Birds of India - The New Synopsis

A complete checklist of bird species and subspecies found in India

Passeriformes (Perching Birds)

Motacillidae (Pipits and Wagtails)

• Dendronanthus Blyth, 1844 The Annals and Magazine of Natural History including Zoology, Botany, and Geology (1) 13 p.116 Motacilla indica Gmelin, 1789; Type by original designation
  • 1290. Forest Wagtail Dendronanthus indicus (Gmelin, 1789) [HB#1874]
    Original Description: Motacilla indica Gmelin, 1789 Systema Naturae. Editio decima tertia, aucta, reformata. Cura Jo. Frid. Gmelin (etc.). Tomus I. Pars II 1 pt2 p.962 (Malabar)
    Distribution: Winter: W Ghats from about Mumbai till southern tip of the peninsula in Kanyakumari district, Andaman & Nicobar Is. Locally in most parts of the subcontinent including W coastal plains, Gujarat, C India, E Ghats, Deccan, W Bengal, and most of NE India (except Arunachal). Sporadic stragglers further west through the Gangetic plains till about Delhi region, Bharatpur and Uttarakhand.
    Specimens: BNHS, ZSI, NHMUK, UMMZ, AMNH, FMNH, MCZ, ROM, USNM, YPM, LKO
    IUCN: Least Concern. SoIB: High. WLPA: Schedule-I. CMS: Appendix II.
  
  
• Motacilla 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.184 Motacilla alba Linnaeus, 1758; Type by Linnaean tautonymy
  • 1291. Grey Wagtail Motacilla cinerea Tunstall, 1771
    IUCN: Least Concern. SoIB: Moderate. WLPA: Schedule-II. CMS: Appendix II.
    • 1291a. Motacilla cinerea cinerea Tunstall, 1771 [HB#1884]
      Original Description: Motacilla Cinerea Tunstall, 1771 Ornithologia Britannica: seu avium omnium Britannicarum tam terrestrium, quam aquaticarum catalogus (etc.) p.2
      Taxonomy: Regional birds sometimes considered part of the eastern subspecies melanope Pallas, PS 1776.
      Distribution: Breeding: Along the Himalaya from Gilgit till Sikkim. Non-breeding: Throughout the country including Narcondam, Andaman, and Nicobar Is.
      Specimens: ZSI, NHMUK, RBINS, UMMZ, AMNH, FMNH, MCZ, ROM, YPM
  
  
  • 1292. Western Yellow Wagtail Motacilla flava Linnaeus, 1758
    Original Description: Motacilla flava 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.185
    Alternative Names: Yellow Wagtail (with M. tschutschensis)
    IUCN: Least Concern. SoIB: Moderate. WLPA: Schedule-II. CMS: Appendix II.
    • 1292a. Motacilla flava lutea (Gmelin, 1774) [HB#1877]
      Original Description: Parus luteus Gmelin, 1774 Reise durch Russland zur Untersuchung der drey Natur-Reiche 3 p.101, pl. 20, fig. 1
      Distribution: Winter: Throughout India – but actual reports from Delhi region, Rajasthan, W Bengal, Maharashtra, Goa, Karnataka, and Kerala.
      Specimens: NHMUK
      Notes: Included based on the specimen in NHMUK (see RA2012 under taivana). However, the same could not be located recently. Ferlini & Artemyeva (2020, Rivista Italiana di Ornitologia 90 (2): 30) suggested that India hosts only a small part of its population in winter.
    • 1292b. Motacilla flava beema (Sykes, 1832) [HB#1876]
      Original Description: Budytes beema Sykes, 1832 Proceedings of the Committee of Science and Correspondence of the Zoological Society of London Part 2 p.90-91 (Dukhun)
      Distribution: Winter: Throughout W and S India but sporadic further east till W Bengal.
      Specimens: BNHS, ZSI, NHMUK, UMMZ, AMNH, MCZ, USNM, YPM
    • 1292c. Motacilla flava leucocephala (Przevalski, 1887) [HB#1879]
      Original Description: Budytes leucocephala Przevalski, 1887 Zapiski Imperatorskoi Akademii Nauk Vol. 55, N° 1 p.85
      Distribution: Winter: Throughout India – but reports from Punjab (historical), Delhi region, Rajasthan, Gujarat, W Bengal, Meghalaya (historical), Maharashtra, Karnataka, and Tamil Nadu; sporadic elsewhere till about Jammu in the north and Odisha coast in the east.
      Specimens: NHMUK, UMMZ
      Notes: Contra Ferlini et al. (2021, Rivista Italiana di Ornitologia 91 (1): 10), the Koelz specimens from Phulbari in UMMZ treated as from Phulbari in Garo hills, Meghalaya
    • 1292d. Motacilla flava feldegg Michahelles, 1830 [HB#1878]
      Original Description: Motacilla Feldegg Michahelles, 1830 Isis 23, Heft 11 col. 812
      Taxonomy: Includes melanogrisea (Homeyer, 1878) from 'India'.
      Distribution: Winter: Mostly W and S India from Delhi region, Rajasthan, Gujarat, Maharashtra, Karnataka, Kerala, and Tamil Nadu.
      Specimens: BNHS, NHMUK, UMMZ, AMNH, FMNH, MCZ
    • 1292e. Motacilla flava thunbergi Billberg, 1828 [HB#1875]
      Original Description: Motacilla Thunbergi Billberg, 1828 Synopsis faunae Scandinaviae, complectens animalia Sveciae Norvegiae que hucusque detecta 1, tab. A p.50
      Distribution: Winter: Throughout W and C parts of India; absent or sporadic in E India.
      Specimens: BNHS, ZSI, NHMUK, UMMZ, AMNH, MCZ, USNM, YPM
  
