List of birds of Kerala
The state of Kerala, India has about 497 bird species within its boundary. This following list of birds is based on the taxonomic treatment of The Clements Checklist of Birds of the World, 5th edition but includes recent revisions.[1][2] Six species are marked as historical as there are no authentic records of those species from the state since 1 January 1975.[2]
Grebes
Order: Podicipediformes Family: Podicipedidae
Grebes are small to medium-large freshwater diving birds. They have lobed toes and are excellent swimmers and divers. However, they have their feet placed far back on the body, making them quite ungainly on land. There are 20 species worldwide and 5 species which occur in India and 1 in Kerala
- Little grebe, Tachybaptus ruficollis
Shearwaters and petrels
Order: Procellariiformes Family: Procellariidae
The procellariids are the main group of medium-sized "true petrels", characterised by united nostrils with medium septum and a long outer functional primary. There are 75 species worldwide and 12 species which occur in India and 7 in Kerala.
- Jouanin's petrel, Bulweria fallax
- Flesh-footed shearwater, Puffinus carneipes
- Streaked shearwater, Calonectris leucomelas[3]
- Cory's shearwater, Calonectris borealis[4]
- Wedge-tailed shearwater, Puffinus pacificus[5]
- Short-tailed shearwater, Puffinus tenuirostris[6]
- Persian shearwater, Puffinus persicus[5]
Storm petrels
Order: Procellariiformes Family: Hydrobatidae
The storm petrels are relatives of the petrels and are the smallest seabirds. They feed on planktonic crustaceans and small fish picked from the surface, typically while hovering. The flight is fluttering and sometimes bat-like. There are 21 species worldwide and 6 species which occur in India and three in Kerala.
- Wilson's storm petrel, Oceanites oceanicus[5][7]
- Swinhoe's storm petrel, Oceanodroma monorhis[7]
- White-faced storm petrel,Pelagodroma marina [8] [Historical]
Tropicbirds
Order: Pelecaniformes Family: Phaethontidae
Tropicbirds are slender white birds of tropical oceans, with exceptionally long central tail feathers. Their heads and long wings have black markings. There are 3 species worldwide and 3 species which occur in India and 2 in Kerala.
- Red-billed tropicbird, Phaethon aethereus
- White-tailed tropicbird, Phaethon lepturus
Pelicans
Order: Pelecaniformes Family: Pelecanidae
Pelicans are large water birds with a distinctive pouch under their beak. As with other members of the order Pelecaniformes, they have webbed feet with four toes. There are 8 species worldwide and 3 species which occur in India and 2 in Kerala.
- Great white pelican, Pelecanus onocrotalus[9][10]
- Spot-billed pelican, Pelecanus philippensis
Boobies and gannets
Order: Pelecaniformes Family: Sulidae
The sulids comprise the gannets and boobies. Both groups are medium to large coastal seabirds that plunge-dive for fish. There are 9 species worldwide and 4 species which occur in India and 2 in Kerala.
- Red-footed booby, Sula sula [11]
- Masked booby, Sula dactylatra
Cormorants
Order: Pelecaniformes Family: Phalacrocoracidae
Phalacrocoracidae is a family of medium to large coastal, fish-eating seabirds that includes cormorants and shags. Plumage colouration varies, with the majority having mainly dark plumage, some species being black-and-white and a few being colourful. There are 38 species worldwide and 3 species which occur in India and all 3 occur in Kerala.
- Indian cormorant, Phalacrocorax fuscicollis
- Great cormorant, Phalacrocorax carbo
- Little cormorant, Phalacrocorax niger
Darters
Order: Pelecaniformes Family: Anhingidae
Darters are often called "snake-birds" because of their long thin neck, which gives a snake-like appearance when they swim with their bodies submerged. The males have black and dark-brown plumage, an erectile crest on the nape and a larger bill than the female. The females have much paler plumage especially on the neck and underparts. The darters have completely webbed feet and their legs are short and set far back on the body. Their plumage is somewhat permeable, like that of cormorants, and they spread their wings to dry after diving. There are 4 species worldwide and 1 species which occurs in India and also in Kerala.
- Oriental darter, Anhinga melanogaster
Frigatebirds
Order: Pelecaniformes Family: Fregatidae
Frigatebirds are large seabirds usually found over tropical oceans. They are large, black-and-white or completely black, with long wings and deeply forked tails. The males have coloured inflatable throat pouches. They do not swim or walk and cannot take off from a flat surface. Having the largest wingspan-to-body-weight ratio of any bird, they are essentially aerial, able to stay aloft for more than a week. There are 5 species worldwide and 3 species which occur in India and 2 species in Kerala.
- Great frigatebird, Fregata minor
- Lesser frigatebird, Fregata ariel
Bitterns, herons and egrets
Order: Ciconiiformes Family: Ardeidae
The family Ardeidae contains the bitterns, herons and egrets. Herons and egrets are medium to large wading birds with long necks and legs. Bitterns tend to be shorter necked and more wary. Members of Ardeidae fly with their necks retracted, unlike other long-necked birds such as storks, ibises and spoonbills. There are 61 species worldwide and 21 species which occur in India and 16 species occur in Kerala.
- Grey heron, Ardea cinerea
- Purple heron, Ardea purpurea
- Eastern great egret, Ardea modesta
- Intermediate egret, Egretta intermedia
- Western reef-heron, Egretta gularis
- Little egret, Egretta garzetta
- Indian pond-heron, Ardeola grayii
- Cattle egret, Bubulcus ibis coromandus (Treated as a full species Bubulcus coromandus by Rasmussen and Anderton, 2005 and sometimes called the eastern cattle egret)
- Striated heron, Butorides striata
- Black-crowned night-heron, Nycticorax nycticorax
- Malayan night-heron, Gorsachius melanolophus
- Yellow bittern, Ixobrychus sinensis
- Little bittern, Ixobrychus minutus
- Cinnamon bittern, Ixobrychus cinnamomeus
- Black bittern, Ixobrychus flavicollis
- Great bittern, Botaurus stellaris
Storks
Order: Ciconiiformes Family: Ciconiidae
Storks are large, long-legged, long-necked, wading birds with long, stout bills. Storks are mute, but bill-clattering is an important mode of communication at the nest. Their nests can be large and may be reused for many years. Many species are migratory. There are 19 species worldwide and 9 species which occur in India and 6 species occur in Kerala.
- Painted stork, Mycteria leucocephala
- Asian openbill, Anastomus oscitans
- Black stork, Ciconia nigra
- Woolly-necked stork, Ciconia episcopus
- White stork, Ciconia ciconia
- Lesser adjutant, Leptoptilos javanicus
Ibises and spoonbills
Order: Ciconiiformes Family: Threskiornithidae
Threskiornithidae is a family of large terrestrial and wading birds which includes the ibises and spoonbills. They have long, broad wings with 11 primary and about 20 secondary feathers. They are strong fliers and despite their size and weight, very capable soarers. There are 36 species worldwide and 4 species which occur in India and also in Kerala.
- Black-headed ibis, Threskiornis melanocephalus
- Black ibis, Pseudibis papillosa
- Glossy ibis, Plegadis falcinellus
- Eurasian spoonbill, Platalea leucorodia
Flamingos
Order: Phoenicopteriformes Family: Phoenicopteridae
Flamingos are gregarious wading birds, usually 3 to 5 feet (0.9 to 1.5 m) tall, found in both the Western and Eastern Hemispheres. Flamingos filter-feed on shellfish and algae. Their oddly shaped beaks are specially adapted to separate mud and silt from the food they consume and, uniquely, are used upside-down. There are 6 species worldwide and 2 species which occur in India of which only 1 occur in Kerala.
- Greater flamingo, Phoenicopterus roseus
Ducks, geese and swans
Order: Anseriformes Family: Anatidae
Anatidae includes the ducks and most duck-like waterfowl, such as geese and swans. These birds are adapted to an aquatic existence with webbed feet, flattened bills, and feathers that are excellent at shedding water due to an oily coating. There are 131 species worldwide and 45 species which occur in India and 14 species occur in Kerala.
