The Complete 150 Target Field Guide

Malabar Trogon Harpactes fasciatus

Tip: Sits motionless in evergreen mid-canopy. Fact: Lacks a crop; food digests straight in the stomach.

Malabar Grey Hornbill Ocyceros griseus

Tip: Loud laughing call from high canopy. Fact: Lacks a casque on its bill.

White-bellied Treepie Dendrocitta leucogastra

Tip: Found in mixed hunting flocks. Fact: Has a bell-like metallic call.

Rufous Babbler Argya subrufa

Tip: Low in bamboo thickets. Fact: Highly social cooperative breeder.

Crimson-backed Sunbird Leptocoma minima

Tip: Flashes of red around mistletoe. Fact: One of India's smallest birds.

Malabar Parakeet Psittacula columboides

Tip: Fast canopy flight with loud screeches. Fact: Strictly endemic to Western Ghats.

Malabar Woodshrike Tephrodornis sylvicola

Tip: Forages in tall upper branches. Fact: Uses hooked bill for large insects.

Malabar Barbet Psilopogon malabaricus

Tip: Track the repetitive "puk-puk" sound. Fact: Newly split distinct species.

Malabar Whistling Thrush Myophonus horsfieldii

Tip: Check damp streams at dawn. Fact: Known as the Whistling Schoolboy.

Grey-headed Bulbul Brachypodius priocephalus

Tip: Secretive near fruiting ficus. Fact: Near-threatened pristine habitat indicator.

Flame-throated Bulbul Rubigula gularis

Tip: Look for ruby-red throat. Fact: Uncrested unlike other bulbuls.

White-bellied Blue Flycatcher Cyornis pallidipes

Tip: Dark cardamom plantation undergrowth. Fact: Sexual dimorphic colors.

Nilgiri Flycatcher Eumyias albicaudatus

Tip: High elevation shola edges. Fact: White base patches on tail.

Broad-tailed Grassbird Schoenicola platyurus

Tip: Thick tall grass fields. Fact: Performs acrobatic display flights.

Nilgiri Wood Pigeon Columba elphinstonii

Tip: Shy, feeds on forest floor. Fact: Checkered black-and-white neck patch.

Sri Lanka Frogmouth Batrachostomus moniliger

Tip: Roosts still on dry branches. Fact: Perfect leaf mimicry.

Sri Lanka Bay Owl Phodilus assimilis

Tip: Deep evergreen night trek. Fact: V-shaped facial disc.

Mottled Wood Owl Strix ocellata

Tip: Pairs in large mango trees. Fact: Associated with folklore.

Spot-bellied Eagle-Owl Bubo nipalensis

Tip: Slanting ear tufts. Fact: Famous "Devil Bird" shriek.

Brown Fish Owl Ketupa zeylonensis

Tip: Branches over river. Fact: Feeds heavily on aquatic prey.

Brown Wood Owl Strix leptogrammica

Tip: Deep hoo-hoo call. Fact: Lacks ear-tufts entirely.

Jungle Owlet Glaucidium radiatum

Tip: Vocal in daytime. Fact: Small diurnal hunter.

Oriental Scops Owl Otus sunia

Tip: Bark crevices. Fact: Brown and rufous morphs.

Jerdon's Nightjar Caprimulgus atripennis

Tip: Dirt tracks at dusk. Fact: Looks like a rock on the ground.

Indian Nightjar Caprimulgus asiaticus

Tip: Scrub edges. Fact: Sounds like a skipping stone.

Great Eared Nightjar Lyncornis macrotis

Tip: High twilight flight. Fact: Real ear tufts.

Savanna Nightjar Caprimulgus affinis

Tip: Open rocky fields. Fact: Sharp chweep call.

Black Baza Aviceda leuphotes

Tip: Short canopy sallies. Fact: Slicked-back crest.

Jerdon's Baza Aviceda jerdoni

Tip: Rare canopy raptor. Fact: Named after T.C. Jerdon.

Grey-headed Fish Eagle Haliaeetus ichthyaetus

Tip: Perched over Periyar River. Fact: Spiculated talons for fish.

Crested Serpent Eagle Spilornis cheela

Tip: Broad white wing band. Fact: Leg scale armor against snakes.

Crested Goshawk Accipiter trivirgatus

Tip: Agile forest hunter. Fact: Fluffs undertail to signal.

Shikra Accipiter badius

Tip: Open woodland areas. Fact: Historic falconry bird.

Besra Accipiter virgatus

Tip: Deeper forest hawk. Fact: Stealth ambush hunter.

Black Eagle Ictinaetus malaiensis

Tip: Slow canopy soaring. Fact: Plunders entire bird nests.

