Birds of India - The New Synopsis

A complete checklist of bird species and subspecies found in India

Charadriiformes (Shorebirds, Gulls, and Terns)

Charadriidae (Plovers and Lapwings)

• Pluvialis Brisson, 1760 Ornithologia sive synopsis methodica sistens avium divisionem in ordines, sectiones, genera, species, ipsarumaque varietates 1 p.46;5, p.42 Pluvialis Brisson ; Type by tautonymy = Charadrius apricarius Linnaeus, 1758
  • 199. Grey Plover Pluvialis squatarola (Linnaeus, 1758) [HB#371]
    Original Description: Tringa Squatarola 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.149
    Alternative Names: Black-bellied Plover
    Distribution: Winter: Both W and E coast, Kachchh and a few large inland rivers; as well as Lakshadweep and Andaman Is. During migration, occurs sporadically throughout India.
    Specimens: BNHS, ZSI, AMNH, YPM
    IUCN: Vulnerable. SoIB: High. WLPA: Schedule-II. CMS: Appendix II.
  
  
  • 200. Eurasian Golden-Plover Pluvialis apricaria (Linnaeus, 1758)
    Original Description: Charadrius apricarius 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.150
    Alternative Names: European Golden Plover, Golden Plover
    IUCN: Least Concern. WLPA: Schedule-II. CMS: Appendix II.
    • 200a. Pluvialis apricaria altifrons (Brehm, 1831) [HB#372]
      Original Description: Charadrius altifrons Brehm, 1831 Handbuch der Naturgeschichte aller Vögel Deutschlands p.542
      Taxonomy: Sometimes subspecies not recognised (see Cramp et al. 1983, Birds of the Western Palearctic III, see IOC, Avilist); whence the species is monotypic.
      Distribution: Vagrant. Only from Pong (Himachal) and Kachchh (Gujarat).
      Notes: See Akthar & Tiwari (1991, Newsletter for Birdwatchers 31 (11&12): 10), Abhinav & Dhadwal (2013, IB 9 (5&6): 150). Baker's Assam specimen is not locatable while Lucknow State Museum do not have Reid's specimen (Zarrin 2023, IB 18 (6): 172). Based on RA2012, middle-east birds likely to occur in India (specimens from Pakistan) and hence this subspecies assumed here.
  
  
  • 201. American Golden-Plover Pluvialis dominica (Müller, 1776)
    Original Description: Charadrius Dominicius Müller, 1776 Des Ritters Carl von Linné ... vollständigen Natursystems Supplements- und Register-Band über alle sechs Theile oder Classen des Thierreichs p.116
    Distribution: Vagrant. Reported from Kole (Kerala).
    IUCN: Least Concern. WLPA: Schedule-II. CMS: Appendix II.
    Notes: See Kalletumkara (2020, Malabar Trogon 17 (1, 2, & 3): 56).
  
  
  • 202. Pacific Golden-Plover Pluvialis fulva (Gmelin, 1789) [HB#373]
    Original Description: Charadrius fulvus Gmelin, 1789 Systema Naturae. Editio decima tertia, aucta, reformata. Cura Jo. Frid. Gmelin (etc.). Tomus I. Pars II 1 pt2 p.687
    Alternative Names: Eastern Golden Plover
    Distribution: Winter: Both W and E coast, Kachchh, as well as along Brahmaputra and Ganga rivers and Lakshadweep, Andaman & Nicobar Is. During migration, it occurs throughout India.
    Specimens: BNHS, ZSI, UMZC, UMMZ, AMNH, FMNH, USNM, YPM, TNHM, HYD
    IUCN: Least Concern. SoIB: Moderate. WLPA: Schedule-I. CMS: Appendix II.
  
