Latest IUCN Status of India's Fauna

India's Priority Birds for UPSC Prelims (2024-2026)

Critically Endangered (CR) - Highest Importance

Common Name	Scientific Name	Location/Habitat	Size (cm)	Color/Details
Great Indian Bustard	Ardeotis nigriceps	Rajasthan (Desert National Park), Gujarat. Arid grasslands.	100-120	Brown-white body, black cap. Flagship species for grasslands.
Jerdon's Courser	Rhinoptilus bitorquatus	Andhra Pradesh (Sri Lankamaleswara Sanctuary).	27	Nocturnal bird, brown with two white neck-bands. Rare.
White-bellied Heron	Ardea insignis	Arunachal Pradesh (Namdapha NP). Riverine ecosystems.	127	Dark grey with a distinct white belly. Second largest heron.

Endangered (EN) - In News

Common Name	Scientific Name	Location/Habitat	Size (cm)	Key Feature
Steppe Eagle	Aquila nipalensis	Migrates to Rajasthan, Gujarat, Central India.	62-81	Raptor; threat from Diclofenac and habitat loss.
Lesser Florican	Sypheotides indicus	NW India (MP, Rajasthan, Gujarat) during monsoon.	46-51	Known for its jumping breeding display in grasslands.
Black-bellied Tern	Sterna acuticauda	Large rivers (Ganga, Brahmaputra, Mahanadi).	32-35	Deeply forked tail, black belly in breeding season.

Vulnerable (VU) - Ecological Significance

Common Name	Scientific Name	Location/Habitat	Size (cm)	IUCN Reason
Sarus Crane	Antigone antigone	UP (State Bird), Wetlands of North/Central India.	152-181	World's tallest flying bird. Habitat loss in wetlands.
Greater Adjutant Stork	Leptoptilos dubius	Assam, Bihar (Kadwa Diara).	145-150	Local name: 'Hargila'. Scavenger bird.

CRITICALLY ENDANGERED (CR) - Immediate Threat

Species Name	Scientific Name	Location	Habitat	Size	Details
Forest Owlet	Athene blewitti	Central India (MP, Maharashtra)	Dry Deciduous Forest	23 cm	Rediscovered after 113 years; extremely rare.
Bengal Florican	Houbaropsis bengalensis	UP, Assam, Arunachal	Tall Grasslands	66 cm	Less than 1,000 individuals left in the wild.
Indian Vulture	Gyps indicus	Peninsular India	Hilly areas/Cliffs	90 cm	Declined due to Diclofenac; critical scavenger.
Red-headed Vulture	Sarcogyps calvus	Across India (except high hills)	Open country/Forests	85 cm	Known as the 'King Vulture' of India.
Spoon-billed Sandpiper	Calidris pygmaea	Coastal Odisha/West Bengal	Mudflats/Coastline	15 cm	Passage migrant; distinct spoon-shaped bill.
Sociable Lapwing	Vanellus gregarius	NW India (Migratory)	Dry Grasslands	30 cm	Migrates from Central Asia to India in winter.

ENDANGERED (EN) - High Risk

Species Name	Scientific Name	Location	Habitat	Size	Details
Egyptian Vulture	Neophron percnopterus	Throughout India	Open plains/Garbage dumps	60 cm	Known for using tools (stones) to break eggs.
Greater Adjutant	Leptoptilos dubius	Assam, Bihar	Wetlands/Dry fields	150 cm	Community conservation (Hargila Army) is famous.
Masked Finfoot	Heliopais personatus	Eastern India (Sundarbans)	Mangrove Creeks	55 cm	Extremely shy; water bird with 'masked' face.
Narcondam Hornbill	Rhyticeros narcondami	Andaman (Narcondam Island)	Evergreen Forest	66 cm	Endemic to only one small volcanic island.
Black-bellied Tern	Sterna acuticauda	Rivers like Chambal, Ganga	Large sandy rivers	33 cm	Threatened by sand mining and damming.

VULNERABLE (VU) & NEAR THREATENED (NT)

Species Name	Scientific Name	Status	Habitat	Color	Focus
Black-necked Crane	Grus nigricollis	VU	Ladakh (High altitude)	Grey/Black neck	State bird of Ladakh; breeds in Tso Kar.
Great Hornbill	Buceros bicornis	VU	Western Ghats/Himalayas	Yellow/Black/White	Flagship species for tropical forests.
Nicobar Megapode	Megapodius nicobariensis	VU	Nicobar Islands	Brown/Grey	Builds large mounds of soil to hatch eggs.
Spot-billed Pelican	Pelecanus philippensis	NT	South India/Wetlands	Greyish-white	Breeds in large colonies (Nellapattu).
Amur Falcon	Falco amurensis	LC (NT in news)	Nagaland (Migratory)	Slate Grey	World's longest traveling raptor.