Rallus 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.153 Rallusaquaticus Linnaeus, 1758; Type by subsequent designation (Flemming, 1821, Memoirs of the Wernerian Natural History Society, 3, p.176)
172. Water RailRallus aquaticus Linnaeus, 1758 Original Description:Rallusaquaticus 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.153 Alternative Names: Western Water Rail IUCN: Least Concern. WLPA: Schedule-II.
172a. Rallus aquaticus korejewi Zarudny, 1905 [HB#327] Original Description:Rallusaquaticuskorejewi Zarudny, 1905 Ornithologische Monatsberichte 13 p.209 Distribution: Breeding: Kashmir. Winter: NW India from Kashmir, Jammu, Ladakh, Himachal, Uttarakhand, Punjab, Haryana, and Delhi region, Rajasthan, Gujarat, NW Maharashtra, and straggling to Goa and W Bengal. Specimens: NHMUK Notes: No Indian specimens located in museums but specimens from Kullu and/or Dehra Dun that is likely to be present in NHMUK (Sharpe 1894, Catalogue of the Birds in the British Museum 23: 23) has not been investigated. Three egg sets tagged as this from Kashmir (WFVZ, UBCBBM). The nominate subspecies could also occur.
173. Brown-cheeked RailRallus indicus Blyth, 1849 [HB#328] Original Description:Rallusindicus Blyth, 1849 Journal of the Asiatic Society of Bengal 18 pt2 p.820 (Lower Bengal) Alternative Names: Eastern Water Rail Distribution: Winter: W Bengal, Assam plains and adjoining Arunachal, Manipur valley. Specimens: BNHS, ZSI, UMMZ, YPM, BNHM IUCN: Least Concern. WLPA: Schedule-II.
Crex Bechstein, 1803 Ornithologisches Taschenbuch von und für Deutschland (etc.) 2 p.336 Crexpratensis Bechstein, 1803; Type by monotypy = Ralluscrex Linnaeus, 1758
174. Corn CrakeCrex crex (Linnaeus, 1758) [HB#334] Original Description:RallusCrex 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.153 Distribution: Vagrant. During autumn migration in the trans-Himalaya (Gilgit, Ladakh, Spiti) as well as Great Nicobar Is. (Feb). IUCN: Least Concern. WLPA: Schedule-II. CMS: Appendix II. Notes: No historical specimens located; though Zugmayer collected one from Kisu La near Pangong Tso lake (Vaurie 1972, Tibet and its birds). The specimen is probably in the Munich Museum.
Lewinia Gray, 1855 Catalogue of the genera and subgenera of birds contained in the British Museum p.120 Ralluslewini Swainson, 1838; Type by original designation = Ralluspectoralis Temminck, 1831
175. Slaty-breasted RailLewinia striata (Linnaeus, 1766) Original Description:Rallusstriatus Linnaeus, 1766 Systema Naturæ. Editio duodecima reformata. Tomus I [part 1] p.262 Alternative Names: Blue-breasted Banded Rail IUCN: Least Concern. SoIB: Low. WLPA: Schedule-II.
