Birds of India - The New Synopsis

A complete checklist of bird species and subspecies found in India

Passeriformes (Perching Birds)

Paridae (Tits)

• Cephalopyrus Bonaparte, 1854 Comptes Rendus Hebdomadaires des Séances de l'Académie des Sciences 38 p.62 Aegithalus flammiceps E. Burton, 1836; Type by monotypy
  • 724. Fire-capped Tit Cephalopyrus flammiceps (Burton, 1836)
    IUCN: Least Concern. WLPA: Schedule-II.
    • 724a. Cephalopyrus flammiceps flammiceps (Burton, 1836) [HB#1815]
      Original Description: Aegithalus flammiceps Burton, 1836 Proceedings of the Zoological Society of London Part 3, no.34 p.153 (Mussoorie)
      Distribution: Breeding: W Himalaya from Gilgit, Ladakh, Kashmir, Jammu, Himachal, and Uttarakhand. Non-breeding: Extending further south of its breeding range in Gangetic plains of Haryana (historical), Uttar Pradesh, Bharatpur (historical), C Indian highlands of Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, and NE Maharashtra (exceptionally into NW Deccan).
      Specimens: BNHS, ZSI, UMMZ, AMNH, FMNH, MCZ, USNM
    • 724b. Cephalopyrus flammiceps olivaceus Rothschild, 1923 [HB#1816]
      Original Description: Cephalopyrus flammiceps olivaceus Rothschild, 1923 Novitates Zoologicae 30 p.263
      Taxonomy: Includes saturatus Whistler 1924 from Sikkim.
      Distribution: N Bengal, Sikkim, Arunachal, and Assam (sporadic in winter); exceptionally to Meghalaya.
      Specimens: BNHS, UMMZ, YPM
  
  
• Sylviparus Burton, 1836 Proceedings of the Zoological Society of London Part 3, no.34 p. 153 Sylviparus modestus E. Burton, 1836; Type by monotypy
  • 725. Yellow-browed Tit Sylviparus modestus Burton, 1836
    IUCN: Least Concern. SoIB: Moderate. WLPA: Schedule-II.
    • 725a. Sylviparus modestus simlaensis Baker, 1917 [HB#1813]
      Original Description: Sylviparus modestus simlaensis Baker, 1917 Bulletin of the British Ornithologists' Club 38 p.8 (Shimla)
      Distribution: W Himalaya of Kashmir (historical), Himachal, and Uttarakhand.
      Type Specimen: NHMUK#1886.11.1.473 (Holotype).
      Specimens: BNHS, NHMUK, UMMZ, AMNH, FMNH, USNM
      Notes: Ladakh reports (AR2001) not verified.
    • 725b. Sylviparus modestus modestus Burton, 1836 [HB#1814]
      Original Description: Sylviparus modestus Burton, 1836 Proceedings of the Zoological Society of London Part 3, no.34 p.154
      Distribution: N Bengal, Sikkim, Arunachal, Nagaland, Meghalaya (Khasi hills), Manipur, and Mizoram.
      Specimens: BNHS, ZSI, RBINS, UMMZ, AMNH, FMNH, MCZ, ROM, USNM, YPM
      Notes: Multiple sight reports from Khasi hills considered definitive here (contra RA2012) but evidence from Cachar (AR2001) lacking.
  
  
• Melanochlora Lesson, 1839 Revue Zoologique, par la Société Cuvierienne 2 p.42 Melanochlora sumatrana Lesson, 1839; Type by monotypy = Parus flavocristatus Lafresnaye, 1837
  • 726. Sultan Tit Melanochlora sultanea (Hodgson, 1837)
    IUCN: Least Concern. SoIB: Low. WLPA: Schedule-II.
    • 726a. Melanochlora sultanea sultanea (Hodgson, 1837) [HB#1789]
      Original Description: Parus sultaneus Hodgson, 1837 The India Review and Journal of Foreign Science and the Arts 2 p.31
      Distribution: N Bengal, Sikkim, Arunachal, Assam, Nagaland, Meghalaya, Cachar, Manipur, and Mizoram.
      Specimens: BNHS, ZSI, NHMUK, UMMZ, AMNH, FMNH, ROM, USNM, YPM
  
