1869 [HB#148]
      Original Description: Accipiter Melaschistos Hume, 1869 My scrapbook: or rough notes on Indian oology and ornithology p.128 (Interior of the Himalaya)
      Distribution: Breeding: Himalaya from Gilgit, Kashmir, through Himachal, Uttarakhand, N Bengal, Sikkim, and Arunachal. Non-breeding: In adjacent plains including Assam, all NE hill states.
      Type Specimen: NHMUK#1885.8.19.600 (Syntype).
      Specimens: ZSI, NHMUK, UMMZ, AMNH, FMNH
  
  
• Astur de Lacépède, 1799 Discours de l'ouverture et de clôture du cours d'histoire naturelle donné dans le Muséum National d'Histoire Naturelle, l'an VII de la République, et tableaux méthodiques des mammifères et des oiseaux p.4 Falco gentilis Linnaeus, 1758; Type by tautonymy
  • 492. Northern Goshawk Astur gentilis (Linnaeus, 1758)
    Original Description: Falco gentilis Linnaeus, 1758 Systema Naturæ per Regna Tria Naturæ, Secundum Classes, Ordines, Genera, Species, cum Characteribus, Differentiis, Synonymis, Locis. Tomus I. Editio decima, reformata 1 p.89
    Alternative Names: Eastern Goshawk, Eurasian Goshawk
    IUCN: Least Concern. WLPA: Schedule-I. CITES: Appendix II. CMS: Appendix II.
    • 492a. Astur gentilis schvedowi Menzbier, 1882 [HB#136]
      Original Description: Astur palumbarius Schvedowi Menzbier, 1882 Uchenia Zapiski Imperatorskovo Moskovskii Univ. Otdel Estestvennoistoricheskii 2 p.439
      Distribution: Himalaya from Gilgit, Ladakh, Kashmir through Himachal, Uttarakhand, N Bengal, Sikkim, and Arunachal. Also, in Nagaland and Manipur. Sporadically winters in the peninsula as south as Pune (Maharashtra) and Mayurbhanj (Odisha).
      Specimens: AMNH
      Notes: Likely breeding in the Himalaya though no breeding records. Records from S India likely misidentifications.
  
  
• Circus de Lacépède, 1799 Discours de l'ouverture et de clôture du cours d'histoire naturelle donné dans le Muséum National d'Histoire Naturelle, l'an VII de la République, et tableaux méthodiques des mammifères et des oiseaux p.4 Falco aeruginosus Linnaeus, 1758; Type by subsequent designation (Lesson, 1828, Manuel d'ornithologie, ou Description des genres et des principales espèces d'orseaux, 1, p.105)
  • 493. Pallid Harrier Circus macrourus (Gmelin, 1770) [HB#190]
    Original Description: Accipiter macrourus Gmelin, 1770 Reise durch Russland zur Untersuchung der drey Natur-Reiche 1 p.48
    Alternative Names: Pale Harrier
    Distribution: Winter: Throughout India except Ladakh and NE hill states where it is a straggler.
    Specimens: BNHS, ZSI, UMZC, UMMZ, AMNH, FMNH, MCZ, ROM, USNM, TNHM, MYS, HYD, LKO, BNHM
    IUCN: Near Threatened. SoIB: High. WLPA: Schedule-I. CITES: Appendix II. CMS: Appendix II.
    Notes: Lakshadweep and Andaman records need re-evaluation.
  
  
  • 494. Hen Harrier Circus cyaneus (Linnaeus, 1766) [HB#189]
    Original Description: Falco cyaneus Linnaeus, 1766 Systema Naturæ. Editio duodecima reformata. Tomus I [part 1] 12, p.126
    Alternative Names: Northern Harrier (with C. hudsonius EL)
    Distribution: Winter: Along the Himalaya from Ladakh and Kashmir through Himachal, Uttarakhand, N Bengal, Sikkim till Arunachal. Adjacent N India in Punjab, Delhi region, Rajasthan straggling to Gujarat and Madhya Pradesh. Also, W Bengal, Assam, and NE hill states.
    Specimens: BNHS, NHMUK, UMMZ, AMNH, FMNH, MCZ, USNM, LKO
    IUCN: Least Concern. SoIB: Moderate. WLPA: Schedule-I. CITES: Appendix II. CMS: Appendix II.
    Notes: Sight reports from southern peninsula not evaluated. No media or specimen evidence available from the Peninsula south of the line that connects Ahmedabad, Jabalpur, and Ranchi.
  
