Birds of India - The New Synopsis

A complete checklist of bird species and subspecies found in India

Passeriformes (Perching Birds)

Paradoxornithidae (Parrotbills and allies)

• Myzornis Blyth, 1843 Journal of the Asiatic Society of Bengal 12 p.984 Myzornis pyrrhoura Blyth, 1843; Type by original designation
  • 917. Fire-tailed Myzornis Myzornis pyrrhoura Blyth, 1843 [HB#1338]
    Original Description: Myzornis pyrrhoura Blyth, 1843 Journal of the Asiatic Society of Bengal 12 p.984
    Distribution: N Bengal, Sikkim, Arunachal till about Vijoynagar region in SE Arunachal.
    Specimens: ZSI, UMZC, UMMZ, AMNH, FMNH, MCZ, ROM, USNM, YPM
    IUCN: Least Concern. SoIB: Moderate. WLPA: Schedule-II.
  
  
• Lioparus Oates, 1889 The fauna of British India, including Ceylon and Burma. Birds. 1st ed. 1 p.174 Proparus chrysotis Blyth, 1845; Type by original designation
  • 918. Golden-breasted Fulvetta Lioparus chrysotis (Blyth, 1845)
    Alternative Names: Golden-breasted Tit Babbler
    IUCN: Least Concern. SoIB: Moderate. WLPA: Schedule-II.
    • 918a. Lioparus chrysotis chrysotis (Blyth, 1845) [HB#1376]
      Original Description: Pr[oparus]. chrysotis Blyth, 1845 Journal of the Asiatic Society of Bengal p.938
      Distribution: N Bengal, Sikkim, and Arunachal.
      Specimens: BNHS, NHMUK, MCZ, YPM
      Notes: Eastern limits not worked out but Mishmi birds likely this subspecies.
    • 918b. Lioparus chrysotis albilineatus Koelz, 1954 [HB#1377]
      Original Description: Lioparus chrysotis albilineatus Koelz, 1954 Contributions from the Institute for Regional Exploration no.1 p.7 (Karong, Manipur)
      Distribution: SE Arunachal (Vijoynagar region), Nagaland, and Manipur hills.
      Type Specimen: UMMZ#147828 (Holotype).
      Specimens: UMMZ
      Notes: SE Arunachal birds tentatively assigned to this subspecies.
  
  
• Chrysomma Blyth, 1843 Journal of the Asiatic Society of Bengal 12 p.181 Timalia hypoleuca Franklin, 1831; Type by original designation
  • 919. Yellow-eyed Babbler Chrysomma sinense (Gmelin, 1789)
    IUCN: Least Concern. SoIB: Low. WLPA: Schedule-II.
    • 919a. Chrysomma sinense hypoleucum (Franklin, 1831) [HB#1230]
      Original Description: Timalia hypoleuca 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: Includes saurashtrens Koelz 1954 from Sasan, Saurashtra (Gujarat).
      Distribution: Throughout Indian subcontinent from Kashmir foothills through the sub-Himalayan tracts of Jammu, Himachal, Punjab, Uttarakhand, Delhi region, E Rajasthan, locally in W Rajasthan, Indo-Gangetic plains till S W Bengal, Gujarat, C India, and S India except the SW coastal plains as well as CW and SW Ghats.
      Specimens: BNHS, NHMUK, UMMZ, FMNH, MCZ, ROM, USNM, YPM, MYS, HYD
    • 919b. Chrysomma sinense saturatius (Ticehurst, 1922) [HB#1231]
      Original Description: Pyctorhis sinensis saturatior Ticehurst, 1922 Bulletin of the British Ornithologists' Club 42 p.57 (Bhutan Dooars, W Bengal)
      Taxonomy: Subspecies not always recognised (see RA2012, IOC, Avilist) and sometimes considered a synonym of hypoleucum or the nominate subspecies.
      Distribution: N Bengal, Assam, adjoining Arunachal (historically at least).
      Type Specimen: NHMUK#1886.10.1.4661 (Holotype).
      Specimens: NHMUK, AMNH, FMNH
    • 919c. Chrysomma sinense sinense (Gmelin, 1789) [HB#1231]
      Original Description: [Parus] sinensis Gmelin, 1789 Systema Naturae. Editio decima tertia, aucta, reformata. Cura Jo. Frid. Gmelin (etc.). Tomus I. Pars II 1 pt2 p.1012
      Taxonomy: Includes nagaensi Koelz 1954 from Karong, Manipur.
      Distribution: Nagaland, Meghalaya, Cachar, Manipur, and Mizoram.
      Specimens: BNHS, ZSI, NHMUK, RBINS, UMMZ, AMNH, MCZ, USNM, YPM, BNHM
  