- Lesser whistling-duck, Dendrocygna javanica
- Bar-headed goose, Anser indicus
- Ruddy shelduck, Tadorna ferruginea
- Knob-billed duck, Sarkidiornis melanotos (also called comb duck)
- Cotton pygmy-goose, Nettapus coromandelianus
- Eurasian wigeon, Anas penelope
- Gadwall, Anas strepera
- Eurasian teal, Anas crecca
- Spot-billed duck, Anas poecilorhyncha
- Northern pintail, Anas acuta
- Garganey, Anas querquedula
- Northern shoveler, Anas clypeata
- Ferruginous pochard, Aythya nyroca
- Tufted duck, Aythya fuligula
Osprey
Order: Falconiformes Family: Pandionidae
The Pandionidae family contains only one species, the osprey. The osprey is a medium-large raptor which is a specialist fish-eater with a worldwide distribution.
- Osprey, Pandion haliaetus
Hawks, kites and eagles
Order: Falconiformes Family: Accipitridae
Accipitridae is a family of birds of prey, which includes hawks, eagles, kites, harriers and Old World vultures. These birds have powerful hooked beaks for tearing flesh from their prey, strong legs, powerful talons and keen eyesight. There are 233 species worldwide and 57 species which occur in India and 39 species occur in Kerala.
- Jerdon's baza, Aviceda jerdoni
- Black baza, Aviceda leuphotes
- Crested honey buzzard, Pernis ptilorhynchus
- Black-winged kite, Elanus caeruleus
- Black kite, Milvus migrans
- Brahminy kite, Haliastur indus
- White-bellied sea eagle, Haliaeetus leucogaster
- White-tailed eagle, Haliaeetus albicilla
- Lesser fish-eagle, Ichthyophaga humilis
- Grey-headed fish-eagle, Ichthyophaga ichthyaetus
- Egyptian vulture, Neophron percnopterus
- White-rumped vulture, Gyps bengalensis
- Indian vulture, Gyps indicus
- Himalayan vulture, Gyps himalayensis [12]
- Cinereous vulture, Aegypius monachus
- Red-headed vulture, Sarcogyps calvus
- Short-toed snake eagle, Circaetus gallicus
- Crested serpent eagle, Spilornis cheela
- Western marsh harrier, Circus aeruginosus
- Northern harrier, Circus cyaneus (Also known as hen harrier)
- Pallid harrier, Circus macrourus
- Pied harrier, Circus melanoleucos
- Montagu's harrier, Circus pygargus
- Crested goshawk, Accipiter trivirgatus
- Shikra, Accipiter badius
- Besra, Accipiter virgatus
- Eurasian sparrowhawk, Accipiter nisus
- White-eyed buzzard, Butastur teesa
- Eurasian buzzard, Buteo buteo (race vulpinus)
- Black eagle, Ictinaetus malayensis
- Indian spotted eagle, Aquila hastata (earlier treated as A. pomarina hastata)
- Greater spotted eagle, Aquila clanga
- Steppe eagle, Aquila nipalensis
- Eastern imperial eagle, Aquila heliaca
- Bonelli's eagle, Aquila fasciatus
- Booted eagle, Aquila pennata
- Rufous-bellied eagle, Lophotriorchis kienerii
- Crested hawk-eagle, Nisaetus cirrhatus (Spizaetus restricted to the neotropics by Gjershaug et al., 2008)
- Mountain hawk-eagle, Nisaetus nipalensis kelaarti
Falcons
Order: Falconiformes Family: Falconidae
Falconidae is a family of diurnal birds of prey. They differ from hawks, eagles and kites in that they kill with their beaks instead of their talons. There are 62 species worldwide and 15 species which occur in India of which six occur in Kerala.
- Lesser kestrel, Falco naumanni
- Eurasian kestrel, Falco tinnunculus
- Amur falcon, Falco amurensis
- Oriental hobby, Falco severus
- Red-necked falcon, Falco chiquera[13]
- Peregrine falcon, Falco peregrinus
Pheasants and partridges
Order: Galliformes Family: Phasianidae
The Phasianidae are a family of terrestrial birds which consists of quails, partridges, snowcocks, francolins, spurfowls, tragopans, monals, pheasants, peafowls and jungle fowls. In general, they are plump (although they vary in size) and have broad, relatively short wings. There are 156 species worldwide and 46 species which occur in India of which 8 species occur in Kerala.
- Grey francolin, Francolinus pondicerianus
- Rain quail, Coturnix coromandelica
- Jungle bush-quail, Perdicula asiatica
- Painted bush-quail, Perdicula erythrorhyncha
- Red spurfowl, Galloperdix spadicea
- Painted spurfowl, Galloperdix lunulata
- Grey junglefowl, Gallus sonneratii
- Indian peafowl, Pavo cristatus
Buttonquails
Order: Gruiformes Family: Turnicidae
The buttonquails are small, drab, running birds which resemble the true quails. The female is the brighter of the sexes and initiates courtship. The male incubates the eggs and tends the young. There are 16 species worldwide and 3 species which occur in India of which 2 species occur in Kerala.
- Yellow-legged buttonquail, Turnix tanki
- Barred buttonquail, Turnix suscitator
Rails, crakes, gallinules and coots
Order: Gruiformes Family: Rallidae
Rallidae is a large family of small to medium-sized birds which includes the rails, crakes, coots and gallinules. Typically they inhabit dense vegetation in damp environments near lakes, swamps or rivers. In general they are shy and secretive birds, making them difficult to observe. Most species have strong legs and long toes which are well adapted to soft uneven surfaces. They tend to have short, rounded wings and to be weak fliers. There are 143 species worldwide and 17 species which occur in India and 9 occur in Kerala.
- Slaty-legged crake, Rallina eurizonoides
- Slaty-breasted rail, Gallirallus striatus
- White-breasted waterhen, Amaurornis phoenicurus
- Baillon's crake, Porzana pusilla
- Ruddy-breasted crake, Porzana fusca
- Watercock, Gallicrex cinerea
- Grey-headed swamphen, Porphyrio poliocephalus
- Common moorhen, Gallinula chloropus
- Eurasian coot, Fulica atra
Bustards
Order: Gruiformes Family: Otididae
Bustards are large terrestrial birds mainly associated with dry open country and steppes in the Old World. They are omnivorous and nest on the ground. They walk steadily on strong legs and big toes, pecking for food as they go. They have long broad wings with "fingered" wingtips and striking patterns in flight. Many have interesting mating displays. There are 26 species worldwide and 7 species which occur in India and 2 in Kerala.
- Macqueen's bustard, Chlamydotis undulata (race macqueeni of houbara bustard raised to full species)
- Lesser florican, Sypheotides indicus (syn. Eupodotis indica)
Jacanas
Order: Charadriiformes Family: Jacanidae
The jacanas are a group of tropical waders in the family Jacanidae. They are found throughout the tropics. They are identifiable by their huge feet and claws which enable them to walk on floating vegetation in the shallow lakes that are their preferred habitat. There 8 species worldwide and 2 species which occur in India and also in Kerala.
- Pheasant-tailed jacana, Hydrophasianus chirurgus
- Bronze-winged jacana, Metopidius indicus
Painted snipe
Order: Charadriiformes Family: Rostratulidae
Painted snipe are short-legged, long-billed birds similar in shape to the true snipes, but more brightly coloured. There are 2 species worldwide and 1 species which occurs in India and Kerala.
- Greater painted-snipe, Rostratula benghalensis
Crab plover
Order: Charadriiformes Family: Dromadidae
The crab plover is related to the waders. It resembles a plover but with very long grey legs and a strong heavy black bill similar to a tern. It has black-and-white plumage, a long neck, partially webbed feet and a bill designed for eating crabs.
- Crab plover, Dromas ardeola
Oystercatchers
Order: Charadriiformes Family: Haematopodidae
The oystercatchers are large and noisy plover-like birds, with strong bills used for smashing or prising open molluscs. There are 11 species worldwide and 1 species which occurs in India and Kerala.
- Eurasian oystercatcher, Haematopus ostralegus
Avocets and stilts
Order: Charadriiformes Family: Recurvirostridae
Recurvirostridae is a family of large wading birds, which includes the avocets and stilts. The avocets have long legs and long up-curved bills. The stilts have extremely long legs and long, thin, straight bills. There are 9 species worldwide and 2 species which occur in India and Kerala.
- Black-winged stilt, Himantopus himantopus
- Pied avocet, Recurvirostra avosetta
Thick-knees
Order: Charadriiformes Family: Burhinidae
The thick-knees are a group of largely tropical waders in the family Burhinidae. They are found worldwide within the tropical zone, with some species also breeding in temperate Europe and Australia. They are medium to large waders with strong black or yellow-black bills, large yellow eyes and cryptic plumage. Despite being classed as waders, most species have a preference for arid or semi-arid habitats. There are 9 species worldwide and 3 species which occur in India and two species in Kerala.
