Birds of India - A Synopsis

A complete checklist of bird species and subspecies found in India

Orders and Families

• Anseriformes (Waterfowl) Wagler, 1831
  • Anatidae (Ducks, Geese, and Swans) Leach, 1819


• Galliformes (Landfowl) Temminck, 1820
  • Megapodiidae (Megapodes) Lesson, 1831
  • Phasianidae (Partridges, Quails, and Pheasants) Horsfield, 1821


• Columbiformes (Pigeons) Latham, 1790
  • Columbidae (Pigeons and Doves) Illiger, 1811


• Pterocliformes (Sandgrouses) Huxley, 1868
  • Pteroclidae (Sandgrouses) Bonaparte, 1831


• Otidiformes (Bustards) Wagler, 1830
  • Otididae (Bustards) Rafinesque, 1815


• Cuculiformes (Cuckoos) Wagler, 1830
  • Cuculidae (Cuckoos) Leach, 1819


• Caprimulgiformes (Nightjars) Ridgway, 1881
  • Caprimulgidae (Nightjars) Vigors, 1825


• Podargiformes (Frogmouths) Matthews, 1918
  • Podargidae (Frogmouths) Gray, 1847


• Apodiformes (Swifts) Peters, 1940
  • Apodidae (Swifts) Olphe-Galliard, 1887
  • Hemiprocnidae (Treeswifts) Oberholser, 1906


• Gruiformes (Cranes and Rails) Bonaparte, 1854
  • Rallidae (Rails and Coots) Rafinesque, 1815
  • Heliornithidae (Finfoots) Gray, 1840
  • Gruidae (Cranes) Vigors, 1825


• Charadriiformes (Shorebirds, Gulls, and Terns) Huxley, 1867
  • Burhinidae (Thick-knees) Mathews, 1912
  • Recurvirostridae (Stilts and Avocets) Bonaparte, 1831
  • Ibidorhynchidae (Ibisbill) Bonaparte, 1856
  • Haematopodidae (Oystercatchers) Bonaparte, 1838
  • Charadriidae (Plovers and Lapwings) Leach, 1820
  • Rostratulidae (Painted-Snipes) Mathews, 1913
  • Jacanidae (Jacanas) Chenu & des Murs, 1854
  • Scolopacidae (Sandpipers) Rafinesque, 1815
  • Turnicidae (Buttonquails) Gray, 1840
  • Dromadidae (Crab-Plover) Gray, 1840
  • Glareolidae (Coursers and Pratincoles) Brehm, 1831
  • Stercorariidae (Skuas) Gray, 1870
  • Laridae (Gulls and Terns) Rafinesque, 1815


• Phoenicopteriformes (Flamingos) Fürbringer, 1888
  • Phoenicopteridae (Flamingos) Bonaparte, 1831


• Podicipediformes (Grebes) Fürbringer, 1888
  • Podicipedidae (Grebes) Bonaparte, 1831


• Phaethontiformes (Tropicbirds) Sharpe, 1891
  • Phaethontidae (Tropicbirds) Brandt, 1840


• Gaviiformes (Divers) Wetmore & Miller, 1926
  • Gaviidae (Divers) Allen, 1897


• Procellariiformes (Tube-nosed Swimmers) Fürbringer, 1888
  • Diomedeidae (Albatrosses) Gray, 1840
  • Oceanitidae (Austral Storm-Petrels) Forbes, 1881
  • Hydrobatidae (Boreal Storm-Petrels) Mathews, 1913
  • Procellariidae (Petrels and Shearwaters) Leach, 1820


• Ciconiiformes (Storks) Bonaparte, 1854
  • Ciconiidae (Storks) Sundevall, 1836


• Suliformes (Cormorants, Boobies, Frigatebirds, and Darters) Sharpe, 1891
  • Fregatidae (Frigatebirds) Degland & Gerbe, 1867
  • Sulidae (Gannets and Boobies) Reichenbach, 1849
  • Anhingidae (Darters) Lesson, 1831
  • Phalacrocoracidae (Cormorants) Reichenbach, 1849


• Pelecaniformes (Pelicans, Ibises, and Herons) Sharpe, 1891
  • Threskiornithidae (Ibises and Spoonbills) Poche, 1904
  • Ardeidae (Bitterns, Herons and Egrets) Leach, 1820
  • Pelecanidae (Pelicans) Rafinesque, 1815


• Accipitriformes (Hawks) Vieillot, 1816
  • Pandionidae (Osprey) Bonaparte, 1854
  • Accipitridae (Kites, Hawks and Eagles) Vigors, 1824


• Strigiformes (Owls) Wagler, 1830
  • Tytonidae (Barn Owls) Ridgway, 1914
  • Strigidae (Owls) Leach, 1819


• Trogoniformes (Trogons) Wetmore & Miller, 1926
  • Trogonidae (Trogons) Lesson, 1828


• Bucerotiformes (Hornbills and Hoopoes) Fürbringer, 1888
  • Upupidae (Hoopoes) Leach, 1820
  • Bucerotidae (Hornbills) Rafinesque, 1815


