- Source: List of birds of Bengaluru
The following is a list of birds found in and around Bengaluru in Karnataka, India.
The Nandi Hills, Bannerghatta forest ranges and the Kaveri valley/Sangam area are included in addition to the Bengaluru city limits roughly extending 40 kilometres around the city centre (General Post Office). The area has been studied from early times due to its climate and accessibility during the Colonial period. This list also includes annotations. This list is largely based on an annotated checklist published in 1994. The family placement and sequence of families is based on the IOC world bird list (version 2.9).
Galliformes
= Family: Phasianidae
=Grey francolin, Francolinus pondicerianus (breeding resident on outskirts)
Common quail, Coturnix coturnix (rare, not seen since 2013)
Rain quail, Coturnix coromandelica (rare, still common at Hesaraghatta and Maidenahalli areas)
Jungle bush quail, Perdicula asiatica (breeding resident on outskirts)
Rock bush quail, Perdicula argoondah (common at Maidenahalli region)
Painted bush quail, Perdicula erythrorhyncha (rare, no recent records from Bengaluru)
Red spurfowl, Galloperdix spadicea (rare)
Painted spurfowl, Galloperdix lunulata (rare)
Grey junglefowl, Gallus sonneratii (breeding resident)
Indian peafowl, Pavo cristatus (breeding resident)
Anseriformes
= Family: Anatidae
=Fulvous whistling-duck, Dendrocygna bicolor (vagrant, mostly from old records. However, new sightings have surfaced)
Lesser whistling-duck, Dendrocygna javanica
Greylag goose, Anser anser
Bar-headed goose, Anser indicus
Ruddy shelduck, Tadorna ferruginea (historic)
Knob-billed duck, Sarkidiornis melanotos (rare)
Cotton pygmy goose, Nettapus coromandelianus
Gadwall, Mareca strepera
Eurasian wigeon, Mareca penelope
Indian spot-billed duck, Anas poecilorhyncha
Northern shoveler, Spatula clypeata
Northern pintail, Anas acuta
Garganey, Spatula querquedula
Common teal, Anas crecca
Common pochard, Aythya ferina
Ferruginous duck, Aythya nyroca (unconfirmed record from Hesaraghatta, possibly in error)
Podicipediformes
= Family: Podicipedidae
=Little grebe, Tachybaptus ruficollis
= Family: Phoenicopteridae
=Greater flamingo, Phoenicopterus roseus (vagrant. A flock of about 6 individuals recorded at Hoskote lake in September 2019)
Lesser flamingo, Phoenicopterus minor (vagrant, historic)
Ciconiiformes
= Family: Ciconiidae
=Painted stork, Mycteria leucocephala
Asian openbill, Anastomus oscitans
Asian woolly-necked stork, Ciconia episcopus
White stork, Ciconia ciconia (rare, no recent records in the area for over 6–7 years)
Black stork, Ciconia nigra (winter visitor)
Black-necked stork, Ephippiorhynchus asiaticus (could possibly be in error)
Lesser adjutant, Leptoptilos javanicus (records north and south of Bengaluru, in Mysore and Chikkballapur)
Pelecaniformes
= Family: Threskiornithidae
=Glossy ibis, Plegadis falcinellus
Black-headed ibis, Threskiornis melanocephalus
Red-naped ibis, Pseudibis papillosa
Eurasian spoonbill, Platalea leucorodia
= Family: Ardeidae
=Little egret, Egretta garzetta
Western reef egret, Egretta gularis (rare)
Grey heron, Ardea cinerea
Purple heron, Ardea purpurea
Eastern great egret, Ardea modesta
Intermediate egret, Mesophoyx intermedia
Cattle egret, Bubulcus ibis
Indian pond heron, Ardeola grayii
Striated heron, Butorides striatus
Black-crowned night heron, Nycticorax nycticorax
Little bittern, Ixobrychus minutus (historical, possibly in error)
Yellow bittern, Ixobrychus sinensis
Cinnamon bittern, Ixobrychus cinnamomeus
Black bittern, Ixobrychus flavicollis (uncommon resident)
Great bittern, Botaurus stellaris (historic)
= Family: Pelecanidae
=Spot-billed pelican, Pelecanus philippensis
Great white pelican, Pelecanus onocrotalus (vagrant? - first noted in 2008 - one in 2017 at Ranganathittu)
Suliformes
= Family: Phalacrocoracidae
=Little cormorant, Microcarbo niger
Indian cormorant, Phalacrocorax fuscicollis
Great cormorant, Phalacrocorax carbo
= Family: Anhingidae
=Oriental darter, Anhinga melanogaster
Accipitriformes
= Family Pandionidae
=Osprey, Pandion haliaetus (historic, few recent sightings)
= Family: Accipitridae
=Black baza, Aviceda leuphotes (rare, possibly passage migrant, one historic record from Bengaluru Golf Club, 1980s and one record from Nandi Hills. Newer records could shed light on this species habits in the region.)
