Birds of India - The New Synopsis

A complete checklist of bird species and subspecies found in India

Strigiformes (Owls)

Strigidae (Owls)

• Ninox Hodgson, 1837 Madras Journal of Literature and Science 5 p.23 Ninox nipalensis Hodgson, 1837; Type by monotypy = Strix lugubris Tickell, 1833
  • 421. Andaman Boobook Ninox affinis Beavan, 1867 [HB#646]
    Original Description: Ninox affinis Beavan, 1867 Ibis p.316 (Aberdeen Point, Port Blair, Andaman Is.)
    Alternative Names: Andaman Hawk Owl
    Distribution: N, Middle, S and Little Andaman Is as well as Havelock Is.
    Specimens: BNHS, USNM
    IUCN: Least Concern. WLPA: Schedule-II. CITES: Appendix II.
    Endemic: Andaman & Nicobar Is.
  
  
  • 422. Brown Boobook Ninox scutulata (Raffles, 1822)
    Original Description: Strix scutulata Raffles, 1822 Transactions of the Linnean Society of London (1), 13 p.280
    Alternative Names: Brown Hawk Owl
    IUCN: Least Concern. WLPA: Schedule-II. CITES: Appendix II.
    • 422a. Ninox scutulata lugubris (Tickell, 1833) [HB#642]
      Original Description: Strix Lugubris Tickell, 1833 Journal of the Asiatic Society of Bengal 2 p.572 (Dampara, Dholbhum, Bengal)
      Distribution: Sub-Himalayan foothills from about Jammu south through Indo-Gangetic plains extending through Bengal, Sikkim, Arunachal, and Assam north of Brahmaputra. C Indian hills, NE Ghats extending further south, possibility till CE Ghats. Sporadically in E Rajasthan and C Gujarat.
      Specimens: BNHS, ZSI, NHMUK, AMNH, FMNH, BNHM
      Notes: Subspecies intergrades. Mumbai is probably an intermediate zone while specimens of this subspecies have been recorded even from Chennai region.
    • 422b. Ninox scutulata burmanica Hume, 1876 [HB#643]
      Original Description: Ninox burmanica Hume, 1876 Stray Feathers 4 p.285
      Taxonomy: Includes innominata Hume 1876 from Cachar.
      Distribution: Assam south of the Brahmaputra as well as Nagaland, Meghalaya, Cachar, Manipur, Tripura, and Mizoram.
      Specimens: BNHS, ZSI, UMMZ, AMNH, FMNH, YPM
    • 422c. Ninox scutulata hirsuta (Temminck, 1824) [HB#644]
      Original Description: Strix hirsuta Temminck, 1824 Nouveau recueil de planches coloriées d'oiseaux, pour servir de suite et de complément aux planches enluminées de Buffon livr.49 pl.289
      Distribution: S India along the W Ghats from about Mumbai through S Deccan and SE Ghats.
      Specimens: BNHS, FMNH, YPM, TNHM
      Notes: Taxonomic affinity of the Surat Dangs population unclear but may possibly belong to this subspecies.
    • 422d. Ninox scutulata isolata Baker, 1926 [HB#647]
      Original Description: Ninox scutulata isolata Baker, 1926 Bulletin of the British Ornithologists' Club 47 p.60 (Car Nicobar Is.)
      Distribution: Car Nicobar Is., C Nicobar Is. (Trinket, Kamorta, and Katchal).
      Type Specimen: NHMUK#1886.2.1.621 (Holotype).
      Specimens: BNHS, ZSI, NHMUK
    • 422e. Ninox scutulata rexpimenti Abdulali, 1979
      Original Description: Ninox affinis rexpimenti Abdulali, 1979 Journal of the Bombay Natural History Society 75 p.760 (Magarnalla, Campbell Bay, Great Nicobar Is.)
      Taxonomy: Not always recognised and included under isolata Baker 1926.
      Distribution: Great Nicobar Is.
      Type Specimen: ZSI#33162 (Holotype).
      Specimens: BNHS, ZSI
  
  
  • 423. Hume's Boobook Ninox obscura Hume, 1872 [HB#645]
    Original Description: Ninox obscurus Hume, 1872 Stray Feathers 1 p.11
    Taxonomy: Type locality given as Kamorta Is. in C Nicobars must be incorrect (RA2012). This is in need of a revision.
    Alternative Names: Hume's Hawk Owl
    Distribution: N, Middle and S Andaman Is. and the islets of Havelock and Neil Is.
    Specimens: BNHS, ZSI
    IUCN: Least Concern. WLPA: Schedule-II. CITES: Appendix II.
    Endemic: Andaman & Nicobar Is.
  
