Chestnut Shouldered Petronia

Nilgiri Flycatcher

Grey Headed Canary Flycatcher

Velvet Fronted Nuthatch

Crested Treeswift

Hemiprocne coronata 23cm

Kondai Uzhavaaran in Tamil

(கொண்டை உழவாரன்)

Widespread resident. Large size, and long, forked tail. Blue grey upperparts amd paler underparts, becoming whitish on belly and vent. Male has dull orange ear-coverts (dark grey in female). Well wooded areas and forest. 

Oriental Skylark

Oriental Skylark

Alauda gulgula 16cm

Vaanambadi in Tamil

(வானம்பாடி) 

Widespread resident and winter visitor. Variable in coloration and prominence of streaking on upperparts and underparts. Fine bill, buffish white outer tail feathers, and indistinct rufous wing panel. Grassland, cultivation and coastal mudflats.

Sirkeer Malkoha

Sirkeer Malkoha

Phaenicophaeus leschenaultii 42cm

Sevvalagu Sembagam in Tamil

(செவ்வலகு செம்பகம்)

Widespread resident. Sandy coloration, yellow tipped red tail, dark mask with white border, and bold white tips to tail. Thorn scrub.

Rosy Starling

Sturnus roseus 21cm

Ilanchivappu Naakanavaai in Tamil

(இளஞ்சிவப்பு நாகணவாய்)

Winter visitor. Adult has blackish head with shaggy crest, pinkish mantle and underparts, and blue green gloss to wings. In non-breeding and first winter plumage much duller; pink of plumage partly obscured by buff fringes; black by greyish fringes. Juvenile mainly sandy brown, with stout yellowish bill, and broad pale fringes to wing feathers. Cultivation and damp grassland.

Jerdon's Bushlark

Mirafra affinis 15cm

Jerdon Pudharvaanambadi in Tamil

(ஜெர்டான் புதர்வானம்பாடி)

Resident. Stout bill, short tail and rufous on wing. rufous buff on outer tail feathers, pronounced dark spotting on breast, dark spotting on ear coverts and malar region, and pale rufous buff wash to underparts. Has a dry metallic rattle delivered from a perch or during short song flight. Stony scrub and fallow cultivation.

Clamorous Reed Warbler

Acrocephalus stentoreus 19cm

Periya Naanal Kathirkuruvi in Tamil

(பெரிய நாணல் கதிர்குருவி)

Large size, long bill, short primary projection, whitish supercilium, and lacks white at tip of tail. Primary projection is roughly two thirds of length of tertials, with 6 or 7 exposed primary tips visible beyond tertials. Reedbeds and bushes around wetlands.

Grey Breasted Prinia

Prinia hodgsonii 11cm

Franklin Kathirkuruvi in Tamil

(பிராங்க்ளின் கதிர்குருவி)

Widespread resident. Small size. Grey breast-band in summer. Where ranges overlap with rufescent, non-breeding is best distinguished by fine dark bill, grey brown tail, and greyish wash to sides of neck and breast. Laughing, high pitched call. Bushes at forest edges, scrub and secondary growth.

Ashy Wood Swallow

Artamus fuscus 19cm

Saambal Kaattuthagaivilaan in Tamil

(சாம்பல் காட்டுத்தகைவிலான்)

Resident. Slate grey head, pinkish grey underparts, and whitish crescent on uppertail coverts. Open wooded country.

Mottled Wood Owl

Strix ocellata 48cm

Porippulli Aandhai in Tamil

(பொரிப்புள்ளி ஆந்தை)

Resident. Concentric barring on facial discs, and white, rufous and dark brown mottling on upperparts; dark brown baring mixed with rufous on whitish underparts. Call is a spooky, quavering whaa-aa-aa-aa-ah. Open wooded areas, groves around villages and cultivation. 

Heart Spotted Woodpecker

Hemicircus canente 16cm

Karumpulli Marangoththi in Tamil

(கரும்புள்ளி மரங்கொத்தி)

Resident. Prominent crest; very short tail. Black and white plumage, with heart shaped black spots on tertials. Male has black crown, female has white crown, and juvenile has black spotting on white crown. Broadleaved forest and coffee plantations.

Malabar Trogan

Harpactes fasciatus 31cm

Malabar Theekkaakkai in Tamil

(மலபார் தீக்காக்கை)

Resident. Male has black or dark grey head and breast, pink underparts, and black and grey vermiculated wing coverts. Female has dark cinnamon head and breast, pale cinnamon underparts, and brown and buff vermiculated coverts. Immature male has blackish or grey head and breast, and cinnamon underparts; coverts are vermiculated with grey on older birds. Dense broadleaved forest.

Hill Myna

Gracula religiosa 25-29cm

Malai Naakanavaai in Tamil

(மலை நாகணவாய்)

Resident. Large myna with yellow wattles, large orange to yellow bill, and white wing patches. Juvenile has duller yellowish-orange bill, paler yellow wattles, and less gloss to plumage. Moist forest and plantations.

Imperial Green Pigeon

Ducula aenea 43-47cm

Pachchai Arasappuraa in Tamil

(பச்சை அரசப்புறா)

Resident. Large size, metallic green upperparts and tail, and maroon undertail coverts. Moist tropical broadleaved forest.

Black Naped Monarch

Hypothymis azurea 16cm

Karumpidari Arasa Eeppidippaan in Tamil

(கரும்பிடரி அரசஈப்பிடிப்பான் )

Widespread resident. Male mainly blue, with black nape and gorget. Female duller, with grey brown mantle and wings. Broad leaved forest and well wooded areas.

Black Crested Bulbul

Pycnonotus melanicterus 19cm

Karunkondai Chinnaan in Tamil

(கருண்கொண்டை சின்னான்)

Resident. Uniform wings and tail. Black crest with ruby red throat. Moist broadleaved forest and thick secondary growth.        

Yellow Browed Bulbul

Iole indica 20cm

Manjalpuruva chinnaan in Tamil

(மஞ்சள்புருவ சின்னான்)

Resident. Yellow supercilium, eye ring and underparts. Striking black bill and dark eye. Moist forest and secondary growth.