Birds of India - The New Synopsis

A complete checklist of bird species and subspecies found in India

Coraciiformes (Kingfishers, Bee-eaters, and Rollers)

Alcedinidae (Kingfishers)

• Alcedo 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.115 Alcedo ispida Linnaeus, 1758; Type by subsequent designation (Swainson, 1821, Zoological Illustrations, 1, pl. 26 and text)
  • 539. Blyth's Kingfisher Alcedo hercules Laubmann, 1917 [HB#721]
    Original Description: Alcedo hercules Laubmann, 1917 Verhandlungen der Ornithologischen Gesellschaft in Bayern 13 Heft1 p.105 (Darjeeling)
    Taxonomy: Includes Alcedo grandis Blyth 1845 from Darjeeling. Type specimen was once reported as lost (Sclater 1892, Ibis 34 (1): 73) but apparently, a syntype is still there in ZSI (Shaktivel et al. 2011, Catalogue of type specimens (Aves) of National Zoological Collections of the Zoological Survey of India p. 11).
    Distribution: Historically from N Bengal and adjoining Sikkim, Arunachal, Garo and Khasi hills in Meghalaya and Cachar. Now restricted to low foothills of Arunachal and extreme E Assam.
    Type Specimen: ZSI#35619 (Syntype).
    Specimens: ZSI, NHMUK, UMMZ, AMNH, FMNH, USNM, YPM, LKO
    IUCN: Near Threatened. SoIB: Moderate. WLPA: Schedule-I.
    Notes: See Yomcha et al. (2020, IB 16 (6): 185).
  
  
  • 540. Blue-eared Kingfisher Alcedo meninting Horsfield, 1821
    Original Description: Alcedo Meninting Horsfield, 1821 Transactions of the Linnean Society of London (1), 13 p.172
    IUCN: Least Concern. SoIB: Low. WLPA: Schedule-II.
    • 540a. Alcedo meninting coltarti Baker, 1919 [HB#725]
      Original Description: Alcedo meninting coltarti Baker, 1919 Bulletin of the British Ornithologists' Club 39 p.39 (Sadiya, Assam)
      Taxonomy: Include laubmanni Mathews 1925, which itself is a new name for Alcedo asiatica Swainson 1821 with type locality as 'Some part of India' = Bengal.
      Distribution: Sikkim, N Bengal, E through Assam, adjoining Arunachal, Nagaland, Meghalaya, Cachar, Manipur, Mizoram, and Tripura. Also, Chota Nagpur plateau of Odisha and NE Ghats till NE Andhra.
      Type Specimen: NHMUK#1895.7.14.5038 (Holotype).
      Specimens: BNHS, ZSI, NHMUK, AMNH, FMNH, USNM, YPM, BNHM
    • 540b. Alcedo meninting phillipsi Baker, 1927 [HB#726]
      Original Description: Alcedo meninting phillipsi Baker, 1927 Bulletin of the British Ornithologists' Club 47 p.72
      Distribution: W Ghats from about Ratnagiri south till S Kerala and east to Palani hills.
      Specimens: NHMUK, TNHM
      Notes: Ripley (1982, A Synopsis of the Birds of India and Pakistan) restricted this form to Sri Lanka while RA2012 included S Indian population as well.
    • 540c. Alcedo meninting rufigastra Walden, 1873 [HB#726a]
      Original Description: Alcedo rufigastra Walden, 1873 The Annals and Magazine of Natural History including Zoology, Botany, and Geology (4), 12 p.487 (South Andaman Is.)
      Distribution: N, Middle and S Andaman Is. apart from Interview, Havelock, and Ross Is.
      Type Specimen: NHMUK#1888.10.20.128 (Syntype).
      Specimens: BNHS, ZSI, NHMUK
  