Crested honey buzzard, Pernis ptilorhyncus
Black-winged kite, Elanus caeruleus
Black kite, Milvus migrans
Brahminy kite, Haliastur indus
Lesser fish eagle, Ichthyophaga humilis (Kaveri valley)
Grey-headed fish eagle, Ichthyophaga ichthyaetus (records only from Cauvery WLS area)
Egyptian vulture, Neophron percnopterus
White-rumped vulture, Gyps bengalensis (locally extinct in Bengaluru, common in Nagarahole NP)
Indian vulture, Gyps indicus (locally extinct in Bengaluru, populations however slowly recovering)
Himalayan vulture, Gyps himalayensis (rare vagrant - juveniles mainly)
Red-headed vulture, Sarcogyps calvus (historic, some stragglers still arrive in the Kaveri Valley and the species is relatively common in the Bandipur-Nagarahole region.)
Short-toed snake eagle, Circaetus gallicus
Crested serpent eagle, Spilornis cheela
Marsh harrier, Circus aeruginosus
Hen harrier, Circus cyaneus
Pallid harrier, Circus macrourus
Pied harrier, Circus melanoleucos
Montagu's harrier, Circus pygargus
Crested goshawk, Accipiter trivirgatus (only from the Cauvery WLS south, although stragglers in Bengaluru not unlikely)
Shikra, Accipiter badius
Eurasian sparrowhawk, Accipiter nisus
Northern goshawk, Accipiter gentilis
Besra, Accipiter virgatus (rare in Bannerghatta, gets common further south)
White-eyed buzzard, Butastur teesa
Black eagle, Ictinaetus malaiensis
Indian spotted eagle, Clanga hastata (older records of lesser spotted eagle, Aquila pomarina may be attributed to this species)
Greater spotted eagle, Clanga clanga
Tawny eagle, Aquila rapax
Steppe eagle, Aquila nipalensis
Eastern imperial eagle, Aquila heliaca (historic, possibly in error. Most recent records from Northern Karnataka)
Bonelli's eagle, Aquila fasciata
Booted eagle, Hieraaetus pennatus
Rufous-bellied hawk-eagle, Lophotriorchis kienerii (rare) (a photographic record of a juvenile from the Kaveri valley area, one from Bannerghatta)
Changeable hawk-eagle, Nisaetus cirrhatus
Common buzzard, Buteo buteo (records of birds in Bengaluru and outskirts - Arkavathi Layout and other areas)
Long-legged buzzard, Buteo rufinus (recent records from north of Bengaluru)
Falconiformes
= Family: Falconidae
=Common kestrel, Falco tinnunculus
Lesser kestrel, Falco naumanni (rare, records from Hesaraghatta and Chikkballapur areas)
Red-necked falcon, Falco chicquera
Laggar falcon, Falco jugger
Eurasian hobby, Falco subbuteo (rare)
Amur falcon, Falco amurensis (rare, passage)
Peregrine falcon, Falco peregrinus
Shaheen falcon, Falco peregrinus peregrinator (resident)
Peregrine falcon, Falco peregrinus calidus (winter migrant)
Otidiformes
= Family: Otididae
=Great Indian bustard, Ardeotis nigriceps (historic, known from Northeastern Karnataka-the nearest new records)
Lesser florican, Sypheotides indicus (mostly old records, one in 2011-12 from Hesaraghatta region)
Gruiformes
= Family: Rallidae
