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Pravee n et al. : Birds of the Indian Subcontinent 93
The Indian Subcontinent, comprising seven countries,
namely, India, Pakistan, Nepal, Bhutan, Bangladesh, Sri
Lanka, and the Maldives, is often recognised as a distinct
biogeographic unit (e.g., Karanth 2003). A definitive checklist
for India was recently published (Praveen et al. 2016a), with
subsequent periodic online updates (www.indianbirds.in/india/).
Since a majority of the past and current reference works on the
region’s avifauna invariably covered the entire subcontinent
(Ripley 1961; Ali & Ripley 1987; Grimmett et al. 1998, 2011;
Kazmierczak 2000, Manakadan & Pittie 2001, 2002), a strong
need was felt to extend the checklist to the Indian Subcontinent,
using the same methodological rigour and principles applied for
the India Checklist. Naturally, this extended Indian Subcontinent
Checklist includes all the 1271 species from the India Checklist
(Praveen et al. 2016b), and species that have been reliably, and
conclusively, recorded from within the boundaries of the Indian
Subcontinent, but from outside India. The latter comprises 69
species that include those with geographically restricted ranges
as well as rarities for the region (see Appendix). For matters of
taxonomy, species inclusion, and English name conventions, we
follow Praveen et al. (2016a); notably we follow ‘Howard and
Moore 4th edition’ Dickinson & Remsen (2013), and Dickinson
& Christidis (2014) for taxonomic matters. The maritime limit
of the Indian Subcontinent is set by the cumulative limit of the
maritime boundaries of member countries as defined in Praveen
et al. (2016a). Species resident in the region are marked with a
dagger (†) sign. Species endemic to the respective countries are
marked with a double dagger (††) sign. While there are no birds
endemic to Pakistan, Bhutan, Bangladesh, or the Maldives, 25
species are endemic to Sri Lanka, and one to Nepal. However,
nine species that are resident in Pakistan, and two in Bangladesh
do not figure in the India Checklist. Both Nepal and Sri Lanka
have a bird records committee and hence we use the decisions
made by them for species inclusion for those countries.
Unlike the India Checklist, we do not intend to publish
the full Indian Subcontinent Checklist in print. However, the
consolidated list of 1340 species, in the standard taxonomic
order, with notes and alternative names will be available for
download from the Indian BIRDS website. This note also
provides one (or two) recent reference/s that review/s the
species status in the respective country. We also provide detailed
annotations for some select rarities for the Indian Subcontinent.
Inclusion of endemic, and other geographically limited taxa on
the Indian Subcontinent checklist is clear, and does not need
further discussion.
Selected species accounts
Egyptian Nightjar Caprimulgus aegyptius
Included in Hbk based on a record from Balochistan. BSA2
included it only for south-western Afghanistan and considered
its presence in Chagai, Pakistan, as possible since it has been
collected nearby, on the Iran–Afghanistan border. It is suspected
that this record in BSA2 refers to an untraced specimen, and
another seen on 12 April 1926 (or 1927) by Major General A. P.
F. Christison at a location known as Robat on the Afghan–Iran–
Balochistan frontier (Christison & Ticehurst 1942). It should be
remarked that Christison clearly stated in the note that his records
were from the district of Chagai and five other districts of British
Birds of the Indian Subcontinent:
Species not recorded from India
Praveen J., Rajah Jayapal, Tim Inskipp, Deepal Warakagoda, Paul M. Thompson,
R. Charles Anderson & Aasheesh Pittie
Praveen J., Jayapal, R., Inskipp, T., Warakagoda, D., Thompson, P.M., Anderson, R.C. & Pittie, A., 2017. Birds of the Indian subcontinent:
Species not recorded from India. Indian BIRDS 13 (4): 93–101.
Praveen J., B303, Shriram Spurthi, ITPL Main Road, Brookefields, Bengaluru 560037, Karnataka, India. E-mail: paintedstork@gmail.com. [PJ ]
Corresponding author].
Rajah Jayapal, Sálim Ali Centre for Ornithology and Natural History, Anaikatty (Post), Coimbatore 641108, Tamil Nadu, India. E-mail: rajah.jp@gmail.com [RJ]
Tim Inskipp, 1 Herneside, Welney, Wisbech, Cambridgeshire, PE14 9SB, United Kingdom. E-mail: tim.inskipp@gmail.com [TI ]
Deepal Warakagoda, 2 Ceylon Bird Club, 127 Nawala Road, Colombo 5, Sri Lanka. , E-mail: drongo@sltnet.lk [DW]
Paul M. Thompson, House 32 Road 10, Banani, Dhaka, Bangladesh. E-mail: paul@agni.com [PMT]
R. Charles Anderson, P.O. Box 2074, Malé, Republic of Maldives. E-mail: anderson@dhivehinet.net.mv [RCA]
Aasheesh Pittie, 2nd Floor, BBR Forum, Road No. 2, Banjara Hills, Hyderabad 500034, Telangana, India. E-mail: aasheesh.pittie@gmail.com. [AP]
Manuscript received on 25 June 2017.
Table 1. Abbreviations used in the text
Acronym Reference
BLI BirdLife International (2017)
BNHS Bombay Natural History Society
BSA Rasmussen & Anderton (2005)
BSA2 Rasmussen & Anderton (2012)
eBird Clements et al. (2016)
Hbk Ali & Ripley (2001)
IOC International Ornithological Committee (Gill & Donsker 2017)
NHM/NHMUK Natural History Museum, London (www.nhm.ac.uk/)
ROM Royal Ontario Museum
UMMZ University of Michigan—Museum of Zoology
(http://www.lsa.umich.edu/ummz/)
137. Abbott’s Booby. Photo: Charles Anderson
Balochistan, and does not mention any Iranian sites. Abdulali
& Hussain (1972) commented on the location that this site,
referred to as “Rabat Thana” (meaning Rabat Inn) by them, is in
Pakistani Balochistan as per the 1931 Imperial Gazetteer of India.