  
  • 541. Common Kingfisher Alcedo atthis (Linnaeus, 1758)
    Alternative Names: Small Blue Kingfisher
    IUCN: Least Concern. SoIB: Low. WLPA: Schedule-II.
    • 541a. Alcedo atthis atthis (Linnaeus, 1758) [HB#722]
      Original Description: Gracula Atthis 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.109
      Taxonomy: Includes pallasi Reichenbach 1851.
      Distribution: Kashmir, Himachal, Uttarakhand, Punjab, Delhi region, Rajasthan, N Uttar Pradesh, N Bihar, and N Madhya Pradesh.
      Specimens: BNHS, NHMUK, UMMZ
      Notes: Subspecies boundaries ill-defined; movements exist and more than one subspecies may occur in one locality.
    • 541b. Alcedo atthis bengalensis Gmelin, 1788 [HB#723]
      Original Description: Alcedo 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.450 (Bengal)
      Distribution: Uttarakhand, Rajasthan, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Bihar, Odisha, W Bengal, and entire NE India. Non-breeding: Andaman & Nicobar Is.
      Specimens: BNHS, ZSI, NHMUK, UMMZ, AMNH, FMNH, MCZ, ROM, USNM, YPM, FTLB, BNHM
    • 541c. Alcedo atthis taprobana Kleinschmidt, 1894 [HB#724]
      Original Description: Alcedo ispida var. taprobana Kleinschmidt, 1894 Ornithologische Monatsberichte 2 p.126
      Distribution: Peninsular India, south from about the latitude of Mumbai; in all the southern states as well as Lakshadweep Is.
      Specimens: BNHS, NHMUK, AMNH, FMNH, USNM, YPM, TNHM
  
  
• Ceyx 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.10 Alcedo tridactyla Pallas, 1769; Type by monotypy = Alcedo erithaca Linnaeus, 1758
  • 542. Black-backed Dwarf-Kingfisher Ceyx erithaca (Linnaeus, 1758)
    Alternative Names: Three-toed Kingfisher/Oriental Dwarf Kingfisher (with C. rufidorsa)
    IUCN: Near Threatened. SoIB: Moderate. WLPA: Schedule-II.
    • 542a. Ceyx erithaca erithaca (Linnaeus, 1758) [HB#727]
      Original Description: Alcedo erithaca 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.115 (Bengal)
      Distribution: Sikkim, N Bengal, east through Assam, adjoining Arunachal, and all NE hill states. Also, Middle, S and Little Andaman Is. Disjunctly in W Ghats from Surat Dangs till Kalakkad in S Tamil Nadu.
      Specimens: BNHS, NHMUK, UMMZ, FMNH, ROM, YPM, FTLB, BNHM
      Notes: Andaman birds tentatively placed here. Both populations migratory – NW Ghats population moving further south to Kerala and Sri Lanka. Details not worked out.
    • 542b. Ceyx erithaca macrocarus Oberholser, 1917 [HB#728]
      Original Description: Ceyx tridactylus macrocarus Oberholser, 1917 Bulletin of the United States National Museum 98 p.24 (Great Nicobar Is.)
      Distribution: S Nicobar Is. (Kondul, Little Nicobar, and Great Nicobar Is.).
      Type Specimen: USNM#178555 (Holotype).
      Specimens: BNHS, ZSI, NHMUK, USNM
  
  
  • 543. Rufous-backed Dwarf-Kingfisher Ceyx rufidorsa Strickland, 1847
    IUCN: Least Concern. WLPA: Schedule-II.
    • 543a. Ceyx rufidorsa rufidorsa Strickland, 1847 [HB#727a]
      Original Description: Ceyx rufidorsa Strickland, 1847 Proceedings of the Zoological Society of London Part 14 no.165 p.99
      Taxonomy: Sometimes considered as subspecies of C. erithaca. Nominate subspecies assumed on range.
      Distribution: Vagrant. Reported from Darjeeling region [=Sikkim Terai].
      Specimens: BNHS
      Notes: The single specimen (BNHS#11319) is treated under this species though it could be an aberrant C. erithaca. Molecular analysis warranted.
  
  
• Megaceryle Kaup, 1848 Verhandlungen des Naturhistorischen Vereins für das Großherzogthum Hessen und Umgebung Heft2 p.68 Alcedo guttatus Vigors, 1831; Type by subsequent designation (Sharpe, 1871, A monograph of the Alcedinidæ: or, family of kingfishers, p.viii) = Ceryle guttulata Stejneger, 1892
  • 544. Crested Kingfisher Megaceryle lugubris (Temminck, 1834)
    Original Description: Alcedo lugubris Temminck, 1834 Nouveau recueil de planches coloriées d'oiseaux, pour servir de suite et de complément aux planches enluminées de Buffon livr.92 pl.548
    Alternative Names: Himalayan Pied Kingfisher
    IUCN: Least Concern. SoIB: Moderate. WLPA: Schedule-II.
    • 544a. Megaceryle lugubris continentalis (Hartert, 1900) [HB#717]
      Original Description: Ceryle lugubris continentalis Hartert, 1900 Novitates Zoologicae 7 p.534 (Sikkim)
      Distribution: Along the Himalaya from Kargil district (Ladakh) and Kashmir through Himachal, Uttarakhand, N Bengal, and Sikkim.
      Type Specimen: AMNH#635899 (Holotype).
      Specimens: BNHS, NHMUK, AMNH, USNM, YPM, LKO
    • 544b. Megaceryle lugubris guttulata (Stejneger, 1892) [HB#718]
      Original Description: Ceryle guttulata Stejneger, 1892 Proceedings of the United States National Museum 15 p.294 (India and China)
      Distribution: Assam, Arunachal, Nagaland, Meghalaya, Manipur, and Mizoram.
      Specimens: BNHS, NHMUK, AMNH, FMNH, YPM, BNHM
  
