Birds of India - The New Synopsis

A complete checklist of bird species and subspecies found in India

Charadriiformes (Shorebirds, Gulls, and Terns)

Laridae (Gulls and Terns)

• Rynchops 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.138 Rynchops nigra Linnaeus, 1758; Type by monotypy
  • 279. Indian Skimmer Rynchops albicollis Swainson, 1838 [HB#484]
    Original Description: Rhynchops albicollis Swainson, 1838 Animals in Menageries. In: The Cabinet Cyclopædia conducted by the Rev. Dionysius Lardner p.360 (India)
    Distribution: In select sites mostly along rivers in N, C, W, and E India with its regular range reaching south as far as Goa, Ballari (Karnataka), and Kakinada (Andhra) in the south and Tripura in the east. Breeding only in the rivers of Chambal, Ganga, Mahanadi, Yamuna, and Son. Rarely occurs further south in the peninsula as far as Kanya Kumari district (Tamil Nadu).
    Specimens: BNHS, UMZC, RBINS, AMNH, FMNH, MCZ, YPM, FTLB
    IUCN: Endangered. SoIB: High. WLPA: Schedule-I.
  
  
• Gygis Wagler, 1832 Isis 25 col.1223 Sterna candida Gmelin, 1789; Type by monotypy
  • 280. Blue-billed White-Tern Gygis candida (Gmelin, 1789)
    Taxonomy: Three species are recognized in the Gygis alba sensu lato complex (Pratt 2020, Bulletin of the British Ornithologists' Club 140:205), regional birds are under this species.
    Alternative Names: White Tern, [Fairy Tern]
    IUCN: Not Recognised. WLPA: Schedule-II.
    Notes: See Jayson et al. (2013, IB 8 (6): 163), Meppayur (2020).
    • 280a. Gygis candida candida (Gmelin, 1789) [HB#483]
      Original Description: Sterna Candida Gmelin, 1789 Systema Naturae. Editio decima tertia, aucta, reformata. Cura Jo. Frid. Gmelin (etc.). Tomus I. Pars II 1 pt2 p.607
      Taxonomy: Birds expected here, that breed in Seychelles and Chagos, sometimes treated as monte Mathews, 1912 included under this expected subspecies. Sometimes, G. candida treated as an independent species (e.g., HBW/BLI).
      Distribution: Vagrant. Reports from Kerala and Maharashtra.
      Specimens: FTLB
      Notes: Though all three recoveries from Kerala were handled and at least two of them handed over to a museum, none of the specimens could be preserved. However, a recent specimen (FTLB-MH-141001) obtained from Dhule, Maharashtra was preserved (Munshi et al. 2025, IB 21 (3): 91).
  
  
• Anous Stephens, 1826 General Zoology, or systematic natural history 13 pt1 p.139 Anous niger Stephens, 1826; Type by subsequent designation (Gray, 1840, A list of the genera of birds, with an indication of the typical species of each genus, p.79) = Sterna stolida Linnaeus, 1758
  • 281. Brown Noddy Anous stolidus (Linnaeus, 1758)
    Original Description: Sterna stolida 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.137
    Alternative Names: Noddy Tern
    IUCN: Least Concern. WLPA: Schedule-II.
    • 281a. Anous stolidus pileatus (Scopoli, 1786) [HB#481]
      Original Description: Sterna pileata Scopoli, 1786 Deliciae Florae et Faunae Insubricae 2 p.92
      Distribution: Breeding: Pitti Is. (Lakshadweep). Non-breeding: Lakshadweep Sea, off-shore W coast from Gujarat and Mumbai south till S Kerala as well as E coast of Tamil Nadu and Andaman & Nicobar Is. Vagrant elsewhere including inland during cyclones.
      Specimens: BNHS, ROM, FTLB
  
  
  • 282. Lesser Noddy Anous tenuirostris (Temminck, 1823)
    IUCN: Least Concern. WLPA: Schedule-II.
    • 282a. Anous tenuirostris tenuirostris (Temminck, 1823)
      Original Description: Sterna tenuirostris Temminck, 1823 Nouveau recueil de planches coloriées d'oiseaux, pour servir de suite et de complément aux planches enluminées de Buffon livr.34 pl.202
      Distribution: Breeding: Islands of Adam's Bridge (Tamil Nadu). Off-shore W coast from about Saurashtra (Gujarat) till S Tamil Nadu as well as in SE coast, north till about Pulicat. Straggler further north in W. Bengal as well as Andaman Is.
      Specimens: FTLB
      Notes: Previous specimens misidentified (RA2012) and S Andaman specimen has not been located in any museum. The only known preserved specimen is from Gujarat (FTLB GJ#138001). See Arachchi (2025, Journal of Threatened Taxa 17 (7): 27321) for breeding evidence.
  