  
  • 495. Montagu's Harrier Circus pygargus (Linnaeus, 1758) [HB#191]
    Original Description: Falco Pygargus Linnaeus, 1758 Systema Naturæ per Regna Tria Naturæ, Secundum Classes, Ordines, Genera, Species, cum Characteribus, Differentiis, Synonymis, Locis. Tomus I. Editio decima, reformata 1 p.89
    Distribution: Winter: N India from about Delhi region, entire NW India covering Rajasthan and Gujarat, C and S India. Sporadic in E India including Jharkhand, S W Bengal, and Odisha.
    Specimens: BNHS, ZSI, UMMZ, AMNH, FMNH, MCZ, USNM, YPM, TNHM
    IUCN: Least Concern. SoIB: High. WLPA: Schedule-I. CITES: Appendix II. CMS: Appendix II.
    Notes: Reports from Assam not evaluated.
  
  
  • 496. Pied Harrier Circus melanoleucos (Pennant, 1769) [HB#192]
    Original Description: Falco melanoleucus Pennant, 1769 Indian Zoology p.2 pl.2
    Distribution: Winter: W Bengal, Assam (breeding locally), and entire NE India extending west to Odisha and Chhattisgarh. Sporadically to Andaman Is and southern peninsula as well as straggling to N India till Uttarakhand, Delhi region, Rajasthan, and Gujarat.
    Specimens: BNHS, ZSI, UMMZ, AMNH, FMNH, ROM, USNM, TNHM, LKO
    IUCN: Least Concern. SoIB: Low. WLPA: Schedule-I. CITES: Appendix II. CMS: Appendix II.
  
  
  • 497. Western Marsh Harrier Circus aeruginosus (Linnaeus, 1758)
    Alternative Names: Eurasian Marsh Harrier (with C. spilonotus)
    IUCN: Least Concern. SoIB: High. WLPA: Schedule-I. CITES: Appendix II. CMS: Appendix II.
    • 497a. Circus aeruginosus aeruginosus (Linnaeus, 1758) [HB#193]
      Original Description: Falco aeruginosus Linnaeus, 1758 Systema Naturæ per Regna Tria Naturæ, Secundum Classes, Ordines, Genera, Species, cum Characteribus, Differentiis, Synonymis, Locis. Tomus I. Editio decima, reformata 1 p.91
      Distribution: Winter: Throughout India from Gilgit, Ladakh, and Kashmir south till the tip of the peninsula and east till extreme E Assam. Also, reported from Andaman & Nicobar Is.
      Specimens: BNHS, ZSI, UMMZ, AMNH, FMNH, MCZ, ROM, TNHM
  
  
  • 498. Eastern Marsh Harrier Circus spilonotus Kaup, 1847 [HB#194]
    Original Description: Circus spilonotus Kaup, 1847 Isis 40 col.953
    Alternative Names: Striped Harrier
    Distribution: Winter. Plains of NE India (mostly Assam, but also adjoining Arunachal as well as Manipur), West Bengal but sparingly further west and south in Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh, Odisha, Andhra, Telangana, Tamil Nadu, and Kerala.
    Specimens: ZSI
    IUCN: Least Concern. WLPA: Schedule-I. CITES: Appendix II. CMS: Appendix II.
    Notes: See Kesavabharati & Sundaram (2016, IB 11 (3): 75), Pradhan et al. (2017, IB 13 (3): 83), Kallettumkara (2017, IB 13 (3): 77).
  
  
• Haliastur Selby, 1840 A catalogue of the generic and sub-generic types of the class Aves, birds, arranged according to the natural system; with separate lists, distinguishing the various quarters of the globe in which they are to be procured pp. 2 (note), 3 Falco pondicerianus Gmelin, 1788; Type by original designation = Falco indus Boddaert, 1783
  • 499. Brahminy Kite Haliastur indus (Boddaert, 1783)
    IUCN: Least Concern. SoIB: Low. WLPA: Schedule-I. CITES: Appendix II.
    • 499a. Haliastur indus indus (Boddaert, 1783) [HB#135]
      Original Description: Falco Indus Boddaert, 1783 Table des planches enluminéez d'histoire naturelle de M. D'Aubenton p.25 (Pondichery)
      Distribution: Throughout India from about Jammu and Himachal, down south till the tip of the peninsula. East through Brahmaputra plains in Assam and Manipur valley but sporadic in C India. Also, in Lakshadweep and Andaman Is.
      Specimens: BNHS, ZSI, UMZC, UMMZ, AMNH, FMNH, MCZ, USNM, YPM, TNHM
  
