Birds of India - The New Synopsis

A complete checklist of bird species and subspecies found in India

Passeriformes (Perching Birds)

Cisticolidae (Cisticolas, Prinias, and allies)

• Orthotomus Horsfield, 1821 Transactions of the Linnean Society of London (1) 13 p.165 Orthotomus sepium Horsfield, 1821; Type by monotypy
  • 761. Common Tailorbird Orthotomus sutorius (Pennant, 1769)
    Original Description: Motacilla sutoria Pennant, 1769 Indian Zoology p.7 pl.7
    IUCN: Least Concern. SoIB: Low. WLPA: Schedule-II.
    • 761a. Orthotomus sutorius guzuratus (Latham, 1790) [HB#1535]
      Original Description: Sylvia guzurata Latham, 1790 Index ornithologicus, sive systema ornithologiæ; complectens avium divisionem in classes, ordines, genera, species, ipsarumque varietates: adjectis synonymis, locis, descriptionibus, &c. Vol. I p.554 (Guzerat)
      Taxonomy: Includes londae Koelz 1939 from Londa, NW Karnataka.
      Distribution: Kashmir, Jammu, south through Indo-Gangetic plains till Uttar Pradesh and W Bihar, east through E Rajasthan and Gujarat, C India, and S peninsula till the southern tip in Kanyakumari.
      Specimens: BNHS, ZSI, NHMUK, UMMZ, AMNH, FMNH, ROM, USNM, YPM, TNHM, MYS, HYD, FTLB
    • 761b. Orthotomus sutorius patia Hodgson, 1845 [HB#1536]
      Original Description: Orthotomus Patia Hodgson, 1845 Proceedings of the Zoological Society of London Part 13, Meeting of April 8, 1845 p.29
      Distribution: NE Uttar Pradesh, N Bihar, W Bengal, Assam, Meghalaya, and Cachar; also extending through Odisha to NE Andhra.
      Specimens: BNHS, ZSI, NHMUK, UMMZ, FMNH, ROM, USNM, YPM
    • 761c. Orthotomus sutorius luteus Ripley, 1948 [HB#1537]
      Original Description: Orthotomus sutorius luteus Ripley, 1948 Proceedings of the Biological Society of Washington 61 (18) p.105 (Tezu, Mishmi hills, Arunachal)
      Distribution: NE Arunachal (Mishmi hills and further east), Nagaland, Manipur, and Mizoram.
      Type Specimen: USNM#390559 (Holotype).
      Specimens: BNHS, UMMZ, USNM, YPM
  
  
  • 762. Dark-necked Tailorbird Orthotomus atrogularis Temminck, 1836
    Original Description: Orthotomus atrogularis Temminck, 1836 Nouveau recueil de planches coloriées d'oiseaux, pour servir de suite et de complément aux planches enluminées de Buffon livr.101 pl.? text
    Alternative Names: Black-necked Tailorbird
    IUCN: Least Concern. SoIB: Moderate. WLPA: Schedule-II.
    • 762a. Orthotomus atrogularis nitidus Hume, 1874 [HB#1540]
      Original Description: Orthotomus nitidus Hume, 1874 Stray Feathers Vol. 2, N° 6 p.507-508
      Taxonomy: Includes latebricola Koelz 1954 from Dimapur, Nagaland.
      Distribution: Assam, Arunachal, and all NE hill states.
      Specimens: UMMZ, ROM, YPM
      Notes: Sikkim, N Bengal reports not verified.
  
  
• Prinia Horsfield, 1821 Transactions of the Linnean Society of London (1) 13 p.165 Prinia familiaris Horsfield, 1821; Type by monotypy
  • 763. Himalayan Prinia Prinia crinigera Hodgson, 1836
    Taxonomy: As previously considered, catharia Reichenow 1908 is no longer considered a form found in India. See Alström et al. (2019, Ibis 162 (3): 936) for further details on taxonomy and distribution.
    Alternative Names: Brown Hill Warbler, Striated Prinia (with P. striata EL)
    IUCN: Least Concern. SoIB: Low. WLPA: Schedule-II.
    • 763a. Prinia crinigera crinigera Hodgson, 1836 [HB#1527]
      Original Description: [Pomatorhinus?] Prinia? Suya criniger Hodgson, 1836 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 19 p.183
      Distribution: Along the Himalaya from Kashmir, Jammu, Himachal, Uttarakhand, N Bengal, Sikkim, W and WC Arunachal, and adjoining Assam.
      Specimens: BNHS, NHMUK, UMMZ, AMNH, FMNH, YPM
    • 763b. Prinia crinigera yunnanensis (Harington, 1913) [HB#1528]
      Original Description: Suya crinigera yunnanensis Harington, 1913 Bulletin of the British Ornithologists' Club 31 p.110
      Taxonomy: Includes assamica Baker 1924 from Shillong and nebulosa Koelz 1952 from Cherrapunji. However, the former may be a valid taxon, restricted to Meghalaya, with the latter as its junior synonym.
      Distribution: E Arunachal (Walong region), E Assam, Nagaland, Meghalaya, Cachar, Manipur, and Mizoram.
      Specimens: BNHS, NHMUK, UMMZ, AMNH, FMNH
  