We reconfirmed that Killa Robat] (not Rabat Thana) is indeed
mapped in this reference under Pakistani Balochistan (http://dsal.
uchicago.edu/reference/gaz_atlas_1931/pager.php?object=44)
and as do several historical texts (http://www.gutenberg.org/
files/22117/22117-h/v2.html#Pg_2-277), and must be the
present day town of Riba¯ t Qila (29.816838°N, 60.920917°E) in
Pakistani Balochistan. The specimen was apparently examined by
C. B. Ticehurst (Abdulali & Hussain 1972), and hence, considered
a valid record for the Indian Subcontinent.
Pallid Swift Apus pallidus
Both Hbk and BSA2 included it based on records from Pakistan;
BSA2 additionally mentioned records from the Maldives and a
possible photograph from south-eastern Sri Lanka. The records
from Pakistan are the two specimens in Hume’s Collection in
NHM (NHMUK 1887.8.1.117–118) from Karachi [=Kurrachee]
(25.01ºN, 67.06ºE) while Hume apparently had specimens from
Makran [=Mekran Coast] as well (Hume 1879). Baker (1927)
commented that the swifts that Butler saw over Hyderabad
(25.36ºN, 68.36ºE), Pakistan, could have been this species.
Interestingly, none of Butler’s writings referred to this species
though he reported several Alpine Swifts Tachymarptis melba
from Hyderabad, Pakistan (Butler 1878). In the Maldives,
Strickland & Jenner (1978) recorded it at Addu Atoll (0.64ºS,
73.12ºE) on 03 October 1970, and another one, well examined
in the hand, on 20 September 1975. Anderson (2007) reported
one seen at close range from North Malé Atoll, the Maldives, on
07 January 1999; however, the observer indicated that he did not
eliminate the pekinensis race of Common Swift A. apus (Justin
Jansen, in litt., e-mail to RCA dated 24 July 2017). Though the
1975 specimen from Addu Atoll was confidently identified at that
time as this species, the details of identification are not accessible
now. The photograph referred to by BSA2 from Sri Lanka could
not be traced now but this has not been a formal submission to
the Ceylon Bird Club Rarities & Records Committee. When it was
discussed, where DW was a part of the discussion, it related to a
blurred photograph of a large swift, which the observer thought,
could have been a Common Swift or this species. We include
this species for the Indian Subcontinent based on the validated
specimens from Pakistan.
Band-rumped Storm-petrel Hydrobates castro
BSA2 includes it based on a sight record off the Maldives
(Anderson 2007; see box). We include this species based on this
well-described sight record. However, it must be mentioned that
the taxonomy of Band-rumped Storm-petrel is in flux with multiple
potential species involved, of which at least one split (Monteiro’s
Storm-Petrel H. monteiroi) has been recognised by Dickinson &
Remsen (2013). At sea (in its pelagic environment), i.e., when
not on its breeding grounds, or in hand, its identification is not
worked out properly (Howell et al. 2010); however it is believed
that Monteiro’s Storm-petrel may remain near its breeding
grounds in the Azores throughout the year (Bolton et al. 2008).
Vagrant sight records like this, of Band-rumped Storm-petrel,
would be difficult to assess in the future if more populations gain
full species status.
Band-rumped Storm-petrel, Hydrobates castro,
east of North Malé Atoll (04.30°N, 73.62°E),
the Maldives on 09 November 2004
From notes made on 09 November 2004:
Location: At sea off North Malé Atoll. The bird crossed our
bows, and gave very good views to about 10–15 m. The sea
was calm with little or no wind.
General: Estimated to be a medium- to large-sized Storm-
petrel (c. 20 cm), with a white rump patch and pale upperwing
band. Otherwise, plumage all blackish-brown.
Shape and plumage: Legs definitely did not project beyond
slightly forked tail. Wings rather long, but tips seemed rounded,
and held with slight bend, appearing to be about 2/3 open
most of the time. The bird was in moult (one primary still
growing, probably the fourth or fifth feather, counting from the
outside). Plumage appeared generally sooty or dark brown,
except for slightly pale upperwing primary coverts, rather
striking broad pale buff diagonal carpal/secondary covert band,
and conspicuous white rump patch (round and extensive,
extending laterally, and without any dark marks on rear edge).
Underwing not seen. Flight with slow wing beats and short
glides (in almost windless conditions).
Identification: Compared with Leach’s Storm-petrel, H.
leucorhous, this bird had proportionately shorter, broader
wings and a relatively short and evenly wide tail (not tapering
when folded), which showed inconspicuous forking. Also, its
white rump patch was typical for H. castro, being large and
round- or oval-shaped, extending well onto the sides, and not
showing any hint of a central stripe. Compared with Wilson’s
Storm-petrel, Oceanites oceanicus, this bird appeared larger
than that distinctly smaller species, and the feet did not project
beyond the tail. In addition, this bird seemed browner and
its rump patch was both broader and more extensive on the
sides. — Hadoram Shirihai & R. Charles Anderson
Sooty Shearwater Ardenna grisea
Considered hypothetical in BSA2, which Praveen et al. (2013)
affirmed, based on sight records that lacked sufficient details.