  
  • 283. Black Noddy Anous minutus Boie, 1844
    Original Description: Anous minutus Boie, 1844 Isis 37 col.188
    IUCN: Least Concern. WLPA: Schedule-II. CMS: Appendix II.
    Notes: ZSI specimen mentioned in Praveen et al. (2014, IB 9 (5&6): 123) could not be relocated.
    • 283a. Anous minutus worcesteri (McGregor, 1911) [HB#482]
      Original Description: Micranous worcesteri McGregor, 1911 The Philippine Journal of Science 6 Sect.D p.183
      Distribution: Vagrant. Reported from Minicoy Is., mouth of Ganga in Sundarbans and Gujarat.
      Specimens: NHMUK
      Notes: RA2012 already analysed the specimens in NHM and could not ascribe a subspecies but this taxon likely in the region.
  
  
• Onychoprion Wagler, 1832 Isis 25 col.277 Sterna serrata Forster ; Type by monotypy = Sterna serrata Wagler, 1830
  • 284. Sooty Tern Onychoprion fuscatus (Linnaeus, 1766)
    Original Description: Sterna fuscata Linnaeus, 1766 Systema Naturæ. Editio duodecima reformata. Tomus I [part 1] p.228
    IUCN: Least Concern. WLPA: Schedule-II.
    • 284a. Onychoprion fuscatus nubilosus (Sparrman, 1788) [HB#474]
      Original Description: Sterna nubilosa Sparrman, 1788 Museum Carlsonianum, in quo novas et selectas aves, coloribus ad vivum brevique descriptione illustratas (etc.) fasc.3 no.63 pl.63
      Distribution: Breeding: Vengurla Is., Pitti Is. (Lakshadweep – formerly other atolls too). Non-breeding: Off-shores waters of W India but frequently storm-blown inland. Also, occurs sporadically along the eastern coastal waters and Andaman Sea region.
      Specimens: BNHS, ROM, FTLB
  
  
  • 285. Bridled Tern Onychoprion anaethetus (Scopoli, 1786)
    Original Description: Sterna Anaethetus Scopoli, 1786 Deliciae Florae et Faunae Insubricae 2 p.92
    Alternative Names: Brown-winged Tern
    IUCN: Least Concern. WLPA: Schedule-II.
    • 285a. Onychoprion anaethetus antarcticus (Lesson, 1831) [HB#471-473]
      Original Description: Sterna antarctica Lesson, 1831 Traité d'Ornithologie, ou Tableau Méthodique des ordres, sous-ordres, familles, tribus, genres, sous-genres et races d'oiseaux livr.8 p.621 (Mauritius and Kolkata)
      Taxonomy: This subspecies sometimes lumped with the nominate subspecies.
      Distribution: Breeding: Vengurla Is, islands of Adam's Bridge, and atolls in Lakshadweep (at least historical). Non-breeding: Western coastal off-shore waters, Lakshadweep, south-eastern coastal waters. Also, around Andaman & Nicobar Is. Rarely storm-blown inland in comparison with Sooty Terns.
      Type Specimen: MNHN#2011-152 (Holotype).
      Specimens: MNHN
      Notes: Regional population augmented by extralimital visitors, possibly from the Red Sea region.
  
  
• Sternula Boie, 1822 Isis 10,11 col.563 Sterna minuta Linnaeus, 1766; Type by monotypy = Sterna albifrons Pallas, 1764
  • 286. Little Tern Sternula albifrons (Pallas, 1764)
    Alternative Names: White-shafted Ternlet S. a. pusilla
    IUCN: Least Concern. SoIB: High. WLPA: Schedule-II. CMS: Appendix II.
    • 286a. Sternula albifrons albifrons (Pallas, 1764) [HB#475]
      Original Description: Sterna albifrons Pallas, 1764 Adumbratiunculæ. Avium variarum praecedenti elencho insertarum, sed quæ in Systemate Naturæ Illustr. Linnæi nondum extant p.6
      Distribution: Non-breeding: W coast – at least in Gujarat, Maharashtra, and perhaps Lakshadweep Is.
      Specimens: BNHS
      Notes: Non-breeding distribution of the regional subspecies insufficiently worked out.
    • 286b. Sternula albifrons sinensis (Gmelin, 1789) [HB#477]
      Original Description: Sterna sinensis Gmelin, 1789 Systema Naturae. Editio decima tertia, aucta, reformata. Cura Jo. Frid. Gmelin (etc.). Tomus I. Pars II 1 pt2 p.608
      Taxonomy: Includes pusilla, which was formerly accorded subspecies status. See Abdulali (1964, JBNHS 61 (2): 440) for a treatment of the two subspecies found in India.
      Distribution: Breeding: Islands of large rivers in Indo-Gangetic plains, inland reservoirs of peninsular India as well as coastal waters including islets of Mumbai and Rameswaram Is. Non-breeding: Presumably more coastal in both W and E coast – more frequently the latter. Also, Andaman & Nicobar Is.
      Specimens: BNHS, ZSI, UMMZ, AMNH, YPM
      Notes: Andaman & Nicobar Is. birds probably this subspecies on range.
  