175a. Lewinia striata albiventer (Swainson, 1838) [HB#329] Original Description:Rallusalbiventer Swainson, 1838 Animals in Menageries. In: The Cabinet Cyclopædia conducted by the Rev. Dionysius Lardner p.337 (India) Distribution: Gujarat, coastal plains of W coast, entire S India roughly south of Bengaluru, E coastal plains, sporadically in W Rajasthan, EC India, W Bengal, Assam plains, Manipur valley, and Tripura. Specimens: BNHS, FMNH, TNHM, LKO
175b. Lewinia striata obscurior (Hume, 1874) [HB#330] Original Description:Hypotaenidiaobscuriora Hume, 1874 Stray Feathers 2 p.302 (Andaman Is) Taxonomy: Subspecies nicobariensis Abdulali, 1967 from Nancowry Is. (C Nicobar group) included here. Distribution: N, Middle, S and Little Andaman as well as associated islets including Interview and Havelock Is. as well as Kamorta (C Nicobar group) and Great Nicobar Is. (S Nicobar group). Type Specimen: NHMUK#1889.11.1.53 (Syntype). Specimens: BNHS, NHMUK
Porzana Vieillot, 1816 Analyse d'une Nouvelle Ornithologie Élémentaire p.61 La Marouette Buffon ; Type by monotypy = Rallusporzana Linnaeus, 1766
176. Spotted CrakePorzana porzana (Linnaeus, 1766) [HB#338] Original Description:RallusPorzana Linnaeus, 1766 Systema Naturæ. Editio duodecima reformata. Tomus I [part 1] 12, p.262 Distribution: Winter: Throughout India but known mostly from NW Maharashtra, Gujarat, Kolkata, and Delhi regions. Sporadically from Jammu & Kashmir, Ladakh, Punjab, Rajasthan, Assam, E coast, C India, S Deccan, and SW coast – some of them possibly birds on passage. Specimens: BNHS, ZSI, NHMUK, AMNH, FMNH, YPM, TNHM, LKO IUCN: Least Concern. WLPA: Schedule-II. CMS: Appendix II.
Gallinula Brisson, 1760 Ornithologia sive synopsis methodica sistens avium divisionem in ordines, sectiones, genera, species, ipsarumaque varietates 1 p.50;6, p.2 Gallinulaolivacea Meyen, 1834; Type by original designation
177. Common MoorhenGallinula chloropus (Linnaeus, 1758) Alternative Names: Eurasian Moorhen, Indian Moorhen IUCN: Least Concern. SoIB: Low. WLPA: Schedule-II.
177a. Gallinula chloropus chloropus (Linnaeus, 1758) [HB#347] Original Description:FulicaChloropus 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.152 Taxonomy: Subspecies indica Blyth 1842 included here. Distribution: Throughout India except the Himalayan range; but occurs in trans-Himalayan region of Ladakh and Spiti. Specimens: BNHS, ZSI, AMNH, YPM, TNHM, FTLB
177b. Gallinula chloropus orientalis Horsfield, 1821 [HB#347a] Original Description:Gallinulaorientalis Horsfield, 1821 Transactions of the Linnean Society of London (1) 13 p.195 Taxonomy: Several birds in S India also show a similar large frontal shield (compared to the birds in N India) and hence this feature may be clinal (see RA2012). Distribution: N, Middle, S and Little Andaman including several islets like Havelock, Neil, Tarmugli, Jolly Buoy, and Rutland Is. Specimens: BNHS Notes: Only a single specimen from Port Blair identified as this subspecies (Abdulali 1969, JBNHS 66 (3): 548); but photos indicate this to be the dominant subspecies in the islands (S & Little). Currently, BNHS has three specimens identified as this subspecies from S Andamans (#21902, #23130-31).
Fulica 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.152 Fulicaatra Linnaeus, 1758; Type by tautonymy
178. Eurasian CootFulica atra Linnaeus, 1758 Alternative Names: Common Coot IUCN: Least Concern. SoIB: Low. WLPA: Schedule-II. CMS: Appendix II.
178a. Fulica atra atra Linnaeus, 1758 [HB#350] Original Description:Fulicaatra 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.152 Distribution: Throughout India from Gilgit, Ladakh, and Kashmir till Kanyakumari – also Assam plains, adjoining Arunachal, Manipur valley, and Tripura – as well as in Lakshadweep and Andaman Is. Specimens: BNHS, ZSI, UMZC, AMNH, MCZ, ROM, YPM, FTLB
Porphyrio Brisson, 1760 Ornithologia sive synopsis methodica sistens avium divisionem in ordines, sectiones, genera, species, ipsarumaque varietates 1 p.48;5, p.522 Porphyrio Brisson ; Type by tautonymy = Fulicaporphyrio Linnaeus, 1758
179. Grey-headed SwamphenPorphyrio poliocephalus (Latham, 1801) Taxonomy: Some times treated as a subspecies of P. porphyrio (Avilist). Alternative Names: [Purple Moorhen, Purple Swamphen] IUCN: Not Recognised. SoIB: Low. WLPA: Schedule-II.