  
  • 764. Black-throated Prinia Prinia atrogularis (Moore, 1854) [HB#1529]
    Original Description: Suya atrogularis Moore, 1854 A catalogue of the birds in The Museum of the Hononrable East-India Company 1 p.xviii,326 (Darjeeling)
    Alternative Names: Black-throated Hill Warbler (with P. khasiana)
    Distribution: N Bengal, Sikkim, Arunachal till about Mishmi hills.
    Type Specimen: NHMUK#1880.1.1.3003 (Syntype).
    Specimens: NHMUK, AMNH, MCZ, USNM, LKO
    IUCN: Least Concern. SoIB: Moderate. WLPA: Schedule-II.
  
  
  • 765. Rufous-crowned Prinia Prinia khasiana (Godwin-Austen, 1876) [HB#1530]
    Original Description: Suya khasiana Godwin-Austen, 1876 The Annals and Magazine of Natural History including Zoology, Botany, and Geology ser. 4, vol. XVIII, N° 107 p. 412 (Khasi hills, Meghalaya)
    Taxonomy: Formerly considered a subspecies of P. atrogularis (see H&M4). Presence of this or atrogularis in Walong and Namdapha regions not established.
    Distribution: Nagaland, Meghalaya, Cachar, Manipur, and Mizoram.
    Type Specimen: NHMUK#1895.7.14.1575 (Syntype).
    Specimens: BNHS, NHMUK, UMMZ, AMNH, FMNH, USNM, YPM
    IUCN: Least Concern. SoIB: Moderate. WLPA: Schedule-II.
  
  
  • 766. Hill Prinia Prinia superciliaris (Anderson, 1871)
    Original Description: Saya superciliaris Anderson, 1871 Proceedings of the Zoological Society of London 1871, Part 1, Meeting of February 21, 1871 p. 212-213
    IUCN: Least Concern. WLPA: Schedule-II.
    • 766a. Prinia superciliaris erythropleura (Walden, 1875)
      Original Description: S[uya]. erythropleura Walden, 1875 Journal of the Asiatic Society of Bengal Vol. 44, Part 2, Extra Number p.120
      Distribution: NE Arunachal in Walong, Namdapha till Vijoynagar as well as E Naga hills (historical).
      Specimens: NHMUK
      Notes: An old specimen (NHMUK#1895.7.14.1570) by Godwin-Austen from 'E Naga hills' was considered the first evidence of its presence within India.
  
  
  • 767. Grey-crowned Prinia Prinia cinereocapilla Moore, 1854 [HB#1507]
    Original Description: Prinia cinereocapilla Moore, 1854 A catalogue of the birds in The Museum of the Hononrable East-India Company 1 p.322
    Alternative Names: Hodgson's Wren-Warbler
    Distribution: Kumaon and Dehradun regions (Uttarakhand) and Solan district (Himachal). Straggles to Chandigarh (Sukhna). Historically in Garhwal region (Uttarakhand), N Bengal, almost reaching Assam.
    Specimens: AMNH, FMNH, YPM
    IUCN: Vulnerable. SoIB: High. WLPA: Schedule-I.
    Notes: See Singh (2006, IB 2 (1): 11), Bhardwaj et al. (2022, IB 18 (1): 24).
  