  
• Taenioptynx Kaup, 1848 Isis col. 767 Glaucidium brodiei Kaup, 1851; Type by monotypy = Noctua brodiei Burton, 1836
  • 424. Collared Owlet Taenioptynx brodiei (Burton, 1836)
    Alternative Names: Collared Pygmy Owlet
    IUCN: Least Concern. SoIB: Low. WLPA: Schedule-II. CITES: Appendix II.
    • 424a. Taenioptynx brodiei brodiei (Burton, 1836) [HB#635]
      Original Description: Noctua Brodiei Burton, 1836 Proceedings of the Zoological Society of London Part 3, no.34 p.152 (Shimla)
      Taxonomy: Includes garoense Koelz 1952 from Tura, Garo hills, Meghalaya.
      Distribution: Along the Himalaya from Kashmir, west through Jammu, Himachal, Uttarakhand, N Bengal, Sikkim, Arunachal, Assam, Nagaland, Meghalaya, Cachar, Manipur, Tripura, and Mizoram.
      Specimens: BNHS, UMMZ, FMNH, MCZ, ROM, YPM
  
  
• Aegolius Kaup, 1829 Skizzirte Entwickelungs-Geschichte und natürliches System der Europäischen Thierwelt (etc.) p.34 Strix tengmalmi Gmelin, 1788; Type by monotypy = Strix funerea Linnaeus, 1758
  • 425. Boreal Owl Aegolius funereus (Linnaeus, 1758)
    Original Description: Strix funerea 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.93
    Alternative Names: Tengmalm's Owl
    IUCN: Least Concern. WLPA: Schedule-II. CITES: Appendix II.
    • 425a. Aegolius funereus beickianus Stresemann, 1928 [HB#665]
      Original Description: Aegolius tengmalmi beickianus Stresemann, 1928 Ornithologische Monatsberichte 36 p.41
      Taxonomy: Regional birds reassigned to this subspecies in Cramp (1985, Birds of the Western Palearctic IV) though AR2001 include the regional specimens under caucasicus Buturlin 1907. Originally the regional specimens were described as juniperi Koelz 1954 from Kyelang, Himachal.
      Distribution: Gilgit and trans-Himalaya of Lahaul-Spiti in Himachal.
      Specimens: UMMZ, FMNH
      Notes: Three known specimens from Koelz. Specimens in FMNH (#246482) and UMMZ (#143328). See Abhinav et al. (2023) for an argument on the missing third specimen (FMNH #230238).
  
  
• Athene Boie, 1822 Isis 10,11 col.549 Strix noctua Scopoli, 1769; Type by subsequent designation (Gray, 1841, A list of the genera of birds, with their synonyma and with an indication of the typical species of each genus. 2nd. ed., ed. 2, p.7)
  • 426. Forest Owlet Athene blewitti (Hume, 1873) [HB#653]
    Original Description: Heteroglaux Blewitti Hume, 1873 Stray Feathers 1 p.468 (Basna [=Busnah], Chhattisgarh)
    Alternative Names: Forest Spotted Owlet, Blewitt's Owl
    Distribution: Historically from NW Maharashtra, S Madhya Pradesh till Bansa (W Chhattisgarh) and Khadial (W Odisha). Now restricted to the C India from about SE Gujarat and NW Maharashtra patchily in the Satpura range till Melghat region (NC Maharashtra and SW Madhya Pradesh). Exceptionally to Mt. Abu region (SW Rajasthan).
    Type Specimen: NHMUK#1886.2.1.543 (Holotype).
    Specimens: NHMUK, AMNH, MCZ, USNM
    IUCN: Endangered. SoIB: High. WLPA: Schedule-I. CITES: Appendix I.
    Endemic: Central Indian Forests.
  
  
  • 427. Little Owl Athene noctua (Scopoli, 1769)
    Original Description: Strix noctua 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.22
    IUCN: Least Concern. WLPA: Schedule-II. CITES: Appendix II.
    • 427a. Athene noctua ludlowi Baker, 1926 [HB#649]
      Original Description: Athene noctua ludlowi Baker, 1926 Bulletin of the British Ornithologists' Club 47 p.58
      Taxonomy: True bactriana Blyth 1847 does not occur within our limits. Birds in Ladakh intermediate or approaching ludlowi.
      Distribution: Trans-Himalaya zone of Ladakh, Spiti (Himachal), N Uttarakhand, Sikkim, N Bengal, and NW Arunachal.
      Specimens: NHMUK
      Notes: See Limparunpatthanakij et al. (2014, IB 13 (6): 160) for the Arunachal report.
  
  
  • 428. Spotted Owlet Athene brama (Temminck, 1821)
    IUCN: Least Concern. WLPA: Schedule-II. CITES: Appendix II.
    • 428a. Athene brama indica (Franklin, 1831) [HB#650]
      Original Description: Noctua Indica Franklin, 1831 Proceedings of the Committee of Science and Correspondence of the Zoological Society of London Part 1 no.10 p.115 (Banks of the Ganga)
      Distribution: Throughout northern subcontinent from Jammu south till about a latitude passing through Mumbai (fixed for convenience) – also extends east to Assam and adjoining Arunachal, Nagaland, Meghalaya, Cachar, Manipur, Mizoram, and Tripura.
      Specimens: BNHS, ZSI, UMZC, UMMZ, AMNH, FMNH, MCZ, YPM, FTLB, BNHM
    • 428b. Athene brama ultra Ripley, 1948 [HB#651]
      Original Description: Athene brama ultra Ripley, 1948 Proceedings of the Biological Society of Washington 61 p.99-107 (Chabua, N. Lakhimpur district., Assam)
      Distribution: E Assam, E Arunachal.
      Type Specimen: USNM#390159 (Holotype).
      Specimens: USNM, YPM, FTLB
      Notes: Range restricted by Ripley (1948, Proceedings of the Biological Society of Washington 61 (18): 100). Possibly this subspecies is more widespread and occurs in Nagaland, Manipur, and Mizoram.
    • 428c. Athene brama brama (Temminck, 1821) [HB#652]
      Original Description: Strix brama Temminck, 1821 Nouveau recueil de planches coloriées d'oiseaux, pour servir de suite et de complément aux planches enluminées de Buffon livr.12 pl.68 (Pondicherry and west coast of India)
      Taxonomy: Includes fryi Baker 1919 from Rameswaram, Tamil Nadu.
      Distribution: Entire southern peninsular India, south of the latitude of Mumbai.
      Specimens: BNHS, ZSI, UMZC, RBINS, UMMZ, AMNH, FMNH, MCZ, ROM, USNM, YPM, TNHM, HYD
  