=White-breasted waterhen, Amaurornis phoenicurus
Brown crake, Zapornia akool
Slaty-legged crake, Rallina eurizonoides (rare, one recent record from the IISc campus in Bengaluru. More usual at BR Hills Tiger Reserve, close to Mysore)
Spotted crake, Porzana porzana (one recent record from Anekal region, close to Tamil Nadu border)
Baillon's crake, Zapornia pusilla
Ruddy-breasted crake, Zapornia fusca
Slaty-breasted rail, Lewinia striata
Watercock, Gallicrex cinerea (historic, still exist in small pockets)
Grey-headed swamphen, Porphyrio poliocephalus
Common moorhen, Gallinula chloropus
Eurasian coot, Fulica atra
= Family: Gruidae
=Demoiselle crane, Anthropoides virgo (historic, once recorded at Hulimangala in 2015)
Charadriiformes
= Family: Turnicidae
=Yellow-legged buttonquail, Turnix tanki (rare, only records have been from the Indian Institute of Science campus)
Barred buttonquail, Turnix suscitator (uncommon, mostly seen in the Bannerghatta and Kanakapura scrub areas)
= Family: Burhinidae
=Indian stone-curlew, Burhinus indicus (rare)
Great stone-curlew, Esacus recurvirostris (rare)
= Family Recurvirostridae
=Black-winged stilt, Himantopus himantopus
Pied avocet, Recurvirostra avosetta (historic, recent records from Sonnapura in Chikkballapura)
= Family Charadriidae
=Pacific golden plover, Pluvialis fulva (rare)
Grey plover, Pluvialis squatarola (rare)
Common ringed plover, Charadrius hiaticula (rare, no recent records)
Little ringed plover, Charadrius dubius (breeding resident)
Kentish plover, Charadrius alexandrinus
Yellow-wattled lapwing, Vanellus malabaricus (breeding resident, found only in open areas)
Grey-headed lapwing, Vanellus cinereus (rare winter visitor)
Red-wattled lapwing, Vanellus indicus (breeding resident)
= Family: Rostratulidae
=Greater painted snipe, Rostratula benghalensis
= Family: Jacanidae
=Pheasant-tailed jacana, Hydrophasianus chirurgus
Bronze-winged jacana, Metopidius indicus (common resident)
= Family: Scolopacidae
=Eurasian woodcock, Scolopax rusticola (vagrant)
Pintail snipe, Gallinago stenura
Great snipe, Gallinago media (historic)
Common snipe, Gallinago gallinago
Wood snipe, Gallinago nemoricola (historic)
Jack snipe, Lymnocryptes minimus (not many recent reports)
Black-tailed godwit, Limosa limosa
Eurasian curlew, Numenius arquata
Eurasian whimbrel, Numenius phaeopus (rare passage migrant?)
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
Dunlin, Calidris alpina (recent record from Hesaraghatta)
Curlew sandpiper, Calidris ferruginea
Little stint, Calidris minuta
Temminck's stint, Calidris temminckii
Long-toed stint, Calidris subminuta
Ruff, Philomachus pugnax
Red-necked phalarope, Phalaropus lobatus (historic and rare passage migrant)
= Family: Glareolidae
=Indian courser, Cursorius coromandelicus (Dr Robert B. Watson shot an Indian courser from a flock on 26 April 1952 and again saw two birds when he visited on 15 May 1952.)
