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. ^[1] This list also includes annotations. This list is largely based on an annotated checklist published in 1994. ^{[2] [3]} The family placement and sequence of families is based on the IOC world bird list (version 2.9).

Schematic map of birding areas in and around Bengaluru

Outline of routes to locations around Bengaluru

Galliformes

Family: Phasianidae

Grey francolin or grey partridge

• 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) ^[4]
• Red spurfowl, Galloperdix spadicea (rare)
• Painted spurfowl, Galloperdix lunulata (rare) ^[5]
• Grey junglefowl, Gallus sonneratii (breeding resident)
• Indian peafowl, Pavo cristatus (breeding resident)

Anseriformes

Family: Anatidae

Indian spot-billed duck

• 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

• 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)^{[ citation needed ]}
• 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

Cattle egrets

• 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 ^[6]
• 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)

Spot-billed pelican

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

Oriental darter

Family: Anhingidae

• Oriental darter, Anhinga melanogaster

Accipitriformes

Family Pandionidae

• Osprey, Pandion haliaetus (historic, few recent sightings)

Family: Accipitridae

Black kite, a scavenger

Shikra

• 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. ^[7] )
• 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 ^[8] )
• 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 ^[9] )
• 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^{[ citation needed ]}
• 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^{[ citation needed ]}
• 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)^{[ citation needed ]}
• 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 ^[10] )
• Changeable hawk-eagle, Nisaetus cirrhatus
• Common buzzard, Buteo buteo (records of birds in Bengaluru and outskirts – Arkavathi Layout and other areas ^[11] )
• 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) ^[12]
• 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) ^{[13] [14]}

Gruiformes

Family: Rallidae

White-breasted waterhen

• 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

Barred buttonquail

• 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

• Black-winged stilt, Himantopus himantopus
• Pied avocet, Recurvirostra avosetta (historic, recent records from Sonnapura in Chikkballapura)

Family Charadriidae

Red-wattled lapwing

• Pacific golden plover, Pluvialis fulva (rare)
• Grey plover, Pluvialis squatarola (rare)
• Common ringed plover, Charadrius hiaticula (rare, no recent records)^{[ citation needed ]}
• 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

• Greater painted snipe, Rostratula benghalensis

Family: Jacanidae

• Pheasant-tailed jacana, Hydrophasianus chirurgus
• Bronze-winged jacana, Metopidius indicus (common resident)

Family: Scolopacidae

Green sandpiper, a winter migrant

• Eurasian woodcock, Scolopax rusticola (vagrant)
• Pintail snipe, Gallinago stenura
• Great snipe, Gallinago media (historic) ^[15]
• Common snipe, Gallinago gallinago
• Wood snipe, Gallinago nemoricola (historic) ^[16]
• Jack snipe, Lymnocryptes minimus (not many recent reports) ^[17]
• Black-tailed godwit, Limosa limosa
• Eurasian curlew, Numenius arquata
• Eurasian whimbrel, Numenius phaeopus (rare passage migrant? ^[18] )
• 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^{[ citation needed ]}
• Ruff, Philomachus pugnax
• Red-necked phalarope, Phalaropus lobatus (historic and rare passage migrant) ^[19]

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.) ^{[20] [21]}
• Small pratincole, Glareola lactea ^[22]
• Oriental pratincole, Glareola maldivarum ^[23]
• Collared pratincole, Glareola pratincola ^[24]

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 ^[25] )

Family Sternidae

• Gull-billed tern, Gelochelidon nilotica (rare)
• Caspian tern, Hydroprogne caspia (rare) ^[26]
• 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) ^[27]
• Chestnut-bellied sandgrouse, Pterocles exustus (historic, ^[28] some new records from Maidenahalli)

Columbiformes

Family: Columbidae

Spotted dove

• Rock pigeon, Columba livia
• Nilgiri wood pigeon, Columba elphinstonii (only in Nandi Hills – historic record from Bannerghatta National Park) ^[29]
• 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) ^[30]
• Grey-fronted green pigeon, Treron affinis (rare, records only from Bannerghatta National Park) ^[31]

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

Greater coucal

Sirkeer malkoha

• 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)^{[ citation needed ]}
• 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 ^[32]
• 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

Spotted owlet

• Short-eared owl, Asio flammeus (rare, vagrant) ^[33]
• 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) ^[34]
• 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

