Journal of Threatened Taxa | www.threatenedtaxa.org | 26 May 2024 | 16(5): 25137–25146

ISSN 0974-7907 (Online) | ISSN 0974-7893 (Print)

https://doi.org/10.11609/jott.8894.16.5.25137-25146

#8894 | Received 27 December 2023 | Final received 21 April 2024 | Finally accepted 01 May 2024

An avifaunal checklist of the Bani Wildlife Sanctuary, Jammu & Kashmir, India

Iyaz Quyoom ¹, Bilal A. Bhat ², Wasim Sajad Malik ³, Taslima Sheikh ^{4 &} Arif Nabi Lone ⁵

^1,2,5 Department of Zoology, University of Kashmir, Hazratbal, Srinagar, Jammu & Kashmir 190006, India.

³ Department of Botany, University of Kashmir, Hazratbal, Srinagar, Jammu & Kashmir 190006, India.

⁴ Department of Zoology, Sunrise University, Alwar, Rajasthan 301028, India.

¹ iyazquyoom@gmail.com, ² bilalwildlife@gmail.com, ³ waseemmalik48111@gmail.com, ⁴ sheikhtass@gmail.com,

⁵ arifnabi.ku@gmail.com (corresponding author)

Editor: H. Byju, Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu, India. Date of publication: 26 May 2024 (online & print)

Citation: Quyoom, I, B.A. Bhat, W.S. Malik, T. Sheikh & A.N. Lone (2024). An avifaunal checklist of the Bani Wildlife Sanctuary, Jammu & Kashmir, India. Journal of Threatened Taxa 16(5): 25137–25146. https://doi.org/10.11609/jott.8894.16.5.25137-25146

Copyright: © Quyoom et al. 2024. Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License. JoTT allows unrestricted use, reproduction, and distribution of this article in any medium by providing adequate credit to the author(s) and the source of publication.

Funding: Thanks to the University Grants Commission (UGC) for financially supporting this work by providing grants under the UGC-JRF fellowship scheme.

Competing interests: The authors declare no competing interests.

Author details: Iyaz Quyoom—research scholar at Department of Zoology, University of Kashmir and is presently working on ecology and conservation of mountain ungulates in western Himalaya. Bilal A Bhat—resently working as a senior assistant professor at Department of Zoology, University of Kashmir. His field of expertise include mammology and ornithology. Waseem Sajad Malik—research scholar at Department of Botany, University of Kashmir and is presently involved in investigating the wild mushroom diversity from Jammu and Kashmir. Besides, he is actively engaged in studying entomofauna and avifauna of Jammu and Kashmir. Taslima Sheikh—currently engaged in exploring the entomofauna along with avifauna in Jammu and Kashmir. Her research focuses on understanding the intricate interplay between insect and bird species in the region. Arif Nabi Lone—research scholar at Department of Zoology, University of Kashmir and is presently working on Himalayan Pheasants with special emphasis on ecology and conservation of White-crested Kalij Pheasant in northern Kashmir.

Author contributions: IQ—conceptualization, methodology, field Work and manuscript writing. BAB—conceptualization, supervision, review and editing of the manuscript. WSM—conceptualization, methodology and field work. TS—methodology and field work. ANL—methodology and original draft preparation.

Acknowledgements: The authors are thankful to the regional wildlife warden Jammu division for granting the necessary permission to carry out this fieldwork. Thanks are due to the Department of Zoology, University of Kashmir for providing field equipment. The first author is immensely grateful to the University Grants Commission (UGC) for the grant under the UGC-JRF fellowship which made this work financially possible.

Abstract: Protected areas are important for biodiversity conservation as they offer suitable habitats and protection from anthropogenic activities that harm wildlife. Establishing additional protected areas such as National parks, Wildlife sanctuaries, and Biosphere reserves reduces the threat to a species compared to non-protected areas. Before designating an area as protected, it’s crucial to identify which species are threatened and require urgent conservation efforts. The present study was undertaken in the Bani Wildlife Sanctuary, which falls in the western Himalayas, from March 2021 to February 2022 to compile an avifaunal checklist of the sanctuary. The checklist was created by conducting systematic field surveys and opportunistic bird sightings. A total of 135 bird species belonging to 45 families were recorded during the present study. The family Muscicapidae, represented by 17 species, dominates the list. Our study confirmed that the Bani Wildlife Sanctuary supports a rich avifaunal community with three species Western Tragopan Tragopan melanocephalus, Cheer Pheasant Catreus wallichi, and Bearded Vulture Gypus barbatus classified as Threatened in the global Red List by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN).

