The Indian state of Karnataka has 570 bird species within its boundaries. The following list of birds is based on multiple sources and incorporates recent taxonomic revisions. Species which are considered provisional, introduced or escapees are mentioned, but are not considered in the count.
The birds of some parts of Karnataka have been well studied. Uttara Kannada (known as North Kanara) district was surveyed by James Davidson for five years between 1888 and 1896 (341 species) while parts of this district along with several sites in Belgavi district were covered for three months by Walter Norman Koelz in 1938 (232 species). Salim Ali, in his historic survey of Mysore state (343 species), covered much of southern and central Karnataka and Major Phythian-Adams covered parts of Mysore and provided the only records of several uncommon species."Ali & Whistler (1942-43) has observed that besides an article by Phythian-Adams (1940 &1948), no literature is available extensively on birds from present study area"--Birds of Mysore Area Frederick Nicholson Betts covered Kodagu (Coorg) district, then disjunct from Mysore, and provides good documentation of several birds (279 species) of the Western Ghats. Hence, by 1970, when modern field ornithology and amateur bird-watching were popularised through the Newsletter for Birdwatchers, a moderate level of documentation had taken place in several parts of Karnataka. The only grey area that remained unexplored was the north eastern parts of the state, which was part of the state of Hyderabad then. Salim Ali, during this Hyderabad State Ornithology Survey, could not visit these parts as the survey had to be cut short due to financial challenges. The latest update follows the conventions of the IOC World Bird List, version 11.2, published in 2021.
The following tag has been used to highlight species which are considered accidental. The commonly occurring native species do not fit within any of these categories.
(A) Accidental - Also known as a rarity, it refers to a species that rarely or accidentally occurs in India-typically less than ten confirmed records.
Ducks, geese, and swans Order: AnseriformesFamily: Anatidae
Anatidae includes the ducks and most duck-like waterfowl, such as geese and swans. These birds are adapted to an aquatic existence with webbed feet, flattened bills, and feathers that are excellent at shedding water due to an oily coating.
Fulvous whistling duck, Dendrocygna bicolor Lesser whistling duck, Dendrocygna javanica Bar-headed goose, Anser indicus Greylag goose, Anser anser Greater white-fronted goose, Anser albifrons Photo record Knob-billed duck, Sarkidiornis melanotos Ruddy shelduck, Tadorna ferruginea Cotton pygmy goose, Nettapus coromandelianus Garganey, Spatula querquedula Northern shoveler, Spatula clypeata Gadwall, Mareca strepera Eurasian wigeon, Mareca penelope Indian spot-billed duck, Anas poecilorhyncha Mallard, Anas platyrhynchos (A) Northern pintail, Anas acuta Eurasian teal, Anas crecca Red-crested pochard, Netta rufina Common pochard, Aythya ferina Ferruginous duck, Aythya nyroca Tufted duck, Aythya fuligula
Pheasants and allies Order: GalliformesFamily: Phasianidae
The Phasianidae are a family of terrestrial birds which consists of quails, partridges, snowcocks, francolins, spurfowls, tragopans, monals, pheasants, peafowls and jungle fowls. In general, they are plump (although they vary in size) and have broad, relatively short wings.
Painted francolin, Francolinus pictus Photo record Grey francolin, Francolinus pondicerianus Common quail, Coturnix coturnix Rain quail, Coturnix coromandelica King quail, Excalfactoria chinensis Prasad, J. N.; Madhusudan, A. 1993. Bluebreasted Quail - an addition to Bangalore avifaunal list. Newsletter for Birdwatchers. 33(1): 7 Jungle bush quail, Perdicula asiatica Rock bush quail, Perdicula argoondah Painted bush quail, Perdicula erythrorhyncha Red spurfowl, Galloperdix spadicea Painted spurfowl, Galloperdix lunulata Grey junglefowl, Gallus sonneratii Indian peafowl, Pavo cristatus
Frogmouths
Order: CaprimulgiformesFamily: Podargidae
The frogmouths are a group of nocturnal birds related to the nightjars. They are named for their large flattened hooked bill and huge frog-like gape, which they use to take insects.