House swift

• 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, the state bird of Karnataka

• Indian roller, Coracias benghalensis
• European roller, Coracias garrulus (records from Hesaraghatta and Maidenahalli region, passage)

Family: Alcedinidae

White-throated kingfisher

• 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

Asian green bee-eater

• 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) ^[35]
• 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) ^[36]
• Brown-capped pygmy woodpecker, Yungipicus nanus ^[37]
• Yellow-crowned woodpecker, Leiopicus mahrattensis
• Rufous woodpecker, Micropternus brachyurus (rare, recorded mainly from Bannerghatta and Kaveri Valley) ^[37]
• 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) ^[38]
• Black-rumped flameback, Dinopium benghalense
• White-naped woodpecker, Chrysocolaptes festivus

Family: Megalaimidae

White-cheeked barbet

• Brown-headed barbet, Psilopogon zeylanicus (rare) ^{[39] [40]}
• White-cheeked barbet, Psilopogon viridis (breeding resident)
• Coppersmith barbet, Psilopogon haemacephalus (breeding resident)

Passeriformes

Family: Pittidae

Indian pitta, a colourful but secretive migrant

• 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 ^{[41] [42]} )
• 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

• Indian golden oriole, Oriolus kundoo

Black-naped oriole with Indian golden oriole

• 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) ^[43]
• Indian black-lored tit, Machlolophus aplonotus (historic)

Family: Alaudidae

• Singing bushlark, Mirafra cantillans (possibly misidentified. Records known from near Mysore ^[44] 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

• 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. ^[45] This bird was once considered rare around Bengaluru but quite common in Nandi Hills.) ^[46]
• White-eared bulbul, Pycnonotus leucotis (possible escapee)
• Red-vented bulbul, Pycnonotus cafer
• Yellow-throated bulbul, Pycnonotus xantholaemus ^[47]
• 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^{[ citation needed ]}
• 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

Ashy prinia or ashy wren-warbler

• 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

Yellow-billed babbler or white-headed babbler, the commonest babbler in urban areas

• 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

Oriental magpie robin found in gardens

• Pied thrush, Geokichla wardii (winter visitor, regular only in the Nandi hills) ^[48]
• White-throated orange-headed thrush, Geokichla citrina cyanota
• Scaly thrush, Zoothera dauma (historic)^{[ citation needed ]}
• 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 ^[49] )
• 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) ^{[50] [51]}
• Siberian rubythroat, Calliope calliope (nearest record from Maidenahalli ^[52] 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), ^[53] Bannerghatta forest area, Valley School areas and further away in the Kaveri valley ^[54] )
• 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 ^[55] )
• 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) ^[56]
• 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) ^[57]
• Tickell's blue flycatcher, Cyornis tickelliae (resident breeder)

Family: Chloropseidae

• Jerdon's leafbird, Chloropsis jerdoni
• Golden-fronted leafbird, Chloropsis aurifrons

Golden-fronted leafbird

Family: Dicaeidae

• Thick-billed flowerpecker, Dicaeum agile (rare)
• Pale-billed flowerpecker, Dicaeum erythrorynchos

Family: Nectariniidae

Male purple-rumped sunbird

• 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

Baya weavers at partly built nest

• 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

White-browed wagtail

• 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 ^{[58] [59]}
• 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