  
  • 1293. Citrine Wagtail Motacilla citreola Pallas, 1776
    Alternative Names: Yellow-headed Wagtail
    IUCN: Least Concern. SoIB: Moderate. WLPA: Schedule-II. CMS: Appendix II.
    • 1293a. Motacilla citreola citreola Pallas, 1776 [HB#1881]
      Original Description: Motacilla citreola Pallas, 1776 Reise durch verschiedene Provinzen des Russischen Reichs 3 p.696
      Distribution: Throughout the country.
      Specimens: BNHS, ZSI, NHMUK, UMMZ, AMNH, FMNH, MCZ, ROM, USNM, YPM
      Notes: Winter range of this and werae not worked out due to extremely similar winter plumage. Birds with phenotypes of both subspecies have been recorded across the country with no specific pattern.
    • 1293b. Motacilla citreola werae (Buturlin, 1907) [HB#1882]
      Original Description: Budytes citreola werae Buturlin, 1907 Ornithologische Monatsberichte 15 p.197
      Taxonomy: Extremely similar to the nominate subspecies and sometimes not recognised (Alström & Mild 2003, Pipits & Wagtails p.318; IOC; Avilist contra Shirihai & Svensson 2018, Handbook of Birds of Western Palearctic I p. 183; eBird/Clements).
      Distribution: Throughout the country from Gilgit, Ladakh, and Kashmir till the southern tip of the peninsula (though scarce in south); from W in Gujarat till east in Arunachal and NE hill states; also occurs in Andaman and Narcondam Is.
      Specimens: BNHS, NHMUK, USNM, TNHM
    • 1293c. Motacilla citreola calcarata Hodgson, 1836 [HB#1883]
      Original Description: [Motacilla] Calcarata 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 Vol. 19, Part I p.190-191
      Distribution: Breeding: Along the Himalaya from Gilgit till Arunachal. Non-breeding: Extending to adjacent northern plains and sporadically to Gujarat.
      Specimens: BNHS, ZSI, NHMUK, RBINS, UMMZ, AMNH, FMNH, MCZ, USNM, YPM
  