Sri Lanka frogmouth, Batrachostomus moniliger
Nightjars Order: CaprimulgiformesFamily: Caprimulgidae
Nightjars are medium-sized nocturnal birds that usually nest on the ground. They have long wings, short legs and very short bills. Most have small feet, of little use for walking, and long pointed wings. Their soft plumage is camouflaged to resemble bark or leaves.
Great eared nightjar, Lyncornis macrotis (A) Jungle nightjar, Caprimulgus indicus Jerdon's nightjar, Caprimulgus atripennis Indian nightjar, Caprimulgus asiaticus Savanna nightjar, Caprimulgus affinis
Treeswifts Order: ApodiformesFamily: Hemiprocnidae
The treeswifts, also called crested swifts, are closely related to the true swifts. They differ from the other swifts in that they have crests, long forked tails and softer plumage.
Crested treeswift, Hemiprocne coronata
Swifts Order: ApodiformesFamily: Apodidae
Swifts are small birds which spend the majority of their lives flying. These birds have very short legs and never settle voluntarily on the ground, perching instead only on vertical surfaces. Many swifts have long swept-back wings which resemble a crescent or boomerang.
Indian swiftlet, Aerodramus unicolor White-rumped spinetail, Zoonavena sylvatica Brown-backed needletail, Hirundapus giganteus Asian palm swift, Cypsiurus balasiensis Alpine swift, Tachymarptis melba Common swift, Apus apus Blyth's swift, Apus leuconyx Little swift, Apus affinis House swift, Apus nipalensis
Bustards Order: OtidiformesFamily: Otididae
Bustards are large terrestrial birds mainly associated with dry open country and steppes in the Old World. They are omnivorous and nest on the ground. They walk steadily on strong legs and big toes, pecking for food as they go. They have long broad wings with "fingered" wingtips and striking patterns in flight. Many have interesting mating displays.
Great Indian bustard, Ardeotis nigriceps Photo record Lesser florican, Sypheotides indicus (syn. Eupodotis indica) AO Hume and CHT Marshall (1881) The Game Birds of India, Burmah, and Ceylon.
Cuckoos Order: CuculiformesFamily: Cuculidae
The family Cuculidae includes cuckoos, roadrunners and anis. These birds are of variable size with slender bodies, long tails and strong legs. Many are brood parasites.
Greater coucal, Centropus sinensis Lesser coucal, Centropus bengalensisPhoto record Sirkeer malkoha, Taccocua leschenaultii Blue-faced malkoha, Phaenicophaeus viridirostris Chestnut-winged cuckoo, Clamator coromandus Jacobin cuckoo, Clamator jacobinus Asian koel, Eudynamys scolopaceus Banded bay cuckoo, Cacomantis sonneratii Grey-bellied cuckoo, Cacomantis passerinus Square-tailed drongo-cuckoo, Surniculus lugubris Fork-tailed drongo-cuckoo, Surniculus dicruroides Large hawk-cuckoo, Hierococcyx sparverioides Common hawk-cuckoo, Hierococcyx varius Lesser cuckoo, Cuculus poliocephalus Photo record Indian cuckoo, Cuculus micropterus Himalayan cuckoo, Cuculus saturatus Common cuckoo, Cuculus canorus Photo recordPhoto record
Sandgrouse Order: PterocliformesFamily: Pteroclidae
Sandgrouse have small, pigeon like heads and necks, but sturdy compact bodies. They have long pointed wings and sometimes tails and a fast direct flight. Flocks fly to watering holes at dawn and dusk. Their legs are feathered down to the toes.
Chestnut-bellied sandgrouse, Pterocles exustus Painted sandgrouse, Pterocles indicus
Pigeons and doves Order: ColumbiformesFamily: Columbidae
Pigeons and doves are stout-bodied birds with short necks and short slender bills with a fleshy cere.