  
  • 287. Saunders's Tern Sternula saundersi (Hume, 1877) [HB#476]
    Original Description: Sterna Saundersi Hume, 1877 Stray Feathers 5 p.324,note,325
    Alternative Names: Black-shafted Ternlet
    Distribution: W Gujarat (breeding), islands of Adam's Bridge (breeding), and Lakshadweep; sometimes along the W coast and SE coast.
    Specimens: BNHS
    IUCN: Least Concern. WLPA: Schedule-II. CMS: Appendix II.
    Notes: Range confounded with Little Tern in winter. See Mullarney & Campbell (2022, Dutch Birding 44: 195) for a treatment of this species in the coasts of Arabian sea.
  
  
• Hydroprogne Kaup, 1829 Skizzirte Entwickelungs-Geschichte und natürliches System der Europäischen Thierwelt (etc.) p.91 Sterna caspia Pallas, 1770; Type by subsequent designation (Gray, 1846, The genera of birds: comprising their generic characters, a notice of the habits of each genus, and an extensive list of species referred to their several genera, 3 (1849), p.[658])
  • 288. Caspian Tern Hydroprogne caspia (Pallas, 1770) [HB#462]
    Original Description: Sterna caspia Pallas, 1770 Novi Commentarii Academiae Scientiarum Imperialis Petropolitanae 14 p.582 pl.22 fig.2
    Distribution: Winter: Gujarat (breeding locally in W Gujarat), W and E coast; straggling inland during migration.
    Specimens: AMNH, YPM, TNHM, GMC
    IUCN: Least Concern. SoIB: High. WLPA: Schedule-II. CMS: Appendix II.
  
  
• Gelochelidon Brehm, 1830 Isis 23 col.994 Gelochelidon meridionalis Brehm, 1830; Type by monotypy = Sterna nilotica Gmelin, 1789
  • 289. Gull-billed Tern Gelochelidon nilotica (Gmelin, 1789)
    Alternative Names: Common Gull-billed Tern
    IUCN: Least Concern. SoIB: High. WLPA: Schedule-I. CMS: Appendix II.
    • 289a. Gelochelidon nilotica nilotica (Gmelin, 1789) [HB#460]
      Original Description: Sterna nilotica Gmelin, 1789 Systema Naturae. Editio decima tertia, aucta, reformata. Cura Jo. Frid. Gmelin (etc.). Tomus I. Pars II 1 pt2 p.606
      Distribution: Winter: N India including Jammu, Himachal, and Delhi region; E Rajasthan, Gujarat, along the western seaboard, as well as E coast; sporadic inland in Gangetic plains, C India, and Deccan.
      Specimens: BNHS, AMNH, YPM, TNHM
    • 289b. Gelochelidon nilotica affinis (Horsfield, 1821) [HB#461]
      Original Description: Sterna affinis Horsfield, 1821 Transactions of the Linnean Society of London (1), 13 p.199
      Distribution: Winter: Odisha and W Bengal coasts apart from Andaman Is.
      Specimens: BNHS
      Notes: Subspecies overlap in winter and range statements tentative. Breeding reports from Chilika and W Bengal not investigated.
  
  
• Chlidonias Rafinesque, 1822 Kentucky Gazette, new series n.s., 1 p.3 col.5 Sterna melanops Rafinesque, 1822; Type by monotypy = Sterna surinamensis Gmelin, 1789
  • 290. Whiskered Tern Chlidonias hybrida (Pallas, 1811)
    IUCN: Least Concern. SoIB: High. WLPA: Schedule-II.
    • 290a. Chlidonias hybrida hybrida (Pallas, 1811) [HB#458]
      Original Description: Sterna hybrida Pallas, 1811 Zoographia Rosso-Asiatica, sistens omnium animalium in extenso Imperio Rossico (etc.) 2 p.338
      Taxonomy: Includes indicus Stephens, 1826.
      Distribution: Breeding: Kashmir, locally in Gangetic plains till Bihar, Gujarat, Sundarbans (?), Assam. Non-breeding: Throughout the country – inland, coasts and immediately adjacent off-shore waters as well as Andaman Is.
      Specimens: BNHS, ZSI, UMMZ, AMNH, FMNH, YPM, TNHM
      Notes: Donahue & Ganguli (1965, JBNHS 62 (2): 254) for a breeding site review; Ranade (2011, IB 17 (1): 8) for Assam breeding.
  
  
  • 291. White-winged Tern Chlidonias leucopterus (Temminck, 1815) [HB#459]
    Original Description: Sterna leucoptera Temminck, 1815 Manuel d'ornithologie, ou tableau systématique des oiseaux qui se trouvent en Europe (etc.) ed.1 p.483
    Alternative Names: White-winged Black Tern
    Distribution: Winter: Gujarat, coastal plains of C Kerala and Tamil Nadu; Andaman Is. During migration inland throughout the peninsula.
    Specimens: BNHS, ZSI, AMNH
    IUCN: Least Concern. WLPA: Schedule-II. CMS: Appendix II.
  