Small pratincole, Glareola lactea
Oriental pratincole, Glareola maldivarum
Collared pratincole, Glareola pratincola
= Family: Laridae
=Brown-headed gull, Chroicocephalus brunnicephalus
Black-headed gull, Chroicocephalus ridibundus
Slender-billed gull, Chroicocephalus genei (rare - first record in November 2016 - 3 individuals in Madivala Lake, one recently spotted at Hesaraghatta)
Heuglin's gull, Larus fuscus heuglini (telemetry shows it flew over Bengaluru)
= Family Sternidae
=Gull-billed tern, Gelochelidon nilotica (rare)
Caspian tern, Hydroprogne caspia (rare)
River tern, Sterna aurantia
Black-bellied tern, Sterna acuticauda (rare, recent records only from Talakad near Mysore)
Little tern, Sternula albifrons (rare with few records near Bengaluru)
Whiskered tern, Chlidonias hybrida
White-winged tern, Chlidonias leucopterus (rare, few records from north region)
Pterocliformes
= Family: Pteroclidae
=Painted sandgrouse, Pterocles indicus (rare, only a few records in recent times)
Chestnut-bellied sandgrouse, Pterocles exustus (historic, some new records from Maidenahalli)
Columbiformes
= Family: Columbidae
=Rock pigeon, Columba livia
Nilgiri wood pigeon, Columba elphinstonii (only in Nandi Hills - historic record from Bannerghatta National Park)
Green imperial pigeon, Ducula aenea (only from Cauvery WLS; a recent record exists from Pearl Valley)
Laughing dove, Spilopelia senegalensis
Spotted dove, Spilopelia chinensis
Oriental turtle dove, Streptopelia orientalis (rare)
Red collared dove, Streptopelia tranquebarica (rare)
Eurasian collared dove, Streptopelia decaocto
Yellow-footed green pigeon, Treron phoenicoptera (rare)
Orange-breasted green pigeon, Treron bicincta (rare) (a few records in 2006 and 2011 from Hesaraghatta and Indian Institute of Science, one more recently from B M Kaval Forest)
Grey-fronted green pigeon, Treron affinis (rare, records only from Bannerghatta National Park)
Psittaciformes
= Family: Psittacidae
=Alexandrine parakeet, Psittacula eupatria (rare)
Rose-ringed parakeet, Psittacula krameri (breeding resident)
Plum-headed parakeet, Psittacula cyanocephala (unclear pattern, but commoner in winter)
Blue-winged parakeet, Psittacula columboides (historic, but recent records from near the Kanakapura and Thali forest areas. Most recent record from Bangalore University campus in 2021)
Red-breasted parakeet, Psittacula alexandri (introduced escapees)
Vernal hanging parrot, Loriculus vernalis (records in Bengaluru have been only from the Indian Institute of Science campus. Rather surprisingly, there have been increasing recent records in and near the Devarayanadurga Forest region.)
Cuculiformes
= Family: Cuculidae
=Pied cuckoo, Clamator jacobinus
Chestnut-winged cuckoo, Clamator coromandus (rare, a few records from Bengaluru and adjoining regions)
Large hawk-cuckoo, Hierococcyx sparverioides (one recent record from Valley School (B M Kaval). More common at the Bandipur and Nagarahole NPs)
Common hawk-cuckoo, Hierococcyx varius
Indian cuckoo, Cuculus micropterus (uncommon, becoming increasingly rare/elusive)
Common cuckoo, Cuculus canorus (passage)
Himalayan cuckoo, Cuculus saturatus (possibly in error)
Lesser cuckoo, Cuculus poliocephalus (BngBirds in 2014 from Hesserghatta, passage)
Banded bay cuckoo, Cacomantis sonneratii (rare)
Grey-bellied cuckoo, Cacomantis passerinus
Fork-tailed drongo-cuckoo, Surniculus dicruroides
Asian koel, Eudynamys scolopacea
Blue-faced malkoha, Phaenicophaeus viridirostris
Sirkeer malkoha, Phaenicophaeus leschenaultii (rare, reported from Maidenahalli)