  
• Ceryle Boie, 1828 Isis 21 col.316 Alcedo rudis Gmelin, 1788; Type by subsequent designation (Gray, 1840, A list of the genera of birds, with an indication of the typical species of each genus, p.11) = Alcedo rudis Linnaeus, 1758
  • 545. Pied Kingfisher Ceryle rudis (Linnaeus, 1758)
    Original Description: Alcedo rudis 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.116
    Alternative Names: Lesser Pied Kingfisher
    IUCN: Least Concern. SoIB: Moderate. WLPA: Schedule-II.
    • 545a. Ceryle rudis leucomelanurus Reichenbach, 1851 [HB#719]
      Original Description: Ceryle leucomelanura Reichenbach, 1851 Handbuch der speciellen Ornithologie p.21 pl.CCCIXb fig.3488
      Taxonomy: Holotype UMZC#25/Alc/2/d/7 from Kolkata not accepted here as the type locality is 'Sri Lanka'. Neither is ZSI#30046 from Madhya Pradesh which was collected nearly a 100 years later but tagged as Syntype in ZSI register.
      Distribution: Throughout India from Kashmir, through foothills of Himalaya, Indo-Gangetic plains, locally in Thar, Gujarat, C India, E India through Assam and adjoining Arunachal, Meghalaya, Cachar, Mizoram, and Tripura. South through the peninsular India except Kerala and SW Tamil Nadu.
      Specimens: BNHS, ZSI, NHMUK, UMZC, UMMZ, AMNH, FMNH, YPM, BNHM
    • 545b. Ceryle rudis travancoreensis Whistler, 1935 [HB#720]
      Original Description: Ceryle rudis travancoreensis Whistler, 1935 Journal of the Bombay Natural History Society 37 p.760 (Travancore, India)
      Distribution: Kerala (north till about Kozhikode but likely further north) and Kanyakumari district (Tamil Nadu).
      Type Specimen: NHMUK#1910.5.11.43 (Holotype).
      Specimens: BNHS, NHMUK, YPM, TNHM
      Notes: Exact transition zone not worked out.
  
  
• Pelargopsis Gloger, 1841 Gemeinnütziges Hand- und Hilfsbuch der Naturgeschichte p.338 Alcedo javana Boddaert, 1783; Type by subsequent designation (Peters, 1945, Check-list of birds of the world, 5, p.186)
  • 546. Brown-winged Kingfisher Pelargopsis amauroptera (Pearson, 1841) [HB#729]
    Original Description: Halcyon Amauropterus Pearson, 1841 Journal of the Asiatic Society of Bengal 10 p.635 (Kolkata)
    Alternative Names: Brown-winged Stork-billed Kingfisher
    Distribution: Bhitarkanika (Odisha) and Sundarbans (W Bengal).
    Specimens: BNHS, NHMUK
    IUCN: Near Threatened. SoIB: High. WLPA: Schedule-II.
  
