Birds of India - The New Synopsis

A complete checklist of bird species and subspecies found in India

Passeriformes (Perching Birds)

Acrocephalidae (Reed Warblers and allies)

• Hippolais Conrad, 1827 Neue Alpina 2 p.77 Hippolais italica Conrad, 1827; Type by monotypy = Sylvia polyglotta Vieillot, 1817
  • 778. Icterine Warbler Hippolais icterina (Vieillot, 1817)
    Original Description: Sylvia icterina Vieillot, 1817 Nouveau dictionnaire d'histoire naturelle, appliquée aux arts, à l'agriculture, à l'économie rurale et domestique, à la médecine, etc. Nouvelle édition 11 p.194
    Distribution: Vagrant. Reported from Khakstet (Ladakh).
    IUCN: Least Concern. WLPA: Recent addition. CMS: Appendix II.
    Notes: See Panwar (2025, IB 21 (5): 146).
  
  
• Arundinax Blyth, 1845 Journal of the Asiatic Society of Bengal 14 pt2 no.164 p.595 Arundinax olivaceus Blyth, 1845; Type by monotypy = Muscicapa aedon Pallas, 1776
  • 779. Thick-billed Warbler Arundinax aedon (Pallas, 1776)
    IUCN: Least Concern. SoIB: Moderate. WLPA: Schedule-II. CMS: Appendix II.
    • 779a. Arundinax aedon aedon (Pallas, 1776) [HB#1549]
      Original Description: Muscicapa Aëdon Pallas, 1776 Reise durch verschiedene Provinzen des Russischen Reichs 3 p.695
      Distribution: Winter: Jharkhand, W Bengal, Assam, Arunachal and all NE hill states as well as W Maharashtra, SW India roughly south of Goa, E Ghats, S Deccan, and sporadically everywhere else including N peninsula, Gujarat, and C India.
      Specimens: BNHS, ZSI, NHMUK, UMMZ, FMNH
    • [Arundinax aedon rufescens (Stegmann, 1929) ]
      Original Description: Phragamaticola aëdon rufescens Stegmann, 1929 Journal für Ornithologie 77 p.250
      Taxonomy: Poorly defined subspecies (Kennerley & Pearson 2010, Reed and Bush Warblers p. 518) and hence not always recognised. Note, if Arundinax is replaced by Acrocephalus then rufescens is pre-occupied and hence this must be referred to as stegmanni Watson 1985.
      Distribution: Winter: Assam, Andaman & Nicobar Is.
      Notes: See AR2001, RA2012 where the possibility of its occurrence is discussed, though it is impossible to defintively ascribe a subspecies status.
  
  
• Iduna Keyserling & Blasius, 1840 Die Wirbelthiere Europa's. Erstes Buch: Die unterscheidenden Charactere p.58 Sylvia caligata M.H.C. Lichtenstein, 1823; Type by monotypy
  • 780. Booted Warbler Iduna caligata (Lichtenstein, 1823) [HB#1562]
    Original Description: Sylvia caligata Lichtenstein, 1823 Reise von Orenburg nach Buchara p.128
    Alternative Names: Siberian Booted Tree Warbler
    Distribution: Winter: Throughtout Peninsular India from Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh and W Bengal, south till Kanyakumari. Sporadically in Indo-Gangetic plains, Rajasthan but more regular during passage migration. Also, S Andaman Is.
    Specimens: BNHS, UMZC, UMMZ, AMNH, FMNH, MCZ, MYS
    IUCN: Least Concern. SoIB: Low. WLPA: Schedule-II. CMS: Appendix II.
    Notes: Assam records (AR2001) not verified.
  
  
  • 781. Sykes's Warbler Iduna rama (Sykes, 1832) [HB#1563]
    Original Description: Sylvia rama Sykes, 1832 Proceedings of the Committee of Science and Correspondence of the Zoological Society of London Part 2 no.18 p.89 (Deccan [=Dukhun])
    Alternative Names: Indian Booted Tree Warbler
    Distribution: Winter: Throughout India from about Delhi region, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat, W Bengal, and entire southern peninsula; during migration across the northern peninsula.
    Type Specimen: NHMUK#1880.1.1.2990 (Syntype).
    Specimens: BNHS, NHMUK, UMZC, UMMZ, AMNH, FMNH, YPM, HYD
    IUCN: Least Concern. WLPA: Schedule-II. CMS: Appendix II.
    Notes: Breeding mentioned in Punjab (RA2012) untraced while Mianwali mentioned in AR2001 is in Punjab, Pakistan.
  
  
• Acrocephalus Naumann & Naumann, 1811 Naturgeschichte der Land- und Wasser-Vögel des nördlichen Deutschlands und angränzender Länder, nach eignen Erfahrungen entworfen, und nach dem Leben gezeichnet p.199 Turdus arundinaceus Linnaeus, 1758; Type by subsequent designation (Gray, 1840, A list of the genera of birds, with an indication of the typical species of each genus, p.21)
  • 782. Sedge Warbler Acrocephalus schoenobaenus (Linnaeus, 1758) [HB#1561a]
    Original Description: Motacilla Schoenobaenus 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.184
    Distribution: Vagrant. Reported from Shey (Ladakh) and N Kerala.
    IUCN: Least Concern. WLPA: Schedule-II. CMS: Appendix II.
    Notes: See Delany et al. (2014, IB 9 (1): 6).
  
