India

Checklist of Endemic Bird Species

This list of bird species found exclusively in India is based on the taxonomy used in del Hoyo & Collar (2014 & 2016). The source list based on the December 2017 update is available online here. For further details on possible inaccuracies in the list see Sources & Caveats.

del Hoyo, J. & N.J. Collar HBW and BirdLife International Illustrated Checklist of the Birds of the World. 2014 Vol. 1: Non-passerines & 2016 Vol. 2: Passerines. Lynx Edicions, Barcelona.  

Additional species recognized after the HBW-BirdLife December 2017 update or considered valid by other major checklists are listed at the bottom of the page.

Megapodius nicobariensis  (Galliformes Megapodiidae)  Nicobar Scrubfowl

Galloperdix spadicea  (Galliformes Phasianidae)  Red Spurfowl

Galloperdix lunulata  (Galliformes Phasianidae)  Painted Spurfowl

Perdicula argoondah  (Galliformes Phasianidae)  Rock Bush-quail

Perdicula erythrorhyncha  (Galliformes Phasianidae)  Painted Bush-quail

Perdicula manipurensis  (Galliformes Phasianidae)  Manipur Bush-quail

Ophrysia superciliosa  (Galliformes Phasianidae)  Himalayan Quail

Gallus sonneratii  (Galliformes Phasianidae)  Grey Junglefowl

Columba elphinstonii  (Columbiformes Columbidae)  Nilgiri Woodpigeon

Columba palumboides  (Columbiformes Columbidae)  Andaman Woodpigeon

Macropygia rufipennis  (Columbiformes Columbidae)  Andaman Cuckoo-dove

Treron affinis  (Columbiformes Columbidae)  Grey-fronted Green-pigeon

Ducula cuprea  (Columbiformes Columbidae)  Nilgiri Imperial-pigeon

Caprimulgus andamanicus  (Caprimulgiformes Caprimulgidae)  Andaman Nightjar

Rallina canningi  (Gruiformes Rallidae)  Andaman Crake

Rhinoptilus bitorquatus  (Charadriiformes Glareolidae)  Jerdon's Courser

Ninox obscura  (Strigiformes Strigidae)  Hume's Boobook

Ninox affinis  (Strigiformes Strigidae)  Andaman Boobook

Athene blewitti  (Strigiformes Strigidae)  Forest Owlet

Otus alius  (Strigiformes Strigidae)  Nicobar Scops-owl

Otus balli  (Strigiformes Strigidae)  Andaman Scops-owl

Strix ocellata  (Strigiformes Strigidae)  Mottled Wood-owl

Spilornis klossi  (Accipitriformes Accipitridae)  Great Nicobar Serpent-eagle

Spilornis elgini  (Accipitriformes Accipitridae)  Andaman Serpent-eagle

Accipiter butleri  (Accipitriformes Accipitridae)  Nicobar Sparrowhawk

Ocyceros griseus  (Bucerotiformes Bucerotidae)  Malabar Grey Hornbill

Rhyticeros narcondami  (Bucerotiformes Bucerotidae)  Narcondam Hornbill

Psilopogon malabaricus  (Piciformes Megalaimidae)  Malabar Barbet

Psilopogon viridis  (Piciformes Megalaimidae)  White-cheeked Barbet

Dryocopus hodgei  (Piciformes Picidae)  Andaman Woodpecker

Nicopsitta columboides  (Psittaciformes Psittacidae)  Malabar Parakeet

Psittacula caniceps  (Psittaciformes Psittacidae)  Nicobar Parakeet

Pericrocotus erythropygius  (Passeriformes Campephagidae)  White-bellied Minivet

Coracina dobsoni  (Passeriformes Campephagidae)  Andaman Cuckooshrike

Tephrodornis sylvicola  (Passeriformes Vangidae)  Malabar Woodshrike

Rhipidura albogularis  (Passeriformes Rhipiduridae)  White-spotted Fantail

Dendrocitta leucogastra  (Passeriformes Corvidae)  White-bellied Treepie

Dendrocitta bayleii  (Passeriformes Corvidae)  Andaman Treepie

Machlolophus nuchalis  (Passeriformes Paridae)  White-naped Tit

Galerida malabarica  (Passeriformes Alaudidae)  Malabar Lark

Galerida deva  (Passeriformes Alaudidae)  Sykes's Lark

Locustella kashmirensis  (Passeriformes Locustellidae)  Himalayan Grasshopper-warbler

