Kolkata City
Checklist of Birds

~ presented by Birds of India

Compiled by Sumit K Sen

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R- regular resident; r – sparse resident; W – regular winter visitor; w – sparse winter;

s - summer visitor; P- regular passage migrant; p – sparse passage migrant;

v – vagrant; e - possible escapee; f – possibly feral; E – locally extinct

Birds in bold have been observed in the last 10 years

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Swamp Francolin E r Francolinus gularis ¹

Common Quail w Coturnix coturnix ¹

Rain Quail r Coturnix coromandelica ¹

Blue-breasted Quail r Coturnix chinensis ¹

Indian Peafowl f Pavo cristatus

Fulvous Whistling-duck w Dendrocygna bicolor

Lesser Whistling-duck R Dendrocygna javanica

White-headed Duck v Oxyura leucocephala ²

Greylag Goose w Anser anser ¹

Bar-headed Goose w Anser indicus ¹

Ruddy Shelduck w Tadorna ferruginea ¹

Common Shelduck p Tadorna tadorna

Comb Duck w Sarkidiornis melanotos

Cotton Pygmy-goose r Nettapus coromandelianus

Gadwall W Anas strepera

Falcated Duck v Anas falcata

Eurasian Wigeon w Anas penelope

Mallard w Anas platyrhynchos ¹

Spot-billed Duck r Anas poecilorhyncha ¹

Baikal Teal v Anas formosa

Common Teal w Anas crecca

Garganey W Anas querquedula

Northern Shoveler W Anas clypeata

Northern Pintail W Anas acuta

Red-crested Pochard w Rhodonessa rufina ¹

Common Pochard w Aythya ferina ¹

Ferruginous Pochard w Aythya nyroca

Baer’s Pochard v Aythya baeri ¹

Tufted Duck W Aythya fuligula

Red-breasted Merganser v Mergus serrator ¹

Yellow-legged Buttonquail r Turnix tanki ¹

Barred Buttonquail r Turnix suscitator ^{1, 3}

Eurasian Wryneck w Jynx torquilla

Rufous Woodpecker R Celeus brachyurus

Brown-capped Pygmy Woodpecker r Dendrocopos nanus ^{1, 3}

Fulvous-breasted Woodpecker R Dendrocopos macei

Yellow-crowned Woodpecker r Dendrocopos mahrattensis ^{1, 2}

Streak-throated Woodpecker r Picus xanthopygaeus

Black-rumped Flameback R Dinopium benghalense

Greater Flameback R Chrysocolaptes lucidus

White-naped Woodpecker r Chrysocolaptes festivus ²

Brown-headed Barbet r Megalaima zeylanica ^{3, 4}

Lineated Barbet R Megalaima lineata

Blue-throated Barbet R Megalaima asiatica

Coppersmith Barbet R Megalaima haemacephala

Common Hoopoe W Upupa epops

Indian Roller R Coracias benghalensis

Common Kingfisher R Alcedo atthis

Brown-winged Kingfisher r Halcyon amauroptera ¹

Stork-billed Kingfisher R Halcyon capensis

White-throated Kingfisher R Halcyon smyrnensis

Black-capped Kingfisher w Halcyon pileata ^{1, 3}

Collared Kingfisher r Todiramphus chloris ³

Pied Kingfisher r Ceryle rudis

Green Bee-eater R Merops orientalis

Blue-tailed Bee-eater p Merops philippinus

Chestnut-headed Bee-eater p Merops leschenaulti

Pied Cuckoo s Clamator jacobinus

Chestnut-winged Cuckoo p Clamator coromandus ^{3, 4}

Large Hawk Cuckoo w Hierococcyx sparverioides

Common Hawk Cuckoo R Hierococcyx varius

Hodgson’s Hawk Cuckoo v Hierococcyx fugax

Indian Cuckoo p Cuculus micropterus

Eurasian Cuckoo p Cuculus canorus

Banded Bay Cuckoo r Cacomantis sonneratii ¹

Asian Koel R Eudynamys scolopacea

Greater Coucal R Centropus sinensis

Lesser Coucal r Centropus bengalensis

Alexandrine Parakeet f Psittacula eupatria

