Wildlife Travel Guide

Birds Check List of Periyar National Park

This list has been largely based on the excellent “ BIRDS OF PERIYAR: An aid to birdwatching in the Periyar Sanctuary” published by the Tourism & Wildlife Society of India, Jaipur. Additional sightings from trip lists currently available have been incorporated. The old names are given in brackets



ORDER: GALLIFORMES

Family: Phasianidae
Grey Francolin (Grey Partridge) Francolinus pondicerianus

Common Quail Coturnix coturnix
Blue-breasted Quail Coturnix chinensis
Jungle Bush Quail Perdicula asiatica
Painted Bush Quail Perdicula erythrorhyncha
Red Spurfowl Galloperdix spadicea
Grey Junglefowl Gallus sonneratii
Indian Peafowl Pavo cristatus
(Common Peafowl, Blue Peafowl)


ORDER: ANSERIFORMES


Anatini

Garganey Anas querquedula

ORDER: TURNICIFORMES


Family: Turnicidae

Yellow-legged Buttonquail Turnix tanki
(Button Quail)
Barred Buttonquail Turnix suscitator
(Common Bustardquail)


ORDER: PICIFORMES


Family: Picidae

Eurasian Wryneck (Wryneck) Jynx torquilla
Speckled Piculet(Spotted Piculet) Picumnus innominatus
Brown-capped Pygmy Woodpecker Dendrocopos nanus
(Brown-crowned Pigmy Woodpecker)
Yellow-crowned Woodpecker Dendrocopos mahrattensis
(Yellow-fronted Pied Woodpecker)
RufousWoodpecker Celeus brachyurus
White-bellied Woodpecker Dryocopus javensis
(Indian Great Black Woodpecker)
Lesser Yellownape Picus chlorolophus
(Lesser Yellow-naped Woodpecker)
Streak-throated Woodpecker Picus xanthopygaeus

(Little Scaly-bellied Green Woodpecker)
Common Flameback Dinopium javanense
(Golden-backed Three-toed Woodpecker)
Black-rumped Flameback Dinopium benghalense
(Lesser Golden-backed Woodpecker)
Greater Flameback Chrysocolaptes lucidus
(Larger Golden-backed Woodpecker)
Heart-spotted Woodpecker Hemicircus canente

Family: Megalaimidae
Brown-headed Barbet (GreenBarbet) Megalaima zeylanica
Lineated Barbet Megalaima lineata
White-cheeked Barbet (SmallGreen) Megalaima viridis
Crimson-fronted Barbet Megalaima rubricapilla
(Crimson-throated Barbet)
Coppersmith Barbet Megalaima haemacephala
(Crimson-breasted Barbet)


ORDER: BUCEROTIFORMES


Family: Bucerotidae


Malabar Grey Hornbill Ocyceros griseus
Great Hornbill Buceros bicornis
(Great Pied Hornbill, Giant Hornbill)
Malabar Pied Hornbill Anthracoceros coronatus

ORDER: UPUPIFORMES


Family: Upupidae
Common Hoopoe(Hoopoe) Upupa epops

ORDER: TROGONIFORMES


Family: Trogonidae
Malabar Trogon (Ceylon Trogon) Harpactes fasciatus

ORDER: CORACIIFORMES


Family: Coraciidae

Indian Roller Coracias benghalensis
Dollarbird Eurystomus orientalis
(Broad-billed Roller)

Family: Alcedinidae
Common Kingfisher Alcedo atthis
(Small Blue Kingfisher)
Blue-eared Kingfisher Alcedo meninting
Family: Halcyonidae

Stork-billed Kingfisher Halcyon capensis
Ruddy Kingfisher Halcyon coromanda
White-throated Kingfisher Halcyon smyrnensis
(White-breasted Kingfisher)
Black-capped Kingfisher Halcyon pileata
(Black-capped Purple Kingfisher)

Family: Cerylidae
Pied Kingfisher Ceryle rudis
(Lesser Pied Kingfisher)