  
  • 783. Black-browed Reed Warbler Acrocephalus bistrigiceps Swinhoe, 1860 [HB#1555]
    Original Description: Acrocephalus bistrigiceps Swinhoe, 1860 Ibis p.51
    Distribution: Winter: S W Bengal, Assam, Manipur valley, Andaman & Nicobar Is. Stragglers in Ladakh and Kerala.
    Specimens: ZSI
    IUCN: Least Concern. WLPA: Schedule-II. CMS: Appendix II.
  
  
  • 784. Moustached Warbler Acrocephalus melanopogon (Temminck, 1823)
    Original Description: Sylvia melanopogon Temminck, 1823 Nouveau recueil de planches coloriées d'oiseaux, pour servir de suite et de complément aux planches enluminées de Buffon livr.41 pl.245 fig.2, text
    Alternative Names: Moustached Sedge Warbler
    IUCN: Least Concern. WLPA: Schedule-II. CMS: Appendix II.
    • 784a. Acrocephalus melanopogon mimicus (Madarász, 1903) [HB#1495]
      Original Description: Lusciniola mimica Madarász, 1903 Vorläufiges über einen neuen Rohrsänger (Lusciniola mimica) p.3
      Distribution: Winter: NW India in the Indo-Gangetic plains from Jammu, through Punjab, adjoining Himachal, Haryana, Delhi region, N and C Uttar Pradesh, Bihar (Saran), Madhya Pradesh (Sehore), adjoining Uttarakhand, Rajasthan, Gujarat, and NW Maharashtra.
      Specimens: BNHS, NHMUK, AMNH
      Notes: Bihar record in AR2001 untraced.
  
  
  • 785. Paddyfield Warbler Acrocephalus agricola (Jerdon, 1845) [HB#1557-1558]
    Original Description: Sylvia (acrocephalus) agricola Jerdon, 1845 Madras Journal of Literature and Science 13 p.131 (Neighbourhood of Nellore, Andhra)
    Taxonomy: Subspecies capistratus (Severtsov, 1873) included under this. Recent findings (Hering et al. 2015) indicate that the species is monotypic.
    Distribution: Winter: Throughout India from Kashmir and Ladakh, south through Delhi region till about Gwalior, west through Rajasthan (including Thar) and Gujarat, south till S Kerala, and east through Brahmaputra plains of Assam and Arunachal, and all NE hill states (not reported from Nagaland).
    Type Specimen: NHMUK#1924.12.20.8 (Holotype).
    Specimens: BNHS, ZSI, NHMUK, UMMZ, FMNH, USNM
    IUCN: Least Concern. SoIB: Low. WLPA: Schedule-II. CMS: Appendix II.
  
  
  • 786. Blunt-winged Warbler Acrocephalus concinens (Swinhoe, 1870)
    Original Description: Calamoherpe concinens Swinhoe, 1870 Proceedings of the Zoological Society of London 1870, Part 2 p.432
    Taxonomy: Sometimes treated as monotypic.
    Alternative Names: Blunt-winged Paddyfield Warbler, Blunt-winged Reed Warbler
    IUCN: Least Concern. WLPA: Schedule-II. CMS: Appendix II.
    • 786a. Acrocephalus concinens haringtoni Witherby, 1920 [HB#1559]
      Original Description: Acrocephalus agricola haringtoni Witherby, 1920 Bulletin of the British Ornithologists' Club 41 p.26
      Taxonomy: Includes hokrae Whistler 1930 from Hokra jheel, Kashmir.
      Distribution: Breeding: Gilgit and Kashmir. Non-breeding: Unknown.
      Specimens: NHMUK, FMNH
    • 786b. Acrocephalus concinens stevensi Baker, 1922 [HB#1560]
      Original Description: Acrocephalus concinens stevensi Baker, 1922 Bulletin of the British Ornithologists' Club 43 p.16 (Hessamara, N. Lakhimpur district., Assam)
      Distribution: Breeding: Assam valley. Non-breeding: Extending at least to Meghalaya and Manipur.
      Type Specimen: NHMUK#1922.8.9.2 (Holotype).
      Specimens: NHMUK, UMMZ, FMNH
      Notes: Records from W Bengal and Odisha needs better documentation.
  
  
  • 787. Blyth's Reed Warbler Acrocephalus dumetorum Blyth, 1849 [HB#1556]
    Original Description: Acrocephalus dumetorum Blyth, 1849 Journal of the Asiatic Society of Bengal 18 p.815 (India)
    Distribution: Winter: Entire peninsula from N India from Kashmir till the southern tip in Kanyakumari; sporadically in W Rajasthan and Kachchh but abundant during migration. Also, NE India in Assam, adjoining Arunachal and all NE hill states. Also reported from Lakshadweep Is.
    Type Specimen: ZSI#35511 (Syntype).
    Specimens: BNHS, ZSI, NHMUK, UMMZ, AMNH, FMNH, MCZ, ROM, USNM, YPM, TNHM, MYS, HYD, LKO, FTLB
    IUCN: Least Concern. SoIB: Low. WLPA: Schedule-II. CMS: Appendix II.
    Notes: India is the primary wintering range of this species.
  