- Eurasian thick-knee, Burhinus oedicnemus
- Great thick-knee, Burhinus recurvirostris[14]
Pratincoles and coursers
Order: Charadriiformes Family: Glareolidae
Glareolidae is a family of wading birds comprising the pratincoles, which have short legs, long pointed wings and long forked tails, and the coursers, which have long legs, short wings and long, pointed bills which curve downwards. There are 17 species worldwide and 6 species which occur in India and four species occur in Kerala.
- Indian courser, Cursorius coromandelicus [2] [Historical]
- Oriental pratincole, Glareola maldivarum
- Collared pratincole, Glareola pratincola[15]
- Small pratincole, Glareola lactea
Plovers and lapwings
Order: Charadriiformes Family: Charadriidae
The family Charadriidae includes the plovers, dotterels and lapwings. They are small to medium-sized birds with compact bodies, short, thick necks and long, usually pointed, wings. They are found in open country worldwide, mostly in habitats near water. There are 66 species worldwide and 20 species which occur in India and 13 in Kerala.
- Sociable lapwing, Vanellus gregarius [2] [Historical]
- Yellow-wattled lapwing, Vanellus malabaricus
- Grey-headed lapwing, Vanellus cinereus
- Red-wattled lapwing, Vanellus indicus
- White-tailed lapwing, Vanellus leucurus
- Pacific golden-plover, Pluvialis fulva
- Grey plover, Pluvialis squatarola
- Ringed plover, Charadrius hiaticula (Also known as common ringed plover)
- Little ringed plover, Charadrius dubius
- Kentish plover, Charadrius alexandrinus
- Caspian plover, Charadrius asiaticus [16]
- Lesser sandplover, Charadrius mongolus
- Greater sandplover, Charadrius leschenaultii
Sandpipers and allies
Order: Charadriiformes Family: Scolopacidae
Scolopacidae is a large diverse family of small to medium-sized shorebirds including the sandpipers, curlews, godwits, shanks, tattlers, woodcocks, snipes, dowitchers and phalaropes. The majority of these species eat small invertebrates picked out of the mud or soil. Variation in length of legs and bills enables multiple species to feed in the same habitat, particularly on the coast, without direct competition for food. There are 89 species worldwide and 43 species which occur in India and 30 species occur in Kerala.
- Eurasian woodcock, Scolopax rusticola
- Wood snipe, Gallinago nemoricola[2] [Historical]
- Jack snipe, Lymnocryptes minimus
- Pintail snipe, Gallinago stenura
- Swinhoe's snipe, Gallinago megala[2] [Historical]
- Common snipe, Gallinago gallinago
- Black-tailed godwit, Limosa limosa
- Bar-tailed godwit, Limosa lapponica
- Whimbrel, Numenius phaeopus
- Eurasian curlew, Numenius arquata
- Spotted redshank, Tringa erythropus
- Common redshank, Tringa totanus
- Marsh sandpiper, Tringa stagnatilis
- Common greenshank, Tringa nebularia
- Green sandpiper, Tringa ochropus
- Wood sandpiper, Tringa glareola
- Terek sandpiper, Xenus cinereus
- Common sandpiper, Actitis hypoleucos
- Ruddy turnstone, Arenaria interpres
- Great knot, Calidris tenuirostris
- Red knot, Calidris canutus[17]
- Sanderling, Calidris alba
- Little stint, Calidris minuta
- Temminck's stint, Calidris temminckii
- Long-toed stint, Calidris subminuta[18]
- Curlew sandpiper, Calidris ferruginea
- Dunlin, Calidris alpina
- Broad-billed sandpiper, Limicola falcinellus
- Buff-breasted sandpiper, Tryngites subruficollis[19]
- Pectoral sandpiper, Calidris melanotos [16]
- Ruff, Philomachus pugnax
- Red-necked phalarope, Phalaropus lobatus[2]
Skuas
Order: Charadriiformes Family: Stercorariidae
The family Stercorariidae are, in general, medium to large birds, typically with grey or brown plumage, often with white markings on the wings. They nest on the ground in temperate and arctic regions and are long-distance migrants. There are 7 species worldwide and 4 species which occur in India all of them occur in Kerala.
- Pomarine skua, Stercorarius pomarinus
- Parasitic skua, Stercorarius parasiticus[5][20]
- Brown skua, Catharcta antarctica
- South polar skua, Catharcta maccormicki[21]
Gulls
Order: Charadriiformes Family: Laridae
Laridae is a family of medium to large seabirds, the gulls and kittiwakes. They are typically grey or white, often with black markings on the head or wings. They have stout, longish bills and webbed feet. There are 55 species worldwide and around 12 species which occur in India and 7 species occur in Kerala.
- Heuglin's gull, Larus heuglini
- Steppe gull, Larus heuglini barabensis (Sometimes treated as a subspecies of Caspian gull, Larus cachinnans barabensis)
- Great black-headed gull, Larus ichthyaetus
- Brown-headed gull, Larus brunnicephalus
- Black-headed gull, Larus ridibundus
- Slender-billed gull, Larus genei
- Black-legged kittiwake, Rissa tridactyla[22]
- Sabine's gull, Xema sabini[23]
Terns
Order: Charadriiformes Family: Sternidae
Terns are a group of generally medium to large seabirds typically with grey or white plumage, often with black markings on the head. Most terns hunt fish by diving but some pick insects off the surface of fresh water. Terns are generally long-lived birds, with several species known to live in excess of 30 years. There are 44 species worldwide and 23 species which occur in India and 18 in Kerala.
- Gull-billed tern, Gelochelidon nilotica
- Caspian tern, Hydroprogne caspia
- Lesser crested tern, Thalasseus bengalensis
- Sandwich tern, Thalasseus sandvicensis
- Great crested tern, Thalasseus bergii
- River tern, Sterna aurantia
- Roseate tern, Sterna dougalli [24]
- Common tern, Sterna hirundo
- Little tern, Sterna albifrons (Not differentiated from Saunders's tern, Sterna saundersi in the checklist)
- White-cheeked tern, Sterna repressa
- Black-bellied tern, Sterna acuticauda
- Bridled tern, Sterna anaethetus
- Sooty tern, Sterna fuscata
- Whiskered tern, Chlidonias hybrida
- White-winged tern, Chlidonias leucopterus
- Lesser noddy, Anous tenuirostris
- Brown noddy, Anous stolidus[25]
- White tern, Gygis alba[26]
Pigeons and doves
Order: Columbiformes Family: Columbidae
Pigeons and doves are stout-bodied birds with short necks and short slender bills with a fleshy cere. There are 308 species worldwide and 28 species which occur in India and 14 in Kerala.
- Chestnut-bellied sandgrouse, Pterocles exustus[27]
- Rock pigeon, Columba livia
- Nilgiri wood pigeon, Columba elphinstonii
- Oriental turtle dove, Streptopelia orientalis
- Red turtle dove, Streptopelia tranqubarica [28]
- Eurasian collared-dove, Streptopelia decaocto
- Spotted dove, Streptopelia chinensis
- Laughing dove, Streptopelia senegalensis
- Emerald dove, Chalcophaps indica
- Orange-breasted green pigeon, Treron bicinctus
- Grey-fronted green pigeon, Treron affinis (in some classifications it is split from Treron pompadora which is resident in Sri Lanka)
- Yellow-footed green pigeon, Treron phoenicopterus
- Green imperial pigeon, Ducula aenea
- Mountain imperial pigeon, Ducula badia
Parrots and allies
Order: Psittaciformes Family: Psittacidae
Parrots are small to large birds with a characteristic curved beak. Their upper mandibles have slight mobility in the joint with the skull and they have a generally erect stance. All parrots are zygodactyl, having the four toes on each foot placed two at the front and two to the back. There are 335 species worldwide and 11 species which occur in India with 5 in Kerala excluding the escapee record of red-breasted parakeet, Psittacula alexandri
- Alexandrine parakeet, Psittacula eupatria
- Rose-ringed parakeet, Psittacula krameri
- Plum-headed parakeet, Psittacula cyanocephala
- Blue-winged parakeet, Psittacula columboides
- Vernal hanging-parrot, Loriculus vernalis
Cuckoos
Order: Cuculiformes Family: Cuculidae
The family Cuculidae includes cuckoos, roadrunners and anis. These birds are of variable size with slender bodies, long tails and strong legs. Many are brood parasites. There are 138 species worldwide and 21 species which occur in India and 16 species in Kerala.