  
• Glaucidium Boie, 1826 Isis 18,19 Bd.2 col.970 Strix passerina 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.6)
  • 429. Asian Barred Owlet Glaucidium cuculoides (Vigors, 1831)
    Alternative Names: Barred Owlet
    IUCN: Least Concern. SoIB: Low. WLPA: Schedule-II. CITES: Appendix II.
    • 429a. Glaucidium cuculoides cuculoides (Vigors, 1831) [HB#639]
      Original Description: Nodua cuculoïdes Vigors, 1831 Proceedings of the Committee of Science and Correspondence of the Zoological Society of London Part 1 no.1 p.8 (Shimla-Almora districts, W Himalaya)
      Distribution: W Himalayan foothills from Kashmir east through Himachal and Uttarakhand as well as W Sikkim and adjoining N Bengal.
      Specimens: BNHS, ZSI, UMZC, UMMZ, FMNH, MCZ, YPM
    • 429b. Glaucidium cuculoides austerum Ripley, 1948 [HB#640]
      Original Description: Glaucidium cuculoides austerum Ripley, 1948 Zoologica: scientific contributions of the New York Zoological Society 33 p.199-202 (Tezu, Mishmi hills, Arunachal)
      Taxonomy: Intergradation zone with the nominate subspecies on the west and rufescens on the SE not completely worked out. Considerable individual variations reported (Abdulali 1972, JBNHS 69 (1): 113).
      Distribution: E Sikkim, Arunachal, Nagaland, and adjoining Assam.
      Type Specimen: USNM#390166 (Holotype).
      Specimens: BNHS, USNM, YPM
    • 429c. Glaucidium cuculoides rufescens Baker, 1926 [HB#641]
      Original Description: Glaucidium cuculoides rufescens Baker, 1926 Bulletin of the British Ornithologists' Club 47 p.59 (Noong-zai-ban, E Manipur)
      Distribution: Meghalaya, adjoining Assam, southeastern parts of N Bengal (?), Cachar, Manipur, Mizoram, and Tripura.
      Type Specimen: NHMUK#1886.2.1.849 (Holotype).
      Specimens: BNHS, ZSI, NHMUK, UMMZ, AMNH, FMNH, MCZ, ROM
  
  
  • 430. Jungle Owlet Glaucidium radiatum (Tickell, 1833)
    Alternative Names: Barred Jungle Owlet
    IUCN: Least Concern. SoIB: Low. WLPA: Schedule-II. CITES: Appendix II.
    • 430a. Glaucidium radiatum radiatum (Tickell, 1833) [HB#636]
      Original Description: Strix Radiata Tickell, 1833 Journal of the Asiatic Society of Bengal 2 p.572 (Jungles of Borabhum and Dholbhum, E India)
      Distribution: Sub-Himalayan foothills of Himachal, Uttarakhand, through Indo-Gangetic plains till W Bengal, including N Bengal; south through E Rajasthan, W Gujarat, and Surat Dangs; C India, E Ghats reaching the eastern outcrops of W Ghats in the Nilgiris and Palanis as well as W Ghats of Maharashtra. Absent in Deccan, Thar, and coastal plains of E India.
      Type Specimen: NHMUK#1955.6.N.20.4528 (Syntype).
      Specimens: BNHS, ZSI, NHMUK, UMZC, UMMZ, AMNH, FMNH, MCZ, USNM, YPM, HYD
    • 430b. Glaucidium radiatum malabaricum (Blyth, 1846) [HB#637]
      Original Description: Athene malabaricus Blyth, 1846 Journal of the Asiatic Society of Bengal 15 p.280 (Malabar coast, and Travancore, S India)
      Distribution: SW India, coasts and hills, from south of Goa till the southern tip of Kerala and Nagarcoil region of Kanyakumari district.
      Type Specimen: ZSI#30009 (Syntype).
      Specimens: BNHS, ZSI, FMNH, MCZ, ROM, YPM, TNHM
  
  
• Otus Pennant, 1769 Indian Zoology p.3 Otus bakkamoena Pennant, 1769; Type by monotypy
  • 431. Andaman Scops-Owl Otus balli (Hume, 1873) [HB#613]
    Original Description: Ephialtes Balli Hume, 1873 Stray Feathers 1 p.407 (South Andaman Is.)
    Distribution: N, Middle, S, and Little Andaman Is and the islets of Interview and Havelock.
    Type Specimen: NHMUK#1886.2.1.445 (Holotype).
    Specimens: ZSI, NHMUK
    IUCN: Least Concern. WLPA: Schedule-II. CITES: Appendix II.
    Endemic: Andaman & Nicobar Is.
  