Rufous-bellied Eagle Lophotriorchis kienerii

Tip: Fast canopy pigeon hunter. Fact: Highly aggressive.

Mountain Hawk-Eagle Nisaetus nipalensis

Tip: Hilly terrain predator. Fact: Takes down junglefowl.

Changeable Hawk-Eagle Nisaetus cirrhatus

Tip: Exposed high branches. Fact: Pale and dark morphs.

Booted Eagle Hieraaetus pennatus

Tip: Thermals soaring. Fact: Fully feathered toes.

Oriental Honey-buzzard Pernis ptilorhynchus

Tip: Small head on large body. Fact: Eats wasp larvae.

Brahminy Kite Haliastur indus

Tip: Common near water. Fact: Crab scavenger.

Black Kite Milvus migrans

Tip: Forked tail in flight. Fact: Abundant global scavenger.

Heart-spotted Woodpecker Hemicircus canente

Tip: Heart wing spots. Fact: Huge head, tiny tail.

White-bellied Woodpecker Dryocopus javensis

Tip: Massive red crest. Fact: Machine-gun drumming.

Greater Flameback Chrysocolaptes guttacristatus

Tip: Golden back, white nape. Fact: Needs mature timber.

Black-rumped Flameback Dinopium benghalense

Tip: Common in plantations. Fact: Adapts to urban parks.

Rufous Woodpecker Micropternus brachyurus

Tip: Forages on ant nests. Fact: Nests inside active ant colonies.

Brown-capped Pygmy Woodpecker Yungipicus nanus

Tip: Tiny high branch bird. Fact: Joins mixed flocks.

Yellow-crowned Woodpecker Leiopicus mahrattensis

Tip: Dry scrub edges. Fact: Feeds on ground ants.

Streak-throated Woodpecker Picus xanthopygaeus

Tip: Greenish streaked throat. Fact: Ground forager.

Speckled Piculet Picumnus innominatus

Tip: Acts like a nuthatch. Fact: Smallest regional woodpecker.

Coppersmith Barbet Psilopogon haemacephalus

Tip: Metallic tonk call. Fact: Sounds like a hammer.

White-cheeked Barbet Psilopogon viridis

Tip: South India endemic. Fact: Strictly fruit-eater.

Brown-headed Barbet Psilopogon zeylanicus

Tip: Streaked brown head. Fact: Dead tree nesters.

Great Hornbill Buceros bicornis

Tip: Loud woosh wingbeats. Fact: Preen-oil yellow beak.

Indian Grey Hornbill Ocyceros birostris

Tip: Plantation fringes. Fact: Pointed bill casque.

Malabar Pied Hornbill Anthracoceros coronatus

Tip: Black and white contrast. Fact: River gallery forest bird.

Oriental Dwarf Kingfisher Ceyx erithaca

Tip: Jungle stream flash. Fact: Hummingbird sized.

Stork-billed Kingfisher Pelargopsis capensis

Tip: Massive red bill. Fact: Explosive territorial call.

White-throated Kingfisher Halcyon smyrnensis

Tip: Common dry edges. Fact: Eats lizards and insects.

Blue-eared Kingfisher Alcedo meninting

Tip: Darker than Common. Fact: Shaded streams needed.

Common Kingfisher Alcedo atthis

Tip: Fast open water flight. Fact: Underwater lenses in eyes.

Pied Kingfisher Ceryle rudis

Tip: Hovers over water. Fact: Swallows fish mid-flight.

Blue-tailed Bee-eater Merops philippinus

Tip: Powerlines near open air. Fact: Rubs off bee stingers.

Green Bee-eater Merops orientalis

Tip: Abundant scrub edges. Fact: Sandy bank tunnel nesters.

Chestnut-headed Bee-eater Merops leschenaulti

Tip: Wooded area species. Fact: Riverside colony nesters.

Indian Roller Coracias benghalensis

Tip: Brilliant blue flash. Fact: Acrobatic rolling displays.

Dollarbird Eurystomus orientalis

Tip: High dead trees. Fact: Silver wing dollar spots.

Oriental Darter Anhinga melanogaster

Tip: Snake neck in water. Fact: Dagger beak fish spew.

Little Cormorant Microcarbo niger

Tip: Wings spread to dry. Fact: Non-waterproof feathers.

Indian Pond Heron Ardeola grayii

Tip: Flashes white wings. Fact: Muddy wetland camouflage.

Grey Heron Ardea cinerea

Tip: Large wading bird. Fact: Motionless hunter.

Purple Heron Ardea purpurea

Tip: Darker reed lover. Fact: Prefers dense reeds.