  
  • 1294. Eastern Yellow Wagtail Motacilla tschutschensis Gmelin, 1789
    IUCN: Least Concern. WLPA: Schedule-II. CMS: Appendix II.
    • 1294a. Motacilla tschutschensis plexa (Thayer & Bangs, 1914)
      Original Description: Budytes flavus plexus Thayer & Bangs, 1914 Proceedings of the New England Zoological Club 5 p.41
      Taxonomy: Sometimes treated as a subspecies of M. flava (RA2012).
      Distribution: E India and possibly in S India.
      Specimens: NHMUK
      Notes: Birds from this population winters in India and may account for a majority of the north Siberian Yellow Wagtails but identification from thunbergi can be difficult.
    • 1294b. Motacilla tschutschensis tschutschensis Gmelin, 1789 [HB#1875a]
      Original Description: Motacilla tschutschensis Gmelin, 1789 Systema Naturae. Editio decima tertia, aucta, reformata. Cura Jo. Frid. Gmelin (etc.). Tomus I. Pars II 1 pt2 p.962
      Taxonomy: Includes simillima Hartert 1905 from Kamchatka, NE Russia.
      Distribution: W Bengal, Assam, Andaman Is. and sporadically elsewhere.
      Specimens: BNHS, NHMUK, TNHM
    • 1294c. Motacilla tschutschensis taivana (Swinhoe, 1863) [HB#1880]
      Original Description: Budytes taivanus Swinhoe, 1863 Proceedings of the Zoological Society of London Part 2 p.334 (table)
      Distribution: Andaman Is. and Kerala (one report).
      Notes: See Viswanathan et al. (2017, IB 13 (6): 152), Praveen (2021, Malabar Trogon 18 (2&3): 57). A specimen in NHMUK, tagged as this taxon, has been reidentified as a M. flava lutea (RA2012).
  
  
  • 1295. White-browed Wagtail Motacilla maderaspatensis Gmelin, 1789 [HB#1891]
    Original Description: Motacilla madaraspatensis Gmelin, 1789 Systema Naturae. Editio decima tertia, aucta, reformata. Cura Jo. Frid. Gmelin (etc.). Tomus I. Pars II 1 pt2 p.961 (Chennai)
    Taxonomy: Includes kangrae Koelz 1939 from Badhwar, Kangra, Himachal.
    Alternative Names: Large Pied Wagtail
    Distribution: Throughout Indian subcontinent from Kashmir, east till C Assam, west till Gujarat, and south till the southern tip of the peninsula.
    Specimens: BNHS, ZSI, NHMUK, RBINS, UMMZ, AMNH, FMNH, MCZ, USNM, TNHM, MYS, HYD
    IUCN: Least Concern. SoIB: Low. WLPA: Schedule-II.
  
  
  • 1296. White Wagtail Motacilla alba Linnaeus, 1758
    Alternative Names: Pied Wagtail
    IUCN: Least Concern. SoIB: Moderate. WLPA: Schedule-II. CMS: Appendix II.
    • [Motacilla alba alba Linnaeus, 1758 ]
      Original Description: Motacilla alba 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.185
      Distribution: Winter: W India.
      Specimens: UMMZ, AMNH, FMNH, MCZ, YPM
      Notes: In winter plumage, impossible to separate from dukhunensis and hence range confounded. Likely to be restricted to W India as it is a more westerly breeding species. Specimens exist; but they might have been of dukhunensis.
    • 1296a. Motacilla alba dukhunensis Sykes, 1832 [HB#1885]
      Original Description: Motacilla Dukhunensis Sykes, 1832 Proceedings of the Committee of Science and Correspondence of the Zoological Society of London Part 2 p.91 (Dukhun)
      Taxonomy: Subspecies not always recognised (see Alström & Mild 2003, Pipits & Wagtails p.341; Avilist) and treated as a junior synonym of the nominate subspecies.
      Distribution: Winter: Throughout India from Kashmir till the southern tip of the peninsula; Gujarat in the west till NE India in the east; also Lakshadweep Is.
      Type Specimen: NHMUK#1880.1.1.3054 (Syntype).
      Specimens: BNHS, ZSI, NHMUK, RBINS, FMNH, MCZ, ROM, USNM, MYS, HYD
      Notes: Ring recoveries exist of this subspecies of birds that were ringed from Gujarat.
    • 1296b. Motacilla alba personata Gould, 1861 [HB#1886]
      Original Description: Motacilla personata Gould, 1861 The birds of Asia 4, pl. 63 (Bengal)
      Distribution: Breeding: W Himalaya of Gilgit, Ladakh, Kashmir, Jammu, Himachal, and Uttarakhand. Non-breeding: N India, and sporadically to E India and S India.
      Type Specimen: NHMUK#1881.5.1.4524 (Syntype).
      Specimens: BNHS, ZSI, NHMUK, RBINS, UMMZ, AMNH, MCZ, ROM, USNM, YPM
    • 1296c. Motacilla alba baicalensis Swinhoe, 1871 [HB#1890]
      Original Description: Motacilla baicalensis Swinhoe, 1871 Proceedings of the Zoological Society of London Part 2 p.363
      Distribution: Winter: Mainly E and NE India but has also occurred elsewhere in the subcontinent; also, Andaman Is.
      Specimens: BNHS, ZSI, NHMUK, UMMZ
      Notes: Identity of birds reported as this not always certain as intermediates with dukhunensis exists.
    • 1296d. Motacilla alba ocularis Swinhoe, 1860 [HB#1889]
      Original Description: Motacilla ocularis Swinhoe, 1860 Ibis (1) 2 (5) p.55
      Distribution: Winter: Brahmaputra plains of Assam and E Arunachal; SW Karnataka (once).
      Specimens: UMMZ, AMNH, MCZ, YPM
    • 1296e. Motacilla alba leucopsis Gould, 1838 [HB#1888]
      Original Description: Motacilla leucopsis Gould, 1838 Proceedings of the Zoological Society of London Part V p.78 (India)
      Distribution: Winter: Mainly E India but reported as far west as Uttarakhand and Delhi region; as well as till Gujarat and south till S Karnataka; also, Andaman Is.
      Type Specimen: NHMUK#1881.5.1.4514 (Holotype).
      Specimens: BNHS, ZSI, NHMUK, UMMZ, AMNH, FMNH, ROM, USNM, YPM
    • 1296f. Motacilla alba alboides Hodgson, 1836 [HB#1887]
      Original Description: [Motacilla] Alboides 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 Vol. 19, Part I p.191-192
      Taxonomy: Includes albula Koelz 1954 from Barapani, Khasi hills, Meghalaya.
      Distribution: Breeding: Along the Himalaya from Ladakh, Kashmir, Himachal, Uttarakhand, Sikkim, and Arunachal. Non-breeding: Extending to adjacent plains including entire E India, as far west as W Rajasthan.
      Specimens: BNHS, ZSI, NHMUK, UMMZ, AMNH, FMNH, MCZ, USNM, YPM
  