Rose-ringed Parakeet R Psittacula krameri

Plum-headed Parakeet r Psittacula cyanocephala

Red-breasted Parakeet f Psittacula alexandri

Asian Palm Swift R Cypsiurus balasiensis

Fork-tailed Swift r Apus pacificus ^{1, 4}

House Swift R Apus affinis

Barn Owl R Tyto alba

Oriental Scops Owl w Otus sunia

Collared Scops Owl r Otus bakkamoena

Rock Eagle Owl r Bubo bengalensis ¹

Brown Fish Owl r Ketupa zeylonensis

Spotted Owlet R Athene brama

Brown Hawk Owl r Ninox scutulata ³

Short-eared Owl w Asio flammeus ^{4 (Singur)}

Large-tailed Nightjar R Caprimulgus macrurus

Indian Nightjar r Caprimulgus asiaticus ²

Savanna Nightjar ? Caprimulgus affinis ^{1, 3}

Rock Pigeon R Columba livia

Oriental Turtle Dove w Streptopelia orientalis

Laughing Dove r Streptopelia senegalensis ¹

Spotted Dove R Streptopelia chinensis

Red Collared Dove r Streptopelia tranquebarica ³

Eurasian Collared Dove R Streptopelia decaocto

Emerald Dove r Chalcophaps indica

Orange-breasted Green Pigeon r Treron bicincta

Pompadour Green Pigeon v? Treron pompadora ²

Thick-billed Green Pigeon v Treron curvirostra

Yellow-footed Green Pigeon R Treron phoenicoptera

Slaty-legged Crake Rail r Rallina eurizonoides

Slaty-breasted Rail w Gallirallus striatus

Water Rail w Rallus aquaticus ^{1, 2, 4}

Brown Crake r Amaurornis akool ^{1, 2}

White-breasted Waterhen R Amaurornis phoenicurus

Baillon’s Crake W Porzana pusilla

Spotted Crake w Porzana porzana ²

Ruddy-breasted Crake w Porzana fusca

Watercock s Gallicrex cinerea

Purple Swamphen R Porphyrio porphyrio

Common Moorhen r Gallinula chloropus

Common Coot w Fulica atra

Eurasian Woodcock w Scolopax rusticola

Wood Snipe w Gallinago nemoricola ^{1, 4}

Pintail Snipe w Gallinago stenura

Swinhoe’s Snipe w Gallinago megala

Common Snipe W Gallinago gallinago

Jack Snipe w Lymnocryptes minimus ^{1, 4}

Black-tailed Godwit w Limosa limosa ¹

Whimbrel w Numenius phaeopus

Eurasian Curlew w Numenius arquata ¹

Spotted Redshank w Tringa erythropus ¹

Common Redshank w Tringa totanus ³

Marsh Sandpiper w Tringa stagnatilis ³

Common Greenshank w Tringa nebularia

Green Sandpiper w Tringa ochropus

Wood Sandpiper W Tringa glareola

Terek Sandpiper w Xenus cinereus ³

Common Sandpiper W Actitis hypoleucos

Asian Dowitcher w Limnodromus semipalmatus ^{1, 2}

Spoon-billed Sandpiper w Calidris pygmea ²

Little Stint w Calidris minuta

Temminck’s Stint w Calidris temminckii

Long-toed Stint w Calidris subminuta ^{1, 2}

Curlew Sandpiper w Calidris ferruginea

Broad-billed Sandpiper w Limicola falcinellus ¹

Ruff w Philomachus pugnax ⁴

Red Phalarope v Phalaropus fulicaria ²

Greater Painted-snipe r Rostratula benghalensis

Pheasant-tailed Jacana r Hydrophasianus chirurgus

Bronze-winged Jacana R Metopidius indicus

Eurasian Thick-knee r Burhinus oedicnemus ²

Black-winged Stilt w Himantopus himantopus

Pied Avocet p Recurvirostra avosetta

Pacific Golden Plover w Pluvialis fulva

Grey Plover w Pluvialis squatarola ¹

Common Ringed Plover w Charadrius hiaticula ^{1, 3}

Little Ringed Plover w Charadrius dubius

Kentish Plover w Charadrius alexandrinus

Yellow-wattled Lapwing r Vanellus malarbaricus ^{1, 2}

River Lapwing r Vanellus duvaucelii ¹

Grey-headed Lapwing w Vanellus cinereus