Keywords: Biodiversity, bird inventory, conservation, Kathua, preliminary survey, protected areas, western Himalaya.

Introduction

Birds form an important component of an ecosystem and hold a significant place because they are quite noticeable and immensely appreciated by humans (Mahmood et al. 2021). They have largely been considered as indicators in the conservation and monitoring of biodiversity (French 1999; Browder et al. 2002). Birds play an informational role in gaining public attention towards natural habitats. Their abundance and diversity in pristine habitats can serve as an indicator of the health status of that habitat (Collar & Andrew 1988; Piersma & Lindstrom 2004; Mahmood et al. 2021). Birds are very susceptible to habitat changes (Browder et al. 2002; Perrow & Davy 2002) and provide a gamut of important services in an ecosystem. They act as long-distance pollinators, scavengers, seed dispersers, and bio-control agents for various crop pests (Malik et al. 2023). Their high or low density is directly linked to the health status of an ecosystem (Loreau et al. 2001; Mahmood et al. 2021) and provides an early warning for climatic change (Pearce et al. 2015).

The Union Territory (UT) of Jammu & Kashmir is bestowed with fascinating avifaunal diversity, which is remarkable at higher altitudes, due to its distinct climatic conditions and unique physiography. This region is recognized for its significant avian diversity, harboring 28 Important Biodiversity Areas (IBAs) (Islam & Rahmani 2004; Rahmani et al. 2012; Sohil & Sharma 2019). As per the recent IUCN assessment, 32 species of birds have been included in different threatened categories of the IUCN Red List (Suhail et al. 2020).

The Indian avifaunal checklist recognizes a total of 1,317 bird species for India, which constitute about 12.5% of the world’s avian species (Praveen et al. 2019; Praveen & Jayapal 2022). Birds of mountainous regions display a wide range of distributional patterns with some limited to lower elevation bands and others occupying higher altitudinal ranges (Price et al. 2011). Moreover, climatic variations, including temperature, moisture, and oxygen levels, play a significant role in determining species diversity, with mountainous regions experiencing greater turnover and variety at specific elevations, as observed by Graham et al. (2014).

In understanding the consequences of habitat degradation and climate change on a species and ecosystem, baseline data is necessary before initiating any conservation effort (Llanos et al. 2011). Bird surveys provide valuable information about basic and applied ecology and help designate conservation priority sites (Daniels et al. 1991; Peterson et al. 2000; Byju et al. 2023). Biodiversity inventories/checklists serve as crucial repositories for documenting species distribution, biogeography, and conservation status. Given the pivotal role of birds in conservation and environmental assessments, there’s a pressing need to enhance our ecological understanding of how bird diversity patterns and avian community structures influence conservation decisions (Kati & Sekercioglu 2006). Against this backdrop, the current study was conducted in the newly established Bani Wildlife Sanctuary (hereafter BWS) to compile an avifaunal checklist for future research endeavors.

Material and Methods

Study area

The newly declared BWS is named after the major town Bani of District Kathua. The sanctuary spreads over an area of 99.67 km². The area is located between 32.758–32.889˚ N and 74.680–75.871˚ E with an altitude range of 1,960–4,000 m (Figure 1). The sanctuary experiences a temperate type of climate and is characterized by several habitat types: coniferous forest, mixed forest, oak forest, riparian forest, alpine scrub, alpine meadows, rocky mountains, and cultivated land. The prominent fauna of the sanctuary includes Himalayan Serow Capricornis sumatraensis thar, Himalayan Tahr Hemitragus jemlahicus, Himalayan Goral Naemorhedus goral, Kashmir Musk Deer Moschus cupreus, Leopard Panthera pardus, Black Bear Ursus thibetanus, and Himalayan Brown Bear Ursus arctos isabellinus (Quyoom et al. 2023).