  
• Anthus Bechstein, 1805 Gemeinnützige Naturgeschichte Deutschlands nach allen drey Reichen. Ein Handbuch zur deutlichern und vollständigern Selbstbelehrung besonders für Forstmänner, Jugendlehrer und Oekonomen. Zweyte vermehrte und verbesserte Auflage ed.2, 2 p.247,302 Alauda pratensis Linnaeus, 1758; Type by subsequent designation (Selby, 1825, Illustrations of British ornithology, 1, p.xxix)
  • 1297. Upland Pipit Anthus sylvanus (Hodgson, 1845) [HB#1873]
    Original Description: Heterura sylvana Hodgson, 1845 Proceedings of the Zoological Society of London Part 13, no.146 p.33
    Taxonomy: Includes oreinus Koelz 1954 from Kotla, Kangra, Himachal.
    Distribution: Along the W Himalaya from Kashmir, Jammu, Himachal, and Uttarakhand; also reported from N Bengal (historically) and N Sikkim more recently.
    Specimens: BNHS, NHMUK, UMMZ, AMNH, FMNH, MCZ, USNM, YPM, LKO
    IUCN: Least Concern. SoIB: Low. WLPA: Schedule-II. CMS: Appendix II.
  
  
  • 1298. Blyth's Pipit Anthus godlewskii (Taczanowski, 1876) [HB#1863]
    Original Description: Agrodoma godlewskii Taczanowski, 1876 Bulletin de la Société Zoologique de France 1 p.158
    Taxonomy: Includes striolatus Blyth 1847 from Darjeeling, N Bengal.
    Distribution: Winter: Throughout India from Himachal through Delhi region, west till Gujarat, east through Assam plains, Arunachal, Tripura, and south till S Tamil Nadu; also, Great Nicobar (once).
    Specimens: BNHS, NHMUK, UMMZ, AMNH, FMNH, USNM, YPM
    IUCN: Least Concern. SoIB: Low. WLPA: Schedule-II. CMS: Appendix II.
  