  
  • 432. Mountain Scops-Owl Otus spilocephalus (Blyth, 1846)
    Taxonomy: Type specimen lost (Sclater 1892, Ibis 34 (1): 73).
    Alternative Names: Spotted Scops Owl
    IUCN: Least Concern. WLPA: Schedule-II. CITES: Appendix II.
    • 432a. Otus spilocephalus huttoni (Hume, 1870) [HB#611]
      Original Description: Ephialtes Huttoni Hume, 1870 My scrapbook: or rough notes on Indian oology and ornithology p.393 (Near Mussoorie, Garhwal and below Shimla)
      Distribution: Along the W Himalaya from about Kashmir through Jammu, Himachal, and Uttarakhand.
      Specimens: BNHS, UMMZ, FMNH, YPM
    • 432b. Otus spilocephalus spilocephalus (Blyth, 1846) [HB#612]
      Original Description: Ephialtes spilocephalus Blyth, 1846 Journal of the Asiatic Society of Bengal 15 p.8 (Darjeeling)
      Taxonomy: Includes rupchandi Koelz 1952 from Kohima, Nagaland.
      Distribution: N Bengal, Sikkim, and Arunachal; as well as Assam, Nagaland, Meghalaya, Cachar, Manipur, and Mizoram.
      Specimens: BNHS, ZSI, UMZC, UMMZ, FMNH, USNM
  
  
  • 433. Indian Scops-Owl Otus bakkamoena Pennant, 1769
    IUCN: Least Concern. WLPA: Schedule-II. CITES: Appendix II.
    • [Otus bakkamoena deserticolor Ticehurst, 1922 [HB#620]]
      Original Description: Otus bakkamoena deserticolor Ticehurst, 1922 Bulletin of the British Ornithologists' Club 42 p.122
      Distribution: N Gujarat.
      Notes: Standard references (AR2001, RA2012) do not include India in its range but AR2001 suspects this to be the subspecies found in Gujarat.
    • 433a. Otus bakkamoena gangeticus Ticehurst, 1922 [HB#621]
      Original Description: Otus bakkamoena gangeticus Ticehurst, 1922 Bulletin of the British Ornithologists' Club 42 p.122 (Fatehgarh, Uttar Pradesh)
      Taxonomy: Includes stewarti Koelz, 1939.
      Distribution: Himalayan foothills from Jammu, Indo-Gangetic plains, NE Rajasthan through Bihar till W Bengal including N Bengal.
      Type Specimen: NHMUK#1886.3.25.444 (Holotype).
      Specimens: BNHS, NHMUK, UMMZ, FMNH, MCZ, YPM, FTLB
    • 433b. Otus bakkamoena marathae Ticehurst, 1922 [HB#622]
      Original Description: Otus bakkamoena marathae Ticehurst, 1922 Bulletin of the British Ornithologists' Club 42 p.122 (Raipur)
      Taxonomy: Includes lettoides Blyth from Coromandel, malabaricus Hume from Coonoor and W Ghats, griseus Jerdon from E Ghats, and jerdoni Walden from W Ghats (see Ticehurst 1922, Bulletin of the British Ornithologists' Club 42 (268): 122).
      Distribution: C India from Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, NE Maharashtra, Chhattisgarh, NE Ghats till W Bengal.
      Type Specimen: NHMUK#1886.2.1.369 (Holotype).
      Specimens: BNHS, ZSI, NHMUK, UMMZ, FMNH
      Notes: Exact demarcation of this with the nominate subspecies and gangeticus not worked out.
    • 433c. Otus bakkamoena bakkamoena Pennant, 1769 [HB#623]
      Original Description: Otus bakkamoena Pennant, 1769 Indian Zoology p.3 pl.3.
      Distribution: W Ghats from Surat Dangs, south till the tip of the peninsula. Also, SE Ghats possibly till Nallamala hills and locally in Deccan.
      Specimens: BNHS, UMZC, UMMZ, AMNH, FMNH, ROM, USNM, YPM, TNHM, FTLB
  
  
  • 434. Collared Scops-Owl Otus lettia (Hodgson, 1836)
    IUCN: Least Concern. WLPA: Schedule-II. CITES: Appendix II.
    • 434a. Otus lettia plumipes (Hume, 1870) [HB#619]
      Original Description: Ephialtes Plumipes Hume, 1870 My scrapbook: or rough notes on Indian oology and ornithology p.397 (Murree, Kotegurh and Garhwal)
      Distribution: W Himalaya of Kashmir, Jammu, Himachal, and Uttarakhand.
      Type Specimen: NHMUK#1886.2.1.262 (Syntype).
      Specimens: BNHS, ZSI, UMMZ, FMNH
      Notes: Vocalisation in AR2001 may refer to O. b. gangeticus Ticehurst 1922.
    • 434b. Otus lettia lettia (Hodgson, 1836) [HB#624]
      Original Description: Scops lettia 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 19 p.176
      Taxonomy: Includes manipurensis Roonwal & Nath, 1949 from '6 miles' north of Imphal, Manipur and alboniger Koelz, 1952 from Hmuntha, Mizo hills.
      Distribution: N and S W Bengal, Sikkim, Assam, Arunachal, and NE hill states. Very locally in Chota Nagpur region (Jharkhand), Odisha, and NE Andhra.
      Specimens: BNHS, ZSI, UMZC, UMMZ, AMNH, FMNH, MCZ, ROM, BNHM
  
  
  • 435. Nicobar Scops-Owl Otus alius Rasmussen, 1998 [HB#618b]
    Original Description: Otus alius Rasmussen, 1998 Bulletin of the British Ornithologists' Club 118 p.143 [143-151 pl.3] (Campbell Bay, Great Nicobar Is.)
    Taxonomy: Its presence in Teresa Is. in C Nicobar Is. group may relate to an undescribed taxon.
    Distribution: Great Nicobar Is.
    Type Specimen: BNHS#22578 (Holotype).
    Specimens: BNHS
    IUCN: Near Threatened. WLPA: Schedule-II. CITES: Appendix II.
    Endemic: Andaman & Nicobar Is.
  