  
  • 292. Black Tern Chlidonias niger (Linnaeus, 1758)
    IUCN: Least Concern. WLPA: Schedule-II. CMS: Appendix II.
    Notes: See Bhat et al. (2014, IB 9 (5&6): 142), Bhatia (2016, FL 14 (3): 4), Jamalabad (2016, IB 12 (1): 13), Reghuvaran et al. (2017, Malabar Trogon 15 (3): 48), Ahuja & Amin (2025, IB 21 (3): 92) .
    • 292a. Chlidonias niger niger (Linnaeus, 1758) [HB#459a]
      Original Description: Sterna nigra 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.137
      Distribution: Vagrant. Reported from Dwaraka and Nalsarovar (both Gujarat), Akshi (Maharashtra), Karwar (Karnataka), and Kochi (Kerala).
      Notes: Subspecies assumed based on range. The non-breeding specimen from Point Calimere (BNHS #26690) is a White-winged Tern.
  
  
• Thalasseus Boie, 1822 Isis 10,11 col.563 Sterna cantiaca 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.79) = Sterna sandvicensis Latham, 1787
  • 293. Sandwich Tern Thalasseus sandvicensis (Latham, 1787) [HB#480]
    Original Description: Sterna sandvicensis Latham, 1787 Supplement to the general synopsis of birds p.296
    Distribution: Winter: Gujarat and W coast as well as along the E coast till about Pulicat and straggling further north.
    IUCN: Least Concern. SoIB: High. WLPA: Schedule-II. CMS: Appendix II.
    Notes: Though BNHS had made ringing recoveries, apparently no specimens were preserved.
  
  
  • 294. Great Crested Tern Thalasseus bergii (Lichtenstein, 1823)
    Original Description: Sterna Bergii Lichtenstein, 1823 Verzeichniss der Doubletten des zoologischen Museums der Königl. Universität zu Berlin nebst Beschreibung vieler bisher unbekannter Arten von Säugethieren, Vögeln, Amphibien und Fischen p.80
    Alternative Names: Large Crested Tern, Greater Crested Tern
    IUCN: Least Concern. SoIB: Low. WLPA: Schedule-II. CMS: Appendix II.
    • [Thalasseus bergii thalassinus (Stresemann, 1914) ]
      Original Description: Sterna bergii thalassina Stresemann, 1914 Novitates Zoologicae 21 p.60
      Distribution: Non-breeding: W coast.
      Notes: No Indian specimens exist (RA2012) but breeds as close as Chagos Archipelago.
    • 294a. Thalasseus bergii velox (Cretzschmar, 1827) [HB#478]
      Original Description: Sterna Velox Cretzschmar, 1827 Atlas zu der Reise im nördlichen Afrika von Eduard Rüppell. Erste Abtheilung. Zoologie. Vögel p.21 pl.13
      Distribution: Breeding: Vengurla Is., Pitti Is. (Lakshadweep), Sundarbans (?), islands of Adam's Bridge. Non-breeding: Along the W and E coast including off-shore waters as well as Lakshadweep. Almost never inland.
      Specimens: BNHS, ZSI, TNHM
    • [Thalasseus bergii cristatus (Stephens, 1826) ]
      Original Description: Sterna cristata Stephens, 1826 General Zoology, or systematic natural history 13 pt1 p.146
      Distribution: Non-breeding: Andaman Sea around Andaman & Nicobar Is.
      Notes: On range, sight records from Andaman Is., and particularly from Nicobar Is. are possibly of this subspecies.
  
  
  • 295. Lesser Crested Tern Thalasseus bengalensis (Lesson, 1831)
    IUCN: Least Concern. SoIB: Moderate. WLPA: Schedule-II. CMS: Appendix II.
    • 295a. Thalasseus bengalensis bengalensis (Lesson, 1831) [HB#479]
      Original Description: Sterna bengalensis Lesson, 1831 Traité d'Ornithologie, ou Tableau Méthodique des ordres, sous-ordres, familles, tribus, genres, sous-genres et races d'oiseaux livr.8 p.621 (Coasts of India)
      Distribution: Non-breeding: Along the W and E coast, Lakshadweep, Andaman & Nicobar Is – rarely inland.
      Type Specimen: MNHN#2011-139 (Syntype).
      Specimens: BNHS, MNHN, TNHM
      Notes: Multiple ring recoveries from W coast of birds ringed from Persian Gulf (Balachandran et al. 2018, Indian Bird Migration Atlas p. 85).
  
  
• Sterna 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.137 Sterna hirundo Linnaeus, 1758; Type by tautonymy
  • 296. River Tern Sterna aurantia Gray, 1831 [HB#463]
    Original Description: Sterna aurantia Gray, 1831 Illustrations of Indian zoology; chiefly selected from the collection of Major-General Hardwicke, F. R. S. 1 pt5 pl.69 fig.2 (India)
    Distribution: Across India except the high Himalaya, trans-Himalaya and certain NE states like Manipur and Mizoram.
    Specimens: BNHS, ZSI, UMZC, UMMZ, AMNH, FMNH, MCZ, ROM, USNM, YPM, FTLB
    IUCN: Vulnerable. SoIB: Moderate. WLPA: Schedule-I.
  