  
  • 1299. Tawny Pipit Anthus campestris (Linnaeus, 1758) [HB#1861-1862]
    Original Description: Alauda campestris 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.166
    Taxonomy: Regional form often treated as subspecies griseus Nicoll 1920 (Type Locality: Tischan, Turkestan) which along with kastchenkoi Johansen 1952 (Type Locality: Novosibirsk, W Siberia) that was reported from Uttar Pradesh and Bihar (AR2001) are no longer considered valid and the species is treated as monotypic (Alström & Mild 2003, Pipits & Wagtails p.193).
    Distribution: Winter: Throughout Indian subcontinent – from Gilgit (historical, passage), Jammu, Himachal and east till Bihar, S W Bengal (historical), Chhattisgarh, and EC Odisha; west till Gujarat and south till S Tamil Nadu and C Kerala.
    Specimens: BNHS, ZSI, NHMUK, UMMZ, AMNH, FMNH, MCZ, ROM, USNM
    IUCN: Least Concern. SoIB: High. WLPA: Schedule-II. CMS: Appendix II.
  
  
  • 1300. Long-billed Pipit Anthus similis (Jerdon, 1840)
    Alternative Names: Brown Rock Pipit
    IUCN: Least Concern. SoIB: Moderate. WLPA: Schedule-II.
    • 1300a. Anthus similis decaptus Meinertzhagen, 1920 [HB#1866]
      Original Description: Anthus sordidus decaptus Meinertzhagen, 1920 Bulletin of the British Ornithologists' Club 41 p.23
      Distribution: Winter: W India from Punjab, Haryana, Delhi region, Rajasthan, Gujarat, W Madhya Pradesh, and NW Maharashtra.
      Specimens: BNHS, UMMZ, FMNH
      Notes: Extact winter limits uncertain.
    • 1300b. Anthus similis jerdoni Finsch, 1870 [HB#1867]
      Original Description: Anthus jerdoni Finsch, 1870 Transactions of the Zoological Society of London 9 p.241 (Kotgurh, Himachal)
      Distribution: Breeding: Foothills of Himalaya from Kashmir, Jammu, Himachal, adjoining regions in Punjab, Haryana, and Uttar Pradesh. Non-breeding: Entire N and C India.
      Specimens: BNHS, NHMUK, UMMZ, AMNH, FMNH, MCZ, ROM, USNM, YPM
      Notes: The population present throughout the year in most of India are tentatively assumed to be this subspecies – more study required to understand the meeting point of breeding ranges of the nominate subspecies and this subspecies. Its range in E India, including N Bengal as well as Assam valley is tentative. Exact taxon involved is also not clear.
    • 1300c. Anthus similis similis (Jerdon, 1840) [HB#1868]
      Original Description: Agrodoma similis Jerdon, 1840 Madras Journal of Literature and Science 11 p.35 (Jalna)
      Taxonomy: Includes cockburniae Oates 1890 from Nilgiri hills, NW Tamil Nadu. Note, Ri1961 treats the protonym genus as Anthus, but see Jerdon (1840) for its original description and hence listing it under Agrodoma.
      Distribution: W Ghats from Maharashtra till about Palakkad gap and Deccan – locally as well as E Ghats.
      Specimens: NHMUK, AMNH
    • 1300d. Anthus similis travancoriensis Ripley, 1953 [HB#1869]
      Original Description: Anthus similis travancoriensis Ripley, 1953 Postilla 17 p.2-3 (Road to Muthukuzhi, Ashambu hills, S Tamil Nadu)
      Taxonomy: Sometimes not treated as a valid subspecies (Alström & Mild 2003, Pipits & Wagtails p.205; Avilist); however, subspecies quite distinct in plumage.
      Distribution: W Ghats south of Palakkad gap till Kalakkad in S Tamil Nadu.
      Type Specimen: YPM#23327 (Holotype).
      Specimens: BNHS, NHMUK, YPM, TNHM
  