  
• Cyanistes Kaup, 1829 Skizzirte Entwickelungs-Geschichte und natürliches System der Europäischen Thierwelt (etc.) I, p. 99 Parus caeruleus Linnaeus, 1758; Type by subsequent designation (Gray, 1842, Appendix to A list of the genera of birds, p.8)
  • 727. Azure Tit Cyanistes cyanus (Pallas, 1770)
    Original Description: Parus cyanus Pallas, 1770 Novi Commentarii Academiae Scientiarum Imperialis Petropolitanae 14, p.588
    Alternative Names: Blue Tit
    IUCN: Least Concern. WLPA: Schedule-II.
    • 727a. Cyanistes cyanus tianschanicus Menzbier, 1884 [HB#1800a]
      Original Description: Cyanistes cyanus var. tianschanicus Menzbier, 1884 Bulletin de la Société Zoologique de France 9ème vol. p. 276-277
      Distribution: Vagrant. Reported only from Hunza valley, Gilgit.
      Specimens: NHMUK
  
  
• Pseudopodoces Zarudny & Loudon, 1902 Ornithologische Monatsberichte 10 p.185 Podoces humilis Hume, 1871; Type by original designation and monotypy
  • 728. Ground Tit Pseudopodoces humilis (Hume, 1871) [HB#1041]
    Original Description: Podoces humilis Hume, 1871 Ibis p.408
    Alternative Names: Tibetan Ground Jay, Hume's Ground Jay, Tibetan Ground Tit, Hume's Ground Chough, Hume's Groundpecker, Groundpecker
    Distribution: Trans-Himalaya of Ladakh (including Kargil region) and N Sikkim.
    Specimens: UMMZ, FMNH
    IUCN: Least Concern. WLPA: Schedule-II.
  
  
• Parus 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.189 Parus major Linnaeus, 1758; Type by subsequent designation (Gray, 1840, A list of the genera of birds, with an indication of the typical species of each genus, p.23)
  • 729. Green-backed Tit Parus monticolus Vigors, 1831
    IUCN: Least Concern. SoIB: Low. WLPA: Schedule-II.
    • 729a. Parus monticolus monticolus Vigors, 1831 [HB#1799]
      Original Description: Parus monticolus Vigors, 1831 Proceedings of the Committee of Science and Correspondence of the Zoological Society of London Part 1 no.2 p.22 (Shimla)
      Distribution: W Himalaya from Kashmir, Himachal, and Uttarakhand.
      Specimens: BNHS, ZSI, NHMUK, RBINS, UMMZ, AMNH, FMNH, MCZ, USNM, YPM
    • 729b. Parus monticolus yunnanensis La Touche, 1922
      Original Description: Parus monticolus yunnanensis La Touche, 1922 Bulletin of the British Ornithologists' Club 42 p.51
      Taxonomy: Includes lepcharum R. & A. Meinertzhagen 1926 from Gangtok, Sikkim. See Paynter (1963, JBNHS 59 (3): 953) for details. Erstwhile museum specimen assignment might need revision.
      Distribution: N Bengal, Sikkim, Arunachal, Nagaland, Meghalaya, Manipur, and Mizoram.
      Specimens: NHMUK, AMNH, FMNH, MCZ, ROM, YPM
  