Greater coucal, Centropus sinensis
Strigiformes
= Family: Tytonidae
=Eastern barn owl, Tyto javanica
= Family: Strigidae
=Short-eared owl, Asio flammeus (rare, vagrant)
Oriental scops owl, Otus sunia
Indian scops owl, Otus bakkamoena
Indian eagle-owl, Bubo bengalensis (found in rocky outcrops such as at the NICE expressway, declining fast from urbanisation)
Spot-bellied eagle-owl, Bubo nipalensis (historic records from Kaveri valley. One juvenile was recorded by a camera trap at Bilikal Betta, Ramanagara district in 2015)
Brown fish owl, Ketupa zeylonensis (records only from the Bannerghatta National Park in Bengaluru, not rare in Kaveri Valley)
Mottled wood owl, Strix ocellata
Brown-wood owl, Strix leptogrammica (rare, records so far only from Bannerghatta area and GKVK campus)
Jungle owlet, Glaucidium radiatum
Spotted owlet, Athene brama
Brown boobook, Ninox scutulata (rare, except in Kaveri Valley where the species is fairly common)
Caprimulgiformes
= Family: Caprimulgidae
=Jungle nightjar, Caprimulgus indicus
Sykes's nightjar, Caprimulgus mahrattensis (historic)
Jerdon's nightjar, Caprimulgus atripennis
Indian nightjar, Caprimulgus asiaticus
Savanna nightjar, Caprimulgus affinis
Grey nightjar, Caprimulgus jotaka (specimen examined by S A Hussain)
Apodiformes
= Family: Hemiprocnidae
=Crested treeswift, Hemiprocne coronata
= Family: Apodidae
=Indian swiftlet, Collocalia unicolor (rare)
White-rumped needletail, Zoonavena sylvatica (rare)
Brown-backed needletail, Hirundapus giganteus (rare)
Asian palm swift, Cypsiurus balasiensis
Alpine swift, Tachymarptis melba
Blyth's swift, Apus leuconyx (mainly Bandipur NP, records in Bengaluru only at JB Kaval forest)
House swift, Apus affinis
Coraciiformes
= Family: Coraciidae
=Indian roller, Coracias benghalensis
European roller, Coracias garrulus (records from Hesaraghatta and Maidenahalli region, passage)
= Family: Alcedinidae
=Oriental dwarf kingfisher, Ceyx erithaca (vagrant reported from Horamavu in 2017)
Common kingfisher, Alcedo atthis
Stork-billed kingfisher, Halcyon capensis (vagrant except in the Kaveri river valley area)
White-throated kingfisher, Halcyon smyrnensis (breeding resident)
Black-capped kingfisher, Halcyon pileata (vagrant)
Pied kingfisher, Ceryle rudis
= Family: Meropidae
=Blue-bearded bee-eater, Nyctyornis athertoni (Bengaluru is the type locality, but rare and known only from the Bannerghatta area)
Asian green bee-eater, Merops orientalis
Blue-tailed bee-eater, Merops philippinus
European bee-eater, Merops apiaster (high numbers come as passage migrants in the Kaveri Valley during winter)
Chestnut-headed bee-eater, Merops leschenaulti (vagrant)
Bucerotiformes
= Family: Upupidae
=Hoopoe, Upupa epops
= Family: Bucerotidae
=Indian grey hornbill, Ocyceros birostris
Piciformes
= Family: Picidae
=Eurasian wryneck, Jynx torquilla (rare with records from GKVK and the Valley School area)
Brown-capped pygmy woodpecker, Yungipicus nanus
Yellow-crowned woodpecker, Leiopicus mahrattensis
Rufous woodpecker, Micropternus brachyurus (rare, recorded mainly from Bannerghatta and Kaveri Valley)
Lesser yellownape, Picus chlorolophus (one recent record from Nandi Hills, could be found in Cauvery WLS)
Streak-throated woodpecker, Picus xanthopygaeus (found mainly in Bannerghatta forest)
Black-rumped flameback, Dinopium benghalense
White-naped woodpecker, Chrysocolaptes festivus
= Family: Megalaimidae
=Brown-headed barbet, Psilopogon zeylanicus (rare)
White-cheeked barbet, Psilopogon viridis (breeding resident)
