List of birds of Kerala

The state of Kerala, India has about 509 bird species within its boundary. This following list of birds is based on the taxonomic treatment and scientific nomenclature of Howard and Moore Complete Checklist of the Birds of the World 4th edition. Species list and English names is entirely based on the checklist of Birds of Kerala [1] published in November 2015. Five recent additions to this list are also included.

Table of contents

Notes        References

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.

Pheasants and partridges

Order: Galliformes   Family: Phasianidae

Indian peafowl (Pavo cristatus)

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.

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.

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

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 13 in Kerala.

Sandgrouses

Order: Pterocliformes   Family: Pteroclidae

Sandgrouses have small, pigeon like heads and necks, but sturdy compact bodies. They have long pointed wings and sometimes tails and a fast direct flight. Flocks fly to watering holes at dawn and dusk. Their legs are feathered down to the toes. There are 16 species worldwide and 9 species which occur in India and just one in Kerala. India has the largest number of sandgrouse of any country.

Tropicbirds

Order: Phaethontiformes   Family: Phaethontidae

Tropicbirds are slender white birds of tropical oceans, with exceptionally long central tail feathers. Their heads and long wings have black markings.

Frogmouths

Sri Lankan frogmouths in Salim Ali Bird Sanctuary, Thattekad

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.

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.

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 9 species which have been recorded in Kerala.

Cuckoos

Asian koel pictured in Chalakudy

Order: Cuculiformes   Family: Cuculidae

Indian cuckoo pictured in Kannur

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.

Rails, crakes, gallinules and coots

Grey-headed swamphen in Vembanad lake

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.

Bustards

Order: Otidiformes   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.

Storm petrels

Wilson's storm petrel

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.

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.

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 six species occur in Kerala.

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.

Bitterns, herons and egrets

Grey heron in Kumarakom Bird Sanctuary

Order: Pelecaniformes   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.

Ibises and spoonbills

Order: Pelecaniformes   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.

Frigatebirds

Order: Suliformes   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.

Boobies and gannets

Order: Suliformes   Family: Sulidae

The sulids comprise the gannets and boobies. Both groups are medium to large coastal seabirds that plunge-dive for fish.

Cormorants

Great cormorant pictured in Vembanattu Lake

Order: Suliformes   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.

Darters

Oriental darters' nesting colony at Kalletumkara

Order: Suliformes   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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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 35 species occur in Kerala.

Buttonquails

Order: Charadriiformes   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.

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.

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.

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 5 species which occur in India all of them occur in Kerala.

Gulls and terns

Order: Charadriiformes   Family: Laridae

Whiskered tern in Thommana, Chalakudy

Laridae is a family of both Gulls and Terns. Gulls are medium to large seabirds including kittiwakes. They are typically grey or white, often with black markings on the head or wings. They have stout, longish bills and webbed feet. 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 about 80 species worldwide and about 40 species which occur in India and 25 in Kerala.

Osprey

Order: Accipitriformes   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.

Hawks, kites and eagles

Brahminy kite pictured in Chalakudy
Crested hawk-eagle (Nisaetus cirrhatus) in Mayannur, Thrissur
Crested hawk-eagle juvenile (Nisaetus cirrhatus?) in Mayannur, Thrissur

Order: Accipitriformes   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.

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.

Typical owls

Jungle owlet pictured in Kerala
Brown fish-owl pictured in Thattekad

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.

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.

Hornbills

Malabar grey hornbill pictured in Thattekad

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.

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.

Woodpeckers and allies

Brown-capped woodpecker or Indian pygmy woodpecker (Picoides nanus)
Black-rumped flameback pictured in Chalakudy

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.

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.

Bee-eaters

Blue-tailed bee-eater pictured in Chalakudy

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 7 species which occur in India and 6 in Kerala.

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.

Kingfishers

Stork-billed kingfisher pictured in Kumarakom

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.

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 seven occur in Kerala.

Parrots and allies

Malabar parakeet (blue-winged parakeet) pictured in Thattekad

Order: Psittaciformes   Family: Psittaculidae

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.

Minivets and 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 5 in Kerala.

Orioles

Black-hooded oriole

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.

Woodswallows

Ashy woodswallow in Thattekad

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.

Woodshrikes and flycatcher-shrikes

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Prionopidae

The woodshrikes are similar in build to the shrikes. There are 12 species worldwide and 3 species which occur in India and Kerala.