However, there are three well-described April records from the
Maldives (Anderson et al. 2016), and we include this species
based on these records.
Abbott’s Booby Papasula abbotti
Though considered hypothetical in BSA2, a single bird was
photographed by RCA on 06 October 2014 in the Veimandhoo
Channel, between Thaa and Laamu Atolls (02.17°N, 73.32°E),
the Maldives (Anderson et al. 2016). We include this species
based on this photographic record [137].
Eurasian Dotterel Eudromias morinellus
Not included in Hbk, but included in BSA2 based on a report
from Pakistan. This refers to a single bird, in winter plumage,
photographed in January 1991 by Rolf Passburg in Hub [=Hab]
Valley (25.34ºN, 67.13ºE) along the border between Sindh
and Balochistan, in an arid mountainous region with savannah
vegetation and a large dam-reservoir (Roberts 2002). The
photograph, though not published, was widely exhibited in
November 1991, and was examined by TI. Roberts intended
to archive it in the ‘Picture Library of the BNHS’ (Roberts 2002:
94 Indian BIRDS vol. 13 no. 4 (Publ . 30 august 2017)
323), but unfortunately it is not in the BNHS image repository
now (Nirmala Barure, in litt., e-mail to PJ, dated 11 September
2014). We include this species based on this photographic record.
Grey-tailed Tattler Tringa brevipes
Not included in Hbk; BSA2 included it based on well-
documented spring migration sight records in Bangladesh by
multiple observers. All Bangladesh records are from Patenga,
near Chittagong, in late April and early May (Thompson et al.
1994; Thompson & Johnson 2003). Details of the first sighting
are as follows: ’18 May 89, Patenga. Two with yellowish legs,
plain grey back, white belly, scaled neck and chest and sides,
white eye line, long straight dark bill, no white in wings, plain med
[=medium] grey tail, flushed 3 times to check wing and tail but
all grey with pailer (sic) tail and rump. Plover size, call is a double
noted thing with the end of each uprising,” (David Johnson in an
unpublished note on “New bird records for Bangladesh”, which
was incorporated into Thompson et al. 1994).
Nordmann’s Greenshank Tringa guttifer
Hbk included it based
on reports from Assam
and Bangladesh, while
BSA2 included it based
on a single Bangladesh
sight record by J. R.
Howes. Since then,
multiple records have
been documented
(Thompson et al.
1994, Thompson &
Johnson 2003), and
photographed (Bird
et al. 2010, Rahmani
2012, Thompson et
al. 2014) [138] from
Bangladesh. These indicate that it is a regular winter migrant, in
small numbers, to that country. A photographic claim from Sri
Lanka was later identified as a Common Greenshank T. nebularia
(DW), and another, sight record (Robson 1991, De Silva 1992),
was also not accepted by CBRC (Editor 1993; Hoffmann
1996), which concluded, after protracted discussions, that it
was a Common Greenshank (DW). There was an unconfirmed
report from Nepal (del-Nevo 1984), which is not considered
definite here. In summary, the species is included in the Indian
Subcontinent list based on the well-documented reports from
Bangladesh.
Snowy Owl Bubo scandiacus
Hbk and BSA2 included this species based on a single nineteenth
century specimen from Pakistan: Hume received a specimen
(NHMUK # 1886.2.1.452), from Mardan [=Murdan] (34.23ºN,
72.08ºE), Pakistan, as collected on 03 March 1871 (not 1876
as reported in Ali & Ripley 1987: 250). Other individuals of
the Snowy Owl—a species noted for its sudden eruptions in
population—were also reported by shikaris during that period
(Blanford 1895: 290). The original label on the Snowy Owl
specimen in NHM carries an illegible name, probably a shikari,
but the collector’s name is given as J. U. Johnson (‘Dr. Johnson’ in
Blanford 1895: 290), who might have given it to Hume (Robert
Prŷs-Jones, in litt., e-mail to PJ dated 21 February 2017).
Sooty Falcon Falco concolor
Though stated as occurring on the western Makran Coast of south-
western Pakistan by Hbk and BSA, the latter work considered it
hypothetical for South Asia as definite evidence could not be
traced. Ticehurst (1927) included it in the avifauna of Balochistan,
based on a specimen collected by W. D. Cumming on 31 August
1912 at Chabahar [=Charbar] (25.28°N, 60.63°E), Sistan &
Baluchestan, Iran [not Pakistan]. At NHM, N.B. Kinnear compared
it with Madagascar specimens, and found that it was a very pale
bird. Cumming mentioned two other records, one was seen
along with the former, while another two were recovered alive
after a cyclone on 04 May 1901—all four birds were presumed
to be Amur Falcons F. amurensis until the identity of the only
specimen collected was corrected by Ticehurst to Sooty. The
other three birds were, perhaps, also Sooty, but this could not be
confirmed. Apparently, that skin, which finally landed in Quetta
Museum, was lost in the Quetta earthquake of 1935 (Hbk) and
so, is no longer available for examination (BSA2). As per Roberts
(1991), three specimens had been collected at the end August,
and in early May, at the mouth of the Hingol River. Some of these
specimens were probably the same ones that BSA2 stated as
not being located in BNHS or NHM (Robert Prŷs-Jones, in litt.,
e-mail to PJ dated 15 July 2015). Roberts (1991), Ferguson-Lees
& Christie (2001), Grimmett et al. (2008), and Naoroji (2006)
considered this species as a breeding visitor to this region,
particularly Ormara (25.27°N, 64.58°E) westwards and in Hingol
National Park (25.51°N, 65.52°E). Naoroji (2006: 580–581)
cites T. J. Roberts (in litt.), who stated that, ‘Birds carrying prey,
presumably males, were observed along oriented flight paths into
the hills…considerably east of Ormara.’ The Eastern Sham Valley/
Machi Nulla area (25.45°N, 65.53°E) is a hilly area and is the
only habitat considered suitable for Sooty Falcon in the Hingol
National Park with 16 birds recorded there in 2004 (Ghalib et al.