179a. Porphyrio poliocephalus poliocephalus (Latham, 1801) [HB#349] Original Description:Gallinulapoliocephala Latham, 1801 Supplementum indicis ornithologici, sive systematis ornithologiæ p.lxviii (India) Distribution: Throughout India from Ladakh and Kashmir south till Kanyakumari, east through Brahmaputra plains, Manipur valley, and Tripura. Also, in Andaman Is. Specimens: BNHS, ZSI, UMZC, UMMZ, AMNH, FMNH, MCZ, ROM, YPM, TNHM, FTLB
Poliolimnas Sharpe, 1893 Bulletin of the British Ornithologists' Club 1, xxviii p.27 Porphyriocinereus Vieillot, 1819; Type by original designation and monotypy
180. White-browed CrakePoliolimnas cinereus (Vieillot, 1819) Original Description:Porphyriocinereus Vieillot, 1819 Nouveau dictionnaire d'histoire naturelle, appliquée aux arts, à l'agriculture, à l'économie rurale et domestique, à la médecine, etc. Nouvelle édition 28 p.29 Distribution: Vagrant. Reported from Maguri (Assam) and Sippighat (Andamans). IUCN: Least Concern. WLPA: Schedule-II. Notes: See Gogoi & Phukan (2016, IB 11 (3): 79), Shaktivel et al. (2020, 16 (1): 27) for details of recent records.
Gallicrex Blyth, 1852 Catalogue of the birds in the Museum Asiatic Society p.283 Gallinulacristata Latham, 1790; Type by monotypy = Fulicacinerea Gmelin, 1789
181. WatercockGallicrex cinerea (Gmelin, 1789) [HB#346] Original Description:Fulicacinerea Gmelin, 1789 Systema Naturae. Editio decima tertia, aucta, reformata. Cura Jo. Frid. Gmelin (etc.). Tomus I. Pars II 1 pt2 p.702 Alternative Names: Kora Distribution: Indo-Gangetic plains, W Bengal, Assam plains, Manipur valley and other low-lying areas of NE India, Gujarat, EC India, W and E coastal plains, and S peninsula. Andaman & Nicobar Is. as well as Lakshadweep. Specimens: BNHS, ZSI, UMMZ, AMNH, ROM, YPM, TNHM IUCN: Least Concern. SoIB: Low. WLPA: Schedule-II.
Amaurornis Reichenbach, 1853 Handbuch der speciellen Ornithologie lfr.3DieVogel p.XXI ? rel Av.Syst.Nat. p.xxi Gallinulaolivacea Meyen, 1834; Type by original designation
182a. Amaurornis phoenicurus phoenicurus (Pennant, 1769) [HB#343, 344] Original Description:Gallinulaphoenicurus Pennant, 1769 Indian Zoology p.10 pl.9 Distribution: Throughout India from Kashmir south till Kanyakumari and Lakshadweep Is, west till Gujarat and east till Assam, Arunachal, and NE hill states. Specimens: BNHS, ZSI, UMZC, AMNH, FMNH, YPM, TNHM, MYS, HYD, FTLB
182b. Amaurornis phoenicurus insularis Sharpe, 1894 [HB#345] Original Description:Amaurornisinsularis Sharpe, 1894 Catalogue of the birds in the British Museum 23 p.162 (Andaman & Nicobar Is) Distribution: N, Middle, S, and Little Andaman, Narcondam, Barren, and also islets of North Reef, Interview, Long, Havelock, Neil, Ross, Tarmugli, Alexandra, Red Skin, Jolly Buoy, and Rutland Is. Type Specimen: NHMUK#1889.11.1.457 (Syntype). Specimens: BNHS, NHMUK, ROM
182c. Amaurornis phoenicurus leucocephala Abdulali, 1964 [HB#345] Original Description:Amaurornisphoeniceusleucocephalus Abdulali, 1964 Journal of the Bombay Natural History Society 61 p.412 (Car Nicobar Is.) Taxonomy: Though not recognised by AR2001, it has a distinctly whitish head and hence recognised here (Praveen & Khot 2023, Zootaxa 5285 (2): 397). Gender assignment follows eBird/Clements. Distribution: Car Nicobar Is. Type Specimen: BNHS#21547 (Holotype). Specimens: BNHS