  
  • 1301. Richard's Pipit Anthus richardi Vieillot, 1818
    Taxonomy: Sometimes treated as monotypic (Alström & Mild 2003, Pipits & Wagtails p.218; see IOC, Avilist).
    IUCN: Least Concern. SoIB: Low. WLPA: Schedule-II. CMS: Appendix II.
    Notes: Listing of subspecies is mostly based on what is likely to occur based on their respective breeding ranges. Subspecies are complex to evaluate on winter specimens.Other subspecies like, ussuriensis Johansen, H, 1952 or sinensis Bonaparte, 1850 from the eastern part of the species breeding range are also possible in E India.
    • [Anthus richardi richardi Vieillot, 1818 [HB#1857]]
      Original Description: Anthus Richardi Vieillot, 1818 Nouveau dictionnaire d'histoire naturelle, appliquée aux arts, à l'agriculture, à l'économie rurale et domestique, à la médecine, etc. Nouvelle édition 26 p.491
      Distribution: Winter: W India.
      Specimens: USNM, YPM
      Notes: Most westerly breeding population; it is likely that some of the individuals may occur in W part of India. Listing in museums likely following older taxonomy and would need reassignment.
    • 1301a. Anthus richardi dauricus Johansen, 1952
      Original Description: Anthus richardi dauricus Johansen, 1952 Journal für Ornithologie 92 p.145
      Distribution: Winter: W Bengal, adjoining Jharkhand and Odisha; Assam, Arunachal, Nagaland, Meghalaya, Cachar, Manipur, and Tripura; also, Andaman & Nicobar Is.
      Notes: Most likely subspecies in E India.
    • 1301b. Anthus richardi centralasiae (Kistjakowsky, 1928)
      Original Description: Agrodoma richardi centralasiae Kistjakowsky, 1928 Memoirs of the Academy of Sciences of Ukraine, Math.-Phys.Cl. 13 p.553
      Distribution: Winter: N India including Ladakh, Jammu, Himachal, Punjab, Uttarakhand, Uttar Pradesh, Delhi region, and NE Rajasthan; sporadic in C India; widely in S India from Maharashtra till the tip of the peninsula.
      Notes: Most likely subspecies in the Indian peninsula.
  
  
  • 1302. Paddyfield Pipit Anthus rufulus Vieillot, 1818
    IUCN: Least Concern. SoIB: Low. WLPA: Schedule-II.
    • 1302a. Anthus rufulus waitei Whistler, 1936 [HB#1858]
      Original Description: Anthus rufulus waitei Whistler, 1936 Journal of the Bombay Natural History Society 38 p.766
      Taxonomy: Subspecies not always recognised (see RA2012, IOC, Avilist).
      Distribution: Entire NW India from Kashmir, Jammu, till about W Uttar Pradesh, and N Madhya Pradesh.
      Specimens: BNHS, NHMUK
    • 1302b. Anthus rufulus rufulus Vieillot, 1818 [HB#1859]
      Original Description: Anthus rufulus Vieillot, 1818 Nouveau dictionnaire d'histoire naturelle, appliquée aux arts, à l'agriculture, à l'économie rurale et domestique, à la médecine, etc. Nouvelle édition 26 p.494 (Bengal)
      Distribution: Entire country from about W Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh; E India including all NE hill states (not reported from Sikkim); entire peninsular India south from Maharashtra, except Kerala.
      Specimens: BNHS, ZSI, NHMUK, RBINS, AMNH, FMNH, MCZ, YPM
    • 1302c. Anthus rufulus malayensis Eyton, 1839 [HB#1860]
      Original Description: Anthus malayensis Eyton, 1839 Proceedings of the Zoological Society of London Part 7 p.104-105
      Distribution: Kerala (SW India) – including the plains and the hills.
      Specimens: BNHS, NHMUK, UMMZ
  
  
  • 1303. Nilgiri Pipit Anthus nilghiriensis Sharpe, 1885 [HB#1870]
    Original Description: Anthus nilghiriensis Sharpe, 1885 Catalogue of the birds in the British Museum 10 p.535,550 (Nilgiri hills, Tamil Nadu)
    Distribution: Nilgiris (Tamil Nadu and adjoining Kerala), Palani, Munnar, and Grass hills.
    Type Specimen: NHMUK#1846.4.30.13 (Holotype).
    Specimens: BNHS, NHMUK, UMMZ, AMNH, FMNH, MCZ, USNM, YPM, TNHM, LKO
    IUCN: Vulnerable. SoIB: High. WLPA: Schedule-I.
    Endemic: Western Ghats.
    Notes: Distribution in Western Ghats outside this limited range considered unconfirmed (Robin et al. 2014, Current Science 107 (4): 626).
  