  
• Charadrius 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.150 Charadrius hiaticula Linnaeus, 1758; Type by tautonymy
  • 203. Common Ringed Plover Charadrius hiaticula Linnaeus, 1758
    Original Description: Charadrius Hiaticula 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.150
    Alternative Names: Eastern Ringed Plover
    IUCN: Least Concern. WLPA: Schedule-II. CMS: Appendix II.
    • 203a. Charadrius hiaticula tundrae (Lowe, 1915) [HB#378]
      Original Description: AEgialitis hiaticola tundrae Lowe, 1915 Bulletin of the British Ornithologists' Club 36, no. 210 p.7
      Distribution: Winter: Gujarat, coasts of Kerala, E coast around Chennai, straggling elsewhere in W and E coast, several inland records in N India, straggler to inland peninsular India, possibly most on migration but regular winter visitor to Pong (Himachal). Once to S Andaman Is.
      Specimens: BNHS, FMNH
  
  
• Thinornis Gray, 1844 The Zoology of the Voyage of H.M.S. Erebus and Terror, under the command of Capt. Sir James Clark Ross during the years 1839 to 1843. Birds. 1 p.11 Thinornis rossii Gray, 1844; Type by monotypy = Thinornis novaeseelandiae Gmelin, 1789
  • 204. Long-billed Plover Thinornis placidus (Gray & Gray, 1863) [HB#383]
    Original Description: Charadrius placidus Gray & Gray, 1863 Catalogue of the specimens and drawings of mammals, birds, reptiles, and fishes of Nepal and Tibet, presented by B. H. Hodgson, Esq., to the British Museum p.70
    Alternative Names: Long-billed Ringed Plover
    Distribution: N Bengal (Buxa), east through Assam and Arunachal (breeding), sporadically from Manipur, Cachar plains, Mizoram, and historically up to W Uttar Pradesh.
    Specimens: BNHS, UMMZ, YPM
    IUCN: Least Concern. SoIB: Moderate. WLPA: Schedule-II. CMS: Appendix II.
    Notes: Claims from Delhi, Maharashtra, coastal Andhra, and Andamans not evaluated and probably erroneous. Not reported from Sikkim but likely.
  
  
  • 205. Little Ringed Plover Thinornis dubius (Scopoli, 1786)
    Original Description: Charadrius dubius Scopoli, 1786 Deliciae Florae et Faunae Insubricae 2 p.93
    IUCN: Least Concern. SoIB: High. WLPA: Schedule-II. CMS: Appendix II.
    • 205a. Thinornis dubius curonicus (Gmelin, 1789) [HB#379]
      Original Description: Charadrius curonicus Gmelin, 1789 Systema Naturae. Editio decima tertia, aucta, reformata. Cura Jo. Frid. Gmelin (etc.). Tomus I. Pars II 1 pt2 p.692
      Distribution: Breeding: Gilgit, Kashmir, Ladakh. Non-breeding: Along W and E coastal plains as well as Gangetic and Brahmaputra plains; Lakshadweep and Andaman Is. On passage elsewhere in the subcontinent.
      Specimens: BNHS, UMMZ, AMNH, FMNH, ROM, USNM, YPM
      Notes: Winter ranges and its overlap with jerdoni is not well-worked. Breeding birds from S Sweden tracked to winter in W and C India (Hedenström et al. 2024, Bird Study 60: 470).
    • 205b. Thinornis dubius jerdoni (Legge, 1880) [HB#380]
      Original Description: AEgialitis jerdoni Legge, 1880 Proceedings of the Zoological Society of London Part 1 p.39 (Sri Lanka and middle India)
      Taxonomy: New name for Aegialitis minuta Legge 1880.
      Distribution: Throughout India from Himalayan foothills of Jammu and Punjab south till Kanyakumari, east at least till Brahmaputra plains, Nagaland, Meghalaya, Cachar, Manipur valley, and Tripura.
      Specimens: BNHS, ZSI, UMMZ, AMNH, MCZ, USNM, YPM
  
  
• Vanellus Brisson, 1760 Ornithologia sive synopsis methodica sistens avium divisionem in ordines, sectiones, genera, species, ipsarumaque varietates 1 p.48;5, p.94 Vanellus Brisson ; Type by tautonymy = Tringa vanellus Linnaeus, 1758
  • 206. Northern Lapwing Vanellus vanellus (Linnaeus, 1758) [HB#364]
    Original Description: Tringa Vanellus 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.148
    Alternative Names: Peewit
    Distribution: Winter: N and NE India from Kashmir, Ladakh through Jammu till Rajasthan and Gujarat in the west and Arunachal, Assam, and Manipur valley in the east.
    Specimens: BNHS, ZSI, AMNH, FMNH, MCZ, USNM
    IUCN: Near Threatened. SoIB: Moderate. WLPA: Schedule-II. CMS: Appendix II.
  