Red-wattled Lapwing r Vanellus indicus

White-tailed Lapwing w Vanellus leucurus ²

Oriental Pratincole s Glareola maldivarum 

Pallas’s Gull w Larus ichthyaetus

Brown-headed Gull w Larus brunnicephalus ^{1, 2, 3}

Black-headed Gull w Larus ridibundus

Gull-billed Tern w Gelochelidon nilotica ^{1, 3}

River Tern r Sterna aurantia ^{1, 4}

Common Tern p Sterna hirundo ⁴

Sooty Tern v Sterna fuscata

Whiskered Tern w Chlidonias hybridus

White-winged Tern w Chlidonias leucopterus ^{1, 3, 4}

Osprey w Pandion haliaetus

Black Baza p? Aviceda leuphotes ¹

Oriental Honey-buzzard R Pernis ptilorhyncus

Black-shouldered Kite r Elanus caeruleus

Black Kite R Milvus migrans

Brahminy Kite r Haliastur indus

Pallas’s Fish Eagle E r Haliaeetus leucoryphus ^{1, 3}

Grey-headed Fish Eagle r? Ichthyophaga ichthyaetus

White-rumped Vulture R Gyps bengalensis

Slender-billed Vulture E r Gyps tenuirostris ^{1, 2}

Crested Serpent Eagle R Spilornis cheela

Eurasian Marsh Harrier w Circus aeruginosus

Hen Harrier w Circus cyaneus ^{1, 3}

Pied Harrier w Circus melanoleucos

Shikra R Accipiter badius

White-eyed Buzzard r Butastur teesa

Black Eagle E r Ictinaetus malayensis ^{1, 2}

Indian Spotted Eagle r Aquila hastata ²

Greater Spotted Eagle w Aquila clanga ^{1, 3}

Booted Eagle w Hieraaetus pennatus

Changeable Hawk Eagle r Spizaetus cirrhatus

Common Kestrel w Falco tinnunculus

Red-necked Falcon r Falco chicquera ⁴

Amur Falcon p Falco amurensis

Oriental Hobby p? Falco severus ¹

Laggar Falcon E r Falco jugger ¹

Peregrine Falcon w Falco peregrinus

Little Grebe r Tachybaptus ruficollis

Great Crested Grebe p Podiceps cristatus

Darter r Anhinga melanogaster

Little Cormorant R Phalacrocorax niger

Indian Cormorant R Phalacrocorax fuscicollis

Great Cormorant W Phalacrocorax carbo

Little Egret R Egretta garzetta

Grey Heron R Ardea cinerea

Purple Heron R Ardea purpurea

Great Egret R Casmerodius albus

Intermediate Egret R Mesophoyx intermedia

Cattle Egret R Bubulcus ibis

Indian Pond Heron R Ardeola grayii

Black-crowned Night Heron R Nycticorax nycticorax

Yellow Bittern R Ixobrychus sinensis

Cinnamon Bittern R Ixobrychus cinnamomeus

Black Bittern s Dupetor flavicollis

Black-headed Ibis r Threskiornis melanocephalus ³

Eurasian Spoonbill w Platalea leucorodia ¹

Spot-billed Pelican E r Pelecanus philippensis ¹

Painted Stork e Mycteria leucocephala

Asian Openbill R Anastomus oscitans

Lesser Adjutant v Leptoptilos javanicus

Greater Adjutant E r Leptoptilos dubius ²

Christmas Island Frigatebird v Fregata andrewsi

Indian Pitta p Pitta brachyura

Golden-fronted Leafbird r Chloropsis aurifrons ^{1, 4}

Brown Shrike W Lanius cristatus

Bay-backed Shrike r Lanius vittatus

Long-tailed Shrike R Lanius schach

Grey-backed Shrike w Lanius tephronotus

Mangrove Whistler E r Pachycephala grisola ^{1, 4}

Rufous Treepie R Dendrocitta vagabunda

House Crow R Corvus splendens

Large-billed Crow r Corvus macrorhynchos

Ashy Woodswallow R Artamus fuscus

Eurasian Golden Oriole w Oriolus oriolus

Black-naped Oriole w Oriolus chinensis

Black-hooded Oriole R Oriolus xanthornus

Large Cuckooshrike r Coracina macei

Black-winged Cuckooshrike w Coracina melaschistos

Black-headed Cuckooshrike r Coracina melanoptera

Small Minivet r Pericrocotus cinnamomeus