  
  • 730. Cinereous Tit Parus cinereus Vieillot, 1818
    Original Description: Parus cinereus 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 25["1817"], 17 p. 316
    Alternative Names: Grey Tit/Great Tit (with P. major EL), Asian Tit
    IUCN: Not Recognised. SoIB: Low. WLPA: Schedule-II.
    • 730a. Parus cinereus caschmirensis Hartert, 1905 [HB#1791-1792]
      Original Description: Parus major caschmirensis Hartert, 1905 Die Vögel der paläarktischen Fauna. Systematische Übersicht der in Europa, Nord-Asien und der Mittelmeerregion vorkommenden Vögel Band I Heft VI p.345 (Gilgit)
      Distribution: W Himalaya of Gilgit, Ladakh, Kashmir, Himachal, and Uttarakhand.
      Type Specimen: AMNH#680520 (Holotype).
      Specimens: BNHS, ZSI, NHMUK, UMMZ, AMNH, FMNH, MCZ, YPM
    • 730b. Parus cinereus planorum Hartert, 1905 [HB#1793]
      Original Description: Parus major planorum Hartert, 1905 Novitates Zoologicae 12 (2) p.499 (S Punjab)
      Taxonomy: The name nipalensis Hodgson 1837 preoccupied and hence revisited (Dickinson 2009, IB 5 (1): 16).
      Distribution: Indo-Gangetic plains from Punjab, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, W Bengal, Sikkim, Arunachal, Assam, and all NE hill states.
      Type Specimen: AMNH#680545 (Holotype).
      Specimens: BNHS, ZSI, NHMUK, UMMZ, AMNH, FMNH, BNHM
    • 730c. Parus cinereus vauriei Ripley, 1950 [HB#1796]
      Original Description: Parus major vauriei Ripley, 1950 Postilla 1 p.2-3 (Chabua, N. Lakhimpur district., Assam)
      Taxonomy: Sometimes not recognised and included under planorum [= nipalensis] (RA2012).
      Distribution: Patkai hills and foothills of Mishmi hills in E Assam and E Arunachal.
      Type Specimen: YPM#9334 (Holotype).
      Specimens: BNHS, FMNH, YPM
    • 730d. Parus cinereus stupae Koelz, 1939 [HB#1794]
      Original Description: Parus major stupae Koelz, 1939 Proceedings of the Biological Society of Washington 52 p.61 (Sanchi, Bhopal)
      Distribution: Most of the subcontinent from E Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat, Chhattisgarh, adjoining S Jharkhand, Maharashtra, Andhra (mostly absent in coastal plains), Karnataka (local in Deccan), and Tamil Nadu (mostly absent in coastal plains).
      Type Specimen: FMNH#246503 (Holotype).
      Specimens: BNHS, ZSI, UMMZ, AMNH, FMNH, MCZ, YPM
    • 730e. Parus cinereus mahrattarum Hartert, 1905 [HB#1795]
      Original Description: Parus major mahrattarum Hartert, 1905 Novitates Zoologicae 12 (2) p.499
      Distribution: SW India (mostly Kerala).
      Specimens: BNHS, ZSI, NHMUK, AMNH, FMNH, YPM, TNHM, HYD
  
  
• Machlolophus Cabanis, 1851 Museum Heineanum. Verzeichniss der orithologischen Sammlung des Oberamtmann Ferdinand Heine 1 p.91 Parus spilonotus Blyth ; Type by subsequent designation (Gray, 1855, Catalogue of the genera and subgenera of birds contained in the British Museum, p.37) = Parus spilonotus Bonaparte, 1850
  • 731. White-naped Tit Machlolophus nuchalis (Jerdon, 1845) [HB#1798]
    Original Description: Parus nuchalis Jerdon, 1845 Madras Journal of Literature and Science 13 p.131 (E Ghats)
    Alternative Names: White-winged Black Tit
    Distribution: Two disjunct populations (a) NW India from SW Haryana, E Rajasthan, Gujarat (N and W Kachchh regions) (b) Deccan from Davanagere (Karnataka) and Gandikota (Andhra) in the north till Satyamangala and Salem in the south – but mostly concentrated in the SE Ghats around mid-course of the Kaveri river.
    Type Specimen: NHMUK#1846.4.30.35 (Holotype).
    Specimens: BNHS, NHMUK, AMNH, FMNH
    IUCN: Vulnerable. SoIB: Moderate. WLPA: Schedule-I.
    Endemic: Endemic to India.
  
  
  • 732. Himalayan Black-lored Tit Machlolophus xanthogenys (Vigors, 1831) [HB#1809]
    Original Description: Parus xanthogenys Vigors, 1831 Proceedings of the Committee of Science and Correspondence of the Zoological Society of London Part 1 no.2 p. 23 (Shimla-Almora Distict)
    Alternative Names: Black-lored Tit/Black-lored Yellow Tit (with M. aplonotus); Yellow-cheeked Tit (with M. aplonotus & M. spilonotus)
    Distribution: W Himalaya from Kashmir, Jammu, Himachal, and Uttarakhand; also, sporadically around N Bengal, and possibly Sikkim.
    Specimens: BNHS, ZSI, NHMUK, UMMZ, AMNH, FMNH, YPM
    IUCN: Least Concern. SoIB: Low. WLPA: Schedule-II.
    Notes: Distribution in Himalaya east of Nepal based on photographs.
  