- Pied cuckoo, Clamator jacobinus
- Chestnut-winged cuckoo, Clamator coromandus
- Large hawk-cuckoo, Hierococcyx sparverioides
- Common hawk-cuckoo, Hierococcyx varius
- Indian cuckoo, Cuculus micropterus
- Common cuckoo, Cuculus canorus
- Lesser cuckoo, Cuculus poliocephalus
- Banded bay cuckoo, Cacomantis sonneratii
- Grey-bellied cuckoo, Cacomantis passerinus
- Fork-tailed drongo-cuckoo, Surniculus lugubris dicruroides
- Asian koel, Eudynamys scolopaceus
- Blue-faced malkoha, Phaenicophaeus viridirostris
- Sirkeer malkoha, Taccocua leschenaultii
- Greater coucal, Centropus sinensis
- Lesser coucal, Centropus bengalensis
Barn owls
Order: Strigiformes Family: Tytonidae
Barn owls are medium to large owls with large heads and characteristic heart-shaped faces. They have long strong legs with powerful talons. There are 16 species worldwide and 3 species which occur in India and in Kerala.
- Australasian grass-owl, Tyto longimembris (Also known as eastern grass owl)
- Barn owl, Tyto alba
- Ceylon bay owl, Phodilus assimilis (Western Ghats race ripleyi and Sri Lankan race assimilis included here by Rasmussen and Anderton, 2005 split from the widely disjunct Oriental bay-owl)
Typical owls
Order: Strigiformes Family: Strigidae
The typical owls are small to large solitary nocturnal birds of prey. They have large forward-facing eyes and ears, a hawk-like beak and a conspicuous circle of feathers around each eye called a facial disk. There are 195 species worldwide and 33 species which occur in India and 11 in Kerala.
- Indian scops-owl, Otus bakkamoena
- Oriental scops-owl, Otus sunia
- Rock eagle-owl, Bubo bengalensis
- Spot-bellied eagle-owl, Bubo nipalensis
- Brown fish-owl, Ketupa zeylonensis
- Mottled wood owl, Strix ocellata
- Brown wood owl, Strix leptogrammica
- Jungle owlet, Glaucidium radiatum
- Spotted owlet, Athene brama
- Brown hawk-owl, Ninox scutulata
- Short-eared owl, Asio flammeus
Frogmouths
Order: Caprimulgiformes Family: Podargidae
The frogmouths are a group of nocturnal birds related to the nightjars. They are named for their large flattened hooked bill and huge frog-like gape, which they use to take insects. There are 12 species worldwide and 2 species which occur in India and 1 in Kerala.
- Ceylon frogmouth, Batrachostomus moniliger
Nightjars
Order: Caprimulgiformes Family: Caprimulgidae
Nightjars are medium-sized nocturnal birds that usually nest on the ground. They have long wings, short legs and very short bills. Most have small feet, of little use for walking, and long pointed wings. Their soft plumage is camouflaged to resemble bark or leaves. There are 86 species worldwide and 9 species which occur in India and 5 in Kerala.
- Great eared-nightjar, Eurostopodus macrotis
- Indian jungle nightjar, Caprimulgus indicus
- Jerdon's nightjar, Caprimulgus atripennis
- Indian nightjar, Caprimulgus asiaticus
- Savanna nightjar, Caprimulgus affinis
Swifts
Order: Apodiformes Family: Apodidae
Swifts are small birds which spend the majority of their lives flying. These birds have very short legs and never settle voluntarily on the ground, perching instead only on vertical surfaces. Many swifts have long swept-back wings which resemble a crescent or boomerang. There are 98 species worldwide and 17 species which occur in India and 8 species in Kerala.
- Indian swiftlet, Aerodramus unicolor
- White-rumped needletail, Zoonavena sylvatica
- Brown-backed needletail, Hirundapus giganteus
- Asian palm-swift, Cypsiurus balasiensis
- Alpine swift, Tachymarptis melba
- Common swift, Apus apus [29]
- Fork-tailed swift, Apus pacificus
- Little swift, Apus affinis
Treeswifts
Order: Apodiformes Family: Hemiprocnidae
The treeswifts, also called crested swifts, are closely related to the true swifts. They differ from the other swifts in that they have crests, long forked tails and softer plumage. There are 4 species worldwide and 1 species which occurs in India and in Kerala.
- Crested treeswift, Hemiprocne coronata
Trogons
Order: Trogoniformes Family: Trogonidae
The family Trogonidae includes trogons and quetzals. Found in tropical woodlands worldwide, they feed on insects and fruit, and their broad bills and weak legs reflect their diet and arboreal habits. Although their flight is fast, they are reluctant to fly any distance. Trogons have soft, often colourful, feathers with distinctive male and female plumage. There are 33 species worldwide and 3 species which occur in India and only 1 in Kerala.
- Malabar trogon, Harpactes fasciatus
Kingfishers
Order: Coraciiformes Family: Alcedinidae
Kingfishers are medium-sized birds with large heads, long, pointed bills, short legs and stubby tails. There are 93 species worldwide and 13 species which occur in India and 7 in Kerala.
- Common kingfisher, Alcedo atthis
- Blue-eared kingfisher, Alcedo meninting
- Black-backed kingfisher, Ceyx erithaca (Also known as Oriental dwarf kingfisher)
- Stork-billed kingfisher, Pelargopsis capensis
- White-throated kingfisher, Halcyon smyrnensis
- Black-capped kingfisher, Halcyon pileata
- Pied kingfisher, Ceryle rudis
Bee-eaters
Order: Coraciiformes Family: Meropidae
The bee-eaters are a group of near passerine birds in the family Meropidae. Most species are found in Africa but others occur in southern Europe, Madagascar, Australia and New Guinea. They are characterised by richly coloured plumage, slender bodies and usually elongated central tail feathers. All are colourful and have long downturned bills and pointed wings, which give them a swallow-like appearance when seen from afar. There are 26 species worldwide and 6 species which occur in India and 5 in Kerala.
- Blue-bearded bee-eater, Nyctyornis athertoni
- Green bee-eater, Merops orientalis
- Blue-tailed bee-eater, Merops philippinus
- Blue-cheeked bee-eater, Merops persicus[30]
- Chestnut-headed bee-eater, Merops leschenaulti
Typical rollers
Order: Coraciiformes Family: Coraciidae
Rollers resemble crows in size and build, but are more closely related to the kingfishers and bee-eaters. They share the colourful appearance of those groups with blues and browns predominating. The two inner front toes are connected, but the outer toe is not. There are 12 species worldwide and 3 species which occur in India and also Kerala.
- European roller, Coracias garrulus
- Indian roller, Coracias benghalensis
- Dollarbird, Eurystomus orientalis
Hoopoes
Order: Coraciiformes Family: Upupidae
Hoopoes have black, white and orangey-pink colouring with a large erectile crest on their head. There are 2 species worldwide and 1 species which occurs in India and in Kerala.
- Hoopoe, Upupa epops
Hornbills
Order: Coraciiformes Family: Bucerotidae
Hornbills are a group of birds whose bill is shaped like a cow's horn, but without a twist, sometimes with a casque on the upper mandible. Frequently, the bill is brightly coloured. There are 57 species worldwide and 10 species which occur in India and 4 in Kerala.
- Malabar grey hornbill, Ocyceros griseus
- Indian grey hornbill, Ocyceros birostris
- Malabar pied hornbill, Anthracoceros coronatus
- Great hornbill, Buceros bicornis
Barbets
Order: Piciformes Family: Megalaimidae
The barbets are plump birds, with short necks and large heads. They get their name from the bristles which fringe their heavy bills. Most species are brightly coloured.
- Brown-headed barbet, Megalaima zeylanica
- White-cheeked barbet, Megalaima viridis
- Malabar barbet, Megalaima malabarica (Western Ghats only, split by Rasmussen and Anderton (2005) with the crimson-fronted barbet, Megalaima rubricapillus referring to the Sri Lankan species )
- Coppersmith barbet, Megalaima haemacephala
Woodpeckers and allies
Order: Piciformes Family: Picidae
Woodpeckers are small to medium-sized birds with chisel-like beaks, short legs, stiff tails and long tongues used for capturing insects. Some species have feet with two toes pointing forward and two backward, while several species have only three toes. Many woodpeckers have the habit of tapping noisily on tree trunks with their beaks. There are 218 species worldwide and 33 species which occur in India and 13 in Kerala.