Data collection

The present study was conducted from March 2021 to February 2022. Systematic field surveys were conducted early in the morning before 0800 h and late evening after 0500 h aligning with birds’ most active periods, as highlighted by Thakur (2010). Field binoculars (Nikon 10 × 50) and digital cameras (Nikon D-500 24 MP with 200–500 mm lens) were used for observation and capturing bird photographs. Birds were identified using established field guides of Ali & Ripley (1987), and Grimmett et al. (2016), in addition to consulting avian experts, birding groups/clubs, and verified Facebook groups, as suggested by Sharma et al. (2018). The threatened status of birds provided in the checklist is as per the IUCN Red List (IUCN 2022) and the birds were categorized as A – Abundant (sighted more than 30 times), C – Common (sighted up to less than 15 times), O – Occasional (sighted less than 10), and R – rare (sighted less than 5 times) following (MacKinnon & Philips 1993; Thakur 2008) with slight modification.

Results

The avifaunal checklist of BWS documented 135 bird species from 45 families. The Muscicapidae family had the highest representation with 17 species, followed by Fringillidae with 11 species. Accipitridae, Columbidae, and Leiothrichidae each had seven species, while Corvidae, Paridae, Phasianidae, and Picidae each had six species. Among the recorded species, 36 were abundant, 40 were common, 33 were occasional, and 26 were rare (Table 1).

Discussion

Monitoring the diversity and population status of indicator species is crucial for assessing ecosystem health, identifying conservation priorities, and guiding decision-making in conservation efforts (McComb et al. 2010; Fitzpatrick & Rodewald 2016). Birds are used as monitoring targets because they inhabit a vast array of environments and fill various ecological niches within those environments (Kahl et al. 2021). The ecological significance of birds is unparalleled. They are useful as pollinators, and seed dispersers and act as indicators of the health of an ecosystem (Klein et al. 2007). Among all the faunal species, birds stand at the top in gaining human attention towards natural habitats. Of the total 555 species of birds known from the State of Jammu and Kashmir (Suhail et al. 2020), 135 (24.3%) were reported from the BWS during the present study. This number is much higher than that of the nearby Manali Sanctuary of Himachal Pradesh (81 species) and the Overa-Aru Sanctuary of Kashmir (70 species) (Price et al. 2003). Such a good number could be attributed to the diverse habitats and tree species that provide suitable environments for these birds to live and breed.

Singh et al. (1990) compiled an initial inventory of 100 bird species from the Gamgul Siyabehi Wildlife Sanctuary (GSWS) and reported the presence of four notable pheasant species: Western Tragopan, Cheer Pheasant, Himalayan Monal, and Koklass Pheasant. The GSWS is situated to the north-east of the BWS and falls within an area designated as an Endemic Bird Area (EBA) (Stattersfield et al. 1998). As per BirdLife International’s classification, the BWS and its environs should be classified within Biome 7 (Sino-Himalayan Temperate Forest), given the altitudinal range of 1,800–3,600 m of the sanctuary which falls within this biome’s criteria. Despite having an area of only around 100 km², the sanctuary’s significant altitudinal variation and diverse habitats make it a critical conservation site for globally threatened pheasants and numerous high-altitude forest birds.

Birds contribute most to the chordate diversity of the UT of Jammu and Kashmir (Hilaluddin 1997). The newly created BWS supports an interestingly rich avifauna. Most of our sightings were observed in spring and summer and less in autumn and winter. These seasonal fluctuations in bird sightings occur due to changes in weather conditions and alterations in food productivity and habitat quality (Loiselle & Blake 1991; Norris & Marra 2007). A total of five species of Himalayan Pheasants were recorded during the current study. These include Western Tragopan Tragopan melanocephalus, Cheer Pheasant Catreus wallichi, Himalayan Monal Lophophorus impejanus, Koklass Pucrasia macrolopha and Kalij Pheasant Lophura lecucomelanos. The Kalij Pheasant is typically found at lower elevations and has recently been declared as the union territory bird of Jammu and Kashmir (Lone et al. 2024). Among the 135 bird species recorded in the sanctuary, three have been Red Listed by the IUCN: the Western Tragopan and Cheer Pheasant, both categorized as ‘Vulnerable,’ and the Bearded Vulture classified as ‘Near Threatened’ (IUCN 2022).