Little Egret Egretta garzetta

Tip: Yellow feet, black legs. Fact: Shakes feet to stir fish.

Great Egret Ardea alba

Tip: Huge white bird. Fact: Lightning neck strike.

Black-crowned Night Heron Nycticorax nycticorax

Tip: Daytime tree roaster. Fact: Nocturnal hunter.

Striated Heron Butorides striata

Tip: Small dark bank heron. Fact: Drops insect bait.

Yellow Bittern Ixobrychus sinensis

Tip: Tall grass concealer. Fact: Freezes bill-up like reeds.

Cinnamon Bittern Ixobrychus cinnamomeus

Tip: Paddy field chestnut bird. Fact: Crepuscular secret seeker.

White-breasted Waterhen Amaurornis phoenicurus

Tip: Bold white chest. Fact: Loud roaring call.

Bronze-winged Jacana Metopidius indicus

Tip: Lily pad walker. Fact: Massive toes for floating plants.

Red-wattled Lapwing Vanellus indicus

Tip: Loud alarm caller. Fact: Sounds like did-he-do-it.

Emerald Dove Chalcophaps indica

Tip: Metallic green wings. Fact: Fast low forest flight.

Pompadour Green Pigeon Treron pompadora

Tip: Fruiting canopy trees. Fact: Maroon back race.

Yellow-footed Green Pigeon Treron phoenicopterus

Tip: State bird of Maharashtra. Fact: Gregarious fruit eater.

Mountain Imperial Pigeon Ducula badia

Tip: Booming wuck-wuck call. Fact: Swallows large fruits whole.

Spotted Dove Spilopelia chinensis

Tip: Common ground dove. Fact: Chessboard neck collar.

Greater Coucal Centropus sinensis

Tip: Chestnut wings, black body. Fact: A cuckoo that builds its own nest.

Lesser Coucal Centropus bengalensis

Tip: Prefers tall grass. Fact: Sneaks like a rodent.

Blue-faced Malkoha Phaenicophaeus viridirostris

Tip: Blue eye patches. Fact: Skulks in thick creepers.

Sirkeer Malkoha Taccocua leschenaultii

Tip: Dry scrub runner. Fact: Runs instead of flying.

Jacobin Cuckoo Clamator jacobinus

Tip: Monsoon visitor. Fact: Parasitizes babbler nests.

Chestnut-winged Cuckoo Clamator coromandus

Tip: Crested chestnut wings. Fact: Brood parasite on thrushes.

Asian Koel Eudynamys scolopaceus

Tip: Rising ko-el call. Fact: Lays eggs in crow nests.

Banded Bay Cuckoo Cacomantis sonneratii

Tip: Descending whistle. Fact: Heavily barred underparts.

Plum-headed Parakeet Psittacula cyanocephala

Tip: Plum-red male head. Fact: Fast flying parakeet.

Rose-ringed Parakeet Psittacula krameri

Tip: Very common noisy bird. Fact: Urban roost former.

Indian Pitta Pitta brachyura

Tip: Nine-color ground bird. Fact: Name means small bird.

Orange-headed Thrush Geokichla citrina

Tip: Shaded ravine floor. Fact: Mimics other species.

Indian Blackbird Turdus simillimus

Tip: Yellow eye ring and bill. Fact: Peninsular endemic.

Asian Brown Flycatcher Muscicapa dauurica

Tip: Upright low perches. Fact: Siberian winter visitor.

Brown-breasted Flycatcher Muscicapa muttui

Tip: Pale legs and mandible. Fact: Highly territorial.

Rusty-tailed Flycatcher Ficedula ruficauda

Tip: Flicks reddish tail. Fact: Cardamom estate lover.

Tickell's Blue Flycatcher Cyornis tickelliae

Tip: Blue back, orange chest. Fact: Metallic song.

Blue-throated Blue Flycatcher Cyornis rubeculoides

Tip: Dark blue throat. Fact: Bamboo forest migrant.

Verditer Flycatcher Eumyias thalassinus

Tip: Copper-sulphate blue. Fact: Exposed high branches.

Indian Blue Robin Larvivora brunnea

Tip: Extremely shy bird. Fact: Jerks tail upward.

Oriental Magpie-Robin Copsychus saularis

Tip: Upright tail posture. Fact: Rooftop singer.

White-rumped Shama Copsychus malabaricus

Tip: Very long tail. Fact: Asia's best songbird.

Pied Bushchat Saxicola caprata

Tip: Grass stalks. Fact: Black and white male.

Puff-throated Babbler Pellorneum ruficeps

Tip: Ground walker. Fact: "I'll beat you" whistle.