Family: Meropidae

Blue-bearded Bee-eater Nyctyornis athertoni
Green Bee-eater Merops orientalis
(Little Green Bee-eater)
Chestnut-headed Bee-eater Merops leschenaulti

ORDER: CUCULIFORMES


Family: Cuculidae

Pied Cuckoo Clamator jacobinus
(Pied Crested Cuckoo, Jacobin Cuckoo)
Chestnut-winged Cuckoo Clamator coromandus
(Red-winged Creasted Cuckoo)
Common Hawk Cuckoo Hierococcyx varius
Indian Cuckoo Cuculus micropterus Eurasian Cuckoo Cuculus canorus
(The Cuckoo, Common Cuckoo)
Banded Bay Cuckoo Cacomantis sonneratii
(Indian Banded Bay Cuckoo)
Grey-bellied Cuckoo Cacomantis passerinus
(Indian Plaintive Cuckoo)
Drongo Cuckoo Surniculus lugubris
Asian Koel Eudynamys scolopacea (Koel, Common Koel)
Blue-faced Malkoha Phaenicophaeus viridirostris
(Small Green-billed Malkoha)
Sirkeer Malkoha Phaenicophaeus leschenaultii
(Sirkeer Cuckoo, Sirkeer)

Family: Centropodidae

Greater Coucal Centropus sinensis
(Crow-pheasant)
Lesser Coucal (Small Coucal) Centropus bengalensis

ORDER: PSITTACIFORMES

Family: Psittacidae
Vernal Hanging Parrot Loriculus vernalis
(Indian Lorikeet)
Rose-ringed Parakeet Psittacula krameri
Malabar Parakeet Psittacula columboides
(Blue-winged Parakeet)

ORDER: APODIFORMES

Family: Apodidae
Indian Swiftlet Collocalia unicolor
(Indian Edible-nest Swiftlet)
White-rumped Needletail Zoonavena sylvatica
(White-rumped Spinetail)
Brown-backed Needletail Hirundapus giganteus
(Large Brown-throated Spinetail Swiftt)
Asian Palm Swift (Palm Swift) Cypsiurus balasiensis
Fork-tailed Swift Apus pacificus
(Large White-rumped Swift)
House Swift(Little Swift) Apus affinis

Family: Hemiprocnidae

Crested Treeswift (Crested Swift) Hemiprocne coronata

ORDER: STRIGIFORMES

Family: Strigidae

Oriental Scops Owl Otus sunia
(Scops Owl, Little Scops Owl)
Collared Scops Owl Otus bakkamoena
Spot-bellied Eagle Owl Bubo nipalensis
(Forest Eagle Owl)
Brown Fish Owl Ketupa zeylonensis
Tawny Fish Owl Ketupa flavipes
Jungle Owlet Glaucidium radiatum
(Barred Jungle Owlet)
Spotted Owlet Athene brama
Brown Hawk Owl (Brown Boobook) Ninox scutulata
Short-eared Owl Asio flammeus

Family: Batrachostomidae

Sri Lanka Frogmouth Batrachostomus moniliger
(Ceylon Frogmouth)

Family: Eurostopodidae

Great Eared Nightjar Eurostopodus macrotis

Family: Caprimulgidae
Grey Nightjar Caprimulgus indicus
(Indian Jungle Nightjar)
Jerdon’s Nightjar Caprimulgus atripennis
Indian Nightjar Caprimulgus asiaticus (Common Indian Nightjar)
Savanna Nightjar (Franklin’s) Caprimulgus affinis

ORDER: COLUMBIFORMES

Family: Columbidae

Rock pigeon (Blue Rock Pigeon) Columba livia
Nilgiri Wood Pigeon Columba elphinstonii
Spotted Dove Streptopelia chinensis
Emerald Dove Chalcophaps indica (Bronze-winged Dove)
Orange-breasted Green Pigeon Treron bicincta
(Orange-breasted Pigeon)
Pompadour Green Pigeon Treron pompadora
(Pompadour Pigeon)
Yellow-footed Green Pigeon Treron phoenicoptera
(Yellow-legged Green or Bengal)
Green Imperial Pigeon Ducula aenea
Mountain Imperial Pigeon (Imperial) Ducula badia