References

1. Bulger, G. E. (1866). "[Letter]". Ibis. 8 (2): 218–220. doi:10.1111/j.1474-919X.1866.tb06089.x.
2. George, Joseph, ed. (1994). Annotated Checklist of the Birds of Bangalore. Birdwatchers' Field Club of Bangalore.
3. Karthikeyan, S. (1999). The fauna of Bangalore. World Wide Fund for Nature-India, Bangalore.
4. Subramanya, S. (1991). "Painted Bush Quail near Bangalore". Newsletter for Birdwatchers . 31 (7&8): 11–12.
5. Prasad, J. N., S. Karthikeyan, T.S. Srinivasa, S. Subramanya & L. Shyamal (1992). "Distribution of Painted Spurfowl in Karnataka". Newsletter for Birdwatchers . 32 (7&8): 11–12.
6. Worth, Brooke C. (1953). "Stray Birds notes from Mysore". Journal of the Bombay Natural History Society. 51: 510.
7. Photo record (7 April 2007) by Pradyumna Mohan
8. Shenoy, Srinivasa. "eBird Checklist – 31 Jul 2016 – Cauvery WLS--Hegeneru State Forest – 60 species (+2 other taxa)". ebird.org. Retrieved 16 April 2020.
9. 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.
10. photo record
11. Photo record (17 Feb 2007) by Nitin S
12. Jayant, MS; Aditya, GS; Hemanth, J (1992). "Occurrence of the Hobby in Bangalore". Newsletter for Birdwatchers . 32 (7–8): 14.
13. AO Hume and CHT Marshall (1881). The Game Birds of India, Burmah, and Ceylon. (Major McInroy "I think I am within the mark when I say that near Mallur, a station on the Bangalore Madras line of rail and 25 miles from Bangalore, thirty birds were shot in one day by two officers of the Forest department."; "Mr Davidson says:- Florican are found sparingly in Mysore, but I only saw one on two occasions in the Tumkur district, during last year.")
14. Anderson, J M (1883). "A Letter". Stray Feathers. 10: 428. numerous in rains and cold weather in Bangalore.
15. Baker, E. C. S. (1911). "Occurrence of the Great Snipe (Gallinago major) near Bangalore". Journal of the Bombay Natural History Society. 20: 1155.
16. Betham, R. M. (1912)."Wood Snipe (Gallinago nemoricola) occurring near Bangalore". Journal of the Bombay Natural History Society. 21: 677.
17. Searight, E. E. G. L. (1932). "Comparative frequency of Fantail, Pintail and Jack Snipe near Bangalore". Journal of the Bombay Natural History Society. 35: 900.
18. http://www.indianaturewatch.net/displayimage.php?id=115418 Photo record
19. Menon, S. S. (1975). "On the occurrence of the Rednecked Phalarope on inland waters in Bangalore". Journal of the Bombay Natural History Society. 72: 846-847.
20. Worth, Brooke C. (1953). "Additional Mysore state Birds". Journal of the Bombay Natural History Society. 51: 510.
21. Paresh, U. K. (1989). "Coursers near Bangalore". Newsletter for Birdwatchers . 29 (1 & 2): 4.
22. Prasanna, M; Sandilya, T; Belliappa, KM; Nityananda, Vivek; Gulati, Rohit; Vittal, BS (1994). "Valley School birds". Newsletter for Birdwatchers . 34 (6): 137–138.
23. Rajasekaran, Mallika. "eBird Checklist – 24 June 2017 – Hennagara Lake – 22 species". ebird.org. Retrieved 20 April 2020.
24. Viswanathan, Ashwin. "eBird India Checklist – 12 December 2018 – Hessaraghatta Kere – 74 species (+1 other taxa)". ebird.org. Retrieved 20 April 2020.
25. Manike sheds light on an untold migratory tale
26. Prabhakar, Nitin. "eBird Checklist – 15 Nov 2015 – Jakkur Kere – 26 species (+3 other taxa)". ebird.org. Retrieved 16 April 2020.
27. Hume, A. O. and Marshall, C.H.T. (1879-81) The Game Birds of India, Burmah, and Ceylon, Calcutta. Mr Tuffnell says "As regards the occurrence of this bird in the Mysore province, I can speak from experience, of its being anything but rare on the wooded islands of the Cauvery, near Seringapatnam. The largest bag I can remember making in that part of the country was thirteen birds, killed near French Rocks on 17 December 1878, by Major St. John and myself. They breed in the same place"
28. Hume, A. O. and Marshall, C.H.T. (1879-81) The Game Birds of India, Burmah, and Ceylon, Calcutta. Telugu: Jam Polanka, Tamil: Kal kondari, Kannada: Kal gowjal haki: "Mr Davidson says – this species was rather rare in Mysore, though I found a few about the Tumkur district. Another correspondent says . It is exceedingly abundant in Chitaldroog district"
