Birds of India - The New Synopsis

A complete checklist of bird species and subspecies found in India

Bucerotiformes (Hornbills and Hoopoes)

Upupidae (Hoopoes)

• Upupa 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.117 Upupa epops Linnaeus, 1758; Type by tautonymy
  • 518. Eurasian Hoopoe Upupa epops Linnaeus, 1758
    Alternative Names: Common Hoopoe
    IUCN: Least Concern. SoIB: Moderate. WLPA: Schedule-II.
    • 518a. Upupa epops epops Linnaeus, 1758 [HB#763]
      Original Description: Upupa Epops 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.117
      Taxonomy: Subspecies identification is difficult and multiple subspecies can occur in a given locality in winter. The breeding birds of W Himalaya and N India sometimes recognised as orientalis Baker 1921 (new name for U. indica Reichenbach), which is an intermediate form between the nominate subspecies and the ceylonensis. Eastern form saturata also included here.
      Distribution: Breeding: W Himalaya of Gilgit, Ladakh, Kashmir, Himachal, Uttarakhand, Sikkim, N Bengal, and Arunachal. Winter: Entire peninsula at least in N, C, W, and NE India, and possibly straggling to S India.
      Specimens: BNHS, ZSI, NHMUK, UMMZ, AMNH, FMNH, MCZ, ROM, USNM, YPM, LKO
    • 518b. Upupa epops ceylonensis Reichenbach, 1853 [HB#765]
      Original Description: Upupa ceylonensis Reichenbach, 1853 Handbuch der speciellen Ornithologie p.320 pl.595 fig.4036
      Distribution: Breeding: Foothills of Himalaya and much of the subcontinent. Non-breeding: Dispersing widely in the subcontinent, reaching Lakshadweep and Andaman Is.
      Specimens: BNHS, ZSI, NHMUK, UMMZ, AMNH, FMNH, ROM, USNM, YPM, TNHM, HYD, LKO, FTLB
    • 518c. Upupa epops longirostris Jerdon, 1862 [HB#766]
      Original Description: Upupa longirostris Jerdon, 1862 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 1 p.393
      Distribution: Nagaland, Meghalaya, Cachar, Manipur, Mizoram, and Tripura as well as adjoining parts of Assam.
      Specimens: ZSI, NHMUK, UMMZ, AMNH, FMNH
      Notes: Post-breeding, birds disperse widely in NE India and possibly elsewhere.