  
  • 1304. Tree Pipit Anthus trivialis (Linnaeus, 1758)
    Alternative Names: Eurasian Tree Pipit
    IUCN: Least Concern. SoIB: Moderate. WLPA: Schedule-II. CMS: Appendix II.
    • 1304a. Anthus trivialis trivialis (Linnaeus, 1758) [HB#1854]
      Original Description: Alauda trivialis 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.166
      Distribution: Winter: Throughout India; sporadic in extreme S India and NE India – has been reported from C Assam, W Arunachal, and W Meghalaya; also, Lakshadweep Is.
      Specimens: BNHS, ZSI, NHMUK, RBINS, UMMZ, AMNH, FMNH, MCZ, ROM, USNM, YPM, MYS, HYD
    • 1304b. Anthus trivialis haringtoni Witherby, 1917 [HB#1855]
      Original Description: Anthus trivialis haringtoni Witherby, 1917 Bulletin of the British Ornithologists' Club 37 p.44
      Taxonomy: Includes burzil Koelz 1939 from Burzil Pass, edge of Deosai plains, Baltistan.
      Distribution: Breeding: W Himalaya from Gilgit, Kashmir, Ladakh, and Lahaul-Spiti (Himachal). Non-breeding: Widespread in N India but also reported from NW Karnataka (Londa), NW Telangana (Utnur), and SE Tamil Nadu (Point Calimere).
      Specimens: BNHS, NHMUK, RBINS, UMMZ, FMNH, USNM
  
  
  • 1305. Olive-backed Pipit Anthus hodgsoni Richmond, 1907
    Alternative Names: Indian Tree Pipit
    IUCN: Least Concern. SoIB: High. WLPA: Schedule-II. CMS: Appendix II.
    • 1305a. Anthus hodgsoni hodgsoni Richmond, 1907 [HB#1852]
      Original Description: Anthus hodgsoni Richmond, 1907 Publication Carnegie Institution no.54 1 pt2 p.493 (Kolkata)
      Taxonomy: New name for maculatus Jerdon 1864 from Kolkata.
      Distribution: Breeding: Himachal (adjacent Jammu), Uttarakhand, N Bengal, Sikkim, and Arunachal. Non-breeding: Throughout the peninsula till CW Ghats of Karnataka (Ali 1969) and entire NE India.
      Specimens: BNHS, ZSI, UMMZ, AMNH, FMNH, MCZ, ROM, USNM, YPM
      Notes: Exact winter distribution of this subspecies not worked out.
    • 1305b. Anthus hodgsoni yunnanensis Uchida & Kuroda, 1916 [HB#1853]
      Original Description: Anthus maculatus yunnanensis Uchida & Kuroda, 1916 Annotationes Zoologicae Japonenses 9 p.134
      Distribution: Winter: Throughout the country, locally, including the entire W Ghats, E Ghats, and other hills of peninsular India.
      Specimens: BNHS, ZSI, NHMUK, FMNH, USNM, YPM, TNHM
  
  
  • 1306. Red-throated Pipit Anthus cervinus (Pallas, 1811) [HB#1864]
    Original Description: Motacilla cervina Pallas, 1811 Zoographia Rosso-Asiatica, sistens omnium animalium in extenso Imperio Rossico (etc.) 1 p.511
    Distribution: Non-breeding: Sporadic or local throughout India from Gilgit (historical), Ladakh, Kashmir, Himachal, Delhi region, Rajasthan, Gujarat, W Bengal, Assam valley, Manipur valley (historical), NE Arunachal, Maharashtra, Goa, Karnataka, Kerala, and Tamil Nadu; also, Narcondam and Andaman Is. (where regular).
    Specimens: BNHS, AMNH, ROM
    IUCN: Least Concern. WLPA: Schedule-II. CMS: Appendix II.
    Notes: A historical report from Kamorta Is. (C Nicobar) may be correct, but not verified here.
  