  
  • 768. Rufous-fronted Prinia Prinia buchanani Blyth, 1844 [HB#1506]
    Original Description: P[rinia]. Buchanani Blyth, 1844 Journal of the Asiatic Society of Bengal 13 p.376 (Neighbourhood of Jalna, Maharashtra)
    Taxonomy: Includes cleghorniae Blyth 1867 from northwest of Delhi. ZSI#35497-98 also listed as Jerdon's Syntypes from the same type locality.
    Alternative Names: Rufous-fronted Wren-Warbler
    Distribution: Western half of the subcontinent – from Jammu in the north through N India, east till Bihar, entire Rajasthan and Gujarat, south through WC India and Deccan till Tumakuru (Karnataka) and Chittoor (Andhra) districts avoiding entire W and E coastal plains and the ghats.
    Type Specimen: NHMUK#1846.4.30.19 (Syntype).
    Specimens: BNHS, ZSI, NHMUK, UMMZ, AMNH, FMNH, MCZ, ROM, USNM, YPM
    IUCN: Least Concern. SoIB: Moderate. WLPA: Schedule-I.
  
  
  • 769. Rufescent Prinia Prinia rufescens Blyth, 1847
    Alternative Names: Rufous Wren-Warbler
    IUCN: Least Concern. SoIB: Low. WLPA: Schedule-II.
    • 769a. Prinia rufescens rufescens Blyth, 1847 [HB#1501]
      Original Description: Pr[inia]. rufescens Blyth, 1847 Journal of the Asiatic Society of Bengal 16 p.456
      Taxonomy: Includes austeni Baker 1924 of Naga hills and assamensis Baker 1924 Nomen nudum.
      Distribution: N Bengal, Sikkim, Assam, Arunachal, and all NE hill states. Disjunctly, at least historically, in Odisha (Similipal) and NE Andhra.
      Specimens: BNHS, ZSI, UMMZ, AMNH, FMNH, USNM, YPM
  
  
  • 770. Grey-breasted Prinia Prinia hodgsonii Blyth, 1844
    Alternative Names: Franklin's Wren-Warbler, Ashy-grey Wren-Warbler
    IUCN: Least Concern. SoIB: Low. WLPA: Schedule-II.
    • 770a. Prinia hodgsonii rufula Godwin-Austen, 1874 [HB#1502]
      Original Description: Prinia rufula Godwin-Austen, 1874 Proceedings of the Zoological Society of London Part 1 p.47 (Naga hills)
      Distribution: Along the Himalaya from Kashmir, Ladakh, Jammu, Himachal, Uttarakhand, N Uttar Pradesh, N Bengal, Arunachal, Assam, and all NE hill states.
      Type Specimen: NHMUK#1899.5.31.47 (Syntype).
      Specimens: BNHS, NHMUK, UMMZ, FMNH, USNM, YPM
    • 770b. Prinia hodgsonii hodgsonii Blyth, 1844 [HB#1503]
      Original Description: Pr[inia]. Hodgsonii Blyth, 1844 Journal of the Asiatic Society of Bengal 13 p.376 (S India)
      Taxonomy: New name for Prinia gracilis Franklin 1831 of Mirzapur district. Includes pallidior Koelz 1950 from Kathiawar.
      Distribution: From Indo-Gangetic plains in Punjab, through Haryana, Delhi region, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, and S W Bengal; east through E Rajasthan and Gujarat; C India including Madhya Pradesh, Jharkhand, Odisha, Chhattisgarh as well as Maharashtra, Goa, N Karnataka, and Telangana.
      Type Specimen: ZSI#35487 (Syntype).
      Specimens: BNHS, ZSI, NHMUK, UMMZ, AMNH, FMNH, USNM, YPM, HYD, FTLB
    • 770c. Prinia hodgsonii albogularis Walden, 1870 [HB#1504]
      Original Description: Prinia albogularis Walden, 1870 The Annals and Magazine of Natural History including Zoology, Botany, and Geology ser. 4, vol. V, N° 27 p.219 (Coorg)
      Distribution: SW Karnataka, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, along the NE Ghats in Andhra till SE Odisha.
      Type Specimen: NHMUK#1888.4.20.467 (Syntype).
      Specimens: BNHS, NHMUK, FMNH, USNM, YPM
  