  
  • 207. River Lapwing Vanellus duvaucelii (Lesson, 1826) [HB#369]
    Original Description: Charadrius Duvaucelii Lesson, 1826 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 42 p.38 (Kolkata)
    Taxonomy: Includes here ventralis Wagler 1827 from Calcutta [=Kolkata].
    Alternative Names: Spur-winged Lapwing/Spur-winged Plover (with V. spinosus EL)
    Distribution: Northern plains from Jammu extending along the Indus, Ganga, Brahmaputra basin, all NE hill states, E Rajasthan, C India and not extending further south of Godavari basin.
    Type Specimen: MNHN#2012-168 (Holotype).
    Specimens: BNHS, ZSI, MNHN, UMMZ, AMNH, FMNH, ROM, USNM, HYD, BNHM
    IUCN: Near Threatened. SoIB: Low. WLPA: Schedule-II.
  
  
  • 208. Yellow-wattled Lapwing Vanellus malabaricus (Boddaert, 1783) [HB#370]
    Original Description: Charadrius malarbaricus Boddaert, 1783 Table des planches enluminéez d'histoire naturelle de M. D'Aubenton p.53 (Malabar Coast)
    Distribution: Throughout India north till Jammu and Himachal, east till about C Assam, Manipur valley, and Tripura and the entire peninsula.
    Specimens: BNHS, ZSI, RBINS, UMMZ, AMNH, FMNH, ROM, USNM, YPM, TNHM, MYS, HYD, FTLB
    IUCN: Least Concern. SoIB: Low. WLPA: Schedule-II.
    Notes: Migration in N India not yet worked out.
  
  
  • 209. Grey-headed Lapwing Vanellus cinereus (Blyth, 1842) [HB#365]
    Original Description: Pluvianus cinereus Blyth, 1842 Journal of the Asiatic Society of Bengal 11 p.587 (Kolkata)
    Distribution: Winter: E India, Indo-Gangetic plains up till about Delhi, NE India including the plains of Brahmaputra and Barak rivers as well as Manipur valley, sporadically in Rajasthan, Gujarat, and C India; E coast, W coast from south of Mumbai region, NE Maharashtra, Andaman Is., and Nicobar Is.
    Specimens: ZSI, UMMZ, AMNH, ROM, YPM
    IUCN: Least Concern. SoIB: Low. WLPA: Schedule-II. CMS: Appendix II.
  
  
  • 210. Red-wattled Lapwing Vanellus indicus (Boddaert, 1783)
    IUCN: Least Concern. SoIB: Low. WLPA: Schedule-II.
    • 210a. Vanellus indicus indicus (Boddaert, 1783) [HB#366]
      Original Description: Tringa Indica Boddaert, 1783 Table des planches enluminéez d'histoire naturelle de M. D'Aubenton p.50 (Goa)
      Distribution: Throughout India from Kashmir and Ladakh – towards west and south till the extremities; east till Assam plains and Arunachal.
      Specimens: BNHS, ZSI, UMZC, RBINS, UMMZ, AMNH, FMNH, ROM, USNM, YPM, TNHM, FTLB
    • 210b. Vanellus indicus atronuchalis (Jerdon, 1864) [HB#368]
      Original Description: Lobivanellus atronuchalis Jerdon, 1864 The birds of India; being a natural history of all the birds known to inhabit continental India: with descriptions of the species, genera, families, tribes, and orders, and a brief notice of such families as are not found in India, making it a manual of ornithology specially adapted for India 3 ("2 pt2") p.648
      Taxonomy: Historically, intergrades with the nominate subspecies reported from Assam and Meghalaya along with typotypical atronuchalis. However, recent photographs from Assam or Meghalaya do not have any typical birds though a few intergrades exist from Assam, Manipur valley, and Tripura seems to be a zone of intergradation with some typical birds and several intermediates. Though there are no photos from Mizoram, subspecies is likely to be present based on its known range.
      Distribution: Manipur valley, Mizoram, and Tripura.
      Specimens: ZSI, UMMZ, FMNH, USNM
  
  
  • 211. Sociable Lapwing Vanellus gregarius (Pallas, 1771) [HB#363]
    Original Description: Charadrius gregarius Pallas, 1771 Reise durch verschiedene Provinzen des Russischen Reichs 1 p.456
    Alternative Names: Sociable Plover
    Distribution: Winter: Historically entire NW India reaching east till Bihar and south till S and E Maharashtra with vagrants elsewhere. Now locally in Gujarat and Rajasthan.
    Specimens: BNHS, AMNH, FMNH, ROM, USNM, YPM, TNHM
    IUCN: Critically Endangered. SoIB: High. WLPA: Schedule-I. CMS: Appendix I.
    Notes: Historically likely to be more widespread but sight reports hard to assess outside its known wintering range.
  