Coppersmith barbet, Psilopogon haemacephalus (breeding resident)
Passeriformes
= Family: Pittidae
=Indian pitta, Pitta brachyura
= Family: Tephrodornithidae
=Common woodshrike, Tephrodornis pondicerianus
= Family: Artamidae
=Ashy woodswallow, Artamus fuscus
= Family: Aegithinidae
=Common iora, Aegithina tiphia
Marshall's iora, Aegithina nigrolutea (nearest records from Maidenahalli and Kaveri Valley)
= Family: Campephagidae
=Large cuckoo-shrike, Coracina macei
Black-winged cuckoo-shrike, Lalage melaschistos (records only from IISc campus and Nandi Hills)
Black-headed cuckoo-shrike, Lalage melanoptera
Small minivet, Pericrocotus cinnamomeus
White-bellied minivet, Pericrocotus erythropygius (one recent record in Kaveri valley)
Ashy minivet, Pericrocotus divaricatus
Swinhoe's minivet, Pericrocotus cantonensis (vagrant, one straggler seen along with Ashy minivet at GKVK)
= Family: Laniidae
=Brown shrike, Lanius cristatus (regular winter visitor)
Lanius cristatus lucionensis (rare)
Isabelline shrike, Lanius isabellinus (rare. Photo record 7 December 2008)
Bay-backed shrike, Lanius vittatus
Long-tailed shrike, Lanius schach
Great grey shrike, Lanius excubitor (rare, reported mainly from Maidenahalli)
= Family: Oriolidae
=Indian golden oriole, Oriolus kundoo
Black-naped oriole, Oriolus chinensis (not rare, but doesn't winter as profusely as Indian golden)
Black-hooded oriole, Oriolus xanthornus
= Family: Dicruridae
=Black drongo, Dicrurus macrocercus
Ashy drongo, Dicrurus leucophaeus
Bronzed drongo, Dicrurus aeneus (records from Bannerghatta forest and Pearl Valley region)
Greater racket-tailed drongo, Dicrurus paradiseus (records from Bannerghatta region)
White-bellied drongo, Dicrurus caerulescens
Hair-crested drongo, Dicrurus hottentottus
= Family: Rhipiduridae
=White-spotted fantail, Rhipidura albogularis
White-browed fantail, Rhipidura aureola
= Family: Monarchidae
=Black-naped monarch, Hypothymis azurea
Indian paradise flycatcher, Terpsiphone paradisi
= Family: Corvidae
=Rufous treepie, Dendrocitta vagabunda
White-bellied treepie, Dendrocitta leucogastra (historic, possibly in error)
House crow, Corvus splendens
Indian jungle crow, Corvus macrorhynchos culminatus
= Family: Stenostiridae
=Grey-headed canary flycatcher, Culicicapa ceylonensis (historic records, only recent records from Bannerghatta National Park and Indian Institute of Science)
= Family: Paridae
=Cinereous tit, Parus cinereus
White-winged tit, Parus nuchalis (historic record from Bengaluru, more recent records only from the Kaveri valley)
Indian black-lored tit, Machlolophus aplonotus (historic)
= Family: Alaudidae
=Singing bushlark, Mirafra cantillans (possibly misidentified. Records known from near Mysore and Jayamangali Black Buck Reserve)
Indian bushlark, Mirafra erythroptera
Jerdon's bushlark, Mirafra affinis
Ashy-crowned sparrow-lark, Eremopterix griseus
Rufous-tailed lark, Ammomanes phoenicura
Greater short-toed lark, Calandrella brachydactyla
Mongolian short-toed lark, Calandrella dukhunensis (high numbers still winter at Hesaraghatta)
Sykes's lark, Galerida deva (known only from the Thippagondanahalli Reservoir area and Hesaraghatta)
Oriental skylark, Alauda gulgula
= Family: Pycnonotidae
=Red-whiskered bulbul, Pycnonotus jocosus (earliest published record of four specimens of this bird from Bengaluru was collected by HG Walton between 15 and 20 January 1899 said to be in Bombay Natural History Society collection. This bird was once considered rare around Bengaluru but quite common in Nandi Hills.)