182d. Amaurornis phoenicurus midnicobarica Abdulali, 1979 Original Description:Amaurornisphoenicurusmidnicobaricus Abdulali, 1979 Journal of the Bombay Natural History Society 75 p.754 (Nancowry Is, C Nicobar Is) Taxonomy: Not always recognised. Records from S Nicobar Is. placed under this for convenience, and may represent another subspecies as there are differences (Abdulali 1979, JBNHS 75: 754). Distribution: C Nicobar Is. (Tillangchong, Teresa, Kamorta, Trinket, Nancowry, and Katchal Is) – and S Nicobar Is. (Great Nicobar, Trek, Tries, and Meroe Is.). Type Specimen: BNHS#22444 (Holotype). Specimens: BNHS
Rallina 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 p.595 Rallusfasciatus Raffles, 1822; Type by original designation
183. Andaman CrakeRallina canningi (Blyth, 1863) [HB#333] Original Description:Euryzonacanningi Blyth, 1863 Ibis p.119 (Andaman Is) Alternative Names: Andaman Banded Crake Distribution: N, Middle and S Andaman Is. as well as smaller islets around including Interview, Long, Havelock, Neil, Rutland, South Sentinel as well as Little Andaman Is. Specimens: BNHS, ZSI, UMMZ, FMNH, MCZ, ROM, USNM, YPM IUCN: Least Concern. SoIB: Moderate. WLPA: Schedule-II. Endemic: Andaman & Nicobar Is.
184. Red-legged CrakeRallina fasciata (Raffles, 1822) [HB#331] Original Description:Rallusfasciatus Raffles, 1822 Transactions of the Linnean Society of London (1), 13 p.328 Taxonomy: An undescribed Rallina sp., most similar to this species, known as 'Great Nicobar Crake', is also known to exist in Great Nicobar Is. (Rajeshkumar et al. 2012, BA 17: 44; Sethi et al. 2025, IB 21 (5): 130). Distribution: Great Nicobar Is. IUCN: Least Concern. WLPA: Recent addition. Notes: Possibly breeding in Nicobars (Dalvi et al. 2021, IB 17 (6): 161).
185. Slaty-legged CrakeRallina eurizonoides (de Lafresnaye, 1845) Original Description:Gallinulaeurizonoïdes de Lafresnaye, 1845 Revue Zoologique, par la Société Cuvierienne 8 p.368 Alternative Names: Slaty-legged Banded Crake IUCN: Least Concern. WLPA: Schedule-II.
185a. Rallina eurizonoides amauroptera (Jerdon, 1864) [HB#332] Original Description:Porzanaamauroptera Jerdon, 1864 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 3 ("2 pt2") p.725 (Northern India) Distribution: Uttarakhand, Sikkim, W Bengal, SW India from Mumbai south till Kanyakumari, east to Assam valley, Arunachal, and Nagaland; sporadic in rest of Indian subcontinent. Also, in Narcondam, Andaman & Nicobar Is. Specimens: BNHS, UMMZ
Zapornia Leach, 1816 Systematic catalogue of the specimens of the indigenous Mammalia and birds that are preserved in The British Museum (etc.) p.34 Zaporniaminuta Leach, 1816; Type by monotypy = Rallusparvus Scopoli, 1769
186. Ruddy-breasted CrakeZapornia fusca (Linnaeus, 1766) Alternative Names: Ruddy Crake IUCN: Least Concern. SoIB: Low. WLPA: Schedule-II.