- Eurasian wryneck, Jynx torquilla
- Speckled piculet, Picumnus innominatus
- Brown-capped pygmy woodpecker, Dendrocopos nanus (Also known as brown-capped pygmy woodpecker)
- Yellow-crowned woodpecker, Dendrocopos mahrattensis
- Rufous woodpecker, Celeus brachyurus
- White-bellied woodpecker, Dryocopus javensis
- Lesser yellownape, Picus chlorolophus
- Streak-throated woodpecker, Picus xanthopygaeus
- Common flameback, Dinopium javanense
- Black-rumped flameback, Dinopium benghalense
- White-naped woodpecker, Chrysocolaptes festivus
- Greater flameback, Chrysocolaptes lucidus
- Heart-spotted woodpecker, Hemicircus canente
Pittas
Order: Passeriformes Family: Pittidae
Pittas are medium-sized by passerine standards and are stocky, with fairly long, strong legs, short tails and stout bills. Many are brightly coloured. They spend the majority of their time on wet forest floors, eating snails, insects and similar invertebrates. There are 32 species worldwide and 5 species which occur in India and 1 species in Kerala.
- Indian pitta, Pitta brachyura
Larks
Order: Passeriformes Family: Alaudidae
Larks are small terrestrial birds with often extravagant songs and display flights. Most larks are fairly dull in appearance. Their food is insects and seeds. There are 91 species worldwide and 22 species which occur in India and 6 species occur in Kerala.
- Jerdon's bushlark, Mirafra affinis
- Ashy-crowned sparrow-lark, Eremopterix griseus
- Rufous-tailed lark, Ammomanes phoenicura
- Greater short-toed lark, Calandrella brachydactyla
- Malabar lark, Galerida malabarica
- Oriental skylark, Alauda gulgula
Swallows and martins
Order: Passeriformes Family: Hirundinidae
The family Hirundinidae is adapted to aerial feeding. They have a slender streamlined body, long pointed wings and a short bill with a wide gape. The feet are adapted to perching rather than walking, and the front toes are partially joined at the base. There are 75 species worldwide and 15 species which occur in India and 9 species in Kerala.
- Grey-throated sand-martin, Riparia chinensis (Usually treated under brown-throated martin, Riparia paludicola)
- Eurasian crag-martin, Ptyonoprogne rupestris
- Dusky crag-martin, Ptyonoprogne concolor
- Barn swallow, Hirundo rustica
- Hill swallow, Hirundo domicola (Split from Pacific swallow by Rasmussen and Anderton, 2005)
- Wire-tailed swallow, Hirundo smithii
- Red-rumped swallow, Cecropis daurica
- Streak-throated swallow, Hirundo fluvicola
- Common house martin, Delichon urbicum
Wagtails and pipits
Order: Passeriformes Family: Motacillidae
Motacillidae is a family of small passerine birds with medium to long tails. They include the wagtails, longclaws and pipits. They are slender, ground feeding insectivores of open country. There are 54 species worldwide and 20 species which occur in India and 14 in Kerala.
- Forest wagtail, Dendronanthus indicus
- White wagtail, Motacilla alba
- White-browed wagtail, Motacilla maderaspatensis
- Citrine wagtail, Motacilla citreola
- Yellow wagtail, Motacilla flava
- Grey wagtail, Motacilla cinerea
- Paddy-field pipit, Anthus rufulus (Also known as Oriental pipit)
- Tawny pipit, Anthus campestris[31]
- Blyth's pipit, Anthus godlewskii
- Richard's pipit, Anthus richardi
- Long-billed pipit, Anthus similis travancorensis (Also known as Travancore brown rock pipit)
- Olive-backed pipit, Anthus hodgsoni
- Red-throated pipit, Anthus cervinus
- Nilgiri pipit, Anthus nilghiriensis
Cuckooshrikes
Order: Passeriformes Family: Campephagidae
The cuckooshrikes are small to medium-sized passerine birds. They are predominantly greyish with white and black, although some species are brightly coloured. There are 82 species worldwide and 15 species which occur in India and 6 in Kerala.
- Large cuckooshrike, Coracina macei
- Black-headed cuckooshrike, Coracina melanoptera
- Ashy minivet, Pericrocotus divaricatus
- Small minivet, Pericrocotus cinnamomeus
- Orange minivet, Pericrocotus flammeus
- Bar-winged flycatcher-shrike, Hemipus picatus
Woodshrikes
Order: Passeriformes Family: Prionopidae
The woodshrikes are similar in build to the shrikes. There are 12 species worldwide and 2 species which occur in India and Kerala.
- Malabar woodshrike, Tephrodornis sylvicola (Western Ghats race of large woodshrike split by Rasmussen and Anderton, 2005)
- Common woodshrike, Tephrodornis pondicerianus
Monarch flycatchers
Order: Passeriformes Family: Monarchidae
The monarch flycatchers are small to medium-sized insectivorous passerines which hunt by flycatching. There are 99 species worldwide and 2 species which occur in India and Kerala.
- Black-naped monarch, Hypothymis azurea
- Indian paradise flycatcher, Terpsiphone paradisi
Fantails
Order: Passeriformes Family: Rhipiduridae
The fantails are small insectivorous birds which are specialist aerial feeders. There are 44 species worldwide and 4 species which occur in India and only 1 in Kerala.
- White-browed fantail, Rhipidura aureola
Bulbuls
Order: Passeriformes Family: Pycnonotidae
Bulbuls are medium-sized songbirds. Some are colourful with yellow, red or orange vents, cheeks, throats or supercilia, but most are drab, with uniform olive-brown to black plumage. Some species have distinct crests. There are 130 species worldwide and 19 species which occur in India and 8 in Kerala.
- Grey-headed bulbul, Pycnonotus priocephalus
- Flame-throated bulbul, Pycnonotus gularis (Split by Rasmussen and Anderton, 2005 )
- Red-whiskered bulbul, Pycnonotus jocosus
- Red-vented bulbul, Pycnonotus cafer
- Yellow-throated bulbul, Pycnonotus xantholaemus
- White-browed bulbul, Pycnonotus luteolus
- Yellow-browed bulbul, Iole indica
- Square-tailed black bulbul, Hypsipetes ganeesa (Split from black bulbul by Rasmussen and Anderton, 2005)
Ioras
Order: Passeriformes Family: Aegithinidae
The ioras are bulbul-like birds of open forest or thorn scrub, but whereas that group tends to be drab in colouration, ioras are sexually dimorphic, with the males being brightly plumaged in yellows and greens. There are 4 species worldwide and 2 species which occur in India and 1 in Kerala.
- Common iora, Aegithina tiphia
Leafbirds
Order: Passeriformes Family: Chloropseidae
The leafbirds are small, bulbul-like birds. The males are brightly plumaged, usually in greens and yellows. There are 9 species worldwide and 4 species which occur in India and 2 in Kerala.
- Jerdon's leafbird, Chloropsis jerdoni (Split by Rasmussen and Anderton, 2005)
- Golden-fronted leafbird, Chloropsis aurifrons
Shrikes
Order: Passeriformes Family: Laniidae Shrikes are passerine birds known for their habit of catching other birds and small animals and impaling the uneaten portions of their bodies on thorns. A typical shrike's beak is hooked, like a bird of prey. There are 31 species worldwide and 9 species which occur in India and 3 in Kerala.
- Brown shrike, Lanius cristatus (Including Philippine shrike, L. c. lucionensis also)
- Bay-backed shrike, Lanius vittatus
- Long-tailed shrike, Lanius schach
Thrushes and allies
Order: Passeriformes Family: Turdidae
The thrushes are a group of passerine birds that occur mainly in the Old World. They are plump, soft plumaged, small to medium-sized insectivores or sometimes omnivores, often feeding on the ground. Many have attractive songs.
- Pied thrush, Geokichla wardii
- Orange-headed thrush, Geokichla citrina (Including white-throated ground-thrush, Zoothera citrina cyanotus)
- Nilgiri thrush, Zoothera neilgherriensis (Elevated to species from scaly thrush by Rasmussen and Anderton, 2005)
- Indian blackbird, Turdus simillimus (Elevated to species by Rasmussen and Anderton, 2005. Includes black-capped blackbird T. s. nigropileus, Nilgiri blackbird T. s. simillimus and Bourdillon's blackbird T. s .bourdilloni)
Old World flycatchers
Order: Passeriformes Family: Muscicapidae
Old World flycatchers are a large group of small passerine birds native to the Old World. They are mainly small arboreal insectivores. The appearance of these birds is highly varied, but they mostly have weak songs and harsh calls.