  
  • 212. White-tailed Lapwing Vanellus leucurus (Lichtenstein, 1823) [HB#362]
    Original Description: Charadrius leucurus Lichtenstein, 1823 Reise von Orenburg nach Buchara p.137
    Distribution: Winter: Entire NW India (breeds locally in Gujarat), south of Jammu and roughly till a line connecting Lucknow to Mumbai. Stragglers reported elsewhere in east and south.
    Specimens: BNHS, UMMZ, AMNH, FMNH, ROM, USNM
    IUCN: Least Concern. SoIB: Moderate. WLPA: Schedule-II. CMS: Appendix II.
  
  
• Anarhynchus Quoy & Gaimard, 1830 Voyage de découvertes de la corvette l'Astrolabe, exécuté par ordre du Roi, pendant les années 1826-1827-1828-1829, sous le commandement de M. J. Dumont d'Urville (etc.). Zoologie. Vol. 1 1 p.252 Anarhynchus frontalis Quoy & Gaimard, 1830; Type by monotypy
  • 213. Caspian Plover Anarhynchus asiaticus (Pallas, 1773) [HB#376]
    Original Description: Charadrius asiaticus Pallas, 1773 Reise durch verschiedene Provinzen des Russischen Reichs 2 p.715
    Alternative Names: Caspian Sand Plover
    Distribution: Winter: Sporadic in coastal Gujarat, W coast as well as SE coast. Reported more often during passage, mainly from the coasts, but rarely inland, as well as Lakshadweep.
    Specimens: NHMUK
    IUCN: Least Concern. WLPA: Schedule-II. CMS: Appendix II.
  
  
  • 214. Oriental Plover Anarhynchus veredus (Gould, 1848) [HB#377]
    Original Description: Charadrius veredus Gould, 1848 Proceedings of the Zoological Society of London Part 1, 6 no.182 p.38
    Alternative Names: Eastern Sand Plover
    Distribution: Vagrant. Digha-Shankarpur Estuary (W Bengal), Narcondam Is., Radhanagar creek (N Andaman), as well as a historical record from Andamans.
    IUCN: Least Concern. WLPA: Schedule-II. CMS: Appendix II.
    Notes: No historical specimens located though the Andaman specimen is listed in ZSI Catalogue (ZSI #4280).
  
  
  • 215. Tibetan Sand-Plover Anarhynchus atrifrons (Wagler, 1829)
    Taxonomy: Recent split (Wei et al. 2022, Journal of Ornithology 139 (2): ukab085). Regionally occurring atrifrons, pamirensis, and schaeferi (last one considered tentative for India) retained under this species while the subspecies stegmanni (tentative for India) included under Siberian Sand Plover A. mongolus Pallas 1776, a separate species.
    Alternative Names: Mongolian Plover/Lesser Sand Plover (with A. mongolus sensu stricto EL)
    IUCN: Least Concern. SoIB: High. WLPA: Schedule-II. CMS: Appendix II.
    • [Anarhynchus atrifrons schaeferi (Meyer de Schauensee, 1937) ]
      Original Description: Charadrius mongolus schaeferi Meyer de Schauensee, 1937 Proceedings of the Academy of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia 89 p.340
      Distribution: Vagrant (?). Only reported from Point Calimere.
      Notes: Subspecies stegmanni Portenko 1939 of A. mongolus also reported from Point Calimere. More extensive ringing studies required in E coast specifically targeting subspecies identification using latest keys.
    • 215a. Anarhynchus atrifrons pamirensis (Richmond, 1896)
      Original Description: Aegialitis pamirensis Richmond, 1896 Proceedings of the United States National Museum 18 no.1093 p.589
      Distribution: Winter: E coast (Point Calimere); and NW India during migration to E Africa, and possibly also along W coast and Lakshadweep Is.
      Notes: Included here based on mist-netted birds in Point Calimere (Balachandran & Natarajan 1992, JBNHS 89 (1): 119) as well as a colour-flagged bird from Kenya reported from W Gujarat (Balachandran et al. 2018, Indian Bird Migration Atlas p. 91). Recent satellite tracked bird took a route via NW India on its journey to Africa.
    • 215b. Anarhynchus atrifrons atrifrons (Wagler, 1829) [HB#384]
      Original Description: Charadrius atrifrons Wagler, 1829 Isis 22 col.650 (Bengal)
      Distribution: Breeding: Along the trans-Himalayan lakes in Gilgit, Ladakh, Lahaul-Spiti, and Sikkim. Non-breeding: Along the seaboard of W and E coast as well as Lakshadweep, Andaman & Nicobar Is. Rare inland during passage.
      Specimens: BNHS, ZSI, UMMZ, AMNH, MCZ, ROM, TNHM, FTLB
  