The sanctuary is currently facing widespread ecological degradation that may severely affect its avian population. This deterioration is primarily due to an increase in human settlement, the expansion of roads from Bani to Bhaderwah, and illegal activities such as the extraction of medicinal herbs, fuelwood, and timber, which collectively threaten the delicate ecosystem balance of the Bani Valley. Moreover, the surge in tourism in the Sarthal area, coupled with the practice of pilgrimages to higher elevations at various times of the year, places significant strain on both the flora and avian species, mirroring the ecological challenges observed across the Himalayan region (Chetri et al. 2001; Acharya et al. 2011; Sharma et al. 2018). Compounding these issues are the nomadic communities from Punjab and the Kathua plains, whose seasonal migrations lead to the unsustainable extraction of indigenous trees like oaks, firs, rhododendrons, and junipers for fuelwood and the construction or maintenance of temporary shelters known as Dhokes. All these activities negatively impact the biodiversity of the sanctuary.

Conclusion

Due to the ongoing surge in human activities, the sanctuary has been under severe pressure. Hunting, overexploitation of resources, and habitat disturbances not only strip the region of its native vegetation but may also endanger the bird’s survival by eradicating their feeding, roosting, and critical breeding grounds. Poaching of Himalayan Pheasants, especially during winters, is of paramount concern. The rich bird community along with some notable mammalian species such as Himalayan Serow, Himalayan Tahr, Kashmir Musk Deer, and Brown Bear underscores the importance of this area for biodiversity conservation. Besides, the sanctuary is a treasure of important medicinal plants. We recommend elaborate scientific studies to be carried out on the bird community of the sanctuary and a stringent monitoring and conservation plan to be undertaken for the long-term sustainability of the sanctuary.

Table 1. Avifaunal checklist of the Bani Wildlife Sanctuary.