  
  • 297. Arctic Tern Sterna paradisaea Pontoppidan, 1763 [HB#466a]
    Original Description: Sterna Paradisaea Pontoppidan, 1763 Den Danske Atlas eller Konge-Riget Dannemark (etc.) 1 p.622
    Distribution: Vagrant. Mumbai, N Kerala, SW Tamil Nadu, and Rangdum (Ladakh, historical).
    Specimens: NHMUK
    IUCN: Least Concern. WLPA: Schedule-II. CMS: Appendix II.
    Notes: Specimen in NHMUK (#1949.Whi.1.17133). See Jayathilake et al. (2024, IB 20 (5): 144) and Macker et al. (2024, IB 20 (5): 146)
  
  
  • 298. Common Tern Sterna hirundo Linnaeus, 1758
    IUCN: Least Concern. SoIB: High. WLPA: Schedule-II. CMS: Appendix II.
    • [Sterna hirundo hirundo Linnaeus, 1758 [HB#464]]
      Original Description: Sterna Hirundo 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.137
      Distribution: W Gujarat.
      Notes: No Indian specimen reported by AR2001 or RA2012 specifically of this subspecies from India.
    • 298a. Sterna hirundo tibetana Saunders, 1876 [HB#465]
      Original Description: Sterna tibetana Saunders, 1876 Proceedings of the Zoological Society of London Part 3, p.649
      Taxonomy: Includes minussensis Sushkin 1925 which is sometimes recognised (IOC, Avilist) but usually considered an intermediate between nominate and tibetana. However, it is quite likely that the birds from the breeding range of its type (Minusinsky district, Russia) winters in India.
      Distribution: Breeding: Ladakh. Non-breeding: Entire seaboard of peninsular India and adjoining off-shore waters. Also, Lakshadweep and Andaman Is. including the off-shore thereof. Inland during passage.
      Specimens: ZSI, UMMZ, USNM
    • 298b. Sterna hirundo longipennis Nordmann, 1835
      Original Description: Sterna longipennis Nordmann, 1835 Reise um die Erde durch Nord-Asien und die beiden Oceane, in den Jahren 1828, 1829 und 1830 ausgeführt. Naturhistorischer Atlas: Verzeichniss von Thieren und Pflanzen, welche auf einer Reise um die Erde gesammelt wurden p.17
      Distribution: Off-shore SW coast.
      Notes: Included based on photos in Praveen et al. (2011, IB 7 (3): 69).
  
  
  • 299. White-cheeked Tern Sterna repressa Hartert, 1916 [HB#467]
    Original Description: Sterna repressa Hartert, 1916 Novitates Zoologicae 23 p.298
    Distribution: Breeding in Vengurla rocks. Sporadic in coastal as well as offshore waters in W coast from Gujarat till Kerala, Lakshadweep Is. Straggler to the E coast (Chennai).
    Specimens: BNHS, NHMUK
    IUCN: Least Concern. WLPA: Schedule-II. CMS: Appendix II.
    Notes: Range confounded by the presence of multiple subspecies of Common Terns. Specimen from Chennai no longer in Government Museum, Chennai.
  
  
  • 300. Black-naped Tern Sterna sumatrana Raffles, 1822
    IUCN: Least Concern. WLPA: Schedule-II.
    • 300a. Sterna sumatrana mathewsi Stresemann, 1914 [HB#469]
      Original Description: Sterna sumatrana mathewsi Stresemann, 1914 Novitates Zoologicae 21 p.60
      Distribution: Vagrant. Reported from Ponnani (Kerala).
      Notes: Kerala report (Iyer 2018, IB 14 (3): 89) presumably of this subspecies.
    • 300b. Sterna sumatrana sumatrana Raffles, 1822 [HB#468]
      Original Description: Sterna Sumatrana Raffles, 1822 Transactions of the Linnean Society of London (1), 13 p.329
      Distribution: Andaman Sea around Andaman & Nicobar Is – breeding in the islets of Andaman Is. (at least historically).
      Specimens: BNHS, ROM
  
  
  • 301. Roseate Tern Sterna dougallii Montagu, 1813
    Original Description: Sterna Dougallii Montagu, 1813 Supplement to the Ornithological Dictionary, or Synopsis of British Birds p.notpg'd
    Alternative Names: Rosy Tern
    IUCN: Least Concern. WLPA: Schedule-II. CMS: Appendix II.
    • [Sterna dougallii arideensis Mathews, 1912 ]
      Original Description: Sterna dougallii arideensis Mathews, 1912 The birds of Australia 2 p.364
      Taxonomy: Sometimes included under bangsi Mathews, 1912.
      Distribution: Off-shore S Kerala.
      Notes: May occur as it is the breeding subspecies in Maldives.
    • 301a. Sterna dougallii korustes (Hume, 1874) [HB#466]
      Original Description: Sternula korustes Hume, 1874 Stray Feathers 2 p.318 (Andaman Is)
      Distribution: Breeding: Vengurla Is., Rameswaram Is. (historically), and S Andaman Is. (at least historical). Non-breeding: Off-shore waters of W coast roughly south of Vengurla till about C Kerala, off-shore Chennai and around Andaman Is.
      Type Specimen: NHMUK#1891.5.20.389 (Syntype).
      Specimens: BNHS, NHMUK, AMNH, GMC
      Notes: Specimen in GMC collected from Rameswaram in June 1914 (Abdulali 1942, JBNHS 43 (1): 104) should refer to this subspecies as it is the one that breeds on Rama Setu in Sri Lanka.
  