  
  • 920. Jerdon's Babbler Chrysomma altirostre Jerdon, 1862
    Original Description: Chrysomma altirostre Jerdon, 1862 Ibis p.22
    IUCN: Vulnerable. SoIB: High. WLPA: Schedule-I.
    • 920a. Chrysomma altirostre scindicum (Harington, 1915) [HB#1233]
      Original Description: Pyctorhis altirostris scindicus Harington, 1915 Journal of the Bombay Natural History Society 23 p.424
      Distribution: Harike (Punjab).
      Specimens: NHMUK
      Notes: See Sawant & Sudhagar (2013).
    • 920b. Chrysomma altirostre griseigulare (Hume, 1877) [HB#1234]
      Original Description: Pyctorhis griseigularis Hume, 1877 Stray Feathers Vol. 5, N° 2 p.116-117 (Assam)
      Distribution: N Uttar Pradesh (Dudhwa), N Bengal (historical), Brahmaputra plains of Assam and adjoining E Arunachal, and Manipur valley.
      Type Specimen: NHMUK#1886.10.1.4697 (Holotype).
      Specimens: BNHS, NHMUK, AMNH
      Notes: Cachar reports not investigated. See Choudhury (2024, JBNHS 120 (3): xx).
  
  
• Fulvetta David & Oustalet, 1877 Les oiseaux de la Chine p.220 Siva cinereiceps J. Verreaux, 1871; Type by subsequent designation (Sharpe, 1883, Catalogue of the birds in the British Museum, 7, p.628)
  • 921. Brown-throated Fulvetta Fulvetta ludlowi Kinnear, 1935 [HB#1384]
    Original Description: Fulvetta ludlowi Kinnear, 1935 Bulletin of the British Ornithologists' Club 55 p.134
    Alternative Names: Ludlow's Fulvetta, Himalayan Brown-headed Tit Babbler
    Distribution: Arunachal only – from Dafla hills in the west till Vijoynagar region in the east.
    Specimens: USNM
    IUCN: Least Concern. SoIB: High. WLPA: Schedule-II.
    Endemic: Eastern Himalaya.
  