2008). BSA2 resurrected it to the list citing recent records (Khan
et al. 2010) from Hingol River (Rasmussen 2013), and hence we
include it in the Indian Subcontinent checklist.
Afghan Sparrow Passer yatii
Hbk and BSA2 included it as a winter visitor to the Chagai Desert
in Pakistan, based on sight records by Christison, who considered
it to be a common winter visitor in central Chagai (Christison
1941). Though no specimen has been traced till date, others
(e.g., Roberts 1991) have accepted this record, and the species
is regularly reported from adjoining Afghanistan (BSA2). Hence,
we include the species in the Indian Subcontinent list based on
Christison’s sight records.
Three-banded Rosefinch Carpodacus trifasciatus
Hbk included this species as possible in Arunachal Pradesh as it’s
a winter visitor to south-eastern Tibet. BSA2 treated the only sight
record from the region as hypothetical. This refers to a record
of two females, and one male, from Jakar (27.55°N, 90.73°E),
eastern Bhutan, on 13 March 1986 (Clements 1992). A detailed
description of birds, observed for five minutes, from a distance
of just 30 m, eliminates all potential confusion species and we
accept this species in the subcontinent list based on this sight
record.
138 . Nordmann’s Greenshank.
Sayam U. Chowdhury
Pravee n et al. : Birds of the Indian Subcontinent 95
Lapland Longspur Calcarius lapponicus
Not included in Hbk or BSA2 but on 21 February 2014, a single
bird, possibly a male, was photographed in Bhutan (Chophel &
Sherub 2016). We include this species in the Indian Subcontinent
list based on this photographic record.
Rustic Bunting Schoeniclus rusticus
Not included in Hbk but included as hypothetical in BSA2. The
only published report from the Indian Subcontinent was of a
single bird reported from Nepal (del-Nevo & Ewins 1984); this
was subsequently challenged by Gauntlett (1986) as the authors
had not considered Tristram’s Bunting S. tristrami, which was
more likely to occur there, and which has been subsequently
documented from north-eastern India (Naniwadekar et al. 2013;
Thangaraj & Mani 2016). On 31 January 1981, del-Nevo & Ewins
(1984) observed a male along with a flock of Little Buntings S.
pusillus for a period of 40 min and from distances as close as 20
m, at Sauraha (27.58°N, 84.49°E), Royal Chitwan National Park,
Nepal. The field description provided is considered to eliminate
Tristram’s Bunting; ‘the tufted crest’ noted by the observers when
the bird was alarmed, being a reliable distinguishing feature
from both, Little (which observers eliminated), and Tristram’s
Buntings. Additionally, the chestnut-tinged nape patch described
by the observers is absent in Tristram’s. The Nepal Rare Birds
Committee (henceforth, NRBC) has also accepted this record.
The notes from the second record, which were not published, but
were accepted by NRBC, are given below. Though the observer
did not consider Tristram’s Bunting then, the crested appearance,
as noted, is sufficient to eliminate that species. We accept this
species into the Indian Subcontinental list based on these two
Nepal sight records.
Rustic Bunting Schoeniclus rusticus, Kagbeni
(28.97°N, 82.76°E), Mustang District, Nepal on 25
February 1981
I was walking up through the terraced fields at the back of
Kagbeni when I flushed a flock of around 50 Pine Buntings
Emberiza leucocephalos from the terrace above me. I stopped
at a point where my chest was on a level with the terrace
and looked around for any buntings still present. On the line
of the terrace some 50 yards away a bunting was crouching
on the ground. It walked forward into the open and gave
brief views before flying up and away to join Pine Buntings
already perched in some distant bushes. Despite subsequent
searching the bird was not re-found.
Size and shape: A compact bunting with a rather large head
and a crested appearance due to partially erect rear crown
feathers. Shorter than Pine Bunting, largely due to its shorter tail.
Upperparts: Head very bright chestnut, recalling Little Bunting
S. pusillus, with obscure whitish supercilium and moustache.
Crown darker. Rest of upperparts brown, heavily streaked
darker. Tail dark with white outer tail feathers.
Underparts: Very clean whitish with ‘messy’ maroon patches
and odd spots (rather than streaks) on the breast.
The bird did not call. My immediate impression was of
Rustic Bunting from pictures I had seen of the species and this
identification was confirmed upon examination of the literature
on my return to Britain. There are no similar species with which
it could be confused other than those with which I am familiar.