  
  • 771. Delicate Prinia Prinia lepida Blyth, 1844
    Taxonomy: All taxa under this sometimes continues to be treated as a subspecies of extralimital P. gracilis Lichtenstein, 1823 (HBW/BLI).
    Alternative Names: Streaked Wren-Warbler, Graceful Prinia (with P. gracilis EL)
    IUCN: Not Recognised. SoIB: Low. WLPA: Schedule-II.
    • 771a. Prinia lepida lepida Blyth, 1844 [HB#1508]
      Original Description: P[rinia]. lepida Blyth, 1844 Journal of the Asiatic Society of Bengal Vol. 13, Part 1, N°149 p.376-377
      Distribution: N India from Jammu south through Indo-Gangetic plains and terai till about Bihar in the east; N Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan (including Thar) and Gujarat.
      Specimens: BNHS, NHMUK, UMMZ, AMNH, FMNH, USNM
    • 771b. Prinia lepida stevensi Hartert, 1923 [HB#1509]
      Original Description: Prinia gracilis stevensi Hartert, 1923 Bulletin of the British Ornithologists' Club 43 p.132 (N Lakhimpur, Assam)
      Distribution: W Bengal and the Brahmaputra plains of Assam and adjoining E Arunachal.
      Type Specimen: AMNH#600116 (Holotype).
      Specimens: BNHS, UMMZ, AMNH, USNM, YPM
  
  
  • 772. Jungle Prinia Prinia sylvatica Jerdon, 1840
    Alternative Names: Jungle Wren-Warbler
    IUCN: Least Concern. SoIB: Low. WLPA: Schedule-II.
    • 772a. Prinia sylvatica insignis (Hume, 1872) [HB#1520]
      Original Description: Drymoipus Insignis Hume, 1872 Stray Feathers Vol. 1, N° 1 p.10-11 (Mt Abu)
      Distribution: W Rajasthan, Gujarat.
      Type Specimen: NHMUK#1886.10.1.1524 (Syntype).
      Specimens: BNHS, FMNH, USNM
    • 772b. Prinia sylvatica gangetica (Blyth, 1867) [HB#1519]
      Original Description: Suya gangetica Blyth, 1867 Ibis p.23 (Upper Ganga)
      Distribution: Indo-Gangetic plains from Jammu, Punjab, adjoining Himachal, Uttarakhand, Delhi region, N Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, and Bihar till W Bengal.
      Type Specimen: NHMUK#1881.5.1.403 (Holotype).
      Specimens: BNHS, NHMUK, UMMZ, FMNH
    • 772c. Prinia sylvatica mahendrae Koelz, 1939 [HB#1522]
      Original Description: Prinia sylvatica mahendrae Koelz, 1939 Proceedings of the Biological Society of Washington 52 p.72 (Mahendragiri, Odisha)
      Distribution: NE Ghats of Odisha and presumably adjoining Andhra.
      Type Specimen: FMNH#246517 (Holotype).
      Specimens: FMNH
    • 772d. Prinia sylvatica sylvatica Jerdon, 1840 [HB#1521]
      Original Description: Prinia sylvatica Jerdon, 1840 Madras Journal of Literature and Science 11 p.4 (Seegore Ghat, Nilgiris)
      Taxonomy: Includes palniensis Koelz 1939 from Kodaikanal, Palani hills.
      Distribution: E Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Jharkhand, Odisha, Chhattisgarh, Maharashtra, and entire S India except SW coastal strip of Karnataka and Kerala.
      Type Specimen: NHMUK#1845.1.10.38 (Syntype).
      Specimens: BNHS, NHMUK, UMMZ, AMNH, FMNH, ROM, USNM, YPM, MYS, HYD
  
  
  • 773. Yellow-bellied Prinia Prinia flaviventris (Delessert, 1840)
    Alternative Names: Yellow-bellied Wren-Warbler
    IUCN: Least Concern. SoIB: Low. WLPA: Schedule-II.
    • 773a. Prinia flaviventris sindiana Ticehurst, 1920 [HB#1524]
      Original Description: Prinia flaviventris sindianus Ticehurst, 1920 Bulletin of the British Ornithologists' Club 40 p.157
      Distribution: Indus plains of Kashmir, Jammu, Punjab, adjoining Himachal, and Haryana.
      Specimens: BNHS
      Notes: Exact boundaries of subspecies are conjectural.
    • 773b. Prinia flaviventris flaviventris (Delessert, 1840) [HB#1525]
      Original Description: Orthotomus flaviventris Delessert, 1840 Revue Zoologique, par la Société Cuvierienne 3 p.101 (N Bengal)
      Taxonomy: Includes Prinia flaviventris flaviventris Koelz 1952 from Karong, Manipur.
      Distribution: Gangetic plains from Delhi region, Uttarakhand, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, S W Bengal, NE Odisha, N Bengal, Assam, adjoining Arunachal, Nagaland, Manipur, and Mizoram.
      Specimens: BNHS, ZSI, NHMUK, UMMZ, FMNH, USNM, YPM
  