  
• Milvus de Lacépède, 1799 Discours de l'ouverture et de clôture du cours d'histoire naturelle donné dans le Muséum National d'Histoire Naturelle, l'an VII de la République, et tableaux méthodiques des mammifères et des oiseaux p.4 Falco milvus Linnaeus, 1758; Type by tautonymy
  • 500. Red Kite Milvus milvus (Linnaeus, 1758)
    IUCN: Least Concern. WLPA: Schedule-I. CITES: Appendix II. CMS: Appendix II.
    • 500a. Milvus milvus milvus (Linnaeus, 1758) [HB#131]
      Original Description: Falco Milvus Linnaeus, 1758 Systema Naturæ per Regna Tria Naturæ, Secundum Classes, Ordines, Genera, Species, cum Characteribus, Differentiis, Synonymis, Locis. Tomus I. Editio decima, reformata 1 p.89
      Distribution: Vagrant. Sight reported only from Ranikhet, Uttarakhand.
      Notes: No photographs exists; accepted based on written description (Naoroji & D'Silva 1998, JBNHS 95 (2): 339). This observation is of the nominate subspecies. The only other subspecies, fasciicauda Hartert 1914, is probably now extinct (Garcia-del-Rey. 2011, Field Guide to the Birds of Macaronesia).
  
  
  • 501. Black Kite Milvus migrans (Boddaert, 1783)
    Alternative Names: Pariah Kite; Black-eared Kite M. [m.] lineatus
    IUCN: Least Concern. SoIB: Low. WLPA: Schedule-II. CITES: Appendix II. CMS: Appendix II.
    • [Milvus migrans migrans (Boddaert, 1783) [HB#132]]
      Original Description: Falco migrans Boddaert, 1783 Table des planches enluminéez d'histoire naturelle de M. D'Aubenton p.28
      Distribution: Kachchh.
      Notes: No specimens either from India or Pakistan. Nearest specimens are from Afghanistan (Copenhagen Museum). The species is said to possibly winter in Kachchh (AR2001). However, satellite telemetry data from the country, till date, are all for lineatus that breed in central Asia.
    • 501a. Milvus migrans lineatus (Gray, 1831) [HB#134]
      Original Description: Halioetus lineatus Gray, 1831 Illustrations of Indian zoology; chiefly selected from the collection of Major-General Hardwicke, F. R. S. 1 pt8 pl.18
      Distribution: Summer: Inner and trans Himalaya from Kashmir, Ladakh through Himachal, Uttarakhand, N Bengal, Sikkim, and Arunachal. Winter: Entire N Peninsula from Gujarat in west till W Bengal in the east as well as Assam and NE hill states of Meghalaya, Cachar, Manipur, and Tripura. Extending regularly south till about Goa, N Karnataka, and Telangana and locally further south till about Coimbatore (Tamil Nadu).
      Specimens: BNHS, UMMZ, AMNH, FMNH, FTLB
    • 501b. Milvus migrans govinda Sykes, 1832 [HB#133]
      Original Description: Milvus Govinda Sykes, 1832 Proceedings of the Committee of Science and Correspondence of the Zoological Society of London Part 2 no.18 p.81 (Deccan [=Dukhun])
      Distribution: Throughout India including Lakshadweep and S Andaman Is.
      Type Specimen: NHMUK#1880.1.1.1677 (Syntype).
      Specimens: BNHS, ZSI, NHMUK, UMMZ, AMNH, FMNH, MCZ, ROM, USNM, TNHM, GMC, FTLB
      Notes: Movements not worked out properly but certainly involve extralimital migrants from other regions like SE Asia.
  