  
  • 547. Stork-billed Kingfisher Pelargopsis capensis (Linnaeus, 1766)
    Alternative Names: Brown-headed Stork-billed Kingfisher
    IUCN: Least Concern. SoIB: Low. WLPA: Schedule-II.
    • 547a. Pelargopsis capensis capensis (Linnaeus, 1766) [HB#730]
      Original Description: Alcedo capensis Linnaeus, 1766 Systema Naturæ. Editio duodecima reformata. Tomus I [part 1] 12, p.180 (Chandannagar, W Bengal)
      Taxonomy: Includes gurial Pearson 1841 from Midnapore, W Bengal. Connectivity of northern and southern population warrants a study.
      Distribution: Along the base of Himalaya from about Punjab, Himachal, Uttarakhand, through terai and sporadically in Indo-Gangetic plains, E Rajasthan, C India till about Telangana east through Odisha, W Bengal, Assam, adjoining Arunachal, and all NE hill states. Possibly a disjunct population in W coastal region and W Ghats from about S Gujarat and Mumbai south till S Tamil Nadu as well as east to SW Deccan and along the Kaveri in Tamil Nadu.
      Specimens: BNHS, ZSI, NHMUK, UMMZ, AMNH, FMNH, USNM, YPM, TNHM, LKO, BNHM
      Notes: See Trivedi (2017, FL 15 (1): 14) for status in S Gujarat.
    • 547b. Pelargopsis capensis osmastoni (Baker, 1934) [HB#731]
      Original Description: Ramphalcyon capensis osmastoni Baker, 1934 The nidification of birds of the Indian Empire. Vol. 3 3 p.416 (Andaman Is.)
      Taxonomy: Includes shekarii Abdulali 1964 from Chidiya Tapu [=Chiria Tapoo], S Andaman Is.
      Distribution: N, Middle, S and Little Andaman Is as well as islets of N Reef, Interview, Long, Outram, Henry Lawrence, Sir William Peel, Havelock, Neil, Tarmugli, Boat, Jolly Buoy, and Rutland Is.
      Specimens: BNHS, ZSI, NHMUK
    • 547c. Pelargopsis capensis intermedia Hume, 1874 [HB#732]
      Original Description: Pelargopsis intermedia Hume, 1874 Stray Feathers 2 p.166 (Galathea Bay, Great Nicobar Is.)
      Distribution: Kamorta, Kondul, Little Nicobar, and Great Nicobar Is.
      Type Specimen: NHMUK#1887.8.20.1002 (Syntype).
      Specimens: BNHS, ZSI, NHMUK, USNM
  
  
• Halcyon Swainson, 1821 Zoological Illustrations ser.1, 1 text pl.27 Alcedo senegalensis Linnaeus, 1766; Type by original designation
  • 548. Ruddy Kingfisher Halcyon coromanda (Latham, 1790)
    IUCN: Least Concern. SoIB: Moderate. WLPA: Schedule-II.
    • 548a. Halcyon coromanda coromanda (Latham, 1790) [HB#733]
      Original Description: Alcedo coromanda Latham, 1790 Index ornithologicus, sive systema ornithologiæ; complectens avium divisionem in classes, ordines, genera, species, ipsarumque varietates: adjectis synonymis, locis, descriptionibus, &c. 1 p.252 (Coromandel, SE India)
      Distribution: Sundarbans, N Bengal, Assam, adjoining Arunachal, Nagaland, Meghalaya, Cachar, Manipur, and Mizoram. Stragglers in E coast.
      Specimens: ZSI, NHMUK, UMMZ, FMNH, ROM, USNM, YPM, TNHM, BNHM
      Notes: Status in Odisha, Sikkim, and Nicobars as well as its migration not investigated.
    • 548b. Halcyon coromanda mizorhina (Oberholser, 1915) [HB#734]
      Original Description: Entomothera coromanda mizorhina Oberholser, 1915 Proceedings of the United States National Museum 48 p.645 (North Andaman Is.)
      Distribution: N, Middle, and S Andaman Is as well as the islets of Interview, Long, Havelock, Jolly Buoy Is. and outlying Barren Is.
      Type Specimen: ROM#44113 (Holotype).
      Specimens: NHMUK, ROM
  
  
  • 549. Black-capped Kingfisher Halcyon pileata (Boddaert, 1783) [HB#739]
    Original Description: Alcedo pileata Boddaert, 1783 Table des planches enluminéez d'histoire naturelle de M. D'Aubenton p.41
    Distribution: Winter: Along the coast line on both W and E coast – most numerous in the coasts of N Andhra, Odisha, and W Bengal – also in Lakshadweep, Andaman & Nicobar Is. Straggles inland through most rivers, as well as on forest streams in W Ghats while it occurs in Assam and all NE hill states during passage migration.
    Specimens: BNHS, NHMUK, AMNH, FMNH, ROM, USNM, YPM, TNHM, LKO
    IUCN: Vulnerable. SoIB: High. WLPA: Schedule-II.
  