  
  • 436. Eurasian Scops-Owl Otus scops (Linnaeus, 1758)
    Original Description: Strix Scops 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.92
    Alternative Names: European Scops Owl
    IUCN: Least Concern. WLPA: Schedule-II. CITES: Appendix II.
    Notes: All specimens that were identified to subspecies are O. s. pulchellus. Breeding birds from Baluchistan may be wintering in India, e.g., Gujarat, but no specimens available to validate the claim.
    • [Otus scops turanicus (Loudon, 1905) ]
      Original Description: Pisorhina scops turanica Loudon, 1905 Ornithologische Monatsberichte 13 p.129
      Distribution: Winter: Gujarat and Rajasthan.
      Notes: Retained here as tentative pending further investigations.
    • 436a. Otus scops pulchellus (Pallas, 1771) [HB#615]
      Original Description: Stryx pulchella Pallas, 1771 Reise durch verschiedene Provinzen des Russischen Reichs 1 p.456
      Distribution: Winter: E Rajasthan, Gujarat, and Mumbai region.
      Specimens: BNHS
  
  
  • 437. Pallid Scops-Owl Otus brucei (Hume, 1872)
    Alternative Names: Striated Scops Owl
    IUCN: Least Concern. WLPA: Schedule-II. CITES: Appendix II.
    • 437a. Otus brucei brucei (Hume, 1872) [HB#614]
      Original Description: Ephialtes Brucei Hume, 1872 Stray Feathers 1 p.8 (Rahur, Maharashtra)
      Taxonomy: Subspecies exiguus, obsoletus and semenowi recognised by (Cramp 1985, Birds of the Western Palearctic IV) are now suspected to be individual variations (RA2012). Both brucei Hume 1872 and semenowi Sarudny & Härms 1902 have been listed for India (H&M4) – but wintering birds likely have a single taxon and brucei sensu stricto has the type locality in Maharashtra. On the status of exiguus Mukherjee 1958 described from a single specimen in the BNHS, see Abdulali (1972, JBNHS 69 (1): 104).
      Distribution: Winter: NW India from Gilgit, Ladakh, Delhi region, W Rajasthan, Gujarat, W Maharashtra, and sporadically in SW India from Goa S through Karnataka, Kerala, and adjoining Tamil Nadu.
      Type Specimen: NHMUK#1886.2.1.216 (Holotype).
      Specimens: NHMUK
  
  
  • 438. Oriental Scops-Owl Otus sunia (Hodgson, 1836)
    Alternative Names: Scops Owl; Walden's Scops Owl O. [s.] modestus
    IUCN: Least Concern. WLPA: Schedule-II. CITES: Appendix II.
    • 438a. Otus sunia sunia (Hodgson, 1836) [HB#616]
      Original Description: Scops sunia 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 19 p.175
      Taxonomy: Includes khasienssi Koelz 1954 from Mawphlang, Khasi hills, Meghalaya.
      Distribution: Along the Himalaya from Kashmir and Jammu through Himachal, Uttarakhand, N Bengal, Sikkim, Assam, adjoining Arunachal, Nagaland, Meghalaya, Cachar, Manipur, Mizoram, and Tripura. Also, in E Rajasthan, C Indian highlands, and E Ghats till Nallamala and Tirumala.
      Specimens: BNHS, ZSI, UMZC, UMMZ, AMNH, FMNH, YPM, BNHM
    • 438b. Otus sunia rufipennis (Sharpe, 1875) [HB#617]
      Original Description: Scops rufipennis Sharpe, 1875 Catalogue of the birds in the British Museum 2 p.60 (Eastern Ghats, Madras)
      Distribution: W Ghats from Surat Dangs south till Kanyakumari district, SE Ghats till about Melagiri and Servarayan hills.
      Type Specimen: NHMUK#1845.1.10.6 (Holotype).
      Specimens: BNHS, NHMUK, FMNH, USNM
    • 438c. Otus sunia modestus (Walden, 1874) [HB#618a]
      Original Description: Scops modestus Walden, 1874 The Annals and Magazine of Natural History including Zoology, Botany, and Geology (4), 13 p.123 (Port Blair, South Andaman Is.)
      Distribution: N, Middle, S and Little Andaman as well as islets of Long, Havelock, and Neil Is.
      Type Specimen: NHMUK#1887.11.11.107 (Syntype).
      Specimens: BNHS, NHMUK, ROM
    • 438d. Otus sunia nicobaricus (Hume, 1876)
      Original Description: Ephialtes nicobaricus Hume, 1876 Stray Feathers 4 p.283 (Kamorta Is., C Nicobar Is.)
      Taxonomy: Sometimes the name (erroneously) used to refer to O. alius Rasmussen 1998. The NHMUK type specimen (#1886.2.1.444) of this subspecies is differently plumaged than all other available specimens (NHMUK#1887.11.11.100, ZSI-BS3013) as well as photographs from C Nicobars. RA2012 considers both plumages to belong to this taxon. More investigation desirable to see if they certainly belong to the same taxon or not.
      Distribution: Kamorta, Nancowry, Trinket, and Katchal Is. (C Nicobar group).
      Type Specimen: NHMUK#1886.2.1.444 (Holotype).
      Specimens: BNHS, ZSI, NHMUK
  