— Tony Baker, E-mail: tony.baker@rspb.org.uk
Radde’s Warbler Phylloscopus schwarzi
Not included in Hbk and treated as hypothetical by BSA2 as
there were only sight records. There are three sight records
from Bangladesh: three individuals seen in December 1986 at
Gulshan, Dhaka, by Bill Harvey; two on 20 December 1988 in
the National Botanical Gardens, Dhaka, by Bill Harvey; and one
in a mangrove forest in the Sundarbans on 24 February 1992
by David Johnson (Thompson et al. 1994). It has been added
as a winter vagrant to the Bangladesh list (Thompson & Johnson
1996: 11, 49), based on these records. According to Bill Harvey,
the birds at Gulshan were feeding in a large clump of bougainvillea
in his garden during 15–20 December 1986 and he was able
to observe the birds at close quarters from the sitting room. The
main confusion species in Bangladesh is the Dusky Warbler P.
fuscatus, from which it was eliminated primarily by its stubby bill
(Bill Harvey, in litt., e-mail to PJ dated 26 February 2017). The
details of the botanical garden record are not available, though
Bill is confident of the ID (Bill Harvey, in litt., e-mail to PJ dated
26 February 2017). The original outline, by David Johnson, for
a paper on “new bird records for Bangladesh”, which ultimately
was authored by Thompson et al. (1994), stated for this species,
‘24 Feb 92 one in forest near Tiger Point [in Sundarbans], warm
brown under, very distinctive, call similar to Dusky. Just like the
picture in Inskips (sic).’ David lived in Bangladesh for over 20
years and was very familiar with the Dusky Warbler, which is a
common winter visitor. But the similarity of its call, to that of a
Dusky, is problematic, and David could not recall that sighting
recently (David Johnson, in litt., e-mail to PMT dated 29 March
2017). Meanwhile, there are three unpublished records from
Nepal, accepted by the NRBC (Inskipp & Inskipp 1991) and
full descriptions of two of these are furnished here below; the
details of the third record appear to have been lost. The species
is accepted into the Indian Subcontinental list based on the two
detailed notes of the sight records from Nepal, and multiple
individuals recorded in Bangladesh in 1986 for which the context
is available.
Radde’s Warbler near Charali (26.65°N, 83.04°E),
Eastern Nepal on 25 December 1979
Details in my notebook are distressingly brief. With minimal
padding:
“The bird was clearly a larger phyllosc being similar to a
Dusky Warbler but with a thicker paler bill and stronger fleshy
legs. Its most obvious feature was a very prominent creamy
supercilium, bordered above and below by a black line, most
obvious through and behind the eye. The supercilium had
two kinks in it, as if there wasn’t room on the head for it if
it was straight, and it flared behind eye and was upturned at
its end. The underparts were a more or less uniform warm
buff and the upperparts brownish, tinged green, especially on
the wings. It called, but not continually, a not particularly loud,
somewhat nasal ‘stup’.”
This bird was seen while walking out from Ilam to the
main road as the result of a bus strike. I obtained good views
of what was obviously a non-wing-barred phyllosc feeding
in low vegetation on/near the ground (my notes indicate
I had already seen single Dusky- P. fuscatus and Tickell’s
Leaf Warblers P. affinis that morning). It was quickly (and
confidently!) identified as a Radde’s Warbler based on its call
(which I find quite different from Dusky), strong bill and legs,
very prominent creamy supercilium, buffy underparts and
96 Indian BIRDS vol. 13 no. 4 (Publ . 30 august 2017)
contrasting brownish-green upperparts. I cannot now recall
how long I watched it for but suspect it was 5-10 minutes.
I was aware that this was likely to be a good record, as
the species was not included in Fleming, although I recalled
a conversation I’d had with Dick Byrne on Shetland in 1976,
which greatly impressed me when he mentioned that he’d
seen a Radde’s Warbler at the Taj Mahal (amongst other
things) in a previous winter.
At the time of the sighting I had previously seen seven
Radde’s (six in Thailand in January 1979, and one on St Agnes
that October), and 60 Dusky (St Agnes in Oct 76, Sandwich
Bay in Nov 78, 27 in Thailand in Dec 78/Jan 79, and 31 in
Nepal in Nov/Dec 79).
On returning to the UK a couple of weeks later I wrote
to Bob Fleming by air letter sending details of the sighting
(including if I recall a crude sketch). Unfortunately I did not
keep a copy of this, which would have added more flesh to
the account than I am now able to recall and probably filled
in some of the gaps in my notes. I remember receiving a
nice reply along the lines that it was an interesting record but
that he felt unable to accept as a first a sight record of such
a difficult species. While this was a bit disappointing it was
understandable and it didn’t reduce my confidence in the
record, which remains to this day. Equally if it’s not found to
be acceptable now for a first I can quite easily understand. My
main disappointment is that my notes and memory may not
do the bird the justice it perhaps deserves.
— Richard Fairbank, West Sussex. E-mail: R.J.Fairbank@sussex.ac.uk
Radde’s Warbler Phylloscopus schwarzi, Pokhara
(28.21°N, 83.93°E), Nepal on 4-5 March 1983
The bird was first seen in a hotel garden at Phewa Tal, Pokhara,
foraging amongst low (‘4 feet’ high) fruit bushes, normally
on the ground amongst dry grass and bare ground. It was
seen again the following day some 50 m outside the garden
in scrubby vegetation. The bird bore a close resemblance
both in appearance and calls to those seen three weeks
previously in Khao Yai National Park, Thailand. I was aware
at the time of the rare status of the species in Nepal and so
made a conscious effort to eliminate other similar species.
Its characteristics did not suggest any of the bush warblers
(Cettia, Horornis) although the available field guide (Fleming
et al. 1976) was of little assistance. Dusky Warblers P.
fuscatus were seen daily in the area at the time, and had
been seen commonly in Thailand. Thus I was able to dismiss
that species with confidence. The following description is
based on notes made at the time.