White-eared bulbul, Pycnonotus leucotis (possible escapee)
Red-vented bulbul, Pycnonotus cafer
Yellow-throated bulbul, Pycnonotus xantholaemus
White-browed bulbul, Pycnonotus luteolus
= Family: Hirundinidae
=Sand martin/Pale martin, Riparia riparia/Riparia diluta (vagrant)
Grey-throated martin, Riparia chinensis
Dusky crag martin, Ptyonoprogne concolor
Common house-martin, Delichon urbicum (rare with very few records, usually seen amongst mixed flocks)
Barn swallow, Hirundo rustica
Pacific swallow, Hirundo tahitica
Wire-tailed swallow, Hirundo smithii
Red-rumped swallow, Cecropis daurica
Streak-throated swallow, Hirundo fluvicola
= Family: Phylloscopidae
=Tickell's leaf warbler, Phylloscopus affinis
Sulphur-bellied warbler, Phylloscopus griseolus
Yellow-browed warbler, Phylloscopus inornatus (rare, recent records from Lalbagh and Bannerghatta regions)
Hume's leaf warbler, Phylloscopus humei (Nandi Hills)
Tytler's leaf warbler, Phylloscopus tytleri (Nandi Hills)
Common chiffchaff, Phylloscopus collybita (historic, rare vagrant at Nandi Hills)
Green warbler, Phylloscopus nitidus
Greenish warbler, Phylloscopus trochiloides
Large-billed leaf warbler, Phylloscopus magnirostris
Western crowned warbler, Phylloscopus occipitalis
= Family: Acrocephalidae
=Paddyfield warbler, Acrocephalus agricola
Blyth's reed warbler, Acrocephalus dumetorum
Clamorous reed warbler, Acrocephalus stentoreus
Thick-billed warbler, Arundinax aedon
Sykes's warbler, Iduna rama
Booted warbler, Iduna caligata
= Family: Cisticolidae
=Zitting cisticola, Cisticola juncidis
Grey-breasted prinia, Prinia hodgsonii
Jungle prinia, Prinia sylvatica
Ashy prinia, Prinia socialis
Plain prinia, Prinia inornata
Rufous-fronted prinia, Prinia buchanani (nearest records from Maidenahalli)
Common tailorbird, Orthotomus sutorius
= Family: Locustellidae
=Common grasshopper warbler, Locustella naevia (rare, sparse records around Bengaluru)
Pallas grasshopper warbler, Helopsaltes certhiola (rare, one recent record from Anekal region)
Bristled grassbird, Chaetornis striata (one record from Hoskote Lake)
= Family: Pellorneidae
=Puff-throated babbler, Pellorneum ruficeps
= Family: Timaliidae
=Indian scimitar babbler, Pomatorhinus horsfieldii
Tawny-bellied babbler, Dumetia hyperythra
= Family: Leiothrichidae
=Common babbler, Argya caudata
Large grey babbler, Argya malcolmi
Rufous babbler, Argya subrufa (escaped individual seen near Cubbon Park)
Jungle babbler, Argya striata
Yellow-billed babbler, Argya affinis
Brown-cheeked fulvetta, Alcippe poioicephala (one recent record from Bannerghatta Forest-Shivanahalli region)
= Family: Sittidae
=Velvet-fronted nuthatch, Sitta frontalis (one recent record from Valley School)
= Family: Sylviidae
=Eastern Orphean warbler, Sylvia crassirostris
Lesser whitethroat, Sylvia curruca (populations not ascertained reliably)
Hume's lesser whitethroat, S. c. althaea (taxonomy dependant)
Yellow-eyed babbler, Chrysomma sinense
= Family: Zosteropidae
=Indian white-eye, Zosterops palpebrosus
= Family: Sturnidae
=Chestnut-tailed starling, Sturnia malabarica (winter visitor)
Malabar starling, Sturnia blythii (vagrant, historic record from GKVK campus)
Brahminy starling, Sturnia pagodarum (resident)
Rosy starling, Pastor roseus (winter visitor)
Common starling, Sturnus vulgaris (vagrant)
Common myna, Acridotheres tristis (resident)
Jungle myna, Acridotheres fuscus (resident)
= Family: Turdidae
=Pied thrush, Geokichla wardii (winter visitor, regular only in the Nandi hills)
White-throated orange-headed thrush, Geokichla citrina cyanota
Scaly thrush, Zoothera dauma (historic)
Tickell's thrush, Turdus unicolor (once in 2005 at Lalbagh, records popping up elsewhere)
Indian blackbird, Turdus simillimus (winter, regular only in the Nandi hills. Older records of common blackbird, Turdus merula, may be attributed to this species)
Eyebrowed thrush, Turdus obscurus (vagrant)
= Family: Muscicapidae
=Northern wheatear, Oenanthe oenanthe (one recent record from Jayamangali Blackbuck Reserve, a first for Karnataka)