  
  • 550. White-throated Kingfisher Halcyon smyrnensis (Linnaeus, 1758)
    Alternative Names: White-breasted Kingfisher
    IUCN: Least Concern. SoIB: Low. WLPA: Schedule-II.
    • 550a. Halcyon smyrnensis smyrnensis (Linnaeus, 1758) [HB#735]
      Original Description: Alcedo smyrnensis 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.116
      Distribution: NW India from Kashmir, Punjab, Himachal, Rajasthan, Kachchh, and Saurashtra; roughly west of a line joining Dehradun and Gulf of Khambhat.
      Specimens: BNHS, NHMUK, UMMZ, AMNH, FMNH, MCZ, ROM, USNM, YPM, FTLB
      Notes: Intergradation zones of three peninsular subspecies arbitrary.
    • 550b. Halcyon smyrnensis fusca (Boddaert, 1783) [HB#736]
      Original Description: Alcedo fusca Boddaert, 1783 Table des planches enluminéez d'histoire naturelle de M. D'Aubenton p.54 (Malabar coast)
      Distribution: Uttarakhand S through C India and entire peninsular India; E through Uttar Pradesh, N Bihar, N Bengal, and Sikkim.
      Specimens: BNHS, ZSI, NHMUK, RBINS, UMMZ, AMNH, FMNH, MCZ, ROM, USNM, YPM, TNHM, LKO
    • 550c. Halcyon smyrnensis perpulchra Madarász, 1904 [HB#737]
      Original Description: Halcyon perpulchra Madarász, 1904 Annales Historico-naturales Musei Nationalis Hungarici 2 p.85
      Distribution: E peninsula from S Bihar, Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh, NE Andhra, Odisha, S W Bengal, through the entire NE India.
      Specimens: BNHS, USNM
    • 550d. Halcyon smyrnensis saturatior Hume, 1874 [HB#738]
      Original Description: Halcyon saturatior Hume, 1874 Stray Feathers 2 p.168,531 (Andaman Is)
      Distribution: N, Middle, S, and Little Andaman Is. as well as islets of Northern Reef, Interview, Long, Henry Lawrence, Nicholson, Inglis, Havelock, Neil, Ross, Tarmugli, Grub, Alexandra, and Rutland Is. Also, Kamorta and Great Nicobar Is.
      Type Specimen: NHMUK#1887.8.20.1148 (Syntype).
      Specimens: BNHS, ZSI, NHMUK, FMNH, MCZ, ROM, USNM
      Notes: Nicobar records may represent a recent invasion and is believed to be this subspecies.
  
  
• Todiramphus Lesson, 1827 Bulletin des Sciences Naturelles et de Géologie 12 p.269 Todiramphus sacra Lesson, 1827; Type by subsequent designation (Gray, 1840, A list of the genera of birds, with an indication of the typical species of each genus, p.10) = Alcedo tuta Gmelin, 1788
  • 551. Collared Kingfisher Todiramphus chloris (Boddaert, 1783)
    Original Description: Alcedo Chloris Boddaert, 1783 Table des planches enluminéez d'histoire naturelle de M. D'Aubenton p.49
    Alternative Names: White-collared Kingfisher
    IUCN: Least Concern. SoIB: Moderate. WLPA: Schedule-II.
    • 551a. Todiramphus chloris vidali (Sharpe, 1892) [HB#740]
      Original Description: Halcyon vidali Sharpe, 1892 Catalogue of the birds in the British Museum 17 p.278 (Ratnagiri and Kelshi Creek, SW Maharashtra)
      Distribution: Goa and SW Maharashtra.
      Type Specimen: NHMUK#1887.8.20.1288 (Syntype).
      Specimens: BNHS, NHMUK
    • 551b. Todiramphus chloris davisoni (Sharpe, 1892) [HB#742]
      Original Description: Halcyon davisoni Sharpe, 1892 Catalogue of the birds in the British Museum 17 p.282 (Aberdeen, S Andaman Is.)
      Distribution: All islands/islets of the Andaman group.
      Type Specimen: NHMUK#1887.8.20.1310 (Syntype).
      Specimens: BNHS, ZSI, NHMUK, ROM
      Notes: None from Narcondam and Barren Is.
    • 551c. Todiramphus chloris occipitalis Blyth, 1846 [HB#743]
      Original Description: Todiramphus occipitalis Blyth, 1846 Journal of the Asiatic Society of Bengal 15 p.23,51 (Nicobar Is)
      Distribution: C and S Nicobar group of islands (all islands).
      Type Specimen: ZSI#18957 (Syntype).
      Specimens: BNHS, ZSI, NHMUK, ROM
    • 551d. Todiramphus chloris humii (Sharpe, 1892) [HB#741]
      Original Description: Halcyon humii Sharpe, 1892 Catalogue of the birds in the British Museum 17 p.281 pl.8
      Distribution: Bhitarkanika (Odisha) and Sundarbans (Bengal); sporadically inland in E and NE India.
      Specimens: ZSI, NHMUK, UMMZ, AMNH