Jizz typical of Phylloscopus but tail broad-tipped and slightly
rounded. Head rather small and rounded. It was confiding
and habitually flicked its tail and wings – features typical of
the Radde’s Warblers seen in Thailand. Upperparts cold grey-
brown. Tail browner. Fawn ear-coverts and moustachial stripe,
bordered darker. Dark malar mark. Supercilium quite long and
curled up slightly at the rear; prominent and buffy; narrow and
bordered below by a black eyestripe and above by a dark line.
Throat whitish, contrasting with ashy-grey flanks and breast.
Undertail-coverts, vent and sides to vent apricot-buff. Buffish
flanks lightly streaked. Bill rather fine (i.e. not as deep as
typically described for Radde’s Warbler) with yellowish base.
Call a hard, quite rapid stuck stuck etc.
– Tony Baker, Email: tony.baker@rspb.org.uk
Ménétries’s Warbler Curruca mystacea
Included in Hbk and BSA2 based on recent records from
Balochistan, with additional status information from Afghanistan,
documented in BSA2. The first subcontinental record was reported
from the Surkhab Valley (30.55°N, 67.20°E), Pakistan, by T. J.
Roberts in March 1974 (Roberts 1975), and subsequently he
found several pairs breeding there (Roberts 1980). We include this
species based on these well-substantiated records from Pakistan.
European Robin Erithacus rubecula
Hbk did not include this species while BSA2 mentioned recent
records from Pakistan. Included here on the strength of a
photograph taken on 13 February 2000, by Major Erkki Kallio,
at the foot of the Margalla Hills (33.74°N, 73.03°E), Islamabad,
Pakistan; this was examined by T. J. Roberts (Roberts 2002).
There is another sight record on 28 December, in the same
year, by Juha Kylänpää in the Kao forest (34.05°N, 73.41°E),
below Dunga Gali, Hazara District, Pakistan (Roberts 2002). We
include it in the Indian Subcontinent list based on the validated
photograph from Pakistan.
Common Nightingale Luscinia megarhynchos
Based on records of the race golzii (= hafizi in Hbk) from south-
western Balochistan and Quetta, the Hbk includes it as an occasional
winter visitor while BSA2 treats it as a passage migrant. A. F. P.
Christison obtained specimens in Kacha (29.49ºN, 61.25ºE), and
Ribāt Qila [=Robat], on the Iranian frontier, in April 1939 (Christison
& Ticehurst 1942). Two specimens were obtained from Quetta on
30 April 1909, and in October 1913 (Ticehurst 1926), but they
were suspected to be escapees as the species was a popular cage
bird. All these specimens remain untraced. A third, Meinertzhagen
specimen (NHMUK #1965.M.10871), collected on 02 February
1914 in Quetta, also exists (Ticehurst 1926), but this ‘almost
certainly a Severtzoff specimen that has been heavily remade’
as per the analysis done by Pamela Rasmussen and Robert Prŷs-
Jones (Robert Prŷs-Jones, in litt., e-mail to PJ dated 21 February
2017). It possibly originated in the Turkestan region of central Asia.
We include the species here based on the Pakistan specimens. It
occurs as a summer visitor to northern Afghanistan and it is very
likely that the April birds were on passage.
Redwing Turdus iliacus
Hbk included it based on records from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa,
Pakistan. Jerdon (1862) stated that it occurred in north-west
Himalayas, citing a communication from Edward Blyth that a
certain Lieutenant Trotter observed it as a winter visitor to Kohat
(33.57ºN, 71.35ºE) in large numbers. However, subsequent
observers including McGrath and Whitehead did not come across
this species there despite active searches (Whitehead 1911) and
the report was later rejected as a misidentification by Ticehurst
(1939). Captain Perreau mentioned that he almost certainly saw
one at Drosh (35.57ºN, 71.77ºE) in February 1903 (Perreau
1910), where F. Wall shot one on 23 March 1912 (or 1911)
amongst many he saw there during February-March (Wall 1912)
but this specimen remains untraceable. However, on 13 February
1989, the remnants of a specimen were collected by Juha
Kylänpää from a garden at Tank [=Tonk] (32.21ºN, 70.36ºE), Dera
Ismail Khan, Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (Kylänpää 2000) - the same
province as the previous reports. A wing was sent to Helsinki
University Zoological Museum, Finland where it was reportedly
Pravee n et al. : Birds of the Indian Subcontinent 97
confirmed as this species (Roberts 2002). Another wing was sent
to T.J. Roberts who deposited the same in the BNHS (Kylänpää
2000, Roberts 2002, BNHS #26782, Rahul Khot, in email dated
8 May 2016). We include this species in the checklist based on
this specimen examined in hand.
Naumann’s Thrush Turdus naumanni
Not included in Hbk or BSA2 but several recent sight, and
photographic, records from eastern Himalayas, of hybrids with
Dusky Thrush T. eunomus, with one pure form reported from
Thrumsingla National Park, Bhutan, on 25 and 27 February 2017
by Peter Clement and others (Dalvi et al. 2017). We include
this species in the Indian Subcontinent list based on this well-
described sight record.
Notes on alternate taxonomic treatment
Praveen et al. (2016a) covered alternate taxonomic treatment
for all species found in India, which remains valid in the context
of the Indian Subcontinent, apart from the following additions.
Bubulcus ibis: Includes here ibis sensu stricto (‘Western Cattle
Egret’) recorded from Pakistan (UMMZ #76210-13), which is
sometimes treated as an independent species (BSA2, IOC).
Treron pompadora: Includes here pompadora sensu stricto (‘Sri
Lanka/Ceylon Green Pigeon’) a Sri Lanka endemic taxon, which
is sometimes treated as an independent species (BSA2, BLI,
eBird, IOC).