  
  • 733. Indian Black-lored Tit Machlolophus aplonotus (Blyth, 1847)
    Taxonomy: All taxa under this sometimes treated as a subspecies of M. xanthogenys (HBW/BLI).
    Alternative Names: Indian Tit, Indian Yellow Tit
    IUCN: Not Recognised. SoIB: Low. WLPA: Schedule-II.
    Endemic: Endemic to India.
    • 733a. Machlolophus aplonotus aplonotus (Blyth, 1847) [HB#1810]
      Original Description: Parus aplonotus Blyth, 1847 Journal of the Asiatic Society of Bengal Vol. 16, N° 5 p.444-445 (Chaibasa, Jharkhand)
      Taxonomy: Type specimen lost (Sclater 1892, Ibis 34 (1): 72).
      Distribution: E Rajasthan, N and E Gujarat, Surat Dangs, NW Ghats till Mahabaleshwar; C Indian highlands of N and NE Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh; Chota Nagpur plateau in Jharkhand, W Bengal, and NW Odisha; NE Ghats of Odisha and NE Andhra extending till CE Ghats in the Nallamala hills.
      Specimens: BNHS, ZSI, NHMUK, UMMZ, AMNH, FMNH, HYD
      Notes: Isolated record in SE Ghats not evaluated but possibly of this subspecies.
    • 733b. Machlolophus aplonotus travancoreensis Whistler & Kinnear, 1932 [HB#1811]
      Original Description: Machlolophus xanthogenys travancoreensis Whistler & Kinnear, 1932 Journal of the Bombay Natural History Society 35 p.520 (Mynall, Thiruvananthapuram district, Kerala)
      Taxonomy: Includes xanthonotus Koelz 1939 from Londa, NW Karnataka. It is unclear on what authority Mynall has been respelt as 'Mynali' in Eck & Martens (2006, Zoologische Mededelingen 80 (5): 41).
      Distribution: W Ghats from SW Maharashtra and Goa, south till the southern tip of the Ghats in Kanyakumari district. – limited eastward extension; absent in Biligirirangans though has been reported from Talamalai (NW Tami Nadu).
      Type Specimen: NHMUK#1880.8.19.109 (Holotype).
      Specimens: BNHS, NHMUK, UMMZ, AMNH, FMNH, YPM, TNHM
  
  
  • 734. Yellow-cheeked Tit Machlolophus spilonotus (Bonaparte, 1850)
    Alternative Names: Black-spotted Yellow Tit
    IUCN: Least Concern. SoIB: Low. WLPA: Schedule-II.
    • 734a. Machlolophus spilonotus spilonotus (Bonaparte, 1850) [HB#1812]
      Original Description: Parus spilonotus Bonaparte, 1850 Conspectus generum avium 1 p.228 (Darjeeling)
      Taxonomy: New name for xanthogenys Blyth 1847. ZSI register lists the syntypes (ZSI#35570-71) under this name.
      Distribution: N Bengal, Sikkim, Arunachal, and disjunctly in Mizoram.
      Type Specimen: ZSI#35570 (Syntype).
      Specimens: BNHS, ZSI, NHMUK, UMMZ, AMNH, FMNH, YPM, BNHM
    • 734b. Machlolophus spilonotus subviridis (Blyth, 1855) [HB#1812a]
      Original Description: Parus subviridis Blyth, 1855 Journal of the Asiatic Society of Bengal Vol. 24, N° 3 p.267
      Taxonomy: Unexpected distribution – where this subspecies wedges between the nominate subspecies population in the north (Arunachal) and south (Mizoram).
      Distribution: Nagaland, Meghalaya, and Manipur.
      Specimens: BNHS, UMMZ, AMNH, FMNH, YPM
      Notes: AR2001 includes Mizoram birds under this subspecies while RA2012 treats them as the nominate subspecies. Reports from Cachar (AR2001) not validated but likely to be correct.
  
  
• Periparus de Sélys Longchamps, 1884 Bulletin de la Société Zoologique de France 9 p.43,59 Parus ater Linnaeus, 1758; Type by original designation
  • 735. Coal Tit Periparus ater (Linnaeus, 1758)
    Original Description: Parus ater 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.190
    Alternative Names: Spot-winged Tit/Crested Black Tit P. [a.] melanolophus
    IUCN: Least Concern. SoIB: Low. WLPA: Schedule-II.
    • 735a. Periparus ater melanolophus (Vigors, 1831) [HB#1802]
      Original Description: Parus melanolophus Vigors, 1831 Proceedings of the Committee of Science and Correspondence of the Zoological Society of London Part 1 no.2 p.23 (Shimla-Almora districts, W Himalaya)
      Taxonomy: The Nepal endemic subspecies martensi Eck, 1998 not considered here for India.
      Distribution: W Himalaya from Gilgit, Kashmir, Jammu, Himachal, and Uttarakhand.
      Specimens: BNHS, ZSI, NHMUK, RBINS, UMMZ, AMNH, FMNH, MCZ, USNM, YPM
    • 735b. Periparus ater aemodius (Blyth, 1845) [HB#1803]
      Original Description: Parus aemodius Blyth, 1845 Journal of the Asiatic Society of Bengal 13 p.943
      Distribution: N Bengal, Sikkim, and Arunachal east till Walong region.
      Specimens: BNHS, ZSI, RBINS, AMNH, FMNH, MCZ, YPM, BNHM
  