  
  • 302. Black-bellied Tern Sterna acuticauda Gray, 1831 [HB#470]
    Original Description: Sterna acuticauda Gray, 1831 Illustrations of Indian zoology; chiefly selected from the collection of Major-General Hardwicke, F. R. S. 1 pt6 pl.70 fig.3 (Kanpur)
    Distribution: In select sites across India from Jammu along the Indo-Gangetic plains extending to the Brahmaputra plains, rivers of N, C, and S India except the Thar region.
    Specimens: BNHS, UMMZ, AMNH, FMNH, YPM, LKO
    IUCN: Endangered. SoIB: High. WLPA: Schedule-I.
  
  
• Hydrocoloeus Kaup, 1829 Skizzirte Entwickelungs-Geschichte und natürliches System der Europäischen Thierwelt (etc.) 1 p.113 Larus minutus Pallas, 1776; Type by subsequent designation (Gray, 1842, Appendix to A list of the genera of birds, p.15)
  • 303. Little Gull Hydrocoloeus minutus (Pallas, 1776) [HB#457]
    Original Description: Larus minutus Pallas, 1776 Reise durch verschiedene Provinzen des Russischen Reichs 3 p.702
    Distribution: Vagrant. Pong (Himachal), Ladakh, Delhi region (twice), and once to Bidar (N Karnataka).
    Specimens: FMNH
    IUCN: Least Concern. WLPA: Schedule-II.
    Notes: Specimen from Ladakh in FMNH (#229168). For an assessment of reports, see Praveen et al. (2014, IB 9 (5&6): 125) and Abhinav et al. (2018, IB 14 (5): 137).
  
  
• Rissa Stephens, 1826 General Zoology, or systematic natural history 13 pt1 p.180 Rissa brunnichii Stephens, 1826; Type by monotypy = Larus tridactylus Linnaeus, 1758
  • 304. Black-legged Kittiwake Rissa tridactyla (Linnaeus, 1758)
    Taxonomy: Two subspecies likely in the region but no specimens have been collected.
    IUCN: Vulnerable. WLPA: Schedule-II.
    Notes: See Kasambe et al. (2021, Newsletter for Birdwatchers 60 (1): 4).
    • 304a. Rissa tridactyla tridactyla (Linnaeus, 1758)
      Original Description: Larus tridactylus 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.136
      Distribution: Non-breeding: Recorded from Gilgit, Rajasthan, coasts of Maharashtra, Goa, and Kerala.
      Notes: Subspecies assumed here as records from W India and N India are likely to be this subspecies breeding directly north in the Arctic tundra.
    • [Rissa tridactyla pollicaris Ridgway, 1884 ]
      Original Description: Rissa tridactyla pollicaris Ridgway, 1884 Memoirs of the Museum of Comparative Zoölogy at Harvard College 2 p.202
      Distribution: Vagrant. Majuli Is. and Deepor Beel (both Assam), near Miao (Arunachal), Frazergunj (Bengal), Khudiya dam (Chhattisgarh), and Chandipur (Odisha).
      Notes: This subspecies winters in S & E China sea. There are a few records from Sichuan & Yunnan (China) and N Myanmar. These records lie between its established winter range and E India. Hence, it is likely that the Kittiwake records from E India may have been of this subspecies (see Kalita et al. 2024, IB 20 (2): 53).
  
  
• Xema Leach, 1819 A voyage of discovery, made under the orders of the Admiralty, in His Majesty's ships Isabella and Alexander, for the purpose of exploring Baffin's Bay, and enquiring into the probability of a North-West Passage App.2 p.48 Larus sabini Sabine, 1819; Type by monotypy
  • 305. Sabine's Gull Xema sabini (Sabine, 1819)
    Taxonomy: Sometimes treated as monotypic (H&M4, IOC, Avilist).
    IUCN: Least Concern. WLPA: Schedule-II.
    Notes: See Sreenivasan et al. (2013, IB 8 (4): 98) and Rajrani (2025, FL 8 (3): 39).
    • 305a. Xema sabini sabini (Sabine, 1819)
      Original Description: Larus Sabini Sabine, 1819 Transactions of the Linnean Society of London (1), 12 p.522 pl.29
      Distribution: Vagrant. Reported only from coastal Thrissur (Kerala) and Nal Sarovar (Gujarat).
      Notes: Assumed to be this subspecies.
  