  
  • 922. White-browed Fulvetta Fulvetta vinipectus (Hodgson, 1837)
    Original Description: [Mesia] Siva Vinipectus Hodgson, 1837 The India Review and Journal of Foreign Science and the Arts 2 p.89
    Alternative Names: White-browed Tit Babbler
    IUCN: Least Concern. SoIB: Moderate. WLPA: Schedule-II.
    • 922a. Fulvetta vinipectus kangrae Ticehurst & Whistler, 1924 [HB#1380]
      Original Description: Fulvetta vinipecta kangrae Ticehurst & Whistler, 1924 Bulletin of the British Ornithologists' Club 44 p.71 (Palumpur, Kangra)
      Distribution: Himachal and Uttarakhand.
      Type Specimen: NHMUK#1924.3.13.1 (Holotype).
      Specimens: BNHS, NHMUK, UMMZ, FMNH, YPM
      Notes: No specimens exist of the nominate subspecies from E Uttarakhand. Photographs from Pithoragarh are also of kangrae.
    • 922b. Fulvetta vinipectus chumbiensis Kinnear, 1939 [HB#1382]
      Original Description: Fulvetta vinipectus chumbiensis Kinnear, 1939 Ibis (14) 3 (4) p.751
      Distribution: N Bengal and Sikkim.
      Specimens: BNHS, ZSI, NHMUK, FMNH, MCZ, YPM
    • 922c. Fulvetta vinipectus austeni (Ogilvie-Grant, 1895) [HB#1383]
      Original Description: Proparus austeni Ogilvie-Grant, 1895 Bulletin of the British Ornithologists' Club 5 p.3 (Manipur and the Naga hills)
      Distribution: Nagaland and Manipur.
      Type Specimen: NHMUK#1895.7.14.1936 (Syntype).
      Specimens: NHMUK, ROM, YPM
    • [Fulvetta vinipectus ripponi (Harington, 1913) ]
      Original Description: Proparus ripponi Harington, 1913 Bulletin of the British Ornithologists' Club 33 p.59
      Distribution: Mizoram.
      Notes: Subspecies expected in Mizo hills (see RA2012).
    • 922d. Fulvetta vinipectus perstriata Mayr, 1941 [HB#1382a]
      Original Description: Fulvetta vinipectus perstriata Mayr, 1941 Ibis (14) 5 (1) p.79
      Distribution: Walong region and Upper Noa-Dihing valley of NE Arunachal.
      Specimens: USNM
      Notes: Western extremities of its distribution in Arunachal remains to be studied.
  
  
  • 923. Manipur Fulvetta Fulvetta manipurensis (Ogilvie-Grant, 1906)
    Alternative Names: Manipur Brown-headed Tit Babbler, Grey-hooded Fulvetta; Streak-throated/Grey-headed Tit Babbler (with F. cinereiceps EL)
    IUCN: Least Concern. SoIB: High. WLPA: Schedule-II.
    • 923a. Fulvetta manipurensis manipurensis (Ogilvie-Grant, 1906) [HB#1385]
      Original Description: Proparus manipurensis Ogilvie-Grant, 1906 Bulletin of the British Ornithologists' Club 16 p.123 (Owenkulno Peak, Manipur hills)
      Distribution: C Arunachal (Talle valley), E Arunachal (Mishmi hills, Vijoynagar region), Nagaland, and N Manipur.
      Type Specimen: NHMUK#1895.7.14.1948 (Syntype).
      Specimens: NHMUK, UMMZ, AMNH, YPM
      Notes: Barail range (Cachar) record in AR2001 not verified, but could occur.
  
  
• Paradoxornis Gould, 1836 Proceedings of the Zoological Society of London Part 4, no.38 p. 17 Paradoxornis flavirostris Gould, 1836; Type by original designation
  • 924. Black-breasted Parrotbill Paradoxornis flavirostris Gould, 1836 [HB#1251]
    Original Description: Paradoxornis flavirostris Gould, 1836 Proceedings of the Zoological Society of London Part 4, no.38 p. 17
    Alternative Names: Black-throated Parrotbill, Gould's Parrotbill
    Distribution: Extreme NE Bengal (historically), Brahmaputra plains in Assam and adjoining E Arunachal, Cachar plains (historically), and Manipur valley.
    Specimens: BNHS, NHMUK, AMNH, MCZ, ROM, USNM, YPM, BNHM
    IUCN: Vulnerable. SoIB: High. WLPA: Schedule-I.
    Endemic: Assam Plains.
    Notes: Listed for Nagaland (AR2001), but not investigated here.
  
  
  • 925. Spot-breasted Parrotbill Paradoxornis guttaticollis David, 1871 [HB#1237]
    Original Description: Paradoxornis guttaticollis David, 1871 Nouvelles Archives du Muséum d'Histoire Naturelle de Paris, Bulletin 7 p.8,14
    Taxonomy: Includes austeni Gould 1874 from Kuchai (Naga hills) and Shillong.
    Alternative Names: White-throated Parrotbill
    Distribution: E Arunachal (from Anini and Walong region), Nagaland, Manipur, and Mizoram.
    Specimens: NHMUK, UMMZ, FMNH, YPM
    IUCN: Least Concern. SoIB: Moderate. WLPA: Schedule-II.
  