  
  • 774. Ashy Prinia Prinia socialis Sykes, 1832
    Alternative Names: Ashy Wren-Warbler
    IUCN: Least Concern. SoIB: Low. WLPA: Schedule-II.
    • 774a. Prinia socialis stewarti Blyth, 1847 [HB#1515]
      Original Description: Pr[inia]. Stewarti Blyth, 1847 Journal of the Asiatic Society of Bengal Vol. 16, N° 5 p.455 (near Agra)
      Distribution: N India from Kashmir and Jammu, south through entire Indo-Gangetic plains and E Rajasthan, Gujarat (excluding Kachchh), C India including N Maharashtra, east till Bihar, Jharkhand, and NW Odisha.
      Type Specimen: ZSI#35493 (Syntype).
      Specimens: BNHS, ZSI, UMZC, UMMZ, AMNH, FMNH, USNM
    • 774b. Prinia socialis inglisi Whistler, 1933 [HB#1516]
      Original Description: Prinia socialis inglisi Whistler, 1933 Journal of the Bombay Natural History Society 36 p.574 (Bhutan Dooars, W Bengal)
      Distribution: W Bengal, Assam.
      Type Specimen: NHMUK#1886.10.1.1660 (Holotype).
      Specimens: NHMUK, UMMZ, FMNH, YPM
      Notes: Reports from Meghalaya, Manipur (both in AR2001) and Cachar not verified.
    • 774c. Prinia socialis socialis Sykes, 1832 [HB#1517]
      Original Description: Prinia socialis Sykes, 1832 Proceedings of the Committee of Science and Correspondence of the Zoological Society of London Part 2 no.18 p.89 (Dukhun)
      Distribution: S Peninsula from W Maharashtra, Chhattisgarh, and C Odisha till the southern tip of the peninsula at Kanyakumari.
      Type Specimen: NHMUK#1880.1.1.3017 (Syntype).
      Specimens: BNHS, NHMUK, UMMZ, AMNH, FMNH, ROM, USNM, YPM, FTLB
  
  
  • 775. Plain Prinia Prinia inornata Sykes, 1832
    Alternative Names: Plain Wren-Warbler
    IUCN: Least Concern. SoIB: Low. WLPA: Schedule-II.
    • 775a. Prinia inornata terricolor (Hume, 1874) [HB#1510]
      Original Description: Drymoipus terricolor Hume, 1874 Nests and eggs of Indian birds: rough draft Pt2 p.349 (Oudh, Uttar Pradesh)
      Distribution: Indus plains of Kashmir, Jammu, Punjab, and adjoining Himachal; Uttarakhand, Haryana, Delhi region, N Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, and Gujarat (except S).
      Specimens: BNHS, UMMZ, YPM
    • 775b. Prinia inornata fusca Hodgson, 1845 [HB#1512]
      Original Description: [Orthotomus] Prinia fusca Hodgson, 1845 Proceedings of the Zoological Society of London Part 13, no.146 p.29
      Distribution: W Bengal, Assam, Arunachal, and all NE hill states.
      Specimens: NHMUK, UMMZ, HYD
    • 775c. Prinia inornata inornata Sykes, 1832 [HB#1511]
      Original Description: Prinia inornata Sykes, 1832 Proceedings of the Committee of Science and Correspondence of the Zoological Society of London Part 2 no.18 p.89,90 (Dukhun)
      Distribution: Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Madhya Pradesh, S Gujarat, Maharashtra, Jharkhand, Odisha, Chhattisgarh, and south till the tip of the peninsula (excluding SW).
      Type Specimen: NHMUK#1880.1.1.3005 (Syntype).
      Specimens: BNHS, NHMUK, UMMZ, AMNH, FMNH, YPM, BNHM
    • 775d. Prinia inornata franklinii Blyth, 1844 [HB#1513]
      Original Description: Pr[inia]. Franklinii Blyth, 1844 Journal of the Asiatic Society of Bengal 13 p.376 (Nilgiri hills)
      Taxonomy: New name for macroura 'Franklin' = Jerdon 1840.
      Distribution: SW India from SW Karnataka, Kerala, and adjoining Ghats in Tamil Nadu.
      Specimens: BNHS, UMMZ, AMNH, FMNH, YPM
  