186a. Zapornia fusca fusca (Linnaeus, 1766) [HB#339] Original Description:Rallusfuscus Linnaeus, 1766 Systema Naturæ. Editio duodecima reformata. Tomus I [part 1] 12, p.262 Taxonomy: Subspecies bakeri (Hartert, 1917) from Bhimtal (Uttarakhand) included here. Distribution: Kashmir south through the Himalayan foothills and Indo-Gangetic plains till W Bengal, Brahmaputra plains, Nagaland, Meghalaya, Cachar, Manipur valley, Mizoram, and Tripura; Gujarat, E coastal plains, EC and S India except southwest. Also Andaman Is. and certain islets. Specimens: BNHS, ZSI, FMNH, TNHM, LKO
186b. Zapornia fusca zeylonica (Baker, 1927) [HB#340] Original Description:Amaurornisfuscuszeylonicus Baker, 1927 Bulletin of the British Ornithologists' Club 47 p.73 Taxonomy: Sometimes synonymised with the nominate subspecies. Distribution: SW India from about Mumbai south till S Kerala. Specimens: BNHS, TNHM
187. Band-bellied CrakeZapornia paykullii (Ljungh, 1813) Original Description:RallusPaykullii Ljungh, 1813 Kongliga Svenska Vetenskaps-Akademiens Handlingar 34 p.258 pl.5 Distribution: Vagrant. S Andaman Is. IUCN: Near Threatened. WLPA: Recent addition. CMS: Appendix II. Notes: See Jabili (2025, IB 21 (1): 13).
188. Brown CrakeZapornia akool (Sykes, 1832) IUCN: Least Concern. SoIB: Low. WLPA: Schedule-II.
188a. Zapornia akool akool (Sykes, 1832) [HB#342] Original Description:RallusAkool Sykes, 1832 Proceedings of the Committee of Science and Correspondence of the Zoological Society of London Part 2 no.23 p.164 (Deccan [=Dukhun]) Distribution: Base of the Himalayan foothills in Kashmir through N India, NW India except Thar, Gujarat, C India, W Bengal, Brahmaputra plains, and Manipur valley, south till S Karnataka and NE Andhra. Type Specimen: UMZC#15/Ral/3/a/3 (Holotype). Specimens: BNHS, UMZC, UMMZ, FMNH, TNHM Notes: Migration details not worked out.
189. Little CrakeZapornia parva (Scopoli, 1769) [HB#335-336] Original Description:Rallusparvus Scopoli, 1769 Annus I Historico-naturalis. Descriptiones avium musei proprii earumque rariorum, quas vidit in vivario Augustiss. Imperatorus, et museo excell. Comitis Francisci Annib. Turriani p.108 Distribution: Winter: Gujarat with sporadic reports from Gilgit, Rajasthan, W Maharashtra, and coastal Karnataka. Specimens: BNHS IUCN: Least Concern. WLPA: Schedule-II. CMS: Appendix II. Notes: BNHS #13878 (Mumbai) and BNHS #13880 (Karwar).
190a. Zapornia pusilla pusilla (Pallas, 1776) [HB#337] Original Description:Ralluspusillus Pallas, 1776 Reise durch verschiedene Provinzen des Russischen Reichs 3 p.700 Distribution: Breeding: Kashmir. Non-breeding: Throughout India including Assam plains and Manipur valley apart from Lakshadweep, Andaman & Nicobar Is. Specimens: BNHS, ZSI, UMMZ, AMNH, FMNH, HYD, FTLB
191. Black-tailed CrakeZapornia bicolor (Walden, 1872) [HB#341] Original Description:Porzanabicolor Walden, 1872 The Annals and Magazine of Natural History including Zoology, Botany, and Geology (4), 9 p.47 (Rungbee, Darjeeling) Alternative Names: Elwes's Crake Distribution: N Bengal, Sikkim, Assam plains, Arunachal, Meghalaya, Nagaland, and Manipur valley. Type Specimen: NHMUK#1889.11.3.133 (Holotype). Specimens: NHMUK, UMMZ, FMNH IUCN: Least Concern. SoIB: Moderate. WLPA: Schedule-II.