  
  • 926. Great Parrotbill Paradoxornis aemodius (Hodgson, 1841) [HB#1236]
    Original Description: Conostama OEmodius Hodgson, 1841 Journal of the Asiatic Society of Bengal 10 p.857?
    Distribution: Uttarakhand, N Bengal, Sikkim, and rarely from W Arunachal.
    Specimens: BNHS, ZSI, NHMUK, UMMZ, AMNH, FMNH, YPM
    IUCN: Least Concern. SoIB: High. WLPA: Schedule-II.
    Notes: Records from Garhwal (Koelz specimen from a locality named 'Shotal') is not definitely tracked to Garhwal region.
  
  
  • 927. Brown Parrotbill Paradoxornis unicolor (Hodgson, 1843) [HB#1237]
    Original Description: H[eteromorpha]. unicolor Hodgson, 1843 Journal of the Asiatic Society of Bengal 12 p.448
    Distribution: E Uttarakhand (local), N Bengal, Sikkim, and W Arunachal.
    Specimens: BNHS, NHMUK, YPM
    IUCN: Least Concern. SoIB: Moderate. WLPA: Schedule-II.
    Notes: Its presence in E Arunachal based on sight records in Singh (1995, FT 10: 70) not corroborated since then.
  
  
  • 928. Grey-headed Parrotbill Paradoxornis gularis Gray, 1845
    IUCN: Least Concern. SoIB: Moderate. WLPA: Schedule-II.
    • 928a. Paradoxornis gularis gularis (Gray, 1845) [HB#1249]
      Original Description: Paradoxornis gularis Gray, 1845 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 2, pt.20 p.389 pl.94
      Distribution: N Bengal, Sikkim, Arunachal till about Mishmi hills and lower basin of Lohit.
      Specimens: NHMUK, AMNH, YPM, BNHM
    • 928b. Paradoxornis gularis transfluvialis (Hartert, 1900) [HB#1250]
      Original Description: Scaeorhynchus gularis transfluvialis Hartert, 1900 Novitates Zoologicae 7 (3) p.548 (Guilong, Assam)
      Taxonomy: Includes schoeniparus Koelz 1954 from Karong, Manipur. RA2012 states the birds in Mizo hills may belong to subspecies rasus Stresemann, 1940 from Chin hills that lacks black on throat; however photographs from Mizoram shows black on throat, though much reduced, and could be intergrades. Tentatively included under this taxon.
      Distribution: SE Arunachal (Noa-Dihing valley), S through Patkai hills, Nagaland, Meghalaya, Cachar, Manipur, and Mizoram.
      Type Specimen: AMNH#680094 (Holotype).
      Specimens: BNHS, NHMUK, UMMZ, AMNH, FMNH, YPM
    • [Paradoxornis gularis rasus Stresemann, 1940 ]
      Original Description: Psittiparus gularis rasus Stresemann, 1940 Mitteilungen aus dem Zoologischen Museum in Berlin 24 p.153 (in list), 180
      Distribution: S Mizoram.
      Notes: Subspecies expected in Mizo hills (see RA2012) but see under transfluvialis.
  
  
  • 929. White-breasted Parrotbill Paradoxornis ruficeps Blyth, 1842 [HB#1247]
    Original Description: Paradoxornis ruficeps Blyth, 1842 Journal of the Asiatic Society of Bengal 11 p.177
    Taxonomy: Recently split from P. bakeri (King & Robson 2008, FT 24: 121; RA2012); but may need further research in E Arunachal to clarify transition zones.
    Alternative Names: Greater Rufous-headed Parrotbill/Greater Red-headed Parrotbill (with P. bakeri)
    Distribution: N Bengal (historically at least), W Arunachal extending east till Mishmi hills.
    Specimens: BNHS, NHMUK, UMMZ, AMNH, YPM
    IUCN: Least Concern. SoIB: Moderate. WLPA: Schedule-II.
  