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.

Drongos

Greater racket-tailed drongo pictured in Western Ghats in Kerala

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.

Fantails

White-browed fantail (Rhipidura aureola), Mayannur, Thrissur

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.

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.

Crows and treepies

Rufous treepie pictured in Calicut

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.

Monarch flycatchers and paradise flycatchers

Black-naped monarch (Hypothymis azurea) male, Mayannur
A female Indian paradise flycatcher in Panayal

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.

Flowerpeckers

Nilgiri flowerpecker in Thattekad

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Dicaeidae

The flowerpeckers are very small, stout, often brightly coloured birds, with short tails, short thick curved bills and tubular tongues.

Sunbirds and spiderhunters

Little spiderhunter in Thattekad

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.

Fairy-bluebirds and leafbirds

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. 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.

Weavers

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.

Waxbills and munias

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.

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.

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 15 in Kerala.

Finches

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.

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 4 in Kerala.

Canary-flycatchers

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Stenostiridae

Tits

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.

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.

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.

Bush warblers and grassbirds

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Locustellidae

Tree & reed warblers

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Acrocephalidae

Swallows

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.

Bulbuls

Red-vented bulbul pictured in Ernakulam

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.

Old world leaf warblers

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Phylloscopidae

Sylvia warblers and allies

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.

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.

Scimitar babblers and allies

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Timaliidae

The babblers, or timaliids, are somewhat diverse in size and colouration, but are characterised by soft fluffy plumage.

Smaller babblers

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Pellorneidae

Babblers and laughing-thrushes

Kerala laughingthrush in Munnar

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Leiothrichidae

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.

Starlings

Jungle myna pictured in Kottayam

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.

Chats and flycatchers

Blue-throated flycatcher in Thattekkad
Indian robin (Saxicoloides fulicata) female in Mayannur, Thrissur

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Muscicapidae

Chats and flycatchers is 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.

Thrushes

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.

