| Introduction | 9 |
| History of Ornithology in the Indian Subcontinent | 10 |
| How to use this Book | 11 |
| Climate | 16 |
| Main Habitats and Bird Species | 17 |
| Importance for Birds | 21 |
| Migration | 23 |
| Conservation | 24 |
| National Organisations | 28 |
| International Organisations | 30 |
| References | 32 |
| Acknowledgements | 33 |
| Glossary | 35 |
| The Plates | 37 |
| The Species Accounts | 345 |
| Megapodes | 345 |
| Partridges, Francolins, Snowcocks, Quails and Pheasants | 345 |
| Whistling-Ducks and Swans, Geese and Ducks | 363 |
| Buttonquails | 378 |
| Honeyguides | 379 |
| Wrynecks, Piculets and Woodpeckers | 380 |
| Asian Barbets | 392 |
| Hornbills | 395 |
| Hoopoes | 399 |
| Trogons | 400 |
| Rollers | 401 |
| Small Kingfishers Large Kingfishers and Pied Kingfisher | 402 |
| Bee-Eaters | 406 |
| Old World Cuckoos | 409 |
| Coucals | 417 |
| Parrots | 418 |
| Swifts and Treeswifts | 423 |
| Barn Owls and Typical Owls | 429 |
| Asian Frogmouths | 440 |
| Eared Nightjars and Nightjars | 440 |
| Pigeons and Doves | 446 |
| Bustards | 456 |
| Cranes | 459 |
| Finfoots | 461 |
| Rails, Gallinules and Coots | 462 |
| Sandgrouse | 468 |
| Woodcocks and Snipes | 471 |
| Godwits, Sandpipers, Curlews, Phalaropes etc | 475 |
| Painted-Snipes | 487 |
| Jacanas | 487 |
| Thick-Knees | 488 |
| Oystercatchers, Avocets and Stilts | 489 |
| Plovers and Lapwings | 491 |
| Crab-Plover | 498 |
| Pratincoles and Coursers | 498 |
| Skuas, Jaegers, Skimmers, Gulls and Terns | 501 |
| Osprey, Hawks, Eagles, Harriers and Vultures etc. | 519 |
| Falcons | 545 |
| Grebes | 551 |
| Tropicbirds | 553 |
| Boobies | 554 |
| Anhingas | 556 |
| Cormorants | 556 |
| Herons and Bitterns | 558 |
| Flamingos | 567 |
| Ibises and Spoonbills | 568 |
| Pelicans | 570 |
| Storks | 571 |
| Frigatebirds | 575 |
| Loons (Divers) | 576 |
| Petrels, Shearwaters and Storm-Petrels | 577 |
| Pittas | 582 |
| Broadbills | 584 |
| Fairy Bluebirds and Leafbirds | 584 |
| Shrikes | 586 |
| Corvids and Related Species | 590 |
| Woodswallows | 599 |
| Orioles, Cuckooshrikes, Trillers, Minivets, Flycatcher-Shrikes | 600 |
| Fantails, Drongos and Monarchs | 608 |
| Ioras | 615 |
| Woodshrikes | 616 |
| Waxwings | 617 |
| Dippers | 617 |
| Thrushes, Shortwings, Old World Flycatchers and Chats | 618 |
| Starlings and Mynas | 668 |
| Nuthatches and Wallcreeper | 675 |
| Creepers and Wrens | 678 |
| Penduline Tits and Tits and Long-Tailed Tits | 681 |
| Swallows and Martins | 688 |
| Kinglets | 694 |
| Bulbuls | 694 |
| Grey Hypocolius | 701 |
| African Warblers (Cisticolas, Prinias and Streaked Scrub Warbler) | 701 |
| White-Eyes | 708 |
| Warblers, Grassbirds, Laughing Thrushes and Babblers | 709 |
| Larks | 786 |
| Flowerpeckers, Sunbirds and Spiderhunters | 798 |
| Sparrows and Snowfinches | 807 |
| Wagtails and Pipits | 812 |
| Accentors | 821 |
| Weavers | 824 |
| Estrildine Finches | 826 |
| Finches | 830 |
| Buntings | 851 |
| References | 859 |
| Index of English Names | 871 |
| Index of Scientific Names | 882 |