Blue-capped rock thrush, Monticola cinclorhyncha (winter visitor)
Blue rock thrush, Monticola solitarius (winter visitor in rocky areas)
Common rock thrush, Monticola saxatilis (vagrant)
Malabar whistling thrush, Myophonus horsfieldii (vagrant at UAS, Hebbal. From 2005 found in the Nandi Hills)
Bluethroat, Luscinia svecica
Indian blue robin, Luscinia brunnea (winter, regular in the Nandi hills)
Siberian rubythroat, Calliope calliope (nearest record from Maidenahalli and the Savandurga area)
Oriental magpie robin, Copsychus saularis (resident breeder)
White-rumped shama, Copsychus malabaricus (rare resident, known only from the JP Nagar Reserve Forest (Doresanipalya), Bannerghatta forest area, Valley School areas and further away in the Kaveri valley)
Indian robin, Saxicoloides fulicatus (resident, found in open scrub in the outskirts)
Black redstart, Phoenicurus ochruros (winter)
Siberian stonechat, Saxicola maurus (winter)
Pied bush chat, Saxicola caprata (resident, found in open scrub in the outskirts)
Asian brown flycatcher, Muscicapa dauurica (winter)
Brown-breasted flycatcher, Muscicapa muttui (winter)
Yellow-rumped flycatcher, Ficedula zanthopygia (winter, vagrant)
Rusty-tailed flycatcher, Ficedula ruficauda (winter, rare)
Red-breasted flycatcher, Ficedula parva (winter)
Red-throated flycatcher, Ficedula albicilla (winter)
Kashmir flycatcher, Ficedula subrubra (rare, passage)
Ultramarine flycatcher, Ficedula superciliaris (winter, regular in the Nandi hills)
Black-and-orange flycatcher, Ficedula nigrorufa (vagrant - two records. Confirmation desirable, recent records in Karnataka only from the shola forests in the Brahmagiri and Bababudan Hill ranges)
Verditer flycatcher, Eumyias thalassina (winter, not uncommon in scrub forest areas)
Nilgiri flycatcher, Eumyias albicaudatus (historic and needs confirmation)
Blue-throated flycatcher, Cyornis rubeculoides (winter, possibly in passage)
Tickell's blue flycatcher, Cyornis tickelliae (resident breeder)
= Family: Chloropseidae
=Jerdon's leafbird, Chloropsis jerdoni
Golden-fronted leafbird, Chloropsis aurifrons
= Family: Dicaeidae
=Thick-billed flowerpecker, Dicaeum agile (rare)
Pale-billed flowerpecker, Dicaeum erythrorynchos
= Family: Nectariniidae
=Purple-rumped sunbird, Nectarinia zeylonica
Purple sunbird, Cinnyris asiaticus
Loten's sunbird, Cinnyris lotenius
Crimson-backed sunbird, Leptocoma minima (monsoon migrant to Nandi Hills)
= Family: Passeridae
=House sparrow, Passer domesticus
Yellow-throated sparrow, Gymnoris xanthocollis
= Family: Ploceidae
=Streaked weaver, Ploceus manyar
Baya weaver, Ploceus philippinus
Bengal weaver, Ploceus benghalensis (one known resident population from Hoskote Lake - vagrant elsewhere)
= Family: Estrildidae
=Red munia, Amandava amandava
Indian silverbill, Euodice malabarica
White-rumped munia, Lonchura striata
Scaly-breasted munia, Lonchura punctulata
Tricoloured munia, Lochura malacca
= Family: Motacillidae
=Forest wagtail, Dendronanthus indicus
White wagtail, Motacilla alba
White-browed wagtail, Motacilla maderaspatensis
Citrine wagtail, Motacilla citreola citreola
Yellow wagtail, Motacilla flava
Eastern yellow wagtail, Motacilla tschutschensis (mostly recent records, in Hesaraghatta and Hoskote areas)
Grey wagtail, Motacilla cinerea
Richard's pipit, Anthus richardi
Red-throated pipit, Anthus cervinus
Paddyfield pipit, Anthus rufulus
Tawny pipit, Anthus campestris (recent records from Maidenahalli)
Blyth's pipit, Anthus godlewskii
Long-billed pipit, Anthus similis
Tree pipit, Anthus trivialis
Olive-backed pipit, Anthus hodgsoni (mainly Nandi Hills, some arrive at Namadachilume forest)
= Family: Fringillidae
=Common rosefinch, Carpodacus erythrinus (winter visitor)
= Family: Emberizidae
=Black-headed bunting, Emberiza melanocephala (historic)
Red-headed bunting, Emberiza bruniceps (historic)
Grey-necked bunting, Emberiza buchanani
See also
Birdwatchers' Field Club of Bengaluru