  
  • 930. Rufous-headed Parrotbill Paradoxornis bakeri (Hartert, 1900)
    IUCN: Least Concern. SoIB: Moderate. WLPA: Schedule-II.
    • 930a. Paradoxornis bakeri bakeri (Hartert, 1900) [HB#1248]
      Original Description: Scaeorhynchus ruficeps bakeri Hartert, 1900 Novitates Zoologicae 7 (3) p.548 (Hangrum, Assam)
      Taxonomy: Includes psithyrus Koelz 1954 from Sangau, Mizo hills and rufitinctus Koelz 1954 from Cherrapunji.
      Distribution: E Arunachal from Walong, Namdapha, Nagaland, Meghalaya, Manipur, and Mizoram.
      Type Specimen: AMNH#680088 (Holotype).
      Specimens: BNHS, ZSI, NHMUK, UMMZ, AMNH, FMNH, YPM
      Notes: Its presence in Mishmi hills, and the extent of hybridisation with White-breasted Parrotbill, if any, needs further investigation.
  
  
• Suthora Hodgson, 1837 The India Review and Journal of Foreign Science and the Arts 2 p. 32. Suthora nipalensis Hodgson, 1837; Type by original designation
  • 931. Fulvous Parrotbill Suthora fulvifrons (Hodgson, 1845)
    Alternative Names: Fulvous-fronted Parrotbill
    IUCN: Least Concern. SoIB: High. WLPA: Schedule-II.
    • 931a. Suthora fulvifrons fulvifrons (Hodgson, 1845) [HB#1238]
      Original Description: T[emnoris]. fulvifrons Hodgson, 1845 Proceedings of the Zoological Society of London Part 13, no.146 p.31
      Distribution: N Bengal and Sikkim.
      Specimens: BNHS, NHMUK, AMNH, YPM
    • 931b. Suthora fulvifrons chayulensis Kinnear, 1940 [HB#1239]
      Original Description: Suthora fulvifrons chayulensis Kinnear, 1940 Bulletin of the British Ornithologists' Club 60 p.56
      Taxonomy: Mishmi birds assumed to be this taxon.
      Distribution: Talley valley and Mechuka [=Pachakshri] in Subansiri basin and Mishmi hills.
      Specimens: NHMUK
      Notes: Its presence in Dafla hills of W Arunachal (AR2001, RA2012) not supported by any recent evidence; fact not further investigated. Several specimens from Mechuka (e.g., NHMUK#1937.1.17.855) from Ludlow's collection.
  