Burhinus oedicnemus: Includes here harterti, recorded from
Pakistan (Abdulali 1970), which is sometimes treated as an
independent species under oedicnemus sensu stricto (‘Eurasian
Thick-knee/Eurasian Stone-curlew’) (BSA2, BLI, eBird, IOC).
Chrysocolaptes lucidus: Includes here stricklandi (‘Sri Lanka Greater
Flameback/Crimson-backed Flameback’) a Sri Lanka endemic
taxon, which is sometimes treated as separate from extralimital
lucidus (‘Buff-spotted Flameback’) (BSA2, BLI, eBird, IOC).
Dinopium benghalense: Includes here psarodes (‘Lesser Sri
Lanka/Red-backed Flameback’) a Sri Lanka endemic taxon, which
is sometimes treated as separate from benghalense (BLI, IOC).
Tephrodornis pondicerianus: Includes here affinis (‘Sri Lanka/
Ceylon Woodshrike’) a Sri Lanka endemic taxon, which is
sometimes treated as separate from pondicerianus (BSA2, BLI,
eBird, IOC).
Dicrurus paradiseus: Includes here lophorinus (‘Sri Lanka/Sri
Lanka Crested/Ceylon Crested Drongo’) a Sri Lanka endemic
taxon, which is sometimes treated as separate from paradiseus
(BSA2, BLI, eBird, IOC).
Cecropis daurica: Includes here hyperythra (‘Sri Lanka/Ceylon
Swallow’) a Sri Lanka endemic taxon, which is sometimes treated
as separate from daurica (BSA2, BLI, eBird, IOC).
Pycnonotus melanicterus: Includes here melanicterus sensu
stricto (‘Black-capped Bulbul’) a Sri Lanka endemic taxon, which
is sometimes treated as an independent species (BSA2, BLI,
eBird, IOC).
Argya caudata: Includes here huttoni (‘Afghan Babbler’) a
breeding taxon of Balochistan, Pakistan (Roberts 1986), which is
sometimes treated as separate from caudata (BSA2, eBird, IOC).
Pomatorhinus horsfieldii: Includes here melanurus (along with
holdsworthi) (‘Sri Lankan/Sri Lanka Scimitar Babbler) a Sri Lanka
endemic taxon, which is sometimes treated as separate from
horsfieldii (BLI, eBird, IOC).
Zoothera dauma: Includes here imbricata (‘Ceylon Scaly/Sri
Lanka Thrush’) a Sri Lanka endemic taxon, which is sometimes
treated as separate from dauma (BSA2, eBird, IOC) or as
subspecies of Z. aurea (‘White’s Thrush’) (BLI).
Acknowledgements
We would like to gratefully acknowledge the help rendered by the following people
in tracking specimens at the various museums: Robert Prŷs-Jones (Natural History
Museum, London), Bob McGowan (National Museum Scotland, Edinburgh), and
Rahul Khot and Nirmala Barure (Bombay Natural History Society, Mumbai). Our
thanks to observers Tony Baker, Richard Fairbank, Bill Harvey, Justin Jansen, David
Johnson, and Hadoram Shirihai for sharing their field notes, some of which are
published here in full. Many thanks to Sudhir Vyas for the discussion on certain
Pakistan records. We would like to thank Mike Prince for critically reviewing the text
and suggesting several improvements. Bill Harvey and Harkirat Sangha provided
helpful comments on the paper and our thanks to them too.
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Appendix. Summary of bird species added to the Indian Subcontinental list over the species in India checklist († Resident, †† Country endemic)
No Family Bird species PAK NEP BHU BAN SLK MAL Remarks
1 Phasianidae See-see Partridge Ammoperdix griseogularis†Abdulali (1969); Khaliq et al. (2010)
2 Phasianidae Sri Lanka Junglefowl Gallus lafayettii††
3 Phasianidae Sri Lanka Spurfowl Galloperdix bicalcarata††
4 Columbidae Sri Lanka Wood Pigeon Columba torringtoniae††
5 Pteroclidae Crowned Sandgrouse Pterocles coronatus†Ticehurst (1927)
6 Pteroclidae Lichtenstein’s Sandgrouse Pterocles lichtensteinii†Abdulali (1971)
7 Caprimulgidae Egyptian Nightjar Caprimulgus aegyptius Christison & Ticehurst (1942). See notes.
8 Apodidae Pallid Swift Apus pallidus NHMUK 1887.8.1.117-118. See notes.
9 Cuculidae Green-billed Coucal Centropus chlororhynchos††
10 Cuculidae Red-faced Malkoha Phaenicophaeus pyrrhocephalus††
11 Otididae Great Bustard Otis tarda Roberts (1991); BirdLife International (2001)
12 Hydrobatidae Band-rumped Storm-petrel Hydrobates castro Anderson (2007); Praveen et al. (2013).
See notes.
13 Procellariidae Sooty Shearwater Ardenna grisea Anderson et al. (2016). See notes.
14 Procellariidae Bulwer’s Petrel Bulweria bulwerii Phillips (1959); Praveen et al. (2013)
15 Sulidae Abbott’s Booby Papasula abbotti Anderson et al. (2016). See notes.
16 Phalacrocoracidae Pygmy Cormorant Microcarbo pygmaeus Abdulali & Pereira (1966); Praveen et al.
(2014)
17 Charadriidae Eurasian Dotterel Eudromias morinellus Roberts (2002). See notes.
18 Scolopacidae Grey-tailed Tattler Tringa brevipes Thompson & Johnson (2003). See notes.
19 Scolopacidae Nordmann’s Greenshank Tringa guttifer Thompson et al. (1994); Bird et al. (2010).
See notes.
