Marshall's Iora

Marshall's iora, or the white-tailed iora, is a small songbird very like the common iora. It is told by its short wings and tail, broad white edges to the tertials that converge at the tip, a smaller, shorter bill and different calls. Some common iora specimens from within its range show intermediate features, which has complicated its identification (Wikipedia, general species account).

Its status has been much debated: it was once thought to be a variant of the common iora and has only returned to wide acceptance as a full species since 2003. It is best known from north-western India, with a few records from the south, and is now also known from Sri Lanka. SoIB 2023 treats it as endemic to the Indian subcontinent and a resident forest bird with a moderate range, has too little data for a trend, and rates it a Moderate conservation priority (Wikipedia, general species account; SoIB 2023).