A checklist of avifauna of Telengana, India
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.11609/jott.9315.17.7.27249-27282Keywords:
Avian diversity, birds, database, IUCN Red List status, new records, rare birds, threatened birds, vernacular name, Wildlife (Protection) ActAbstract
The avifaunal diversity of Telangana is in the process of being comprehensively documented. Due to the lack of a consolidated database, many doubtful avian species have found their way into various checklists published periodically. This checklist includes bird species currently investigated through field surveys or known to occur from literature within the boundaries of Telangana. This checklist encompasses accepted common names, scientific names along with their authorities, vernacular name, IUCN conservation status, and their listing under the Indian Wildlife Protection Act. The avifaunal richness of Telangana is represented by 452 species belonging to 24 orders and 82 families. It is noteworthy that two species, the Great Indian Bustard Ardeotis nigriceps (Vigors, 1831) and Jerdon’s Courser Rhinoptilus bitorquatus (Blyth, 1848), are considered locally extinct from the state.
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