ORDER: GRUIFORMES

Family: Rallidae

Slaty-legged Crake Rallina eurizonoides
(Banded Crake)
White-breasted Waterhen Amaurornis phoenicurus
Baillon’s Crake Porzana pusilla Ruddy-breasted Crake (Ruddy) Porzana fusca

Watercock Gallicrex cinerea

ORDER: CICONIIFORMES

Family: Scolopacidae

Scolopacinae

Wood Snipe Gallinago nemoricola
Pintail Snipe Gallinago stenura
Common Snipe (Fantail Snipe) Gallinago gallinago
Jack Snipe Lymnocryptes minimus

Tringinae

Whimbrel Numenius phaeopus
Marsh Sandpiper Tringa stagnatilis
Green Sandpiper Tringa ochropus
Wood Sandpiper Tringa glareola
Common Sandpiper Actitis hypoleucos

Family: Rostratulidae

Greater Painted-snipe Rostratula benghalensis
(Painted Snipe)

Charadriinae

Little Ringed Plover Charadrius dubius
(Little Plover, Little Ring Plover)
Red-wattled Lapwing Vanellus indicus

Family: Laridae
Sternini

River Tern Sterna aurantia
(Indian River Tern)

Family: Accipitridae
Pandioninae

Osprey Pandion haliaetus

Accipitrinae

Jerdon’s Baza Aviceda jerdoni
(Blyth’s Baza, Brown Baza)
Black Baza Aviceda leuphotes
(Black-crested Baza)
Oriental Honey-buzzard Pernis ptilorhyncus
(Honey Buzzard)
Black-shouldered Kite Elanus caeruleus
(Black-winged Kite)
Black Kite Milvus migrans
(Pariah Kite, Black-eared Kite)
Brahminy Kite Haliastur indus
White-bellied Sea Eagle Haliaeetus leucogaster
(White-bellied Fish-Eagle)
Grey-headed Fish Eagle Ichthyophaga ichthyaetus
(Himalayan, Grey-headed Fishing Eagle)
Egyptian Vulture Neophron percnopterus (Small White, Scavenger)
White-rumped Vulture Gyps bengalensis
(Indian White-backed Vulture)
Indian Vulture Gyps indicus
(Indian Long-billed, Indian Griffon)
Red-headed Vulture Sarcogyps calvus
(King Vulture, Black Vulture)
Short-toed Snake Eagle Circaetus gallicus
(Short-toed Eagle)
Crested Serpent Eagle Spilornis cheela
Eurasian Marsh Harrier Circus aeruginosus
(Western Marsh Harrier)
Pallid Harrier Circus macrourus
(Pale Harrier)
Pied Harrier Circus melanoleucos
Montagu’s Harrier Circus pygargus
Crested Goshawk Accipiter trivirgatus
Shikra Accipiter badius
Besra Accipiter virgatus
(Besra Sparrow-hawk)
Eurasian Sparrowhawk Accipiter nisus
(Northern Sparrowhawk)
Common Buzzard Buteo buteo
(Buzzard, Eurasian Buteo)
Black Eagle Ictinaetus malayensis
Bonelli’s Eagle Hieraaetus fasciatus
(Bonelli’s Hawk Eagle)
Booted Eagle Hieraaetus pennatus
(Booed Hawk Eagle)
Rufous-bellied Eagle Hieraaetus kienerii
(Rufous-bellied Hawk Eagle)
Changeable Hawk Eagle Spizaetus cirrhatus
(Crested Hawk Eagle)
Mountain Hawk Eagle Spizaetus nipalensis
(Hodgson’s Hawk Eagle)

Family: Falconidae

Common Kestrel Falco tinnunculus
(Kestrel, Eurasian Kestrel)
Red-necked Falcon Falco chicquera
(Red-headed Merlin, Red-headed Falcon)
Oriental Hobby Falco severus
(Indian Hobby)
Peregrine Falcon Falco peregrinus
(Red-capped Falcon, Barbary Falcon)

