Microtopography of the eggshell of eight phthirapteran species infesting different avian hosts was studied by SEM. Nature of the markings present on the egg chorion of species studied was compared to the eggshells of already described species. It was found that the markings present on the egg cases of avian lice could be used to differentiate the genera and species. The occurrence of Goniocotes jirufti and Menacanthus kalatitar on brown partridges is noted for the first time.