Rock dove, Columba livia Nilgiri wood pigeon, Columba elphinstonii Oriental turtle dove, Streptopelia orientalis Eurasian collared dove, Streptopelia decaocto Red collared dove, Streptopelia tranquebarica Spotted dove, Spilopelia chinensis Laughing dove, Spilopelia senegalensis Common emerald dove, Chalcophaps indica Orange-breasted green pigeon, Treron bicinctus Grey-fronted green pigeon, Treron affinis (in some classifications it is split from Treron pompadora which is resident in Sri Lanka) Yellow-footed green pigeon, Treron phoenicopterus Green imperial pigeon, Ducula aenea Mountain imperial pigeon, Ducula badia
Rails, crakes, and coots
Order: GruiformesFamily: Rallidae
Rallidae is a large family of small to medium-sized birds which includes the rails, crakes, coots and gallinules. Typically they inhabit dense vegetation in damp environments near lakes, swamps or rivers. In general they are shy and secretive birds, making them difficult to observe. Most species have strong legs and long toes which are well adapted to soft uneven surfaces. They tend to have short, rounded wings and to be weak fliers.
Slaty-breasted rail, Lewinia striata Spotted crake, Porzana porzana Common moorhen, Gallinula chloropus Eurasian coot, Fulica atra Grey-headed swamphen, Porphyrio poliocephalus Ruddy-breasted crake, Zapornia fusca Brown crake, Zapornia akool Baillon's crake, Zapornia pusilla Little crake, Zapornia parva Abdulali, Humayun; Nair, Shanta 1969. Further extension of recorded southern range of Little Crake, Porzana parva (Scopoli). Journal of the Bombay Natural History Society Spotted crake, Porzana porzana Slaty-legged crake, Rallina eurizonoides Morris, R. C. 1939. On the occurrence of the Banded Crake (Rallus e. amuroptera) and the Malabar Woodpecker (Macropicus j. hodgsoni) in the Billigirirangan Hills, S. India. Journal of the Bombay Natural History Society. XL(4): 763 Watercock, Gallicrex cinerea White-breasted waterhen, Amaurornis phoenicurus
Cranes Order: GruiformesFamily: Gruidae
Cranes are large, long-legged and long-necked birds. Unlike the similar-looking but unrelated herons, cranes fly with necks outstretched, not pulled back. Most have elaborate and noisy courting displays or "dances".
Demoiselle crane, Anthropoides virgoShivaprakash, A. 2002a. Re-occurrence of Demoiselle Crane in Mysore district. Newsletter for Birdwatchers: 42(1):8 Common crane, Grus grus (A)
Grebes Order: PodicipediformesFamily: Podicipedidae
Grebes are small to medium-large freshwater diving birds. They have lobed toes and are excellent swimmers and divers. However, they have their feet placed far back on the body, making them quite ungainly on land.
Little grebe, Tachybaptus ruficollis
Flamingos Order: PhoenicopteriformesFamily: Phoenicopteridae
Flamingos are gregarious wading birds, usually tall, found in both the Western and Eastern Hemispheres. Flamingos filter-feed on shellfish and algae. Their oddly shaped beaks are specially adapted to separate mud and silt from the food they consume and, uniquely, are used upside-down.
Greater flamingo, Phoenicopterus roseus Photo record Lesser flamingo, Phoenicopterus minor
Buttonquail Order: CharadriiformesFamily: Turnicidae
The buttonquail are small, drab, running birds which resemble the true quails. The female is the brighter of the sexes and initiates courtship. The male incubates the eggs and tends the young.
Common buttonquail, Turnix sylvaticus Yellow-legged buttonquail, Turnix tanki Photo record Barred buttonquail, Turnix suscitator
Stone-curlews and thick-knees Order: CharadriiformesFamily: Burhinidae
The thick-knees are a group of largely tropical waders in the family Burhinidae. They are found worldwide within the tropical zone, with some species also breeding in temperate Europe and Australia. They are medium to large waders with strong black or yellow-black bills, large yellow eyes and cryptic plumage. Despite being classed as waders, most species have a preference for arid or semi-arid habitats.
Indian stone-curlew, Burhinus indicus Great stone-curlew, Esacus recurvirostris
Oystercatchers