White-throated Fantail R Rhipidura albicollis

Black Drongo R Dicrurus macrocercus

Ashy Drongo W Dicrurus leucophaeus

White-bellied Drongo r Dicrurus caerulescens ³

Bronzed Drongo R Dicrurus aeneus

Spangled Drongo p Dicrurus hottentottus

Lesser Racket-tailed Drongo Dicrurus remifer

Greater Racket-tailed Drongo r Dicrurus paradiseus

Common Woodshrike r Tephrodornis pondicerianus ³

Black-naped Monarch R Hypothymis azurea

Asian Paradise-flycatcher s Terpsiphone paradisi

Common Iora R Aegithina tiphia

Blue Rock Thrush w Monticola solitarius

Orange-headed Thrush R Zoothera citrina

Scaly Thrush w Zoothera dauma

Tickell’s Thrush W Turdus unicolor

Eyebrowed Thrush p Turdus obscurus

Dark-sided Flycatcher w Muscicapa sibirica

Asian Brown Flycatcher p Muscicapa dauurica

Brown-breasted Flycatcher p Muscicapa muttui

Red-throated Flycatcher W Ficedula parva

Verditer Flycatcher w Eumyias thalassina

Blue-throated Flycatcher P Cyornis rubeculoides

Siberian Rubythroat w Luscinia calliope

Bluethroat W Luscinia svecica

Indian Blue Robin p Luscinia brunnea

Oriental Magpie Robin R Copsychus saularis

Indian Robin Er Saxicoloides fulicata ¹

Black Redstart w Phoenicurus ochruros

Common Stonechat R Saxicola torquata

White-tailed Stonechat r Saxicola leucura ¹

Spot-winged Starling p? Saroglossa spiloptera ^{1, 2}

Chestnut-tailed Starling R Sturnus malabaricus

Brahminy Starling f Sturnus pagodarum

Rosy Starling e Sturnus roseus

Common Starling p Sturnus vulgaris

Asian Pied Starling R Sturnus contra

Common Myna R Acridotheres tristis

Bank Myna r Acridotheres ginginianus

Jungle Myna R Acridotheres fuscus

Chestnut-bellied Nuthatch w Sitta castanea ¹

Great Tit R Parus major

Sand Martin r Riparia riparia ^{1, 4}

Plain Martin r Riparia paludicola ¹

Barn Swallow W Hirundo rustica

Red-rumped Swallow w Hirundo daurica

Red-whiskered Bulbul R Pycnonotus jocosus

Red-vented Bulbul R Pycnonotus cafer

Bright-headed Cisticola ? Cisticola exilis ⁴

Zitting Cisticola R Cisticola juncidis

Grey-breasted Prinia r Prinia hodgsonii ¹

Yellow-bellied Prinia r Prinia flaviventris

Plain Prinia R Prinia inornata

Oriental White-eye r Zosterops palpebrosus

Spotted Bush Warbler v? Bradypterus thoracicus ^{1, 4}

Rusty-rumped Warbler w Locustella certhiola

Black-browed Reed Warbler w Acrocephalus bistrigiceps ⁴

Paddyfield Warbler w Acrocephalus agricola

Large-billed Reed Warbler p Acrocephalus orinus

Blunt-winged Warbler w Acrocephalus concinens

Blyth’s Reed Warbler W Acrocephalus dumetorum

Great Reed Warbler w Acrocephalus arundinaceus ¹

Oriental Reed Warbler w Acrocephalus orientalis ⁴

Clamorous Reed Warbler W Acrocephalus stentoreus

Thick-billed Warbler w Acrocephalus aedon

Sykes's Warbler w Hippolais rama  

Common Tailorbird R Orthotomus sutorius

Common Chiffchaff w Phylloscopus collybita

Dusky Warbler W Phylloscopus fuscatus

Smoky Warbler w Phylloscopus fuligiventer ¹

Sulphur-bellied Warbler w Phylloscopus griseolus ^{1, 4}

Hume's Warbler w Phylloscopus humei ^{2, 3, 4}

Yellow-browed Warbler w Phylloscopus inornatus 

Greenish Warbler w Phylloscopus trochiloides

Large-billed Leaf Warbler p Phylloscopus magnirostris

Western Crowned Warbler p Phylloscopus occipitalis

Golden-spectacled Warbler p Seicercus burkii ^{2, 3}