  
  • 736. Rufous-naped Tit Periparus rufonuchalis (Blyth, 1849) [HB#1804]
    Original Description: Parus rufonuchalis Blyth, 1849 Journal of the Asiatic Society of Bengal 18 p.810 (Tyne Range,interpreted as a range in Uttarkashi district, Uttarakhand, near Mussoorie)
    Taxonomy: ZSI register lists the type specimen from 'Snow Line Tyne Range' which roughly indicates the snowline on the Tyne range. White (1838) has an illustration of view from Tyne or Marma. Exact present day locations remain untraced but it is certainly in Uttarakhand overlooking the glaciers of Yamunotri and Gangotri. See Praveen et al. (2024, Avian Systematics 2 (6): 69).
    Alternative Names: Black-breasted Tit, Dark-grey Tit, Simla Black Tit
    Distribution: W Himalaya from Kashmir, Ladakh (straggler), Jammu, Himachal, and Uttarakhand.
    Type Specimen: ZSI#35565 (Holotype).
    Specimens: BNHS, ZSI, NHMUK, UMMZ, AMNH, FMNH, YPM
    IUCN: Least Concern. SoIB: Low. WLPA: Schedule-II.
  
  
  • 737. Rufous-vented Tit Periparus rubidiventris (Blyth, 1847)
    Alternative Names: Rufous-bellied Crested Tit, Black Crested Tit
    IUCN: Least Concern. SoIB: High. WLPA: Schedule-II.
    • 737a. Periparus rubidiventris rubidiventris (Blyth, 1847) [HB#1805]
      Original Description: Parus rubidiventris Blyth, 1847 Journal of the Asiatic Society of Bengal 16 p.445
      Distribution: W Himalaya from Overa Aru Wildlife Sanctuary (Kashmir), Himachal (locally) and Uttarakhand.
      Specimens: BNHS, NHMUK, UMMZ, AMNH, FMNH
      Notes: Kashmir reports (Jamdar & Price 1990, JBNHS 87 (2): 302) evaluated in Kichloo et al. (2024, IB 19 (6): 166); other sight reports could be compounded with Rufous-naped Tit.
    • 737b. Periparus rubidiventris beavani (Jerdon, 1863) [HB#1806]
      Original Description: Lophophanes Beavani 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.275 (Mt. Tonglu, W Bengal)
      Taxonomy: Myanmar subspecies saramatii Ripley 1961 has been collected just outside Nagaland border from the eastern slopes of Mt. Saramati; but is yet to be positively recorded within Indian limits.
      Distribution: N Bengal, Sikkim, and Arunachal till Mishmi hills.
      Type Specimen: ZSI#35567 (Holotype).
      Specimens: BNHS, ZSI, NHMUK, RBINS, FMNH, MCZ, YPM
  
  
• Lophophanes Kaup, 1829 Skizzirte Entwickelungs-Geschichte und natürliches System der Europäischen Thierwelt (etc.) p.92 Parus cristatus Linnaeus, 1758; Type by subsequent designation (Gray, 1842, Appendix to A list of the genera of birds, p.8)
  • 738. Grey-crested Tit Lophophanes dichrous (Blyth, 1845)
    Alternative Names: Brown Crested Tit, Fulvous Tit, Grey Crested Tit
    IUCN: Least Concern. SoIB: High. WLPA: Schedule-II.
    • 738a. Lophophanes dichrous kangrae Whistler, 1932 [HB#1807]
      Original Description: Lophophanes dichrous kangrae Whistler, 1932 Bulletin of the British Ornithologists' Club 53 p.20 (Koti, near Shimla)
      Distribution: W Himalaya of E Kashmir, Himachal, and Uttarakhand.
      Type Specimen: NHMUK#1932.10.23.1 (Holotype).
      Specimens: BNHS, NHMUK, UMMZ, FMNH
    • 738b. Lophophanes dichrous dichrous (Blyth, 1845) [HB#1808]
      Original Description: Parus dichrous Blyth, 1845 Journal of the Asiatic Society of Bengal 13 p.943
      Distribution: N Bengal, Sikkim, and W Arunachal and sporadically in NE Arunachal (Mishmi hills and Walong region).
      Specimens: BNHS, RBINS, AMNH, FMNH, MCZ, YPM, BNHM