Sno	Species	Common name	IUCN status	Status	Habitat
Passeriformes: Aegithalidae
1.	Aegithalos concinnus	Black-throated Tit	LC	O	MF, OF, AS
2.	Aegithalos niveogularis	White-throated Tit	LC	O	OF, MF, CL
Campephagidae
3.	Pericrocotus ethologus	Long-tailed Minivet	LC	C	OF, MF, CL
Certhiidae
4.	Certhia himalayana	Bar-tailed Treecreeper	LC	A	OF, RF
Cinclidae
5.	Cinculus pallasii	Brown Dipper	LC	R	RF, AM
Cisticolidae
6.	Prinia crinigera	Himalayan Prinia	LC	C	MF, CF
Corvidae
7.	Corvus macrorhynchos	Large-billed Crow	LC	A	MF, OF, CL
8.	Garrulus glandarius	Eurasian Jay	LC	C	MF
9.	Garrulus lanceolatus	Black-headed Jay	LC	C	MF, CL
10.	Pyrrhocorax graculus	Alpine Chough	LC	O	OF, AS, AM
11.	Urocissa flavirostris	Yellow-billed Blue Magpie	LC	A	MF, CL, CF
12.	Corvus corax	Common Raven	LC	O	CL
Dicruridae
13.	Dicrurus leucophaeus	Ashy Drongo	LC	C	CL, CF
Emberizidae
14.	Emberiza cia	Rock Bunting	LC	A	CL, OF
15.	Emberiza fucata	Chestnut-eared Bunting	LC	O	MF, CF
16.	Emberiza lathami	Crested Bunting	LC	O	OF, MF, AM
Estrildidae
17.	Lonchura punctulate	Scaly-breasted Munia	LC	C	CL
Fringillidae
18.	Carduelis carduelis	European Goldfinch	LC	C	CL,
19.	Carpodacus erythrinus	Common Rosefinch	LC	O	CL, CF
20.	Carpodacus rodochroa	Pink-browed Rosefinch	LC	O	MF,
21.	Fringilla coelebs	Common Chaffinch	LC	C	MF, OF, RF
22.	Carpodacus thura	White-browed Rosefinch	LC	O	CL, RF
23.	Chloris spinoides	Yellow-breasted Green Finch	LC	C	CL
24.	Fringilla montifringilla	Brambling	LC	A	MF
25.	Leucosticte nemoricola	Plain Mountain Finch	LC	A	MF, OF, RF
26.	Serinus pusillus	Fire-fronted Serin	LC	O	CL
27.	Mycerobas carnipes	White-winged Grosbeak	LC	R	OF, AS
28.	Mycerobas icterioides	Black and Yellow Grosbeak	LC	R	OF, AS
Hirundinidae
29.	Cecropis daurica	Red-rumped Swallow	LC	C	CL
30.	Hirundo rustica	Barn Swallow	LC	C	CL
Laniidae
31.	Lanius schach	Long-tailed Shrike	LC	A	AS
Leiothrichidae
32.	Actinodura strigula	Chestnut-tailed Minla	LC	R	CL, MF
33.	Heterophasia capistrata	Rufous Sibia	LC	A	MF, OF
34.	Trochalopteron variegatum	Variegated Laughing Thrush	LC	A	CL, CF, RF
35.	Trochalopteron lineatum	Streaked Laughing Thrush	LC	A	CL, CF
36.	Trochalopteron erythrocephalum	Chestnut-crowned Laughing Thrush	LC	R	MF
37.	Pterorhinus albogularis	White-throated Laughing Thrush	LC	O	MF, RF
38.	Garrulax leucolophus	White-crested Laughing Thrush	LC	O	CL
Monarchidae
39.	Terpsiphone paradisi	Indian Paradise Flycatcher	LC	C	CL, CF
Motacillidae
40.	Motacilla alba	White Wagtail	LC	C	RF
41.	Motacilla cinereal	Grey Wagtail	LC	C	RF
42.	Motacilla citreola	Citrine Wagtail	LC	C	RF
43.	Motacilla flava	Yellow Wagtail	LC	A	RF
44.	Anthus hodgsoni	Olive-backed Pipit	LC	O	AM, AS
45.	Anthus roseatus	Rosy Pipit	LC	O	AM
Muscicapidae
46.	Chaimarrornis leucocephalus	White-capped Redstart	LC	A	RF
47.	Phoenicurus frontalis	Blue-fronted Redstart	LC	O	RF
48.	Phoenicurus coeruleocephala	Blue-capped Redstart	LC	A	RF
49.	Rhycornis fuliginosa	Plumbeous Water Redstart	LC	A	RF
50.	Tarsiger rufilatus	Himalayan Bluetail	LC	A	MF
51.	Muscicapa sibirica	Dark-sided Flycatcher	LC	A	MF, CF
52.	Eumyias thalassinus	Verditer Flycatcher	LC	A	CL, CF
53.	Ficedula superciliaris	Ultramarine Flycatcher	LC	A	CF
54.	Myophonus caeruleus	Blue Whistling Thrush	LC	A	MF, CF, CL, RF
55.	Saxicola ferreus	Grey Bushchat	LC	C	CL, MF
56.	Saxicola maurus	Siberian Stonechat	LC	C	CL, MF
57.	Saxicola torquatus	Common Stonechat	LC	C	CF, OF
58.	Enicurus scouleri	Little Forktail	LC	C	RF
59.	Enicurus maculatus	Spotted Forktail	LC	O	RF
60.	Monticola rufiventris	Chestnut-bellied Rockthrush	LC	R	MF, CF
61.	Monticola cinclorhyncha	Blue-capped Rock Thrush	LC	C	MF, CF
62.	Monticola solitarius	Blue Rock Thrush	LC	C	CF
Nectariniidae
63.	Aethopyga siparaja	Crimson Sunbird	LC	O	CL
Oriolidae
64.	Oriolus kundoo	Indian Golden Oriole	LC	O	CF
Paridae
65.	Parus cinereus	Cinerous Tit	LC	O	MF, OF
66.	Parus monticolus	Green-backed Tit	LC	R	MF, OF
67.	Machlolophus xanthogenys	Himalayan Black Lored Tit	LC	R	CF, MF
68.	Periparus ater	Coal Tit	LC	C	MF, CL