  
  • 932. Black-throated Parrotbill Suthora nipalensis (Hodgson, 1837)
    Original Description: [Parus] Suthora Nipalensis Hodgson, 1837 The India Review and Journal of Foreign Science and the Arts 2 p.32
    Alternative Names: Orange Parrotbill, Orange Suthora, Nepal Parrotbill; [Ashy-eared Parrotbill, Orange-eared Parrotbill, Grey-breasted Parrotbill, Blyth's Parrotbill]
    IUCN: Least Concern. SoIB: Moderate. WLPA: Schedule-II.
    • 932a. Suthora nipalensis garhwalensis (Fleming & Traylor, 1964) [HB#1239a]
      Original Description: Paradoxornis nipalensis garhwalensis Fleming & Traylor, 1964 Fieldiana Zoology 35 no.9 p.531 (Kuramtoli, Garhwal, Uttarakhand)
      Distribution: E Uttarakhand, and Garhwal region (historical).
      Type Specimen: FMNH#234602 (Holotype).
      Specimens: FMNH
    • 932b. Suthora nipalensis humii Sharpe, 1883 [HB#1241]
      Original Description: Suthora humii Sharpe, 1883 Catalogue of the birds in the British Museum 7 p.486,487 (Darjeeling)
      Distribution: N Bengal and Sikkim.
      Specimens: NHMUK, AMNH, FMNH, YPM, BNHM
      Notes: Range of the nominate subspecies does not extend west to Uttarakhand or east to N Bengal or Sikkim.
    • 932c. Suthora nipalensis crocotia (Kinnear, 1954) [HB#1243]
      Original Description: Paradoxornis poliotis crocotius Kinnear, 1954 Ibis p.484
      Taxonomy: New name for intermedia Kinnear 1944 from E Bhutan. Described from SE Tibet, but treated as a semi-stable hybrid population of humii x poliotis by Penhallurick & Robson (2009, FT 25: 141) – following Ludlow & Kinnear (1937, Ibis 79 (1): 27). Migration (of one taxon) suggested as the reason for the presence of two subspecies (crocotia and daflaensis Godwin-Austen 1876 = poliotis) in the same region in W Arunachal (AR2001); but intergradation more likely the cause. NHMUK specimen from Shakti (Field collection #5007) tentatively assigned to this subspecies. Also, see Ludlow & Kinnear (1944, Ibis 86 (1): 69). More investigation desirable.
      Distribution: W Arunachal (Shakti).
      Specimens: NHMUK
    • 932d. Suthora nipalensis poliotis Blyth, 1851 [HB#1242]
      Original Description: Suthora poliotis Blyth, 1851 Journal of the Asiatic Society of Bengal Vol. 20, N° 6 p.522 (Cherrapunji, Khasi hills, Meghalaya)
      Taxonomy: Tentatively includes daflaensis Godwin-Austen 1876 from Toroputu peak, Dafla hills and munipurensis Godwin-Austen & Walden 1875 from a site near Karakhul, Manipur hills. Type specimen lost (Sclater 1892, Ibis 34 (1): 72).
      Distribution: Arunachal, Nagaland, Meghalaya, Cachar, and N Manipur.
      Specimens: BNHS, NHMUK, UMMZ, YPM
    • 932e. Suthora nipalensis patriciae Koelz, 1954 [HB#1244]
      Original Description: Suthora poliotis patriciae Koelz, 1954 Contributions from the Institute for Regional Exploration no.1 p.2 (Blue Mountain, Lushai hills)
      Taxonomy: May be a synonym of ripponi Sharpe, 1905 of Chin hills, Myanmar (RA2012).
      Distribution: Mizo hills.
      Type Specimen: UMMZ#147807 (Holotype).
      Specimens: UMMZ
  
  
  • 933. Pale-billed Parrotbill Suthora atrosuperciliaris (Godwin-Austen, 1877)
    Alternative Names: Lesser Rufous-headed Parrotbill, Lesser Red-headed Parrotbill; Black-browed Parrotbill S. atrosuperciliaris sensu stricto
    IUCN: Least Concern. SoIB: Moderate. WLPA: Schedule-II.
    • 933a. Suthora atrosuperciliaris oatesi Sharpe, 1903 [HB#1245]
      Original Description: [Suthora] oatesi Sharpe, 1903 A hand-list of the genera and species of birds 4 p.70 (Darjeeling)
      Taxonomy: New name for Chleuasicus ruficeps Blyth 1845.
      Distribution: N Bengal and Sikkim.
      Specimens: NHMUK
      Notes: Recent sight records from Sikkim may be this taxon; but recent status in India little known. NHMUK has specimens from Sikkim.
    • 933b. Suthora atrosuperciliaris atrosuperciliaris (Godwin-Austen, 1877) [HB#1246]
      Original Description: Chleuasicus atrosuperciliaris Godwin-Austen, 1877 Journal of the Asiatic Society of Bengal 46 p.44 (Sadiya, Assam)
      Taxonomy: Includes rufina Koelz 1952 from Laikul, N Cachar.
      Distribution: Arunachal and adjoining Assam, Nagaland, Meghalaya, Cachar, and Mizoram.
      Type Specimen: NHMUK#1895.7.14.1485 (Holotype).
      Specimens: BNHS, ZSI, NHMUK, UMMZ, YPM
      Notes: Presence in Manipur not investigated.