  
• Asio Brisson, 1760 Ornithologia sive synopsis methodica sistens avium divisionem in ordines, sectiones, genera, species, ipsarumaque varietates 1 p.28 Asio Brisson ; Type by tautonymy = Strix otus Linnaeus, 1758
  • 439. Short-eared Owl Asio flammeus (Pontoppidan, 1763)
    IUCN: Least Concern. SoIB: Low. WLPA: Schedule-I. CITES: Appendix II.
    • 439a. Asio flammeus flammeus (Pontoppidan, 1763) [HB#664]
      Original Description: Strix Flammea Pontoppidan, 1763 Den Danske Atlas eller Konge-Riget Dannemark (etc.) 1 p.617 pl.25
      Distribution: Winter: Throughout India from Gilgit, Ladakh, and Kashmir down south and east through the peninsula as well as Assam plains and adjoining Arunachal, Meghalaya, Cachar, Manipur, and Tripura in NE India.
      Specimens: BNHS, UMZC, UMMZ, AMNH, FMNH, MCZ, ROM, YPM, TNHM, FTLB
  
  
  • 440. Long-eared Owl Asio otus (Linnaeus, 1758)
    Alternative Names: Northern Long-eared Owl
    IUCN: Least Concern. WLPA: Schedule-I. CITES: Appendix II. CMS: Appendix II.
    • 440a. Asio otus otus (Linnaeus, 1758) [HB#663]
      Original Description: Strix Otus 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.92
      Distribution: Breeding: Rong (Ladakh), Gurias (Kashmir). Non-breeding: Northern subcontinent including Ladakh, Kashmir, Jammu, Himachal, Punjab, Haryana, Delhi region, and Uttarakhand. Rajasthan and Gujarat in the northwest; Sikkim, N Bengal, and Arunachal in the east, and once straggled to Tamil Nadu.
      Specimens: UMMZ, MCZ, TNHM
  
  
• Bubo Duméril, 1805 Zoologie analytique, ou méthode naturelle de classification des animaux, rendue plus facile à l'aide de tableaux synoptiques p.34 Strix bubo Linnaeus, 1758; Type by subsequent monotypy (Froriep, 1806, Zoologie analytique, p.35)
  • 441. Eurasian Eagle-Owl Bubo bubo (Linnaeus, 1758)
    Original Description: Strix Bubo 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.92
    Alternative Names: Great Horned Owl (with B. bengalensis)
    IUCN: Least Concern. WLPA: Schedule-I. CITES: Appendix II.
    • 441a. Bubo bubo hemachalanus Hume, 1873 [HB#626a]
      Original Description: B[ubo] Hemachalana Hume, 1873 Stray Feathers 1 p.315 (Kotgarh, Himachal)
      Taxonomy: Though AR2001 lists birds from Gilgit, Kashmir, and Ladakh under turcomanus Eversmann 1835, their footnote in p.273 indicates that treatment to be incorrect.
      Distribution: Trans-Himalaya of Gilgit, Ladakh, Lahaul-Spiti (Himachal), and also Kashmir.
      Type Specimen: NHMUK#1886.2.1.90 (Holotype).
      Specimens: NHMUK, FMNH
      Notes: Extralimital subspecies omissus Dementiev 1933 or nikolskii Zarudny 1905 may occur as winter vagrants in Gilgit or Kachchh respectively.
    • 441b. Bubo bubo tibetanus Bianchi, 1906 [HB#626]
      Original Description: Bubo bubo tibetanus Bianchi, 1906 Bulletin of the British Ornithologists' Club 16 p.69
      Distribution: N Arunachal, N Sikkim (?).
      Specimens: BNHS
      Notes: See Singh (1995, FT 10: 66), Sangha et al. (2007, IB 3 (5): 199) for reports from N Arunachal; subspecies assumed on range.
  
  
  • 442. Indian Eagle-Owl Bubo bengalensis (Franklin, 1831) [HB#627]
    Original Description: Otus Bengalensis Franklin, 1831 Proceedings of the Committee of Science and Correspondence of the Zoological Society of London Part 1 no.10 p.115 (The Ganga between Kolkata & Varanasi)
    Alternative Names: Rock Eagle Owl
    Distribution: Throughout Indian subcontinent from the outer ranges of Himalaya in Kashmir, Himachal, and Uttarakhand though N, C, and W India south to Kanyakumari and east till the W parts of W Bengal. Very local in SW coastal plains.
    Specimens: BNHS, ZSI, RBINS, UMMZ, AMNH, FMNH, MCZ, YPM, TNHM, HYD, FTLB
    IUCN: Least Concern. WLPA: Schedule-I. CITES: Appendix II.
  