69.	Periparus melanolophus	Spot-winged Tit	LC	C	CF
70.	Periparus rubidiventris	Rufous-vented Tit	LC	C	MF, CF
Passeridae
71.	Gymnoris xanthocollis	Yellow-throated Sparrow	LC	R	CL
72.	Passer rutilans	Russet Sparrow	LC	A	CL
73.	Passer domesticus	House Sparrow	LC	A	CL
Phylloscopidae
74.	Phylloscopushumei	Hume’s Leaf Warbler	LC	C	CL, CF
75.	Phylloscopus nitidus	Green Warbler	LC	C	CF, OF
76.	Phylloscopus xanthoschistos	Grey-hooded Warbler	LC	A	MF, OF
Prunellidae
77.	Prunella himalayana	Altai Accentor	LC	C	MF, OF
78.	Prunella strophiata	Rufous-breasted Accentor	LC	C	MF, OF
Pycnonotidae
79.	Hypsipetes leucocephalus	Black Bulbul	LC	C	CL, CF
80.	Pycnonotus leucogenys	Himalayan Bulbul	LC	A	CL
Rhipiduridae
81.	Rhipidura albicollis	White-throated Fantail	LC	R	RF
Sittidae
82.	Sitta cinnamoventris	Chestnut-bellied Nuthatch	LC	C	CF, MF
83.	Sitta himalayensis	White-bellied Nuthatch	LC	A	CF
Sturnidae
84.	Acridotheres tristis	Common Myna	LC	A	CL
85.	Acridotheres fuscus	Jungle Myna	LC	C	CL, CF
Stenostiridae
86.	Culicicapa ceylonensis	Grey-headed Canary Flycatcher	LC	O	MF
Timaliidae
87.	Cyanoderma pyrrhops	Black-chinned Babbler	LC	R	CL
Tichodromidae
88.	Tichodroma muraria	Wallcreeper	LC	R	RF, RM
Troglodytidae
89.	Troglodytes hiemalis	Winter Wren	LC	R	RF
Turdidae
90.	Turdus atrogularis	Black-throated Thrush	LC	O	MF
91.	Turdus viscivorus	Mistle Thrush	LC	O	MF, OF
92.	Turdus rubrocanus	Chestnut Thrush	LC	R	CF
93.	Turdus boulboul	Gray-winged Blackbird	LC	O	CF
Vireonidae
94.	Pteruthius aeralatus	White-browed Shrike Babbler	LC	R	CF
Zosteropidae
95.	Yuhina flavicollis	Whiskered Yuhina	LC	R	MF, CF
96.	Zosterops palpebrosus	Indian White Eye	LC	C	MF
Columbiformes: Columbidae
97.	Columba leuconota	Snow Pigeon	LC	A	RM, OF,
98.	Sterptopeli adecaocto	Eurasian Collared Dove	LC	O	MF, CL
99.	Streptopeli aturtur	Oriental Turtle Dove	LC	O	MF, OF
100.	Spilopelia chinensis	Spotted Dove	LC	C	CL, CF
101.	Columba livia	Rock Pigeon	LC	A	CL, CF
102.	Treron phoenicopterus	Yellow-footed Green Pigeon	LC	R	CL
103.	Treron sphenurus	Wedge-tailed Green Pigeon	LC	R	CL, CF
Galliformes: Phasianidae
104.	Lophura leucomelanos	Kalij Pheasant	LC	R	MF, CF, AS
105.	Pucrasia macrolopha	Koklass Pheasant	LC	R	MF, OF, AS
106.	Lophophorus impejanus	Himalayan Monal	LC	O	MF, OF
107.	Tragopan melanocephalus	Western Tragopan	VU	R	OF, AS
108.	Catreus wallachii	Cheer Pheasant	VU	R	CF, MF
109.	Francolinus francolinus	Black Francolin	LC	R	CL
Psittaculiformes: Psittaculidae
110.	Psittacula himalayana	Slaty-headed Parakeet	LC	A	CL
111.	Psittacula krameri	Rose-ringed Parakeet	LC	C	CL
Cuculiformes: Cuculidae
112.	Clamator jacobinus	Pied Cuckoo	LC	R	CF, MF
113.	Cuculus canorus	Common Cuckoo	LC	C	CL, MF
114.	Eudynamys scolopaceus	Asian Koel	LC	O	MF
Falconiformes: Accipitridae
115.	Accipiter badius	Shikra	LC	O	MF, CL
116.	Buteo refectus	Himalayan Buzzard	LC	C	CL, MF
117.	Buteo buteo	Common Buzzard	LC	C	OF, MF, CV
118.	Gypaetus barbatus	Bearded Vulture	NT	O	MF, OF, AM
119.	Gyps himalayensis	Himalayan Griffon	LC	A	MF, RF, OF
120.	Milvus migrans	Black Kite	LC	C	CL, CF
121.	Nisaetus nipalensis	Mountain Hawk Eagle	NT	O	CF, MF
Falconidae
122.	Falco tinnunculus	Common Kestrel	LC	A	CL, MF, OF
Strigiformes: Strigidae
123.	Glaucidium cuculoides	Asian Barred Owlet	LC	R	CF, OF
Coraciiformes: Alcedinidae
124.	Alcedo atthis	Common Kingfisher	LC	C	RF
125.	Halcyon smyrensis	White-throated Kingfisher	LC	O	RF
126.	Megaceryle lugubris	Crested Kingfisher	LC	C	RF
Piciformes: Picidae
127.	Dendrocopos auriceps	Brown-fronted Woodpecker	LC	A	CL
128.	Dendrocopos himalayensis	Himalayan Woodpecker	LC	A	CF, CL
129.	Picus canus	Grey-headed Woodpecker	LC	A	CF, CL
130.	Picus squmatus	Scaly-bellied Woodpecker	LC	A	CL
131.	Picus chlorolophus	Lesser Yellow Nape	LC	R	MF
132.	Picumnus innominatus	Speckled Piculet	LC	O	OF, MF
Megalaimidae
133.	Megalaima virens	Great Barbet	LC	A	CL
Bucerotiformes: Upupidae
134.	Upupa epops	Common Hoopoe	LC	A	CL
Charadriiformes: Scolopacidae
135.	Actitis hypoleucos	Common Sandpiper	LC	O	RF