Striated Grassbird R Megalurus palustris

Bristled Grassbird r Chaetornis striatus ¹

Chestnut-capped Babbler r Timalia pileata ²

Striated Babbler r Turdoides earlei ^{1, 4}

Common Babbler r Turdoides caudatus ⁴

Jungle Babbler R Turdoides striatus

Singing Bushlark Mirafra cantillans ¹

Indian Bushlark r Mirafra erythroptera ^{1, 3}

Bengal Bushlark R Mirafra assamica

Ashy-crowned Sparrow Lark r Eremopterix grisea

Greater Short-toed Lark p Calandrella brachydactyla

Oriental Skylark R Alauda gulgula

Thick-billed Flowerpecker r Dicaeum agile

Pale-billed Flowerpecker R Dicaeum erythrorynchos

Scarlet-backed Flowerpecker r Dicaeum cruentatum 

Purple-rumped Sunbird R Nectarinia zeylonica

Purple Sunbird R Nectarinia asiatica

Loten’s Sunbird v Nectarinia lotenia

Little Spiderhunter r Arachnothera longirostra

House Sparrow R Passer domesticus

Forest Wagtail P Dendronanthus indicus

White Wagtail W Motacilla alba

White-browed Wagtail r Motacilla maderaspatensis

Citrine Wagtail w Motacilla citreola citreola

Yellow Wagtail W Motacilla flava

Grey Wagtail w Motacilla cinerea

Richard’s Pipit w Anthus richardi

Paddyfield Pipit R Anthus rufulus

Olive-backed Pipit W Anthus hodgsoni

Rosy Pipit r Anthus roseatus

Black-breasted Weaver R Ploceus benghalensis

Streaked Weaver r Ploceus manyar

Baya Weaver R Ploceus philippinus

Finn’s Weaver s Ploceus megarhynchus  ⁴

Red Avadavat R Amandava amandava

Indian Silverbill r Lonchura malabarica

White-rumped Munia r Lonchura striata

Scaly-breasted Munia R Lonchura punctulata

Black-headed Munia r Lonchura malacca

Common Rosefinch w Carpodacus erythrinus

Yellow-breasted Bunting w Emberiza aureola ¹

 

• Records requiring further corroboration:

Indian Grey Hornbill Ocyceros birostris

Oriental Pied Hornbill Antracoceros albirostris ^{4 (Chandanagore)}

Grey-bellied Cuckoo Cacomantis passerinus

Indian Skimmer Rynchops albicollis

Tickell’s Blue Flycatcher Cyornis tickelliae

Orange-flanked Bush Robin Tarsiger cyanurus

Wire-tailed Swallow  Hirundo smithii

Ashy Prinia Prinia socialis

Tickell’s Leaf Warbler Phylloscopus affinis

Singing Bushlark Mirafra cantillans ¹

Crested Lark Galerida cristata ⁴

Streaked Spiderhunter Arachnothera magna

Chestnut-shouldered Petronia Petronia xanthocollis

Blyth’s Pipit Anthus godlewskii

Tawny Pipit Anthus campestris

Rosy Pipit Anthus roseatus

� 343 birds as on 25/04/09
� 345 birds as on 03/05/09
� 346 birds as on 27/05/09
� 348 birds as on 23/01/10

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References & sources:

• ¹ A Guide to the Birds of Salt Lake, Calcutta & change detection study (1999) ~ Prakriti Samsad & Wildlife Circle, WB

• ² Birds of South Asia - The Ripley Guide ~ Pamela C. Rasmussen

• ³ Naturalist Vol III 2004 ~ Prakriti Samsad

• ⁴ ZSI. (1992) Fauna of West Bengal Part 1

• A Field Guide to the Birds of India ~ Krys Kazmierczak

• Handbook of the Birds of India and Pakistan ~ S Ali & S.D. Ripley

• Birds of the Indian Subcontinent ~ R. Grimmett,T.Inskipp & C. Inskipp

• Records from www.kolkatabirds.com; bengalbird and birdphotoindia Google groups

• Personal discussions with Sujan Chatterjee and Kushal Mookherjee

23-01-2010

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