Family: Podicipedidae

Little Grebe Tachybaptus ruficollis

Family: Anhingidae

Darter Anhinga melanogaster
(Indian Darter, Oriental Darter, Snakebird)

Family: Phalacrocoracidae

Little Cormorant Phalacrocorax niger
Indian Cormorant (Shag) Phalacrocorax fuscicollis
Great Cormorant Phalacrocorax carbo
(Cormorant, Large Cormorant)

Family: Ardeidae

Little Egret Egretta garzetta
Western Reef Egret Egretta gularis
(Indian Reef Heron)
Pacific Reef Egret(Reef Heron) Egretta sacra
Grey Heron Ardea cinerea
Great Egret (Large Egret) Casmerodius albus
Intermediate Egret Mesophoyx intermedia
(Smaller Egret, Plumed Egret)
Cattle Egret Bubulcus ibis
Indian Pond Heron Ardeola grayii
(Pond Heron)
Little Heron Butorides striatus
(Little Green Heron, Striated Heron)
Malayan Night Heron Gorsachius melanolophus
(Malay Bittern, Malay Night Heron)
Yellow Bittern Ixobrychus sinensis
Cinnamon Bittern (Chestnut Bittern) Ixobrychus cinnamomeus
Black Bittern Dupetor flavicollis

Family: Ciconiidae

Painted Stork Mycteria leucocephala
Black Stork Ciconia nigra
Woolly-necked Stork (White-necked) Ciconia episcopus

ORDER: PASSERIFORMES

Family: Pittidae

Indian Pitta Pitta brachyura

Family: Irenidae

Asian Fairy Bluebird Irena puella
(Fairy Bluebird)
Blue-winged Leafbird Chloropsis cochinchinensis
(Gold-mantled /Jerdon’s Chloropsis)
Golden-fronted Leafbird Chloropsis aurifrons

Family: Laniidae

Brown Shrike Lanius cristatus
Bay-backed Shrike Lanius vittatus
Long-tailed Shrike Lanius schach
(Rufous-backed Shrike)

Corvinae

Corvini

Rufous Treepie (Indian Treepie) Dendrocitta vagabunda
Grey Treepie (Himalyan Treepie) Dendrocitta formosae
White-bellied Treepie Dendrocitta leucogastra
(Southern Tree Pie)
House Crow Corvus splendens

Large-billed Crow Corvus macrorhynchos
(Jungle/Black Crow)

Artamini

Ashy Woodswallow Artamus fuscus
(Ashy Swallow-shrike)

Oriolini

Eurasian Golden Oriole Oriolus oriolus
(Golden Oriole)
Black-naped Oriole Oriolus chinensis
Black-hooded Oriole (Black-headed) Oriolus xanthornus
Large Cuckooshrike Coracina macei
Black-headed Cuckooshrike Coracina melanoptera
Ashy Minivet Pericrocotus divaricatus
Small Minivet(Little Minivet) Pericrocotus cinnamomeus
Scarlet Minivet Pericrocotus flammeus
(Orange Minivet)
Bar-winged Flycatcher-shrike Hemipus picatus
(Pied Flycatcher-shrike)

Dicrurinae

Rhipidurini

White-browed Fantail (Flycatcher) Rhipidura aureola
(White-breasted Fantail Flycatcher )

Dicrurini

Ashy Drongo(Grey) Dicrurus leucophaeus
White-bellied Drongo Dicrurus caerulescens
(White-vented Drongo)
Bronzed Drongo Dicrurus aeneus
(Little Bronzed Drongo)

Greater Racket-tailed Drongo Dicrurus paradiseus
( Racket-tailed Drongo)

Monarchini

Black-naped Monarch Hypothymis azurea
(Black-naped Flycatcher)
Asian Paradise-flycatcher Terpsiphone paradisi
(Paradise-flycatcher)

Aegithininae

Common Iora (Iora) Aegithina tiphia

Malaconotinae

Large Woodshrike Tephrodornis gularis
Common Woodshrike Tephrodornis pondicerianus
(Woodshrike, Lesser Wood-shrike)