Indian Scimitar Babbler Pomatorhinus horsfieldii

Tip: Curved bill. Fact: Digs rotting wood.

Dark-fronted Babbler Dumetia atriceps

Tip: Bamboo thickets. Fact: Tiny black mask.

Brown-cheeked Fulvetta Alcippe poioicephala

Tip: Active undergrowth. Fact: Core mixed-flock bird.

Jungle Babbler Argya striata

Tip: Pale eyes. Fact: Known as Seven Sisters.

Yellow-billed Babbler Argya affinis

Tip: Near human homes. Fact: Pale head variant.

Black-naped Monarch Hypothymis azurea

Tip: Vivid blue. Fact: Fans tail when catching gnats.

Indian Paradise Flycatcher Terpsiphone paradisi

Tip: Long tail ribbons. Fact: Turns white after 3 years.

Bronzed Drongo Dicrurus aeneus

Tip: Shiny gloss. Fact: Expert flycatcher.

Greater Racket-tailed Drongo Dicrurus paradiseus

Tip: Racket tail wires. Fact: Master mimic.

Ashy Drongo Dicrurus leucophaeus

Tip: Slate grey forked tail. Fact: Forest edge migrant.

Black Drongo Dicrurus macrocercus

Tip: Open fields. Fact: Attacks eagles to defend nests.

Purple Sunbird Cinnyris asiaticus

Tip: Metallic purple males. Fact: Hovers like hummingbird.

Purple-rumped Sunbird Leptocoma zeylonica

Tip: Yellow belly. Fact: Spiderweb hanging nests.

Loten's Sunbird Cinnyris lotenius

Tip: Long curved beak. Fact: Reaches deep tubular flowers.

Little Spiderhunter Arachnothera longirostra

Tip: Wild banana plants. Fact: Thick curved bill.

Pale-billed Flowerpecker Dicaeum erythrorhynchos

Tip: Microscopic bird. Fact: Spreads mistletoe.

Thick-billed Flowerpecker Dicaeum agile

Tip: Striped breast. Fact: Wags tail side-to-side.

Nilgiri Flowerpecker Dicaeum concolor

Tip: Olive-green overall. Fact: High canopy endemic.

Red-whiskered Bulbul Pycnonotus jocosus

Tip: Tall crest, red cheek. Fact: Very common.

Red-vented Bulbul Pycnonotus cafer

Tip: Red vent under tail. Fact: Global invasive pest.

White-browed Bulbul Pycnonotus luteolus

Tip: White eyebrow. Fact: Deep scrub lover.

Yellow-browed Bulbul Acritillas indica

Tip: Bright yellow head. Fact: High rainfall evergreen bird.

Square-tailed Bulbul Hypsipetes ganeesa

Tip: Orange bill. Fact: Noisy gregarious flocks.

Blyth's Reed Warbler Acrocephalus dumetorum

Tip: Skulks in bushes. Fact: Harsh tschack call.

Booted Warbler Iduna caligata

Tip: Dry grass scrub. Fact: Wags tail downward.

Greenish Warbler Phylloscopus trochiloides

Tip: Canopy gleaner. Fact: Single white wing bar.

Large-billed Leaf Warbler Phylloscopus magnirostris

Tip: Forest streams. Fact: Rising dir-tee call.

Tickell's Leaf Warbler Phylloscopus affinis

Tip: Yellow underparts. Fact: Himalayan winter migrant.

Forest Wagtail Dendronanthus indicus

Tip: Shaded forest paths. Fact: Only side-to-side wagtail.

White-browed Wagtail Motacilla maderaspatensis

Tip: Strictly near water. Fact: Largest resident wagtail.

Grey Wagtail Motacilla cinerea

Tip: Rocky streams. Fact: Constantly pumps tail.

Baya Weaver Ploceus philippinus

Tip: Farm areas. Fact: Hanging woven nests.

White-rumped Munia Lonchura striata

Tip: White lower back. Fact: Tight row roosters.

Scaly-breasted Munia Lonchura punctulata

Tip: Fish-scale chest. Fact: Grass seed flock feeder.

Brown Shrike Lanius cristatus

Tip: Black eye mask. Fact: Impales prey on thorns.

Long-tailed Shrike Lanius schach

Tip: Rufous back, long tail. Fact: Aggressive hunter.

Ashy Woodswallow Artamus fuscus

Tip: Power line huddlers. Fact: Aerial insectivore.

Indian Golden Oriole Oriolus kundoo

Tip: Yellow plumage. Fact: Blends with yellow leaves.

Asian Fairy-bluebird Irena puella

Tip: Enamel-blue canopy. Fact: Liquid two-note whistle.