  
• Haliaeetus de Savigny, 1809 Description de l'Égypte, ou recueil des observations et des recherches qui ont été faites en Égypte pendant l'expédition de l'armée française. Histoire naturelle. Vol. 1 1 p.68,85 Haliaeetus nisus de Savigny, 1809; Type by monotypy = Falco albicilla Linnaeus, 1758
  • 502. Pallas's Fish-Eagle Haliaeetus leucoryphus (Pallas, 1771) [HB#174]
    Original Description: Aquila leucorypha Pallas, 1771 Reise durch verschiedene Provinzen des Russischen Reichs 1 p.454
    Alternative Names: Ring-tailed Fishing Eagle
    Distribution: Breeding (Winter): Across the Himalayan foothills from Jammu & Kashmir through Himachal and Uttarakhand, NW Uttar Pradesh, N Bengal and Sikkim along the Assam plains, and sparingly in select sites in Rajasthan, Odisha, and Tripura. Historically more widespread in N India till Gujarat, Bihar and Madhya Pradesh, and in NE India as well.
    Specimens: BNHS, RBINS, UMMZ, AMNH, FMNH, MCZ, USNM, BNHM
    IUCN: Endangered. SoIB: High. WLPA: Schedule-I. CITES: Appendix II. CMS: Appendix I.
    Notes: Breeding and wintering distribution not mapped yet but regional population certainly augmented by wintering birds that reach India for breeding.
  
  
  • 503. White-tailed Eagle Haliaeetus albicilla (Linnaeus, 1758)
    Taxonomy: Sometimes considered monotypic.
    Alternative Names: White-tailed Sea Eagle
    IUCN: Least Concern. WLPA: Schedule-I. CITES: Appendix I. CMS: Appendix I.
    • 503a. Haliaeetus albicilla albicilla (Linnaeus, 1758) [HB#172a]
      Original Description: Falco Albicilla Linnaeus, 1758 Systema Naturæ per Regna Tria Naturæ, Secundum Classes, Ordines, Genera, Species, cum Characteribus, Differentiis, Synonymis, Locis. Tomus I. Editio decima, reformata 1 p.89
      Distribution: Winter: Restricted to the N subcontinent from Kashmir through Indo-Gangetic and Brahmaputra plains, Rajasthan, and Gujarat till about NW Maharashtra. Stragglers elsewhere.
      Specimens: USNM
  
  
• Icthyophaga Lesson, 1843 L'Écho du Monde Savant (2), 7, col. 14 Icthyophaga javana Lesson, 1843; Type by monotypy = Falco ichthyaetus Horsfield, 1821
  • 504. White-bellied Sea-Eagle Icthyophaga leucogaster (Gmelin, 1788) [HB#173]
    Original Description: Falco leucogaster Gmelin, 1788 Systema Naturae. Editio decima tertia, aucta, reformata. Cura Jo. Frid. Gmelin (etc.). Tomus I [pars I] 13, vol. 1, part 1, p.257
    Distribution: Entire E coast as well as W coast from Mumbai south till Mahe including certain nearby off-shore islands as well as Andaman, Narcondam, and Nicobar Is. Stragglers elsewhere including far inland.
    Specimens: BNHS, ROM
    IUCN: Least Concern. SoIB: Moderate. WLPA: Schedule-I. CITES: Appendix II. CMS: Appendix II.
  
  
  • 505. Lesser Fish-Eagle Icthyophaga humilis (Müller & Schlegel, 1841)
    Original Description: Falco (Pandion) humilis Müller & Schlegel, 1841 Verhandelingen over de natuurlijke geschiedenis der Nederlandsche overzeesche bezittingen, Zoologie (1845), Zool. Aves p.47
    Alternative Names: Himalayan Grey-headed Fishing Eagle
    IUCN: Near Threatened. SoIB: Low. WLPA: Schedule-I. CITES: Appendix II.
    • 505a. Icthyophaga humilis plumbea (Jerdon, 1871) [HB#177]
      Original Description: Polioaëtus plumbeus Jerdon, 1871 Ibis p.336 (Northwestern Himalaya)
      Taxonomy: S Indian population, discovered in this century, not sampled taxonomically.
      Distribution: Along the base of Himalaya from E Himachal, Uttarakhand to the Brahmaputra plains of Assam and adjoining Arunachal. Disjunctly in SW India – in the W Ghats south of Goa and SE Ghats in Kaveri basin. Winter stragglers elsewhere in the subcontinent and NE India.
      Specimens: BNHS, NHMUK, UMMZ, FMNH, BNHM
  
  
  • 506. Grey-headed Fish-Eagle Icthyophaga ichthyaetus (Horsfield, 1821) [HB#175]
    Original Description: Falco Ichthyaetus Horsfield, 1821 Transactions of the Linnean Society of London (1), 13 p.136
    Alternative Names: Grey-headed Fishing Eagle
    Distribution: Terai region in Uttarakhand, W Bengal, Assam plains and adjoining Arunachal and Nagaland, C India, Gujarat, W Ghats from SW Maharashtra till C Kerala and SE Ghats of Karnataka along Kaveri.
    Specimens: BNHS, UMZC, UMMZ, AMNH, FMNH, TNHM, BNHM
    IUCN: Near Threatened. SoIB: Moderate. WLPA: Schedule-I. CITES: Appendix II.
  