• Coraciiformes (Kingfishers, Bee-eaters, and Rollers) Forbes, 1884
  • Meropidae (Bee-eaters) Rafinesque, 1815
  • Alcedinidae (Kingfishers) Rafinesque, 1815
  • Coraciidae (Rollers) Rafinesque, 1815


• Piciformes (Woodpeckers and Barbets) Meyer & Wolf, 1810
  • Megalaimidae (Barbets) Blyth, 1852
  • Indicatoridae (Honeyguides) Swainson, 1837
  • Picidae (Woodpeckers and allies) Leach, 1820


• Falconiformes (Falcons) Sharpe, 1874
  • Falconidae (Falcons) Leach, 1819


• Psittaciformes (Parrots) Wagler, 1830
  • Psittaculidae (Parrots) Vigors, 1825


• Passeriformes (Perching Birds) Linnaeus, 1766
  • Eurylaimidae (Broadbills) Lesson, 1831
  • Pittidae (Pittas) Swainson, 1831
  • Campephagidae (Minivets and Cuckooshrikes) Vigors, 1825
  • Vireonidae (Shrike-Babblers and allies) Swainson, 1837
  • Pachycephalidae (Whistlers) Swainson, 1831
  • Oriolidae (Orioles) Vigors, 1825
  • Artamidae (Woodswallows) Vigors, 1825
  • Vangidae (Woodshrikes and allies) Swainson, 1831
  • Aegithinidae (Ioras) Gray, 1869
  • Rhipiduridae (Fantails) Sundevall, 1872
  • Dicruridae (Drongos) Vigors, 1825
  • Monarchidae (Monarchs) Bonaparte, 1854
  • Laniidae (Shrikes) Rafinesque, 1815
  • Corvidae (Crows and allies) Leach, 1820
  • Stenostiridae (Canary-flycatchers and allies) Beresford et al., 2005
  • Paridae (Tits) Vigors, 1825
  • Remizidae (Penduline-Tits) Olphe-Galliard, 1891
  • Alaudidae (Larks) Vigors, 1825
  • Cisticolidae (Cisticolas, Prinias, and allies) Sundevall, 1872
  • Acrocephalidae (Reed Warblers and allies) Salvin, 1882
  • Locustellidae (Locustella warblers and allies) Bonaparte, 1854
  • Pnoepygidae (Wren Babblers) Gelang et al., 2009
  • Hirundinidae (Swallows and Martins) Rafinesque, 1815
  • Pycnonotidae (Bulbuls) Gray, 1840
  • Phylloscopidae (Leaf Warblers) Alström et al., 2006
  • Scotocercidae (Bush Warblers and allies) Fregin et al., 2012
  • Aegithalidae (Long-tailed Tits) Reichenbach, 1850
  • Sylviidae (Sylvia warblers and allies) Leach, 1820
  • Paradoxornithidae (Parrotbills and allies) Horsfield & Moore, 1854
  • Zosteropidae (White-eyes, Yuhinas and allies) Bonaparte, 1853
  • Timaliidae (Scimitar Babblers and allies) Bonaparte, 1840
  • Pellorneidae (Small Babblers, Fulvettas and allies) Delacour, 1946
  • Leiothrichidae (Laughingthrushes and large Babblers) Swainson, 1831
  • Regulidae (Goldcrests) Vigors, 1825
  • Tichodromidae (Wallcreeper) Swainson, 1827
  • Sittidae (Nuthatches) Lesson, 1828
  • Salpornithidae (Spotted Creepers) Mayr & Amadon, 1951
  • Certhiidae (Tree-creepers and allies) Leach, 1820
  • Troglodytidae (Wrens) Swainson, 1831
  • Elachuridae (Elachura) Alström et al., 2014
  • Cinclidae (Dippers) Sundevall, 1836
  • Sturnidae (Starlings and Mynas) Rafinesque, 1815
  • Turdidae (Thrushes and allies) Rafinesque, 1815
  • Muscicapidae (Flycatchers, Chats and allies) Fleming, 1822
  • Bombycillidae (Waxwings) Swainson, 1831
  • Hypocoliidae (Hypocolius) Delacour & Amadon, 1949
  • Dicaeidae (Flowerpeckers) Bonaparte, 1853
  • Nectariniidae (Sunbirds) Vigors, 1825
  • Irenidae (Fairy-bluebirds) Jerdon, 1863
  • Chloropseidae (Leafbirds) Wetmore, 1960
  • Ploceidae (Weavers) Sundevall, 1836
  • Estrildidae (Munias) Bonaparte, 1850
  • Prunellidae (Accentors) Richmond, 1909
  • Passeridae (Sparrows and Snowfinches) Rafinesque, 1815
  • Motacillidae (Pipits and Wagtails) Horsfield, 1821
  • Fringillidae (Finches) Leach, 1819
  • Emberizidae (Buntings) Brehm, 1831