  
  • 1307. Rosy Pipit Anthus roseatus Blyth, 1847 [HB#1865]
    Original Description: Anthus roseatus Blyth, 1847 Journal of the Asiatic Society of Bengal 16 p.437
    Alternative Names: Vinaceous-breasted Pipit
    Distribution: Breeding: Along the Himalaya from Gilgit, Ladakh, through Kashmir, Himachal, Uttarakhand, N Bengal, Sikkim, and Arunachal. Non-breeding: Along the Indo-Gangetic and Brahmaputra plains and all NE hills states; south till about Jaipur, Gwalior, Ranchi and Kolkata region – sporadic further south in Gujarat (historical), NW Maharashtra, and Chhattisgarh.
    Specimens: BNHS, NHMUK, UMMZ, AMNH, FMNH, MCZ, ROM, USNM, YPM
    IUCN: Least Concern. SoIB: Low. WLPA: Schedule-II. CMS: Appendix II.
  
  
  • 1308. Buff-bellied Pipit Anthus japonicus Temminck & Schlegel, 1847 [HB#1872]
    Original Description: Anthus pratensis japonicus Temminck & Schlegel, 1847 Fauna Japonica sive descriptio animalium, quae in itinere per Japoniam, jussu et auspiciis superiorum, qui summum in India Batava imperium tenent, suscepto, annis 1825-1830 collegit, notis, observationibus et adumbrationibus illustravit. Vol. 4. Aves p.59, pl.24
    Taxonomy: Until recently, treated under A. rubescens Tunstall 1771.
    Alternative Names: Siberian Pipit; [American Pipit]
    Distribution: Winter: Sporadic and local in NW India from Ladakh, Kashmir, Himachal, Uttarakhand, Rajasthan, and Gujarat; also, N Bengal (historical), Arunachal (passage?), Assam, and Manipur (historical).
    Specimens: NHMUK, UMMZ
    IUCN: Least Concern. WLPA: Schedule-II. CMS: Appendix II.
    Notes: See Poonia et al. (2014, IB 9 (5&6): 164), Ash & Sinha (2020, IB 15 (6): 190).
  
  
  • 1309. Meadow Pipit Anthus pratensis (Linnaeus, 1758)
    Taxonomy: Sometimes treated as monotypic (IOC, Avilist).
    IUCN: Least Concern. WLPA: Schedule-II. CMS: Appendix II.
    • 1309a. Anthus pratensis pratensis (Linnaeus, 1758) [HB#1856]
      Original Description: Alauda pratensis 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.166
      Distribution: Vagrant. Ladakh only.
      Notes: See Tanveer (2021, IB 17 (5): 144). Based on specimens from Pakistan, Ladakh birds assumed to be of this subspecies.
  
  
  • 1310. Water Pipit Anthus spinoletta (Linnaeus, 1758)
    Original Description: Alauda Spinoletta 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.166
    IUCN: Least Concern. WLPA: Schedule-II. CMS: Appendix II.
    • [Anthus spinoletta coutellii Audouin, 1826 [HB#1871]]
      Original Description: Anthus Coutellii Audouin, 1826 Description de l'Égypte, ou recueil des observations et des recherches qui ont été faites en Égypte pendant l'expédition de l'armée française. Histoire naturelle. Vol. 1 23 p.360, pl. 5, fig. 5
      Taxonomy: Garner et al. (2015, British Birds 108 (1): 42) suggests species status for this subspecies.
      Distribution: Little Rann of Kachchh (Gujarat).
      Specimens: BNHS, UMMZ, FMNH
      Notes: See Prasad (2017, FL 15 (1): 22); confirmation desirable with more definitive photographs and sound recordings. RA2012 follows Alström & Mild (2003, Pipits & Wagtails p.151) in treating this subspecies as not occurring in S Asia. Several intermediate specimens with blackistoni in NHMUK from northern India. Specimens in BNHS, UMMZ, and FMNH not examined for subspecies verification.
    • 1310a. Anthus spinoletta blakistoni Swinhoe, 1863 [HB#1871]
      Original Description: Anthus blakistoni Swinhoe, 1863 Proceedings of the Zoological Society of London Part 1 p.90
      Taxonomy: Synonymised with coutelli Audouin 1826 (Type Locality: Egypt) in AR2001.
      Distribution: Winter: NW India from Gilgit, Ladakh, Kashmir, Jammu, Himachal, Punjab, Uttarakhand, Haryana, Delhi region, W Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, and Gujarat; also, once in W. Bengal and Assam.
      Specimens: NHMUK, AMNH
      Notes: E Assam and Arunachal reports not validated.