  
• Chroicocephalus Eyton, 1836 A History of the Rarer British Birds with a Catalogue of British Birds p. 53 Larus capistratus Temminck, 1820; Type by subsequent designation (Gray, 1840, A list of the genera of birds, with an indication of the typical species of each genus, p.79) = Larus ridibundus Linnaeus, 1766
  • 306. Slender-billed Gull Chroicocephalus genei (di Brème, 1839) [HB#456]
    Original Description: Larus Genei di Brème, 1839 Revue Zoologique, par la Société Cuvierienne 2 p.321
    Distribution: Breeding: Gujarat (locally). Winter: Extends to W coast, SE coast till about Pulicat as well as locally in N & C India mostly around Pong (Himachal) and Harike (Punjab) wetlands.
    Specimens: BNHS
    IUCN: Least Concern. SoIB: High. WLPA: Schedule-II. CMS: Appendix II.
  
  
  • 307. Black-headed Gull Chroicocephalus ridibundus (Linnaeus, 1766) [HB#455]
    Original Description: Larus ridibundus Linnaeus, 1766 Systema Naturæ. Editio duodecima reformata. Tomus I [part 1] 12, p.225
    Alternative Names: Common Black-headed Gull
    Distribution: Winter: Ladakh, Indo-Gangetic and Brahmaputra plains, E Rajasthan, Gujarat, C India till about large rivers of Godavari and Krishna, both W and E coast as well as in off-shore waters. Straggler elsewhere in the country.
    Specimens: BNHS, ZSI, UMMZ, FMNH, YPM, TNHM
    IUCN: Least Concern. SoIB: High. WLPA: Schedule-II.
  
  
  • 308. Brown-headed Gull Chroicocephalus brunnicephalus (Jerdon, 1840) [HB#454]
    Original Description: Larus brunnicephalus Jerdon, 1840 Madras Journal of Literature and Science 12 p.225 (West coast of the Indian Peninsula)
    Distribution: Summer: Ladakh (Breeding). Winter: Indo-Gangetic and Brahmaputra plains, along large rivers in N and C India, Gujarat, and both W and E coast as well as in off-shore waters.
    Specimens: BNHS, ZSI, UMMZ, AMNH, FMNH, YPM, TNHM, LKO
    IUCN: Least Concern. SoIB: High. WLPA: Schedule-II.
  
  
• Leucophaeus Bruch, 1855 Journal für Ornithologie 1 no.2 p.108 Larus haematorhynchus King, 1828; Type by monotypy = Larus scoresbii Traill, 1823
  • 309. Laughing Gull Leucophaeus atricilla (Linnaeus, 1758)
    IUCN: Least Concern. WLPA: Recent addition.
    • 309a. Leucophaeus atricilla atricilla (Linnaeus, 1758)
      Original Description: Larus Atricilla 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.136
      Taxonomy: Also has another subspecies megalopterus (Bruch, 1855) but is poorly differentiated. Non-breeding records impossible to assign to subspecies but records assumed here to be of the nominate subspecies.
      Distribution: Vagrant. Reported from Chithari (Kerala) and Bhagalpur (Bihar).
      Notes: See Sreekanth (2024, IB 20 (1): 17).
  
  
  • 310. Franklin's Gull Leucophaeus pipixcan (Wagler, 1831)
    Original Description: Larus Pipixcan Wagler, 1831 Isis 24 col.515
    Distribution: Vagrant. Reported only from Morjim (Goa).
    IUCN: Least Concern. WLPA: Schedule-II.
    Notes: No photographs exists; accepted based on written description (Holt et al. 2014, BA 20: 119).
  
  
• Ichthyaetus Kaup, 1829 Skizzirte Entwickelungs-Geschichte und natürliches System der Europäischen Thierwelt (etc.) 2 no.12 p.303 Larus ichthyaetus Pallas, 1773; Type by monotypy
  • 311. Pallas's Gull Ichthyaetus ichthyaetus (Pallas, 1773) [HB#453]
    Original Description: Larus Ichthyaetus Pallas, 1773 Reise durch verschiedene Provinzen des Russischen Reichs 2 p.713
    Alternative Names: Great Black-headed Gull
    Distribution: Summer: Ladakh, though not breeding. Winter: N India, E Rajasthan, lower course of Ganga in Bihar and S W Bengal, N Bengal, Brahmaputra plains, Arunachal, Manipur valley, Tripura, Gujarat, W and E coast including off-shore waters.
    Specimens: BNHS, ZSI, MCZ, YPM, TNHM
    IUCN: Least Concern. SoIB: Moderate. WLPA: Schedule-II. CMS: Appendix II.
  
  
  • 312. White-eyed Gull Ichthyaetus leucophthalmus (Temminck, 1825)
    Original Description: Larus leucophthalmus Temminck, 1825 Nouveau recueil de planches coloriées d'oiseaux, pour servir de suite et de complément aux planches enluminées de Buffon livr.62 pl.366
    Distribution: Vagrant. Reported only from Karwar beach (Karnataka).
    IUCN: Least Concern. WLPA: Schedule-II. CMS: Appendix I.
    Notes: See Jamalabad (2016, IB 12 (1): 13).
  
