Birds of India - The New Synopsis

A complete checklist of bird species and subspecies found in India

Coraciiformes (Kingfishers, Bee-eaters, and Rollers)

Coraciidae (Rollers)

• Eurystomus Vieillot, 1816 Analyse d'une Nouvelle Ornithologie Élémentaire p.37 Rolle des Indes Buffon ; Type by monotypy = Coracias orientalis Linnaeus, 1766
  • 528. Dollarbird Eurystomus orientalis (Linnaeus, 1766)
    Original Description: Coracias orientalis Linnaeus, 1766 Systema Naturæ. Editio duodecima reformata. Tomus I [part 1] p.159
    Alternative Names: Broad-billed Roller
    IUCN: Least Concern. SoIB: Low. WLPA: Schedule-II.
    • 528a. Eurystomus orientalis cyanocollis Vieillot, 1819 [HB#758 & 761]
      Original Description: Eurystomus cyanocollis Vieillot, 1819 Nouveau dictionnaire d'histoire naturelle, appliquée aux arts, à l'agriculture, à l'économie rurale et domestique, à la médecine, etc. Nouvelle édition (n.e.), 29 p.425 (Chandannagar, W Bengal)
      Taxonomy: Spelling not 'cyanicollis' as in AR2001. Includes calonyx Sharpe 1890 with Type locality as 'Himalayan terai from Kumaon to Darjeeling and upper Assam'. Sometimes considered a synonym of orientalis sensu stricto Linnaeus 1766.
      Distribution: E Himachal, Uttarakhand, Assam, adjoining Arunachal, and all NE hill states.
      Specimens: BNHS, NHMUK, AMNH, FMNH
      Notes: Reports outside the range indicate migration; probably of the E Palearctic population of this subspecies. Situation not studied.
    • 528b. Eurystomus orientalis laetior Sharpe, 1890 [HB#759]
      Original Description: Eurystomus laetior Sharpe, 1890 Proceedings of the Zoological Society of London Part 3, no.37 p.551 (Eridge, Travancore, S India)
      Distribution: SW Ghats from Kodagu (SW Karnataka) till S Kerala. Also, rarely in adjoining Tamil Nadu.
      Type Specimen: NHMUK#1880.8.19.150 (Syntype).
      Specimens: BNHS, NHMUK, FMNH, YPM, TNHM
    • 528c. Eurystomus orientalis gigas Stresemann, 1913 [HB#762]
      Original Description: Eurystomus orientalis gigas Stresemann, 1913 Novitates Zoologicae 20 p.297,299 (Rutland Is., Andaman Is.)
      Taxonomy: Taxonomic status of the Nicobar population unknown.
      Distribution: N, Middle, S, and Little Andaman Is. as well as Narcondam Is. and the islets of Inglis, Outram, Havelock, Neil, Tarmugli, Red skin, and Rutland is. Also, in Great Nicobar Is.
      Type Specimen: AMNH#643217 (Holotype).
      Specimens: BNHS, ZSI, NHMUK, AMNH, ROM, USNM
  
  
• Coracias 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.107 Coracias garrulus Linnaeus, 1758; Type by subsequent designation (Gray, 1855, Catalogue of the genera and subgenera of birds contained in the British Museum, p.13)
  • 529. Indian Roller Coracias benghalensis (Linnaeus, 1758)
    IUCN: Least Concern. SoIB: Moderate. WLPA: Schedule-II.
    • 529a. Coracias benghalensis benghalensis (Linnaeus, 1758) [HB#755]
      Original Description: Corvus benghalensis 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.106 (Bengal)
      Distribution: Himalayan foothills from about Kashmir further south till about C India and the latitude of Mumbai and east till W Bengal and Sikkim.
      Specimens: BNHS, ZSI, NHMUK, RBINS, UMMZ, FMNH, MCZ, ROM, USNM, YPM, FTLB
      Notes: Reports from Assam could be of C affinis.
    • 529b. Coracias benghalensis indicus Linnaeus, 1766 [HB#756]
      Original Description: Coracias indica Linnaeus, 1766 Systema Naturæ. Editio duodecima reformata. Tomus I [part 1] 12, p.159
      Distribution: The peninsula south of the latitude of Mumbai, as well as Lakshadweep Is.
      Specimens: BNHS, NHMUK, AMNH, FMNH, YPM, TNHM, MYS, HYD
      Notes: Subspecies distribution is rather arbitrary and they intergrade.
  
  
  • 530. Indochinese Roller Coracias affinis Horsfield, 1840 [HB#757]
    Original Description: Coracias affinis Horsfield, 1840 Proceedings of the Zoological Society of London Pt7 no.82 p.164 (Assam)
    Alternative Names: Black-billed Roller
    Distribution: N Bengal and Sikkim east through Assam and all NE hill states. Winter: Influx of migrants to S W Bengal and adjoining Jharkhand. Straggler further west to N Bihar and once to Havelock Is. in Andaman Is.
    Type Specimen: NHMUK#1965.24.1 (Syntype).
    Specimens: BNHS, ZSI, NHMUK, UMMZ, AMNH, FMNH, ROM, USNM, YPM
    IUCN: Least Concern. SoIB: Low. WLPA: Schedule-II.
  
  
  • 531. European Roller Coracias garrulus Linnaeus, 1758
    Original Description: Coracias Garrulus 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.107
    Alternative Names: Kashmir Roller
    IUCN: Least Concern. SoIB: Moderate. WLPA: Schedule-II. CMS: Appendix I.
    • 531a. Coracias garrulus semenowi Loudon & Tschusi zu Schmidhoffen, 1902 [HB#754]
      Original Description: Coracias garrulus semenowi Loudon & Tschusi zu Schmidhoffen, 1902 Ornithologisches Jahrbuch 13 p.148
      Distribution: Breeding: Gilgit, Kashmir. Non-breeding: Mostly NW subcontinent in Punjab, Delhi region, Rajasthan, and Gujarat on migration but spilling over to Uttarakhand, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, and stragglers further south and east. Also, has occurred in Lakshadweep and Andaman Is.
      Specimens: BNHS, NHMUK, UMMZ, AMNH, FMNH, USNM, YPM, FTLB