20 Strigidae Chestnut-backed Owlet Glaucidium castanotum††
21 Strigidae Serendib Scops Owl Otus thilohoffmanni††
22 Strigidae Snowy Owl Bubo scandiacus Hume (1871). See notes.
23 Bucerotidae Sri Lanka Grey Hornbill Ocyceros gingalensis††
24 Picidae Streak-breasted Woodpecker Picus viridanus†Rasmussen (2000); Khan (2005);
Thompson et al. (2014)
100 Indian BIRDS vol . 13 no. 4 (Publ. 30 august 2017)
Appendix. Summary of bird species added to the Indian Subcontinental list over the species in India checklist († Resident, †† Country endemic)
No Family Bird species PAK NEP BHU BAN SLK MAL Remarks
25 Ramphastidae Yellow-fronted Barbet Psilopogon flavifrons††
26 Ramphastidae Sri Lanka Small Barbet Psilopogon rubricapillus††
27 Falconidae Sooty Falcon Falco concolor†Ghalib et al. (2008). See notes.
28 Psittaculidae Layard’s Parakeet Psittacula calthrapae††
29 Psittaculidae Sri Lanka Hanging Parrot Loriculus beryllinus††
30 Corvidae Sri Lanka Blue Magpie Urocissa ornata††
31 Corvidae Brown-necked Raven Corvus ruficollis†Abdulali (1980)
32 Dicaeidae Legge’s Flowerpecker Dicaeum vincens††
33 Dicaeidae Orange-bellied Flowerpecker Dicaeum trigonostigma†Paynter (1970)
34 Prunellidae Radde’s Accentor Prunella ocularis Roberts (1992)
35 Motacillidae Meadow Pipit Anthus pratensis Rasmussen et al. (2017)
36 Passeridae Afghan Sparrow Passer yatii Christison (1941). See notes.
37 Fringillidae Three-banded Rosefinch Carpodacus trifasciatus Clements (1992). See notes.
38 Fringillidae Crimson-winged Finch Rhodopechys sanguineus Fulton (1904); Unnithan (2005)
39 Fringillidae Desert Finch Rhodospiza obsoleta Unnithan (2005); Roberts (2007)
40 Plectrophenacidae Lapland Longspur Calcarius lapponicus Chophel & Sherub (2016). See notes.
41 Emberizidae Corn Bunting Emberiza calandra Whistler (1918)
42 Emberizidae Rustic Bunting Schoeniclus rusticus del-Nevo & Ewins (1984). See notes.
43 Alaudidae Bar-tailed Lark Ammomanes cinctura†Christison (1941)
44 Panuridae Bearded Reedling Panurus biarmicus Whistler (1927)
45 Locustellidae Sri Lanka Bush Warbler Elaphrornis palliseri††
46 Acrocephalidae Upcher’s Warbler Hippolais languida Williams (1929); Whistler (1945);
Abdulali (1986)
47 Hirundinidae Pale Crag Martin Ptyonoprogne obsoleta†Abdulali (1977)
48 Pycnonotidae Yellow-eared Bulbul Pycnonotus penicillatus††
49 Phylloscopidae Radde’s Warbler Phylloscopus schwarzi Inskipp & Inskipp (1985). See notes.
50 Scotocercidae Streaked Scrub Warbler Scotocerca inquieta†Abdulali (1986)
51 Sylviidae Ménétries’s Warbler Curruca mystacea†Roberts (1980). See notes.
52 Zosteropidae Sri Lanka White-eye Zosterops ceylonensis††
53 Pellorneidae Brown-capped Babbler Pellorneum fuscocapillus††
54 Leiothrichidae Spiny Babbler Acanthoptila nipalensis††
55 Leiothrichidae Orange-billed Babbler Turdoides rufescens††
56 Leiothrichidae Ashy-headed Laughingthrush Garrulax cinereifrons††
57 Sittidae Eastern Rock Nuthatch Sitta tephronota†Abdulali & Unnithan (1992)
58 Sturnidae Sri Lanka Myna Gracula ptilogenys††
59 Sturnidae White-faced Starling Sturnornis albofrontatus††
60 Muscicapidae Dull-blue Flycatcher Eumyias sordidus††
61 Muscicapidae European Robin Erithacus rubecula Roberts (2002). See notes.
62 Muscicapidae Common Nightingale Luscinia megarhynchos Christison & Ticehurst (1942). See notes.
63 Muscicapidae Sri Lanka Whistling Thrush Myophonus blighi††
64 Muscicapidae Whinchat Saxicola rubetra Steoiff et al. (2017). See pp. 108-111 in
this issue.
65 Muscicapidae Hooded Wheatear Oenanthe monacha†NHMUK #1874.11.23.102, NHMUK
#1886.7.8.4333 -34, NHMUK
#1898.12.12.1127, ROM Birds #52875
66 Muscicapidae Finsch’s Wheatear Oenanthe finschii†Williams (1929), Christison & Ticehurst
(1942), Abdulali (1988)
67 Turdidae Spot-winged Thrush Geokichla spiloptera††
68 Turdidae Redwing Turdus iliacus Roberts (2002). See notes.
69 Turdidae Naumann’s Thrush Turdus naumanni Dalvi et al. (2017). See notes.
Pravee n et al. : Birds of the Indian Subcontinent 101