- Blue-capped rock thrush, Monticola cinclorhynchus
- Blue rock thrush, Monticola solitarius
- Rufous-bellied shortwing, Brachypteryx major (Split from white-bellied shortwing by Robin et al. 2010.[32] Also known as Nilgiri blue robin by Rasmussen and Anderton, 2005)
- White-bellied shortwing, Brachypteryx albiventris (Also known as white-bellied blue robin by Rasmussen and Anderton, 2005)
- Malabar whistling thrush, Myophonus horsfieldii
- Asian brown flycatcher, Muscicapa dauurica
- Rusty-tailed flycatcher, Muscicapa ruficauda
- Brown-breasted flycatcher, Muscicapa muttui
- Yellow-rumped flycatcher, Ficedula zanthopygia
- Red-breasted flycatcher, Ficedula parva
- Taiga flycatcher, Ficedula albicilla[2]
- Kashmir flycatcher, Ficedula subrubra
- Black-and-rufous flycatcher, Ficedula nigrorufa
- Verditer flycatcher, Eumyias thalassinus
- Nilgiri flycatcher, Eumyias albicaudatus
- White-bellied blue flycatcher, Cyornis pallipes
- Blue-throated flycatcher, Cyornis rubeculoides
- Tickell's blue flycatcher, Cyornis tickelliae
- Grey-headed canary-flycatcher, Culicicapa ceylonensis
- Bluethroat, Luscinia svecica
- Indian blue robin, Luscinia brunnea
- Oriental magpie-robin, Copsychus saularis
- White-rumped shama, Copsychus malabaricus
- Indian robin, Saxicoloides fulicatus
- Black redstart, Phoenicurus ochruros
- Siberian stonechat, Saxicola maura (Saxicola maurus per Rasmussen and Anderton, 2005)
- Pied bushchat, Saxicola caprata
- Northern wheatear, Oenanthe oenanthe[33]
- Desert wheatear, Oenanthe deserti
- Isabelline wheatear, Oenanthe isabellina
Laughingthrushes
Order: Passeriformes Family: Leiothrichidae
- Wynaad laughingthrush, Garrulax delesserti (=Dryonastes delesserti)
- Black-chinned laughingthrush, Strophocincla cachinnans (=Trochalopteron cachinnans. Includes also subspecies Jerdon's laughingthrush S. c. jerdoni)
- Kerala laughingthrush, Strophocincla fairbanki (=Trochalopteron fairbanki. Includes also subspecies Blanford's laughingthrush S. f. merdionale)
- Rufous babbler, Turdoides subrufa
- Jungle babbler, Turdoides striata
- Large grey babbler, Turdoides malcolmi[34][35]
- Yellow-billed babbler, Turdoides affinis
Ground babblers
Order: Passeriformes Family: Pellorneidae
- Puff-throated babbler, Pellorneum ruficeps
- Quaker babbler, Alcippe poioicephala (Also known as brown-cheeked fulvetta)
Babblers
Order: Passeriformes Family: Timaliidae
The babblers, or timaliids, are somewhat diverse in size and colouration, but are characterised by soft fluffy plumage.
- Indian scimitar babbler, Pomatorhinus horsfieldii
- Tawny-bellied babbler, Dumetia hyperythra
- Dark-fronted babbler, Rhopocichla atriceps (Includes subspecies bourdilloni also)
Cisticolas and allies
Order: Passeriformes Family: Cisticolidae
The Cisticolidae are warblers found mainly in warmer southern regions of the Old World. They are generally very small birds of drab brown or grey appearance found in open country such as grassland or scrub.
- Zitting cisticola, Cisticola juncidis
- Golden-headed cisticola, Cisticola exilis
- Grey-breasted prinia, Prinia hodgsonii
- Jungle prinia, Prinia sylvatica
- Ashy prinia, Prinia socialis
- Plain prinia, Prinia inornata
- Common tailorbird, Orthotomus sutorius
Locustellid warblers
Order: Passeriformes Family: Locustellidae
- Common grasshopper warbler, Locustella naevia
- Pallas's grasshopper warbler,Locustella certhiola [2] [Historical]
- Bristled grassbird, Chaetornis striatus
- Broad-tailed grassbird, Schoenicola platyura
Acrocephalid warblers
Order: Passeriformes Family: Acrocephalidae
- Paddyfield warbler, Acrocephalus agricola[36]
- Blyth's reed warbler, Acrocephalus dumetorum
- Clamorous reed warbler, Acrocephalus stentoreus
- Thick-billed warbler, Iduna aedon[37]
- Booted warbler, Iduna caligata
- Sykes's warbler, Iduna rama[35]
Phylloscopid warblers
Order: Passeriformes Family: Phylloscopidae
- Hume's leaf warbler, Phylloscopus humei [38]
- Common chiffchaff, Phylloscopus collybita
- Tickell's leaf warbler, Phylloscopus affinis
- Greenish warbler, Phylloscopus trochiloides
- Green warbler, Phylloscopus nitidus[2]
- Large-billed leaf warbler, Phylloscopus magnirostris
- Tytler's leaf warbler, Phylloscopus tytleri
- Western crowned leaf warbler, Phylloscopus occipitalis
Old World warblers
Order: Passeriformes Family: Sylviidae
The family Sylviidae is a group of small insectivorous passerine birds. They mainly occur as breeding species, as the common name implies, in Europe, Asia and, to a lesser extent, Africa. Most are of generally undistinguished appearance, but many have distinctive songs.
- Yellow-eyed babbler, Chrysomma sinense
- Hume's whitethroat, Sylvia althaea (included in the wider sense of lesser whitethroat, Sylvia curruca)
- Eastern Orphean warbler, Sylvia crassirostris
Titmice
Order: Passeriformes Family: Paridae
The Paridae are mainly small stocky woodland species with short stout bills. Some have crests. They are adaptable birds, with a mixed diet including seeds and insects. There are 59 species worldwide and 14 species which occur in India and Kerala 2 species.
- Cinereous tit, Parus cinereus (Known earlier as great tit, Parus major.[39])
- Indian yellow tit, Parus aplonotus (Sometimes considered conspecific with black-lored tit)
Nuthatches
Order: Passeriformes Family: Sittidae
Nuthatches are small woodland birds. They have the unusual ability to climb down trees head first, unlike other birds which can only go upwards. Nuthatches have big heads, short tails and powerful bills and feet. There are 24 species worldwide and 7 species which occur in India and 2 in Kerala.
- Indian nuthatch, Sitta castanea (Split by Rasmussen & Anderton, 2005)
- Velvet-fronted nuthatch, Sitta frontalis
Sunbirds and spiderhunters
Order: Passeriformes Family: Nectariniidae
The sunbirds and spiderhunters are very small passerine birds which feed largely on nectar, although they will also take insects, especially when feeding young. Flight is fast and direct on their short wings. Most species can take nectar by hovering like a hummingbird, but usually perch to feed. There are 131 species worldwide and 15 species which occur in India and 5 in Kerala.
- Purple-rumped sunbird, Leptocoma zeylonica
- Crimson-backed sunbird, Leptocoma minima
- Purple sunbird, Cinnyris asiaticus
- Long-billed sunbird, Cinnyris lotenius (Also known as Loten's sunbird)
- Little spiderhunter, Arachnothera longirostra
Flowerpeckers
Order: Passeriformes Family: Dicaeidae
The flowerpeckers are very small, stout, often brightly coloured birds, with short tails, short thick curved bills and tubular tongues. There are 44 species worldwide and 10 species which occur in India and 3 in Kerala.
- Thick-billed flowerpecker, Dicaeum agile
- Pale-billed flowerpecker, Dicaeum erythrorhynchos
- Nilgiri flowerpecker, Dicaeum concolor (Split from plain flowerpecker, Dicaeum minullum)
White-eyes
Order: Passeriformes Family: Zosteropidae
The white-eyes are small and mostly undistinguished, their plumage above being generally some dull colour like greenish-olive, but some species have a white or bright yellow throat, breast or lower parts, and several have buff flanks. As their name suggests, many species have a white ring around each eye. There are 96 species worldwide and 1 species which occurs in India and in Kerala.