  
• Butastur Hodgson, 1843 Journal of the Asiatic Society of Bengal 12 p.311 Circus teesa Franklin, 1831; Type by original designation
  • 507. Rufous-winged Buzzard Butastur liventer (Temminck, 1827)
    Original Description: Falco liventer Temminck, 1827 Nouveau recueil de planches coloriées d'oiseaux, pour servir de suite et de complément aux planches enluminées de Buffon livr.74 pl.438, text
    Distribution: Vagrant. Reported from Tengnoupal district, Manipur.
    IUCN: Least Concern. WLPA: Recent addition. CITES: Appendix II.
    Notes: See Sharma et al. (2022, IB 18 (3): 86).
  
  
  • 508. Grey-faced Buzzard Butastur indicus (Gmelin, 1788)
    Original Description: Falco indicus Gmelin, 1788 Systema Naturae. Editio decima tertia, aucta, reformata. Cura Jo. Frid. Gmelin (etc.). Tomus I [pars I] 13, vol. 1, part 1, p.264
    Distribution: Vagrant. Reported from Narcondam Is., C Nicobars (Kamorta Is.), and Great Nicobar Is.
    IUCN: Least Concern. WLPA: Schedule-I. CITES: Appendix II. CMS: Appendix II.
    Notes: See Manchi et al. (2014, JBNHS 111 (1): 45), Zaibin et al. (2014, 9 (4): 102).
  
  
  • 509. White-eyed Buzzard Butastur teesa (Franklin, 1831) [HB#157]
    Original Description: Circus Teesa Franklin, 1831 Proceedings of the Committee of Science and Correspondence of the Zoological Society of London Part 1 no.10 p.115 (Ganga-Narmada)
    Alternative Names: White-eyed Buzzard Eagle
    Distribution: Throughout India from Jammu south till the tip of the peninsula; east till S W Bengal and sporadically till W Assam.
    Specimens: BNHS, ZSI, UMZC, UMMZ, AMNH, FMNH, MCZ, ROM, USNM, YPM, TNHM, MYS, HYD, LKO, FTLB
    IUCN: Least Concern. SoIB: Moderate. WLPA: Schedule-I. CITES: Appendix II.
  
  
• Buteo de Lacépède, 1799 Discours de l'ouverture et de clôture du cours d'histoire naturelle donné dans le Muséum National d'Histoire Naturelle, l'an VII de la République, et tableaux méthodiques des mammifères et des oiseaux p.4 Falco buteo Linnaeus, 1758; Type by tautonymy
  • 510. Rough-legged Buzzard Buteo lagopus (Pontoppidan, 1763)
    Alternative Names: Rough-legged Hawk
    IUCN: Least Concern. WLPA: Schedule-II. CITES: Appendix II. CMS: Appendix II.
    • 510a. Buteo lagopus lagopus (Pontoppidan, 1763)
      Original Description: Falco Lagopus Pontoppidan, 1763 Den Danske Atlas eller Konge-Riget Dannemark (etc.) 1 p.616
      Distribution: Vagrant. Reported only from Leh, Ladakh.
      Notes: Assumed the nominate subspecies on range for this observation (Choldan 2021, IB 17 (1): 29).
  