Notes

  1. ↑ Praveen, J (2015). "A checklist of birds of Kerala, India" (PDF). Journal of Threatened Taxa. 7 (13): 7983–8009.
  2. ↑ Mannar, H; Ambika, D,S. (2014). "Snapshot Sightings: Red Turtle Dove from Haripad, Kerala". Indian Birds. 9 (5&6): 168A.
  3. ↑ Ammas, N. (2012). "Breeding of Chestnut-bellied Sandgrouse at Malamel Rock, Kollam District, Kerala".
  4. ↑ Karuthedathu, D., Das, V. N., & Palot, M. J. (2014). "Sighting of Common Swift Apus apus from southern India.". Indian BIRDS. 9 (3): 78–79.
  5. ↑ Narayanan, S Prasanth; Kumar, V Prashobh; Al Badush, A.; Jayamohan, Saji; Jinesh, P. S.; Sreekumar, B.; Thomas, A. P. (2016). "First record of Spotted Crake Porzana porzana from Kerala, India". Indian Birds. 11 (2): 48–49.
  6. 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.
  7. 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.
  8. ↑ Praveen, J; Jayapal, R; Pittie, A (2013). "Notes on Indian rarities—1: Seabirds". Indian Birds. 8 (5): 113–125.
  9. ↑ 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.
  10. ↑ 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.
  11. ↑ 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.
  12. ↑ 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.
  13. ↑ Nair, Manoj V. (1993). "Rosy Pelican at Aakkulam". Newsletter for Birdwatchers. 33 (1): 7–8.
  14. ↑ Gandhe, A (2014). "Seabird observations off the western coast of India". Indian Birds. 9 (5&6): 137–138.
  15. ↑ Rajeevan, P.C. (2011). "Great Stone-plover Esacus recurvirostris (Cuvier, 1829) at Madayipara, Kannur district, Kerala". Malabar Trogon. 9 (1&2): 22.
  16. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Praveen, J, Narayanan, S.P. (2014). "Additions to the checklist of Birds of Kerala". Malabar Trogon. 11 (1-3): 2–12.
  17. 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.
  18. ↑ Sreenivasan P. P. (2015). "Red Knot at Chavakkad, Kerala, Snapshot Sightings". Indian Birds. 10 (1): 28A.
  19. ↑ 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.
  20. ↑ Rajeevan, P.C. & Thomas, J. (2011). "Buff-breasted Sandpiper Tryngites subruficollis from northern Kerala : a third record for India". Indian Birds. 7 (5): 22.
  21. ↑ Sreenivasan, P.P. (2016). "Long-billed Dowitcher Limnodromus scolopaceus : An addition to the avifauna of peninsular India.". Indian Birds. 11 (4): 97–98.
  22. ↑ Rajeevan, P.C. & Thomas, J. (2013). "First record of Collared Pratincole Glareola pratincola from Kerala". Indian Birds. 8 (2): 49–50.
  23. ↑ Prince,M (2011). "Some Observations from Lakshadweep and the Laccadive Sea off Kerala". IndianBIRDS. 7 (3): 63–65.
  24. ↑ 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.
  25. ↑ Das, S., Kechery, S., Sreenivasan P. P., & Sreeranj C. (2013). "Black-legged Kittiwake Rissa tridactyla from Puthankadapuram, Kerala, India". Indian Birds. 8 (3): 73.
  26. ↑ 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.
  27. ↑ Karuthedathu, D., Raju, A.K. (2014). "Roseate Tern off Nileshwaram, Kerala". Indian Birds. 9 (1): 28.
  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.
  29. ↑ Jayson, E.A., Babu S., Govind, S. K. (2013). "Recovery of White Tern Gygis alba at Athirapilly, Kerala, India". Indian BIRDS. 8 (6): 163.
  30. ↑ 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.
  31. ↑ Chandran, A., Rasmussen, P. C., Jahan, S., & Praveen J. (2016). "The Pallid Scops Owl Otus brucei in south-western India, with notes on identification.". Indian Birds. 12 (2&3): 56–63.
  32. ↑ Sreenivasan P. P. (2013). "Blue-cheeked Bee-eater from Kole Wetlands, Kerala" (PDF). Indian Birds. 8 (4): 110.
  33. ↑ Manekkara. S. (2016). "Blue-throated Bee-eater Merops viridis in Kerala: An escapee, or a wild vagrant?". Indian Birds. 12 (2&3): 76–78.
  34. ↑ PAbhilash A. K. (2011). "Abhilash A. K.". Indian BIRDS. 11 (2): 56A.
  35. ↑ Praveen, ES; Sankar, Abhiram (2011). "Recent sightings of Red-headed Falcon Falco chiquera from Kerala". Malabar Trogon. 8 (2&3): 11–12.
  36. ↑ 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.
  37. ↑ Rajeevan, P.C., Biju,P.B. and Thomas, J. (2011). "First record of Tawny Pipit Anthus campestris from Kerala". Indian Birds. 7 (6).
  38. ↑ Eaton, J. A.; Mathew, J. (2016). "Little Bunting Schoeniclus pusillus in Munnar Hills, Kerala.". Indian BIRDS. 12 (1): 17–18.
  39. ↑ 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
  40. 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.
  41. ↑ 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.
  42. ↑ Mohanram Kemparaju (2012). "A photographic record of Hume's Leaf Warbler Phylloscopus humei from Wayanad District, Kerala". Malabar Trogon. 10 (1&2): 19.
  43. ↑ Praveen J; P O Nameer (2012). "A Report of Large Grey Babbler from Attappady Hills, Kerala". Malabar Trogon. 10 (1&2): 8–9.
  44. ↑ Dilip, K.G.; Arun, C.G. (2016). "Sighting of Purple-backed Starling Agropsar sturninus in Vellayani, Kerala.". Indian Birds. 11 (4): 98–99.
  45. ↑ 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
  46. ↑ George, P.J (2016). "Ultramarine Flycatcher Ficedula superciliaris at Santhigiri, near Kumily, Idukki District, Kerala, India". Indian BIRDS. 11 (3): 81–82.
  47. ↑ Balar, R.B; Saikia, P. J.; Goswami, V. P.; Prasanth Kumar S. R. P. (2016). "More records of Rufous-tailed Rock Thrush Monticola saxatilis from southern, and western India". Indian BIRDS. 12 (4&5): 141–144.
  48. ↑ 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.
  49. ↑ Reghuvaran, P. (2016). "Pied Wheatear Oenanthe pleschanka at Bekal Fort, Kasaragod, Kerala.". Indian BIRDS. 12 (1): 18–19.

References

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