Family: Muscicapidae

Turdinae


Blue-capped Rock Thrush Monticola cinclorhynchus
(Blue-headed Rock Thrush)
Malabar Whistling Thrush Myophonus horsfieldii
Pied Thrush (Pied Ground Thrush) Zoothera wardii
White-throated Thrush Zoothera citrina cyanotus
(Orange-headed Ground Thrush)
Eurasian Blackbird Turdus merula
White-bellied Shortwing Brachypteryx major major
(Rufous-bellied Shortwing)

Muscicapinae

Muscicapini

Asian Brown Flycatcher Muscicapa dauurica
(Brown Flycatcher)
Rusty-tailed Flycatcher Muscicapa ruficauda
(Rufous-tailed Flycatcher)
Brown-breasted Flycatcher (Layard’s) Muscicapa muttui
Red-throated Flycatcher Ficedula parva
(Red-breasted Flycatcher)
Black-and-orange Flycatcher Ficedula nigrorufa
(Black-and-rufous Flycatcher)
Verditer Flycatcher Eumyias thalassina
Nilgiri Flycatcher Eumyias albicaudata
White-bellied Blue Flycatcher Cyornis pallipes
Blue-throated Flycatcher Cyornis rubeculoides
Tickell’s Blue Flycatcher Cyornis tickelliae
(Orange-breasted Blue Flycatcher)
Grey-headed Canary Flycatcher Culicicapa ceylonensis

(Grey-headed Flycatcher)

Saxicolini

Indian Blue Robin (Blue Chat) Luscinia brunnea
Oriental Magpie Robin Copsychus saularis
(Magpie Robin Dayal)
White-rumped Shama(Shama) Copsychus malabaricus
Indian Robin Saxicoloides fulicata
(Black Robin, Indian Chat)
Pied Bushchat Saxicola caprata
(Pied Stone-chat)

Family: Sturnidae

Chestnut-tailed Starling Sturnus malabaricus
(Grey-headed Myna)
Brahminy Starling Sturnus pagodarum
(Black-headed /Brahminy Myna)
Rosy Starling Sturnus roseus
(Rosy Pastor, Rose-coloured Starling)
Common Myna(Mynah) Acridotheres tristis
Bank Myna Acridotheres ginginianus
Jungle Myna Acridotheres fuscus
Hill Myna Gracula religiosa
(Grackle, Common Hill Myna)

Family: Sittidae
Sittinae

Velvet-fronted Nuthatch Sitta frontalis
(Velvet-fronted Blue Nuthatch)

Family: Paridae

Parinae

Great Tit (Grey Tit) Parus major
Black-lored Tit Parus xanthogenys
(Yellow-cheeked Tit)

Family: Hirundinidae

Dusky Crag Martin Hirundo concolor
Barn Swallow Hirundo rustica
(Swallow, Common Swallow)
Pacific Swallow (House, Hill) Hirundo tahitica
Wire-tailed Swallow Hirundo smithii
Red-rumped Swallow (Striated) Hirundo daurica
Northern House Martin Delichon urbica
(House Martin, Common House Martin)


Family: Pycnonotidae

Grey-headed Bulbul Pycnonotus priocephalus
Black-crested Bulbul Pycnonotus melanicterus gularis

(Black-headed Yellow Bulbul)
Red-whiskered Bulbul Pycnonotus jocosus

Red-vented Bulbul Pycnonotus cafer
White-browed Bulbul Pycnonotus luteolus
Yellow-browed Bulbul Iole indica
Black Bulbul(Gray) Hypsipetes leucocephalus

Family: Cisticolidae

Zitting Cisticola Cisticola juncidis
(Streaked Fantail Warbler)
Grey-breasted Prinia Prinia hodgsonii
(Franklin’s Wren Warbler)
Ashy Prinia Prinia socialis
(Ashy Wren Warbler)
Plain Prinia Prinia inornata
(Plain Wren-Warbler, White-browed Prinia)