29. Subramanya, S. (2005). Nesting of Wood-Pigeon Columba elphinstonii in Nandi hills, Karnataka, India. Indian Birds 1(2): 36-37
30. "Bird race: A day spent with exotic species". Deccan Chronicle. 17 January 2011. Archived from the original on 19 January 2011. Retrieved 17 January 2011.
31. JN, Prasad. "eBird India Checklist – 22 Oct 1989 – Bannerghatta National Park – 54 species". ebird.org. Retrieved 20 April 2020.
32. Viswanathan, Ashwin. "eBird India Checklist – 1 Nov 2018 – GKVK Campus--Botanical Garden, Bangalore (only inside garden) – 13 species". ebird.org. Retrieved 2 January 2020.
33. Photo record
34. Badri, Yogesh. "eBird Checklist – 5 Feb 2017 – Valley School – 63 species (+1 other taxa)". ebird.org. Retrieved 2 January 2020.
35. Lott, E. J. (1985). "European bee-eaters (Merops apiaster) in Karnataka". Journal of the Bombay Natural History Society. 82: 411.
36. Photo record http://www.indianaturewatch.net/displayimage.php?id=10095
37. Karthikeyan, S. (1992). "Pygmy Woodpecker and Rufous Woodpecker in Bangalore, Karnataka". Newsletter for Birdwatchers . 32 (3 & 4): 10.
38. Prasad, J. N. & A. Madhusudan (1993). "An instance of mating in Little Scalybellied Green Woodpecker Picus myrmecophoneus Stresemann from Bangalore". Journal of the Bombay Natural History Society. 90: 95–96.
39. Prasad, J. N. (1991). "On occurrence of Large Green Barbet in Bangalore". Newsletter for Birdwatchers . 31 (1 & 2): 11.
40. Swamy NR, Ullas PA, Hemanth J, Prasad JN (1994). "Sighting of Large Green Barbet in Bangalore". Newsletter for Birdwatchers . 34 (5): 116.
41. Archived 8 July 2011 at the Wayback Machine
42. Archived 8 July 2011 at the Wayback Machine
43. Lott, E. J. & Lott, C. (1999). "On the occurrence of White-naped Tit Parus nuchalis in southern Indian". Forktail. 15: 93–94.
44. "Oriental Bird Club Image Database : Singing Bushlark » Mirafra cantillans".
45. Ali, Salim (1942). "The Birds of Mysore". Journal of the Bombay Natural History Society. 43 (3): 325.
46. Ghorpade, Kumar D.; Verghese, Abraham & Mallik, B. (1974). "Birds of Nandi Hills: A preliminary Survey". Newsletter for Birdwatchers. 14 (5).
47. Subramanya, S., S. Karthikeyan & J. N. Prasad (1991). "Yellowthroated Bulbul at Nandi Hills". Newsletter for Birdwatchers . 31 (3&4): 7–8.
48. Karthikeyan, S. (1992). "Pied Ground Thrush Zoothera wardii (Blyth) in Bangalore". Journal of the Bombay Natural History Society. 89: 258.
49. Kallam, Jayanthi; Hameed, Saleem; Balusi, Vishnu; Kallam, Praveen; Chitre, Shailendra; Menzies, Rohan K. (2021). "The Rufous-tailed Rock-Thrush Monticola saxatilis from Bengaluru, Karnataka" (PDF). Indian Birds. 17 (2).
50. Prasad, J. N. & T. S. Srinivasa (1992). "Indian Blue Chat Erithacus brunneus (Hodgson) in Bangalore". Journal of the Bombay Natural History Society. 89: 257.
51. Prasad, J. N., S. Karthikeyan & S. Subramanya (1995). "Wintering of Indian Blue Chat Erithacus brunneus (Hodgson) and Pied Ground Thrush Zoothera wardii (Blyth) at Nandi Hills, South India". Journal of the Bombay Natural History Society. 92: 267–269.
52. Photo record
53. Ebird Checklist from Doresanipalya, 13 Mar 2017
54. Lott, E J (1987). "The Birds of the Kaveri valley". Newsletter for Birdwatchers . 27 (1&2): 7–10.
55. Rath, Manajit; Nischitha MR (2021). "The Yellow-rumped Flycatcher Ficedula zanthopygia in Jaipurdoddi, Bengaluru, Karnataka" (PDF). Indian Birds. 17 (2): 62–63.
56. Karthikeyan, S. & J. N. Prasad (1993). "Recent sighting of Whitebrowed Blue Flycatcher in Bangalore". Newsletter for Birdwatchers . 33 (1): 8.
57. Gadagkar, Vikram; et al. (1995). "Blue-throated Flycatcher, Indian Great Reed Warbler, Common Rosefinch and Lesser Golden-backed Woodpecker – Four new species in the Indian Institute of Science campus, Bangalore". Newsletter for Birdwatchers . 35 (4): 69–70.
58. Photo record
59. Photo record