LC—Least Concern | NT—Near Threatened | VU—Vulnerable | C—Common | F—Frequent | O—Occasional | R—Rare | CF—Coniferous forest | MF—Mixed forest | OF—Oak forest | CL—Cultivated land | RF—Riparian forest | AS—Alpine scrub | AM—Alpine meadow | RM—Rocky mountain.

For figure & image - - click here for full PDF

References

Acharya, B.K., N.J. Sanders, L. Vijayan & B. Chettri (2011). Elevational gradients in bird diversity in the Eastern Himalaya: an evaluation of distribution patterns and their underlying mechanisms. PloS one 6(12): e29097. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0029097

Ali, S., S.D. Ripley & J.H. Dick (1987). Compact handbook of the birds of India and Pakistan: together with those of Bangladesh, Nepal, Bhutan and Sri Lanka. OUP India; Compact 2 Revised edition, 890 pp.

Browder, S.F., D.H. Johnson & I.J. Ball (2002). Assemblages of breeding birds as indicators of grassland condition. Ecological Indicators 2(3): 257–270. https://doi.org/10.1016/S1470-160X(02)00060-2

Byju, H., N. Raveendran & S. Ravichandran (2023). Distribution of avifauna on twenty-one islands of the Gulf of Mannar Biosphere Reserve, India. Journal of Threatened Taxa 15(2): 22574–22585. https://doi.org/10.11609/jott.8112.15.2.22574-22585

Chettri, N., E. Sharma & D.C. Deb (2001). Bird community structure along a trekking corridor of Sikkim Himalaya: a conservation perspective. Biological Conservation 102(1): 1–16. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0006-3207(01)00092-1

Collar, N.J. & P. Andrew (1988). Birds to watch. International Council for Bird Preservation, 303 pp.