  
• Cisticola Kaup, 1829 Skizzirte Entwickelungs-Geschichte und natürliches System der Europäischen Thierwelt (etc.) p.119 Sylvia cisticola Temminck, 1820; Type by tautonymy
  • 776. Zitting Cisticola Cisticola juncidis (Rafinesque, 1810)
    Original Description: Sylvia Juncidis Rafinesque, 1810 Caratteri di alcuni nuovi generi e nuove specie di animali e piante della Sicila con varie osservazioni sopra i medesimi p.6,7
    Alternative Names: Streaked Fantail Warbler
    IUCN: Least Concern. SoIB: Low. WLPA: Schedule-II.
    • 776a. Cisticola juncidis cursitans (Franklin, 1831) [HB#1498]
      Original Description: Prinia cursitans Franklin, 1831 Proceedings of the Committee of Science and Correspondence of the Zoological Society of London Part 1 p.118 (Between Kolkata and Varanasi)
      Taxonomy: Intergrades with malaya in Manipur (AR2001).
      Distribution: Throughout the peninsula from Kashmir, south till Karnataka and Tamil Nadu; west till Rajasthan and Gujarat except the driest portions of Thar; east till Assam, Arunachal, and all NE hill states.
      Specimens: BNHS, NHMUK, RBINS, UMMZ, AMNH, FMNH, ROM, USNM, YPM, HYD
    • 776b. Cisticola juncidis salimalii Whistler, 1936 [HB#1499]
      Original Description: Cisticola juncidis sálimalii Whistler, 1936 Journal of the Bombay Natural History Society 38 p.487 (Peermade, Kerala)
      Distribution: Kerala, Tamil Nadu.
      Type Specimen: NHMUK#1936.6.18.1 (Syntype).
      Specimens: BNHS, NHMUK
    • 776c. Cisticola juncidis malaya Lynes, 1930 [HB#1500a]
      Original Description: Cisticola juncidis malaya Lynes, 1930 Ibis p.92, pl. 2, fig. 2
      Distribution: C Nicobar Is. (Teresa, Kamorta, Nancowry, Trinket, and Katchal) and historically also from Car Nicobar Is.
      Specimens: BNHS, USNM
      Notes: Great Nicobar Is. report not verified.
  
  
  • 777. Golden-headed Cisticola Cisticola exilis (Vigors & Horsfield, 1827)
    Original Description: Malurus exilis Vigors & Horsfield, 1827 Transactions of the Linnean Society of London (1), 15(1826) p.223
    Alternative Names: Fantail Warbler, Bright-capped Cisticola
    IUCN: Least Concern. SoIB: Moderate. WLPA: Schedule-II.
    • 777a. Cisticola exilis tytleri Jerdon, 1863 [HB#1497]
      Original Description: Cisticola Tytleri Jerdon, 1863 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 2, pt. 1 p.176
      Distribution: Kumaon terai (Uttarakhand), N Uttar Pradesh, N Bengal, Brahmaputra plains of Assam and adjoining Arunachal, Meghalaya, Cachar, and Manipur valley.
      Specimens: BNHS, ZSI, NHMUK, UMMZ, AMNH, FMNH, YPM, BNHM
    • 777b. Cisticola exilis erythrocephalus Blyth, 1851 [HB#1496]
      Original Description: Cisticola erythrocephala Blyth, 1851 Journal of the Asiatic Society of Bengal Vol. 20, N° 6 p.523 (Nilgiris)
      Distribution: CW Ghats from about Bababudan Hills, Karnataka till Vellarimala in Wayanad, Kerala and locally in Palani and Munnar hills.
      Type Specimen: ZSI#18818 (Holotype or Syntype?).
      Specimens: BNHS, ZSI, NHMUK, AMNH, YPM
      Notes: Several reports further south of Wayanad in Nilgiris, Palani hills, east in Biligirirangan hills, and north in Ahmednagar (Maharashtra), Balaghat and Sagar (both Madhya Pradesh) not validated. Some of them, like in S Kerala, are likely to be correct. Interestingly, its type locality is Nilgiris where it is no longer found.