- Oriental white-eye, Zosterops palpebrosus
Old World orioles
Order: Passeriformes Family: Oriolidae
The Old World orioles are colourful passerine birds. They are not related to the New World orioles. There are 29 species worldwide and 5 species which occur in India and 3 in Kerala.
- Indian golden oriole, Oriolus kundoo (Split suggested from European golden oriole.[40])
- Black-naped oriole, Oriolus chinensis
- Black-hooded oriole, Oriolus xanthornus
Fairy-bluebirds
Order: Passeriformes Family: Irenidae
The fairy-bluebirds are bulbul-like birds of open forest or thorn scrub. The males are dark-blue and the females a duller green. There are 2 species worldwide and 1 species which occurs in India and in Kerala.
- Asian fairy-bluebird, Irena puella
Drongos
Order: Passeriformes Family: Dicruridae
The drongos are mostly black or dark grey in colour, sometimes with metallic tints. They have long forked tails, and some Asian species have elaborate tail decorations. They have short legs and sit very upright when perched, like a shrike. They flycatch or take prey from the ground. There are 24 species worldwide and 9 species which occur in India and 6 in Kerala.
- Black drongo, Dicrurus macrocercus
- Ashy drongo, Dicrurus leucophaeus
- White-bellied drongo, Dicrurus caerulescens
- Bronzed drongo, Dicrurus aeneus
- Hair-crested drongo, Dicrurus hottentottus
- Greater racket-tailed drongo, Dicrurus paradiseus
Woodswallows
Order: Passeriformes Family: Artamidae
The woodswallows are soft-plumaged, somber-coloured passerine birds. They are smooth, agile flyers with moderately large, semi-triangular wings. There are 11 species worldwide and 2 species which occur in India and 1 in Kerala.
- Ashy woodswallow, Artamus fuscus
Crows, jays, ravens and magpies
Order: Passeriformes Family: Corvidae
The family Corvidae includes crows, ravens, jays, choughs, magpies, treepies, nutcrackers and ground jays. Corvids are above average in size among the Passeriformes, and some of the larger species show high levels of intelligence. There are 120 species worldwide and 22 species which occur in India and 4 in Kerala.
- Rufous treepie, Dendrocitta vagabunda
- White-bellied treepie, Dendrocitta leucogastra
- House crow, Corvus splendens
- Indian jungle crow, Corvus culminatus
Starlings
Order: Passeriformes Family: Sturnidae
Starlings are small to medium-sized passerine birds. Their flight is strong and direct and they are very gregarious. Their preferred habitat is fairly open country. They eat insects and fruit. Plumage is typically dark with a metallic sheen. There are 125 species worldwide and 18 species which occur in India and 7 in Kerala.
- Southern hill myna, Gracula indica
- Jungle myna, Acridotheres fuscus
- Common myna, Acridotheres tristis
- Chestnut-tailed starling, Sturnia malabarica (Includes Malabar starling S. m. blythii which is a valid BSC species but not a good PSC species[41] )
- Brahminy starling, Sturnia pagodarum[41]
- Common starling, Sturnus vulgaris
- Rosy starling, Sturnus roseus
Weavers and allies
Order: Passeriformes Family: Ploceidae
The weavers are small passerine birds related to the finches. They are seed-eating birds with rounded conical bills. The males of many species are brightly coloured, usually in red or yellow and black, some species show variation in colour only in the breeding season. There are 116 species worldwide and 4 species which occur in India and 2 in Kerala.
- Streaked weaver, Ploceus manyar
- Baya weaver, Ploceus philippinus
Waxbills and allies
Order: Passeriformes Family: Estrildidae
The estrildid finches are small passerine birds of the Old World tropics and Australasia. They are gregarious and often colonial seed eaters with short thick but pointed bills. They are all similar in structure and habits, but have wide variation in plumage colours and patterns. There are 141 species worldwide and 9 species which occur in India and 6 in Kerala.
- Red avadavat, Amandava amandava
- White-throated munia, Euodice malabarica
- White-rumped munia, Lonchura striata
- Black-throated munia, Lonchura kelaarti
- Scaly-breasted munia, Lonchura punctulata
- Tricoloured munia, Lonchura malacca
Buntings
Order: Passeriformes Family: Emberizidae
The emberizids are a large family of passerine birds. They are seed-eating birds with distinctively shaped bills. In Europe, most species are called buntings. In North America, most of the species in this family are known as sparrows, but these birds are not closely related to the Old World sparrows which are in the family Passeridae. Many emberizid species have distinctive head patterns. There are 275 species worldwide and 18 species which occur in India and 3 in Kerala.
- Grey-hooded bunting, Emberiza buchanani (Also known as grey-necked bunting)
- Black-headed bunting, Emberiza melanocephala
- Red-headed bunting, Emberiza bruniceps
Siskins, crossbills and allies
Order: Passeriformes Family: Fringillidae
Finches are seed-eating passerine birds, that are small to moderately large and have a strong beak, usually conical and in some species very large. All have twelve tail feathers and nine primaries. These birds have a bouncing flight with alternating bouts of flapping and gliding on closed wings, and most sing well. There are 137 species worldwide and 44 species which occur in India and just 1 in Kerala.
- Common rosefinch, Carpodacus erythrinus
Sparrows
Order: Passeriformes Family: Passeridae
Sparrows are small passerine birds. In general, sparrows tend to be small, plump, brown or grey birds with short tails and short powerful beaks. Sparrows are seed eaters, but they also consume small insects. There are 35 species worldwide and 12 species which occur in India and 2 in Kerala.
- House sparrow, Passer domesticus
- Yellow-throated sparrow, Petronia xanthocollis
Notes
- ↑ Sashikumar, C.; Praveen, J.;Palot, M.J.;Nameer,P.O. (2010). "A Checklist of Birds of Kerala" (PDF). Malabar Trogon 7 (3): 2–13.
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Praveen, J, Narayanan, S.P. (2014). "Additions to the checklist of Birds of Kerala". Malabar Trogon 11 (1-3): 2–12.
- ↑ Karuthedathu, D; Palot,M J; Praveen J; Sreenivasan,P P; Uthaman,K V (2013). "Streaked Shearwater Calonectrics leucomelas from Kannur coast, Kerala". Indian Birds 8 (2): 44–45.
- ↑ Praveen J; Palot,M J; Karuthedathu, D (2013). "Recovery of a Cory’s Shearwater Calonectris borealis from Thaikadapuram beach, Kasaragod district, state of Kerala". Indian Birds 8 (6): 152–153.
- 1 2 3 4 Praveen J; Karuthedathu, D; Palot,M J; Prince,M; Meppayur,S (2011). "Significant pelagic bird sightings from off-shore waters of the Malabar coast, southern India". Indian Birds 7 (3): 66–69.
- ↑ Praveen E S; Das, S; Dilip, K J (2015). "Sighting of Short-tailed Shearwater Ardenna tenuirostris , and Wedge-tailed Shearwater Ardenna pacifica from the Arabian Sea, off Ponnani, Kerala". Indian Birds 10 (1): 26–27.
- 1 2 Vivek Chandran, A; Praveen, J; Sreenivasan, P P; Nameer, P O; Dilip,K G (2011). "Swinhoe’s Storm-petrel Oceanodroma monorhis and other pelagic birds from the Thrissur coast, Kerala". Indian Birds 7 (3): 73–74.
- ↑ Praveen, J; Jayapal, R; Pittie, A (2013). "Notes on Indian rarities—1: Seabirds". Indian Birds 8 (5): 113–125.
- ↑ Jacob,Tytus T; Pramod,P; Gangadharan,K; Mahesh,M (1994). "First record of the Rosy Pelican Pelecanus onocrotalus Linnaeus in Kerala". J. Bombay Nat. Hist. Soc. 91 (3): 452.
- ↑ Nair, Manoj V. (1993). "Rosy Pelican at Aakkulam". Newsletter for Birdwatchers 33 (1): 7–8.
- ↑ Gandhe, A (2014). "Seabird observations off the western coast of India". Indian Birds 9 (5&6): 137–138.
- ↑ Praveen, J., Nameer, P.O., Karuthedathu, D., Ramaiah, C., Balakrishnan, B., Rao, K. M., Shurpali, S., Puttaswamaiah, R., & Tavcar, I. (2014). "On the vagrancy of the Himalayan Vulture Gyps himalayensis to southern India.". Indian Birds 9 (1): 19–22.
