Coracias benghalensis and C. affinis (del Hoyo and Collar 2014) were previously lumped as C. benghalensis following Sibley and Monroe (1990, 1993).

This species has a vast range which spans part of the Arabian Peninsula and most of the Indian Subcontinent. Its population size has not been estimated, but on account of descriptions of its abundance and its very large range, it is suspected to be large. However, recent trend data (derived from citizen science data) have identified that it may be declining moderately rapidly at rates that approach the thresholds for listing as threatened. Accordingly, it is listed as Near Threatened. There is an urgent need to more accurately quantify population trends from across its range and to identify (and address) threats that may be affecting this species.

Majority of this species' range is in India, where it is widespread except for the far north-east. Also across Sri Lanka, Bangladesh (except the far east), the Himalayan foothills of Nepal and Bhutan, west to Pakistan (except the north-west), narrowly into north-east Afghanistan, west through southern Iran into Iraq, and adjacent Oman and United Arab Emirates. In winter, slightly more widespread in Arabia, with records from Saudi Arabia, Qatar and Kuwait.

The population size of this species has not been quantified. The population in the UAE is estimated at 5,000-15,000 (Burfield et al. 2021) and as 15,000 breeding pairs more broadly across the Arabian Peninsula (Symes et al. 2015). The species remains locally common across large parts of India (Fry and Kirwan 2020, eBird 2025).

This species mostly uses dry open farmland, pastures, groves, grasslands and areas around villages (Fry and Kirwan 2020). Throughout its range it is usually recorded below 1,500 m, with regular (if rare) occurrences up to 2,200 m. Exceptionally, has been recorded to 2,900 m (Spierenburg 2005).

Threats affecting this species are poorly documented, but in India urbanisation and increased pesticide use have been suggested as causes of declines (S. Reddy in litt. 2025). This species is considered sacred due to its association with Lord Shiva, and is sometimes caught (though usually released) during festivals (S. Chatterjee in litt. 2025). This species has been reported as having a moderately high prevalence in trade, being found in three of the seven trade datasets evaluated (Donald et al. 2024). In Iraq, the species (adults and chicks) is locally sold in markets and on social media (L. Al-Obeidi in litt. 2025).

This species is considered sacred in India due to its association with Lord Shiva, and is sometimes caught (though usually released) during festivals (S. Chatterjee in litt. 2025). This species has been reported as having a moderately high prevalence in trade, being found in three of the seven trade datasets evaluated (Donald et al. 2024). In Iraq, the species (adults and chicks) is locally sold in markets and on social media (L. Al-Obeidi in litt. 2025).

Conservation Actions Underway
No specific action is known for this species but it occurs in a large number of protected areas across its vast range.

Conservation Actions Proposed
There is an urgent need for regular monitoring of this species across its range to more accurately derive population trends. Identify threats affecting this species and implement conservation action to address them.