  
  • 313. Sooty Gull Ichthyaetus hemprichii (Bruch, 1853) [HB#449]
    Original Description: Larus (Adelarus) Hemprichii Bruch, 1853 Journal für Ornithologie 1 no.2 p.106
    Taxonomy: Follows H&M4 for dating it as 1853 contra 1855 in Dickinson et al. (2011, Priority! The dating of scientific names in ornithology p. 115); see also Praveen & Jayapal (2023, IB 18 (5): 132).
    Distribution: Mumbai region with vagrants from Gujarat, Goa, Udupi (Karnataka), Ponnani (Kerala), Puthalam (Tamil Nadu) and a historical report from Chennai.
    Specimens: GMC
    IUCN: Least Concern. WLPA: Schedule-II. CMS: Appendix II.
    Notes: A mounted specimen presumably from Chennai in Government Museum, Chennai.
  
  
• Larus 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.136 Larus marinus Linnaeus, 1758; Type by subsequent designation (Selby, 1840, A catalogue of the generic and sub-generic types of the class Aves, birds, arranged according to the natural system; with separate lists, distinguishing the various quarters of the globe in which they are to be procured, p.48)
  • 314. Mew Gull Larus canus Linnaeus, 1758
    Original Description: Larus canus 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.136
    Alternative Names: Common Gull
    IUCN: Least Concern. WLPA: Schedule-II.
    Notes: See Praveen et al. (2014, IB 9 (5&6): 127), Bhaskaran (2018, Malabar Trogon 16 (1): 38).
    • 314a. Larus canus heinei Homeyer, 1853
      Original Description: Larus Heinei Homeyer, 1853 Naumannia 3 p.129
      Distribution: Non-breeding: Reported from N India – Harike (Punjab), Nainital (Uttarakhand), Gajroula (Uttar Pradesh), Delhi, as well as W coast – Mandvi and Navbandhar (both Gujarat), Morjim (Goa), and Ponnani (Kerala).
      Notes: Presumably this subspecies on range.
  
  
  • 315. Caspian Gull Larus cachinnans Pallas, 1811 [HB#451]
    Original Description: Larus cachinnans Pallas, 1811 Zoographia Rosso-Asiatica, sistens omnium animalium in extenso Imperio Rossico (etc.) 2 p.318
    Distribution: Winter. NW India – from Gilgit, large wetlands of Himachal and Punjab, Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan and Gujarat. Stragglers to Goa and N Kerala.
    IUCN: Least Concern. WLPA: Schedule-II.
    Notes: All historical specimens were of L. fuscus barabensis (RA2012). But see Ganpule (2015, IB 10 (6): 152) for recent records.
  
  
  • 316. Mongolian Gull Larus mongolicus Sushkin, 1925 [HB#451]
    Original Description: Larus argentatus mongolicus Sushkin, 1925 Spisok i raspredelenie ptits Russkogo Altaia i blizhaishikh chastei Severo-Zapadnoi Mongolii: s opisaniem novykh ili maloizvestnykh form p.63
    Taxonomy: Unresolved. Sometimes mongolicus included under L. smithsonianus (H&M4); or formerly under L. argentatus or L. vegae.
    Alternative Names: [Herring Gull, American Herring Gull, Arctic Herring Gull]; Vega Gull (with L. vegae EL)
    Distribution: Winter: Reported from coasts of W Bengal and Odisha.
    IUCN: Least Concern. WLPA: Schedule-II.
    Notes: See Dutta (2013, IB 8 (5): 132). Putative birds reported from Gujarat (Ganpule 2019, FL 17 (3): 4) and Goa not assessed.
  
  
  • 317. Lesser Black-backed Gull Larus fuscus Linnaeus, 1758
    Alternative Names: [Heuglin's Gull, Steppe Gull, Taimyr Gull]
    IUCN: Least Concern. SoIB: Moderate. WLPA: Schedule-II.
    • 317a. Larus fuscus fuscus Linnaeus, 1758 [HB#452]
      Original Description: Larus fuscus 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.136
      Distribution: Vagrant. Report only from Morjim, Goa.
      Notes: See Williams & Gottschling (2018, IB 14 (1): 32).
    • 317b. Larus fuscus heuglini Bree, 1876 [HB#450]
      Original Description: Larus Heuglini Bree, 1876 A history of the birds of Europe, not observed in the British Isles 5 p.58 pl.
      Distribution: Winter: Along the coasts, less regular in E coast compared to W coast. Rare inland, Andaman Is.
      Specimens: BNHS, YPM
      Notes: Also includes taimyrensis Buturlin 1911 (See Ganpule 2016, IB12 (1): 1).
    • 317c. Larus fuscus barabensis Johansen, 1960
      Original Description: Larus argentatus [= cachinnans] barabensis Johansen, 1960 Journal für Ornithologie 101 p.325
      Distribution: Winter: N India, Gujarat, W and E coast, and sporadically inland peninsular India.
      Specimens: BNHS