Schoenicola platyurus  (Passeriformes Locustellidae)  Broad-tailed Grassbird

Ixos nicobariensis  (Passeriformes Pycnonotidae)  Nicobar Bulbul

Pycnonotus gularis  (Passeriformes Pycnonotidae)  Flame-throated Bulbul

Pycnonotus xantholaemus  (Passeriformes Pycnonotidae)  Yellow-throated Bulbul

Brachypodius fuscoflavescens  (Passeriformes Pycnonotidae)  Andaman Bulbul

Brachypodius priocephalus  (Passeriformes Pycnonotidae)  Grey-headed Bulbul

Paradoxornis flavirostris  (Passeriformes Sylviidae)  Black-breasted Parrotbill

Spelaeornis badeigularis  (Passeriformes Timaliidae)  Rusty-throated Wren-babbler

Spelaeornis chocolatinus  (Passeriformes Timaliidae)  Naga Wren-babbler

Spelaeornis longicaudatus  (Passeriformes Timaliidae)  Tawny-breasted Wren-babbler

Pomatorhinus horsfieldii  (Passeriformes Timaliidae)  Indian Scimitar-babbler

Laticilla cinerascens  (Passeriformes Pellorneidae)  Swamp Grass-babbler

Argya subrufa  (Passeriformes Leiotrichidae)  Rufous Babbler

Turdoides somervillei  (Passeriformes Leiotrichidae)  Black-winged Babbler

Garrulax delesserti  (Passeriformes Leiotrichidae)  Wynaad Laughingthrush

Montecincla fairbanki  (Passeriformes Leiotrichidae)  Palani Laughingthrush

Montecincla meridionale  (Passeriformes Leiotrichidae)  Travancore Laughingthrush

Montecincla jerdoni  (Passeriformes Leiotrichidae)  Banasura Laughingthrush

Trochalopteron cachinnans  (Passeriformes Leiotrichidae)  Nilgiri Laughingthrush

Liocichla bugunorum  (Passeriformes Leiotrichidae)  Bugun Liocichla

Salpornis spilonota  (Passeriformes Sittidae)  Indian Spotted Creeper

Sturnia erythropygia  (Passeriformes Sturnidae)  White-headed Starling

Kittacincla albiventris  (Passeriformes Muscicapidae)  Andaman Shama

Eumyias albicaudatus  (Passeriformes Muscicapidae)  Nilgiri Flycatcher

Cyornis nicobaricus  (Passeriformes Muscicapidae)  Nicobar Jungle-flycatcher

Cyornis pallidipes  (Passeriformes Muscicapidae)  White-bellied Blue-flycatcher

Sholicola major  (Passeriformes Muscicapidae)  Nilgiri Blue Robin

Sholicola albiventris  (Passeriformes Muscicapidae)  White-bellied Blue Robin

Myophonus horsfieldii  (Passeriformes Muscicapidae)  Malabar Whistling-thrush

Ficedula nigrorufa  (Passeriformes Muscicapidae)  Black-and-orange Flycatcher

Saxicola macrorhynchus  (Passeriformes Muscicapidae)  White-browed Bushchat

Dicaeum concolor  (Passeriformes Dicaeidae)  Nilgiri Flowerpecker

Leptocoma minima  (Passeriformes Nectariniidae)  Crimson-backed Sunbird

Aethopyga vigorsii  (Passeriformes Nectariniidae)  Sahyadri Sunbird

Amandava formosa  (Passeriformes Estrildidae)  Green Avadavat

Anthus nilghiriensis  (Passeriformes Motacillidae)  Nilgiri Pipit

The following additional species were recognized after the HBW-BirdLife December 2017 update. This single species added to the 78 listed above total 79 endemic bird species for India.

Ducula nicobarica  (Columbiformes Columbidae)  Nicobar Imperial-pigeon

The following additional endemic species are not recognized as distinct by HBW-BirdLife but are considered valid by one or more of the following checklists: eBird/Clements v2019 (Cornell) = 1, IOC 10.1 (IOC) = 2, and Howard & Moore 4.1 (TAS) = 3.

Tyto deroepstorffi  (Strigiformes Tytonidae)  Andaman Barn-owl  123

Nisaetus kelaarti  (Accipitriformes Accipitridae)  Legge's Hawk-eagle  12 

Dicaeum virescens  (Passeriformes Dicaeidae)  Andaman Flowerpecker  12

Machlolophus aplonotus  (Passeriformes Paridae)  Indian Black-lored Tit  12  

Sturnia blythii  (Passeriformes Sturnidae)  Malabar Starling  12

Zootheria neilgherriensis  (Passeriformes Turdidae)  Nilgiri Thrush  12 

The following additional endemic species were recognized as distinct by the IOC since the IOC 10.1 checklist (IOC) and were also not recognized in any of the other checklists listed above.

Chrysocolaptes socialis  (Piciformes Picidae)  Malabar Flameback

Pitta abbotti  (Passeriformes Pittidae)  Nicobar Hooded Pitta