  
  • 788. Large-billed Reed Warbler Acrocephalus orinus Oberholser, 1905 [HB#1561]
    Original Description: Acrocephalus orinus Oberholser, 1905 Proceedings of the United States National Museum 28 no.1411 p.899 (Rampoor)
    Taxonomy: New name for macrorhynchus Hume 1971 from a site 'not far from Rampoor [=Rampur]', Mussoorie, Uttarakhand.
    Distribution: Non-breeding: Kolkata, Gujarat; historically from Gilgit, Shimla, Bhadwar (both Himachal) and Mussoorie (Uttarakhand) – all during passage migration.
    Type Specimen: NHMUK#1898.9.1.1233 (Holotype).
    Specimens: NHMUK, UMMZ
    IUCN: Least Concern. WLPA: Schedule-II. CMS: Appendix II.
  
  
  • 789. Great Reed Warbler Acrocephalus arundinaceus (Linnaeus, 1758)
    Original Description: Turdus arundinaceus 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.170
    Alternative Names: Eurasian Great Reed Warbler
    IUCN: Least Concern. WLPA: Schedule-II. CMS: Appendix II.
    Notes: See Delany et al. (2014, IB 9 (1): 4).
    • 789a. Acrocephalus arundinaceus zarudnyi Hartert, 1907 [HB#1553]
      Original Description: Acrocephalus arundinaceus zarudnyi Hartert, 1907 Bulletin of the British Ornithologists' Club 21 p.26
      Distribution: Non-breeding: Ladakh and S W Bengal.
      Notes: Ringing records presumably of this subspecies (Delany et al. 2013, IB 9 (1): 4). Details of S W Bengal ringing record remains unpublished but the details at the ringing site recorded as to this species.
  
  
  • 790. Oriental Reed Warbler Acrocephalus orientalis (Temminck & Schlegel, 1847) [HB#1554]
    Original Description: Salicaria turdina orientalis Temminck & Schlegel, 1847 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 Vol. 4. Aves, p.50 pl.20B
    Alternative Names: Eastern Great Reed Warbler
    Distribution: Winter: S W Bengal, Assam, Cachar, Manipur valley, and Andaman & Nicobar Is.
    Specimens: BNHS, ZSI, USNM
    IUCN: Least Concern. WLPA: Schedule-II. CMS: Appendix II.
  
  
  • 791. Clamorous Reed Warbler Acrocephalus stentoreus (Hemprich & Ehrenberg, 1833)
    Original Description: Curruca stentorea Hemprich & Ehrenberg, 1833 Symbolae physicae seu icones et descriptiones corporum naturalium novorum aut minus cognitorum quae ex itineribus per Libyam Aegyptum Nubiam Dongolam Syrian Arabiam et Habessianiam publico institutis (etc.) (1828), sig.bb note2
    Alternative Names: Indian Reed Warbler/Indian Great Reed Warbler A. [s.] brunnescens
    IUCN: Least Concern. SoIB: Low. WLPA: Schedule-II. CMS: Appendix II.
    • 791a. Acrocephalus stentoreus brunnescens (Jerdon, 1839) [HB#1550]
      Original Description: A[grobates]. brunnescens Jerdon, 1839 Madras Journal of Literature and Science 10 no.25 p.269 (Carnatic, near Tiruchirappalli)
      Distribution: N subcontinent from Gilgit, Ladakh, Kashmir, south till about C India, and east till W Bengal.
      Specimens: BNHS, ZSI, UMMZ, AMNH, FMNH, USNM, YPM, HYD, BNHM
      Notes: Exact boundaries of the subspecies not worked out.
    • 791b. Acrocephalus stentoreus amyae Baker, 1922 [HB#1552]
      Original Description: Acrocephalus stentoreus amyae Baker, 1922 Bulletin of the British Ornithologists' Club 43 p.17 (Hessamara, N. Lakhimpur district., Assam)
      Distribution: Brahmaputra valley in Assam and adjoining Arunachal. Also, Meghalaya, Cachar, Manipur valley, and Tripura. Winter: Extending to Andaman Is.
      Type Specimen: NHMUK#1922.8.9.1 (Holotype).
      Specimens: BNHS, NHMUK
      Notes: Nicobar reports not evaluated but probably correct.
    • 791c. Acrocephalus stentoreus meridionalis (Legge, 1875) [HB#1551]
      Original Description: C[alamodyta]. meridionalis Legge, 1875 Stray Feathers Vol. 3, N° 5 p.369 (in text)
      Taxonomy: RA2012 includes S India breeding birds also in this subspecies while AR2001 restricts it to Sri Lanka.
      Distribution: S Peninsula across the entire region except the Ghats. Breeds locally.
      Notes: No specific specimens from peninsular India located that are attributable to this subspecies. Investigation required.