  
  • 511. Common Buzzard Buteo buteo (Linnaeus, 1758)
    Original Description: Falco Buteo Linnaeus, 1758 Systema Naturæ per Regna Tria Naturæ, Secundum Classes, Ordines, Genera, Species, cum Characteribus, Differentiis, Synonymis, Locis. Tomus I. Editio decima, reformata 1 p.90
    Alternative Names: Eurasian Buzzard; Steppe Buzzard/Desert Buzzard B. [b.] vulpinus; Buzzard B. [b.] japonicus
    IUCN: Least Concern. SoIB: Low. WLPA: Schedule-I. CITES: Appendix II. CMS: Appendix II.
    • 511a. Buteo buteo vulpinus (Gloger, 1833) [HB#155]
      Original Description: Falco vulpinus Gloger, 1833 Das Abändern der Vögel durch Einfluß des Klima's: nach zoologischen, zunächst von den europäischen Landvögeln entnommenen Beobachtungen dargestellt, mit den entsprechenden Erfahrungen bei den europäischen Säugthieren verglichen, und durch Thatsachen aus dem Gebiete der Physiologie, der Physik und der physischen Geographie erläutert p.141
      Distribution: Winter: Ladakh, Kashmir, and east along W Himalaya and also further in W Bengal, Sikkim, Arunachal, Assam, and all NE hill states. NW India of Punjab, Haryana, Delhi region, Rajasthan, Gujarat, and NW Maharashtra as well as the Satpura ranges; further south, along the W Ghats and SE Ghats with many sporadic sightings in the rest of peninsular India.
      Specimens: BNHS, FMNH
      Notes: Breeding reports in Kashmir not validated. Identification compounded with both Himalayan Buzzard B. refectus in the Himalaya and Eastern Buzzard B. [japonicus] burmanicus in NE India.
  
  
  • 512. Upland Buzzard Buteo hemilasius Temminck & Schlegel, 1844 [HB#154]
    Original Description: Buteo hemilasius Temminck & Schlegel, 1844 Fauna Japonica sive descriptio animalium, quae in itinere per Japoniam, jussu et auspiciis superiorum, qui summum in India Batava imperium tenent, suscepto, annis 1825-1830 collegit, notis, observationibus et adumbrationibus illustravit. Vol. 4. Aves p.18 pl.7
    Distribution: Summer: Ladakh (Breeding). Winter: Along the Himalaya from Ladakh, Kashmir, through Himachal, Uttarakhand, and Sikkim till W Arunachal.
    Specimens: RMNH
    IUCN: Least Concern. WLPA: Schedule-I. CITES: Appendix II. CMS: Appendix II.
    Notes: Delhi report not evaluated. N Bengal reports considered tentative (see Manna et al. 2024, IB 20 (5): 126). Presence of birds in Himalaya from April till August indicates potential breeding.
  
  
  • 513. Long-legged Buzzard Buteo rufinus (Cretzschmar, 1829)
    IUCN: Least Concern. SoIB: Low. WLPA: Schedule-I. CITES: Appendix II. CMS: Appendix II.
    • 513a. Buteo rufinus rufinus (Cretzschmar, 1829) [HB#153]
      Original Description: Falco rufinus Cretzschmar, 1829 Atlas zu der Reise im nördlichen Afrika von Eduard Rüppell. Erste Abtheilung. Zoologie. Vögel (1826) p.40 pl.27
      Distribution: Winter: Throughout the subcontinent from Gilgit, Ladakh, and Kashmir; south through the southern peninsula, where sporadic, at least till about Coimbatore (Tamil Nadu) and Bengaluru (Karnataka). East through Brahmaputra plains of Assam, adjoining Arunachal, and Manipur valley apart from Andaman and Narcondam Is.
      Specimens: BNHS, ZSI, UMMZ, AMNH, FMNH, MCZ, ROM
      Notes: Breeding reports from Kashmir, Himachal and Garhwal (AR2001) not evaluated.
  
  
  • 514. Himalayan Buzzard Buteo refectus Portenko, 1935 [HB#156]
    Original Description: Buteo japonicus refectus Portenko, 1935 Ornithologische Monatsberichte 43 p.152
    Taxonomy: Resident form (refectus) and migrant form from Manchuria (known as burmanicus), though nearly inseparable, sometimes treated as different taxa. Alternate treatments where the migrants are treated as a subspecies of japonicus also exists. Includes here plumipes Hodgson 1836, considered a dark morph of the present species.
    Distribution: Along the Himalaya from Gilgit, Ladakh and Kashmir through Himachal, Uttarakhand, N Bengal, Sikkim, and Arunachal; as well as Assam and NE hill states in winter. Straggler to the northern plains and peninsular India.
    Specimens: UMMZ, AMNH, FMNH, MCZ
    IUCN: Least Concern. WLPA: Schedule-I. CITES: Appendix II. CMS: Appendix II.
    Notes: Identification difficulties with B. b. vulpinus and migrant population from the E Palearctic complicate the true range of Himalayan breeders.