  
• Ketupa Lesson, 1830 Traité d'Ornithologie, ou Tableau Méthodique des ordres, sous-ordres, familles, tribus, genres, sous-genres et races d'oiseaux livr.2 p.114 Ketupa javanensis Lesson, 1830; Type by tautonymy = Strix ketupu Horsfield, 1821
  • 443. Buffy Fish-Owl Ketupa ketupu (Horsfield, 1821)
    Original Description: Strix Ketupu Horsfield, 1821 Transactions of the Linnean Society of London (1), 13 p.141
    Alternative Names: Malay Fish Owl
    IUCN: Least Concern. WLPA: Schedule-I. CITES: Appendix II.
    • 443a. Ketupa ketupu aagaardi (Neumann, 1935) [HB#633a]
      Original Description: Bubo ketupu aagaardi Neumann, 1935 Bulletin of the British Ornithologists' Club 55 p.138
      Taxonomy: Sometimes treated as a synonym of the nominate subspecies (e.g., H&M4, IOC, Avilist).
      Distribution: Sundarbans and lowland Assam (historically).
      Specimens: AMNH
      Notes: Specimen in AMNH (#631424) from Tinsukia district, Assam. See Sharma et al. (2015, IB 10 (1): 28) for breeding details from Sundarbans.
  
  
  • 444. Brown Fish-Owl Ketupa zeylonensis (Gmelin, 1788)
    Original Description: Strix zeylonensis Gmelin, 1788 Systema Naturae. Editio decima tertia, aucta, reformata. Cura Jo. Frid. Gmelin (etc.). Tomus I [pars I] p.287
    IUCN: Least Concern. SoIB: Moderate. WLPA: Schedule-I. CITES: Appendix II.
    • [Ketupa zeylonensis semenowi Zarudny, 1905 ]
      Original Description: Ketupa semenowi Zarudny, 1905 Ornithologisches Jahrbuch 16 p.141
      Distribution: NW India.
      Notes: No reports of the species from the Thar desert. RA2012 is non-committal and just states 'NW'. No evidence of the occurrence of semenowi in NW India.
    • 444a. Ketupa zeylonensis leschenaulti (Temminck, 1820) [HB#631]
      Original Description: Strix leschenault Temminck, 1820 Nouveau recueil de planches coloriées d'oiseaux, pour servir de suite et de complément aux planches enluminées de Buffon livr.4 pl.20 (Chandannagar, W Bengal)
      Taxonomy: Includes hardwickii Griffith 1829 from Futteghur [=Fatehgarh].
      Distribution: Throughout India from about Jammu and lower Himachal through the N subcontinent, except most of Thar and Rann; through C India and hills of peninsular India but very local in Deccan and Coromandel coast; east through Assam and adjoining Arunachal, Meghalaya, Cachar, Manipur, Mizoram, and Tripura.
      Specimens: BNHS, ZSI, RBINS, UMMZ, AMNH, FMNH, MCZ, ROM, TNHM, LKO, BNHM
  
  
  • 445. Tawny Fish-Owl Ketupa flavipes (Hodgson, 1836) [HB#633]
    Original Description: Cultrunguis Flavipes Hodgson, 1836 Journal of the Asiatic Society of Bengal 5 p.364 pl.26
    Distribution: Foothills as well as inner Himalaya in Uttarakhand, N Bengal (historical), W and E Arunachal, locally in Assam, Garo and Khasi hills in Meghalaya, Cachar, Manipur, and Mizoram.
    Specimens: ZSI, UMMZ, AMNH, MCZ, BNHM
    IUCN: Least Concern. WLPA: Schedule-I. CITES: Appendix II.
    Notes: No record for Nagaland traced though it is likely to occur.
  
  
  • 446. Dusky Eagle-Owl Ketupa coromanda (Latham, 1790)
    Taxonomy: Sometimes included under Bubo.
    Alternative Names: Dusky Horned Owl
    IUCN: Least Concern. SoIB: Moderate. WLPA: Schedule-II. CITES: Appendix II.
    • 446a. Ketupa coromanda coromanda (Latham, 1790) [HB#630]
      Original Description: Strix coromanda Latham, 1790 Index ornithologicus, sive systema ornithologiæ; complectens avium divisionem in classes, ordines, genera, species, ipsarumque varietates: adjectis synonymis, locis, descriptionibus, &c. 1 p.53 (Coromandel Coast)
      Distribution: Foothills of Uttarakhand, terai of Uttar Pradesh, Delhi region, E Rajasthan, Gangetic plains (historically at least), C India till about N Telangana, E through Assam, and historically at least in Meghalaya, Cachar, and Manipur.
      Specimens: BNHS, UMZC, RBINS, UMMZ, AMNH, FMNH, MCZ
      Notes: Status further south in E Tamil Nadu (Sugathan et al. 1987, JBNHS 84 (1): 207) unclear (see Reddy & Ramachandran 2023, IB 19 (2): 44).
  