Family: Zosteropidae
Oriental White-eye Zosterops palpebrosus
(White-eye, Small White-eye)

Family: Sylviidae

Acrocephalinae

Grasshopper Warbler Locustella naevia
(Common Grasshopper Warbler)
Thick-billed Warbler Acrocephalus aedon
Clamourous Reed Warbler Acrocephalus stentoreus
Blyth’s Reed Warbler Acrocephalus dumetorum
Common Tailorbird(Tailorbird) Orthotomus sutorius
Tickell’s Leaf Warbler Phylloscopus affinis
(Tickell’s Warbler)
Greenish Warbler Phylloscopus trochiloides
( Dull Green Leaf Warbler)
Pale-legged Leaf Warbler Phylloscopus tenellipes
Large-billed Leaf Warbler Phylloscopus magnirostris
(Large-billed Tree Warbler)
Western Crowned Warbler Phylloscopus occipitalis
(Large Crowned Leaf Warbler)

Megalurinae

Broad-tailed Grassbird Schoenicola platyura
(Broad-tailed Grass Warbler)

Garrulacinae

Wynaad Laughingthrush Garrulax delesserti
Grey-breasted Laughingthrush Garrulax jerdoni
(White-breasted Laughingthrush)

Sylviinae

Timaliini

Puff-throated Babbler Pellorneum ruficeps
(Spotted Babbler)
Indian Scimitar Babbler Pomatorhinus horsfieldii
Tawny-bellied Babbler Dumetia hyperythra
(Rufous-bellied Babbler)
Dark-fronted Babbler Rhopocichla atriceps
(Black-headed Babbler)
Rufous Babbler Turdoides subrufus
Jungle Babbler Turdoides striatus
Yellow-billed Babbler Turdoides affinis
(White-headed Babbler)
Brown-cheeked Fulvetta Alcippe poioicephala
(Quaker Babbler)


Family: Alaudidae

Bengal Bushlark Mirafra assamica
Malabar Lark Galerida malabarica
(Malabar Crested Lark)
Oriental Skylark Alauda gulgula
(Eastern Skylark, Oriental Lark)

Family: Nectariniidae

Nectariniinae

Dicaeini

Pale-billed Flowerpecker Dicaeum erythrorynchos
(Tickell’s / Small Flowerpecker)
Plain Flowerpecker Dicaeum concolor
(Plain-colored Flowerpecker)

Nectariniini

Purple-rumped Sunbird Nectarinia zeylonica

Crimson-backed Sunbird Nectarinia minima
(Small Sunbird)
Purple Sunbird Nectarinia asiatica
Loten’s Sunbird Nectarinia lotenia
(Long-billed Sunbird)
Little Spiderhunter Arachnothera longirostra

Family:Passeridae

Passerinae

House Sparrow Passer domesticus

Motacillinae

Forest Wagtail Dendronanthus indicus
White Wagtail (Pied Wagtail) Motacilla alba personata
White-browed Wagtail Motacilla maderaspatensis
(Large Pied Wagtail)
Yellow Wagtail Motacilla flava
Grey Wagtail Motacilla cinerea
Richard’s Pipit Anthus richardi
Paddyfield Pipit Anthus rufulus
(Indian Pipit)
Tawny Pipit Anthus campestris
Blyth’s Pipit Anthus godlewskii
Long-billed Pipit Anthus similis

(Brown Rock pipit)
Olive-backed Pipit Anthus hodgsoni
(Indian Tree Pipit, Olive Tree Pipit)
Nilgiri Pipit Anthus nilghiriensis

Ploceinae

Baya Weaver(Baya) Ploceus philippinus

Estrildinae

White-rumped Munia Lonchura striata
(White-backed Munia, Striated Munia)
Black-throated Munia Lonchura kelaarti
(Rufous-bellied Munia, Ceylon Hill Munia)
Black-headed Munia Lonchura malacca
(Chestnut Munia)

Family: Fringillidae

Carduelini

Common Rosefinch Carpodacus erythrinus