- ↑ Praveen, ES; Sankar, Abhiram (2011). "Recent sightings of Red-headed Falcon Falco chiquera from Kerala". Malabar Trogon 8 (2&3): 11–12.
- ↑ Rajeevan, P.C. (2011). "Great Stone-plover Esacus recurvirostris (Cuvier, 1829) at Madayipara, Kannur district, Kerala". Malabar Trogon 9 (1&2): 22.
- ↑ Rajeevan, P.C. and Thomas, J. (2013). "First record of Collared Pratincole Glareola pratincola from Kerala". Indian Birds 8 (2): 49–50.
- 1 2 Rajeevan, P.C., Khaleel, K.M, Thomas, J. and Sangha, H.S.S. (2014). "First records of Pectoral Sandpiper Calidris melanotos and Caspian Plover Charadrius asiaticus from Kerala". Indian Birds 9 (3): 64–67.
- ↑ Sreenivasan P. P. (2015). "Red Knot at Chavakkad, Kerala, Snapshot Sightings". Indian Birds 10 (1): 28A.
- ↑ Francis,T., Sreenivasan,P.P., Gnanakumar, M. and Das, S. (2013). "Long-toed Stint Calidris subminuta (Middendorff, 1853) from Kole wetlands, Thrissur-First photographic record from Kerala, South India". Malabar Trogon 10 (3): 16–17.
- ↑ Rajeevan, P.C. and Thomas, J. (2011). "Buff-breasted Sandpiper Tryngites subruficollis from northern Kerala : a third record for India". Indian Birds 7 (5): 22.
- ↑ Prince,M (2011). "Some Observations from Lakshadweep and the Laccadive Sea off Kerala". IndianBIRDS 7 (3): 63–65.
- ↑ Praveen J.,Karuthedathu, D., Prince,M., Palot, M.J. & Dalvi, S. (2013). "Identification of South Polar Skua Catharacta maccormicki in the Arabian Sea and Indian Ocean". BirdingASIA 19: 83–88.
- ↑ Das, S., Kechery, S., Sreenivasan P. P., & Sreeranj C. (2013). "Black-legged Kittiwake Rissa tridactyla from Puthankadapuram, Kerala, India". Indian Birds 8 (3): 73.
- ↑ Sreenivasan P. P., Praveen J.,Prince,M. & Karuthedathu, D. (2013). "Sabine’s Gull Xema sabini from Puthankadapuram, Kerala, India: a first record for South Asia". Indian Birds 8 (4): 99–100.
- ↑ Karuthedathu, D., Raju, A.K. (2014). "Roseate Tern off Nileshwaram, Kerala". Indian Birds 9 (1): 28.
- ↑ Praveen, J. (2011). "A Review of Pelagic Bird Records in Sea Swallow from the off-shore waters of Kerala". Malabar Trogon 9 (1&2): 7–10.
- ↑ Jayson, E.A., Babu S., Govind, S. K. (2013). "Recovery of White Tern Gygis alba at Athirapilly, Kerala, India". Indian BIRDS 8 (6): 163.
- ↑ Ammas, N. (2012). "Breeding of Chestnut-bellied Sandgrouse at Malamel Rock, Kollam District, Kerala". Malabar Trogon 10 (1&2): 6–7.
- ↑ Mannar, H; Ambika, D,S. (2014). "Snapshot Sightings: Red Turtle Dove from Haripad, Kerala". Indian Birds 9 (5&6): 168A.
- ↑ Karuthedathu, D., Das, V. N., & Palot, M. J. (2014). "Sighting of Common Swift Apus apus from southern India.". Indian BIRDS 9 (3): 78–79.
- ↑ Sreenivasan P. P. (2013). "Blue-cheeked Bee-eater from Kole Wetlands, Kerala" (PDF). Indian Birds 8 (4): 110.
- ↑ Rajeevan, P.C., Biju,P.B. and Thomas, J. (2011). "First record of Tawny Pipit Anthus campestris from Kerala". Indian Birds 7 (6).
- ↑ Robin,V.V.; Sinha,A.;Ramakrishnan,U. "Ancient Geographical Gaps and Paleo-Climate Shape the Phylogeography of an Endemic Bird in the Sky Islands of Southern India" http://www.plosone.org/article/info:doi/10.1371/journal.pone.0013321
- ↑ Damle, S; Inskipp, T. (2014). "Sighting of Northern Wheatear Oenanthe oenanthe from the Nubra Valley, Ladakh, Jammu and Kashmir, and a review of previous records from the Indian Subcontinent". Indian Birds 9 (5&6): 139–141.
- ↑ Praveen J, P O Nameer (2012). "A Report of Large Grey Babbler from Attappady Hills, Kerala". Malabar Trogon 10 (1&2): 8–9.
- 1 2 Sashikumar, C., Vishnudas, C.K., Raju, S., Vinayan,P.A., Shebin,V.A (2012). "Large Grey Babbler Turdoides malcomi and Syke's Warbler Iduna rama in Walayar: first photographic record from Kerala". Malabar Trogon 10 (1&2): 7–8.
- ↑ Mujeeb Panchili (2012). "Sighting of Paddyfield Warbler Acrocephalus agricola and the first photographic record of the species from Kerala". Malabar Trogon 9 (3): 7–8.
- ↑ Silke Fregin, Martin Haase,Urban Olsson,Per Alström (2009). "Multi-locus phylogeny of the family Acrocephalidae (Aves: Passeriformes) – The traditional taxonomy overthrown". Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution 52 (3): 866–878. doi:10.1016/j.ympev.2009.04.006. PMID 19393746.
- ↑ Mohanram Kemparaju (2012). "A photographic record of Hume's Leaf Warbler Phylloscopus humei from Wayanad District, Kerala". Malabar Trogon 10 (1&2): 19.
- ↑ Packert, Martin; Jochen Martens, Siegfried Eck, Alexander A Nazarenko, Olga P. Valchuk, Bernd Petri, Michael Veith (2005) The great tit (Parus major) – a misclassified ring species. Biological Journal of the Linnean Society 86(2):153-174
- ↑ Jønsson, K.A., Bowie, R.C.K., Moyle, R.G., Irestedt, M., Christidis, L., Norman, J.A. & Fjeldså, J. (2010). "Phylogeny and biogeography of Oriolidae (Aves: Passeriformes)" (PDF). Ecography 33: 232–241. doi:10.1111/j.1600-0587.2010.06167.x.
- 1 2 Lovette, I., McCleery, B., Talaba, A., & Rubenstein, D. (2008). "A complete species-level molecular phylogeny for the "Eurasian" starlings (Sturnidae: Sturnus, Acridotheres, and allies): Recent diversification in a highly social and dispersive avian group.". Molecular Phylogenetics & Evolution 47 (1): 251-260. doi:10.1016/j.ympev.2008.01.020.
References
- Davison, William (1883). "Notes on some birds collected on the Nilghiris and in parts of Wynaad and southern Mysore". Stray Feathers 10: 329–419.
- Hume, A O (1876). "A first list of the birds of the Travancore hills". Stray Feathers 4: 351–405.
- Hume, AO (1878). "A second list of the birds of southern Travancore". Stray Feathers 7: 33–39.
- Gjershaug, J. O.; Diserud, O. H.; Rasmussen, P. C. & Warakagoda, D. (2008) "An overlooked threatened species of eagle: Legge's Hawk Eagle Nisaetus kelaarti (Aves: Accipitriformes)" (PDF) Zootaxa 1792: 54–66
- E. Haring, K. Kvaløy, J.-O. Gjershaug, N. Røv and A. Gamauf (2007). "Convergent evolution and paraphyly of the hawk-eagles of the genus Spizaetus (Aves, Accipitridae) – phylogenetic analyses based on mitochondrial markers". J.Zool. Syst. Evol. Res. 45 (4): 353–365. doi:10.1111/j.1439-0469.2007.00410.x.
- Rasmussen, Pamela C.; J. C. Anderton (2005). Birds of South Asia. The Ripley Guide. Smithsonian Institution & Lynx Edicions.
- Clements, James F. (2000). Birds of the World: a Checklist. Cornell University Press. p. 880. ISBN 0-934797-16-1.
- C, Sashikumar.; Praveen J; Muhamed Jafer Palot; P O Nameer (2011). Birds of Kerala: Status and Distribution. DC Books, Kottayam. p. 835. ISBN 978-81-264-2921-9.
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