  
  • 447. Spot-bellied Eagle-Owl Ketupa nipalensis (Hodgson, 1836)
    Taxonomy: Sometimes included under Bubo.
    Alternative Names: Forest Eagle Owl
    IUCN: Least Concern. WLPA: Schedule-I. CITES: Appendix II.
    • 447a. Ketupa nipalensis nipalensis (Hodgson, 1836) [HB#628]
      Original Description: Bubo nipalensis 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 19 p.172
      Taxonomy: Includes pectoralis Jerdon 1840; but S Indian population is intermediate between the nominate subspecies and Sri Lankan blighi Legge, 1878.
      Distribution: Sub-Himalayan ranges from Uttarakhand, E through N Bengal, Sikkim, Assam, Arunachal, Nagaland, Meghalaya, Cachar, Manipur, Mizoram, and Tripura. Disjunctly in W Ghats south of SW Maharashtra to its southern tip, extending into E Ghats of Melagiri and Servarayan. Locally in Surat Dangs, Mumbai region, C Indian highlands as well as CE and NE Ghats.
      Specimens: BNHS, FMNH, YPM, TNHM, BNHM
  
  
• Strix 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.92 Strix stridula Linnaeus, 1758; Type by tautonymy = Strix aluco Linnaeus, 1758
  • 448. Mottled Wood-Owl Strix ocellata (Lesson, 1839)
    IUCN: Least Concern. WLPA: Schedule-I. CITES: Appendix II.
    • 448a. Strix ocellata grisescens Koelz, 1950 [HB#656]
      Original Description: Strix ocellata grisescens Koelz, 1950 American Museum Novitates no.1452 p.1-10 (Nichlaul, Uttar Pradesh)
      Taxonomy: Zone of intergradation with the nominate subspecies not worked out.
      Distribution: Northern peninsula from Delhi region (exceptionally Punjab), eastern through Bihar and W Bengal, west through E Rajasthan and NE Gujarat, and south till about C India.
      Type Specimen: AMNH#803064 (Holotype).
      Specimens: BNHS, AMNH, FMNH, YPM
    • 448b. Strix ocellata grandis Koelz, 1950 [HB#655]
      Original Description: Strix ocellata grandis Koelz, 1950 American Museum Novitates no.1452 p.1-10 (Sasan, Junagadh, Kathiawar)
      Distribution: Kathiawar (Gujarat).
      Type Specimen: AMNH#803063 (Holotype).
      Specimens: AMNH, FMNH, FTLB
    • 448c. Strix ocellata ocellata (Lesson, 1839) [HB#657]
      Original Description: Syrnium ocellatum Lesson, 1839 Revue Zoologique, par la Société Cuvierienne 2 p.289 (Pondicherry)
      Distribution: Southern peninsular India from about Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Odisha all the way south till Kerala and Tamil Nadu.
      Specimens: BNHS, AMNH, FMNH, TNHM, HYD
  
  
  • 449. Brown Wood-Owl Strix leptogrammica Temminck, 1832
    Original Description: Strix leptogrammica Temminck, 1832 Nouveau recueil de planches coloriées d'oiseaux, pour servir de suite et de complément aux planches enluminées de Buffon livr.89 pl.525
    IUCN: Least Concern. WLPA: Schedule-I. CITES: Appendix II.
    • 449a. Strix leptogrammica newarensis (Hodgson, 1836) [HB#658]
      Original Description: Ulula newarensis 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 19 p.168
      Distribution: Along the Himalaya from Kashmir (locally), Himachal, Uttarakhand, Sikkim, N Bengal, Assam, Arunachal, and all the NE hill states.
      Specimens: BNHS, ZSI, UMMZ, AMNH, FMNH, MCZ, YPM, BNHM
    • 449b. Strix leptogrammica indranee Sykes, 1832 [HB#659, 660]
      Original Description: Strix Indranee Sykes, 1832 Proceedings of the Committee of Science and Correspondence of the Zoological Society of London Part 2 no.18 p.82 (Lonavala [=Lonauli], Maharashtra)
      Taxonomy: Includes connectens Koelz 1950 from Amrasti (sic) = Amravati, Bastar, Chhattisgarh.
      Distribution: W Ghats from Surat Dangs all the way till S Tamil Nadu; locally in C Indian highlands, NE Ghats as well as SE Ghats reaching till Bengaluru.
      Specimens: BNHS, ZSI, AMNH, FMNH, USNM, TNHM
  
  
  • 450. Tawny Owl Strix aluco Linnaeus, 1758
    Original Description: Strix Aluco 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.93
    IUCN: Least Concern. WLPA: Schedule-II. CITES: Appendix II.
    • 450a. Strix aluco biddulphi (Scully, 1881) [HB#661]
      Original Description: Syrnium biddulphi Scully, 1881 Ibis p.423 pl.14 (Gilgit)
      Taxonomy: Tentatively, this taxon is considered a part of S. aluco group and under S. nivicolum (RA2012).
      Distribution: Gilgit and Kashmir till Kishtwar.
      Type Specimen: ZSI#15098 (Holotype or Syntype?).
      Specimens: BNHS, ZSI, NHMUK, FMNH
      Notes: Not known to occur in S Kashmir and Himachal.
  
  
  • 451. Himalayan Owl Strix nivicolum (Blyth, 1845)
    Alternative Names: Himalayan Wood Owl
    IUCN: Least Concern. WLPA: Schedule-II. CITES: Appendix II.
    • 451a. Strix nivicolum nivicolum (Blyth, 1845) [HB#662]
      Original Description: Syrnium nivicolum Blyth, 1845 Journal of the Asiatic Society of Bengal 14 p.185
      Taxonomy: The darker E Himalayan population not ascribed to any subspecies. Includes obrieni Koelz 1954 from Phawngpui [=Blue Mountain], Mizoram.
      Distribution: Along the Himalaya in Himachal, Uttarakhand, Sikkim, N Bengal, Arunachal, Nagaland, and Mizoram.
      Specimens: BNHS, NHMUK, UMMZ, FMNH, BNHM