  
  • 216. Greater Sand-Plover Anarhynchus leschenaultii (Lesson, 1826)
    Alternative Names: Large Sand Plover
    IUCN: Least Concern. WLPA: Schedule-II. CMS: Appendix II.
    • 216a. Anarhynchus leschenaultii scythicus (Carlos et al., 2012)
      Original Description: Charadrius leschenaultii scythicus Carlos et al., 2012 Bulletin of the British Ornithologists' Club 132(1) p.64
      Taxonomy: New name for crassirostris Severtsov, 1873.
      Distribution: Gujarat coast.
      Notes: Possibly occurring in winter/passage in W India and included here based on a colour-flagged bird from Kenya reported from Gujarat (Balachandran et al. 2018, Indian Bird Migration Atlas p. 92).
    • 216b. Anarhynchus leschenaultii leschenaultii (Lesson, 1826) [HB#374]
      Original Description: Charadrius Leschenaultii Lesson, 1826 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 42 p.36 (Pondicherry, India)
      Distribution: Summer: Ladakh. Winter: Throughout E and W coast as well as Lakshadweep, Andaman & Nicobar Is. During migration, seen inland.
      Type Specimen: MNHN#2012-134 (Syntype).
      Specimens: ZSI, MNHN
      Notes: Confidence as to this subspecies based on the syntype.
  
  
  • 217. Kentish Plover Anarhynchus alexandrinus (Linnaeus, 1758)
    IUCN: Least Concern. SoIB: High. WLPA: Schedule-II. CMS: Appendix II.
    • 217a. Anarhynchus alexandrinus alexandrinus (Linnaeus, 1758) [HB#381]
      Original Description: Charadrius alexandrinus 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.150
      Distribution: Breeding: Indus valley, Gujarat, extending till Bihar. Non-breeding: Throughout the peninsula till the southern tip and east along the Brahmaputra valley in Assam, Lakshadweep, and Andaman Is.
      Specimens: BNHS, ZSI, UMZC, UMMZ, AMNH, FMNH, ROM, USNM
      Notes: All Andaman reports considered this taxon (media verified) though C [a.] dealbatus Swinhoe 1870 has been reported from N Andaman (Bhopale 2010, JBNHS 107 (1): 60). More media details of that record unavailable and hence considered tentative here. Nicobar reports not evaluated.
    • 217b. Anarhynchus alexandrinus seebohmi (Hartert & Jackson, 1915) [HB#382]
      Original Description: Charadrius alexandrinus seebohmi Hartert & Jackson, 1915 Ibis p.529
      Taxonomy: Proposed as an independent species with a name 'Hanuman Plover' (Niroshan et al. 2023, Ibis 165 (4): 1296).
      Distribution: Deccan including Maharashtra, Telangana, Karnataka, S Andhra, and coastal Tamil Nadu.
      Specimens: BNHS, YPM
      Notes: Exact northern limits of this subspecies uncertain. Reports from N Kerala not treated here as a definitive. See Praveen & Khot (2024, JBNHS 121 (3):xx).
  
  
  • 218. White-faced Plover Anarhynchus dealbatus (Swinhoe, 1870)
    Original Description: AEgialites dealbatus Swinhoe, 1870 Proceedings of the Zoological Society of London pt.1 p.138
    Distribution: Vagrant. North Andaman Is. and Great Nicobar Is.
    IUCN: Least Concern. WLPA: Recent addition. CMS: Appendix II.
    Notes: See Bhopale (2010, JBNHS 107 (1): 60) and Shaktivel et al. (2025, IB 21 (6): XX).