Daniels, R.R., M. Hegde, N.V. Joshi & M. Gadgil (1991). Assigning conservation value: a case study from India. Conservation Biology 5(4): 464–475. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1523-1739.1991.tb00353.x

Dar, G.H. & A.A. Khuroo (eds.) (2020). Biodiversity of the Himalaya: Jammu and Kashmir State (Vol. 18). Springer, Singapore.

Fitzpatrick, J.W. & I.J. Lovette (eds.) (2016). Handbook of Bird Biology. John Wiley & Sons, 736 pp.

French, K (1999). Spatial variability in species composition in birds and insects. Journal of Insect Conservation 3: 183–189.

Graham, C.H., A.C. Carnaval, C.D. Cadena, K.R. Zamudio, T.E. Roberts, J.L. Parra & N.J. Sanders (2014). The origin and maintenance of montane diversity: integrating evolutionary and ecological processes. Ecography 37(8): 711–719. https://doi.org/10.1111/ecog.00578

Grimmett, R., C. Inskipp & T. Inskipp (2016). Birds of the Indian Subcontinent: India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Nepal, Bhutan, Bangladesh and the Maldives. Bloomsbury Publishing, London 528 pp.

Hilaluddin (1997). Faunal Diversity, pp 64–83. In: Ahmedullah, M. (ed.). Biodiversity of Jammu and Kashmir - A Profile. IGCMC. World Wide Fund for Nature, New Delhi.

IUCN (2022). The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2021–23. www.iucnredlist.org. Accessed on 23-December-2023

Kahl, S., C.M. Wood, M. Eibl & H. Klinck (2021). BirdNET: A deep learning solution for avian diversity monitoring. Ecological Informatics 61: 101236. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecoinf.2021.101236

Kati, V.I. & C.H. Sekercioglu (2006). Diversity, ecological structure, and conservation of the landbird community of Dadia reserve, Greece. Diversity and Distributions 12(5): 620–629. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1366-9516.2006.00288.x

Klein, A.M., B.E. Vaissière, J.H. Cane, I. Steffan-Dewenter, S.A. Cunningham, C. Kremen & T. Tscharntke (2007). Importance of pollinators in changing landscapes for world crops. Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences 274(1608): 303–313. https://doi.org/10.1098/rspb.2006.3721

Llanos, F.A., M. Failla, G.J. García, P.M. Giovine, M. Carbajal, P.M. González, D.P. Barreto, P. Quillfeldt & J.F. Masello (2011). Birds from the endangered Monte, the steppes and coastal biomes of the province of Río Negro, northern Patagonia, Argentina. Check List 7(6): 782. https://doi.org/10.15560/11025

Loiselle, B.A. & J.G. Blake (1991). Temporal variation in birds and fruits along an elevational gradient in Costa Rica. Ecology 72: 180–193. https://doi.org/10.2307/1938913

Lone, A.N., B.A. Bhat & K. Ahmad (2024). Population status and habitat use of White-crested Kalij Pheasant Lophura leucomelanos hamiltoni (J.E. Gray, 1829) in the Limber Wildlife Sanctuary, Jammu & Kashmir, India. Journal of Threatened Taxa 16(1): 24550–24556. https://doi.org/10.11609/jott.8602.16.1.24550-24556

Loreau, M., S. Naeem, P. Inchausti, J. Bengtsson, J.P. Grime, A. Hector & D.A. Wardle (2001). Biodiversity and ecosystem functioning: current knowledge and future challenges. Science 294(5543): 804–808. https://doi.org/10.1126/science.1064088

MacKinnon, S. & K. Phillipps (1993). A Field Guide to the Birds of Borneo, Sumatra, Java and Bali. Oxford University Press, Oxford, 491 pp.

Mahmood, T., L.U. Khan & M. Naeem (2021). Diversity and abundance of Avifauna of Manglot Wildlife Park, Nowshera District, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan. Pakistan Journal of Zoology 53(5): 1623–1630. https://doi.org/10.17582/journal.pjz/20191101061139

Malik, W.S., I. Quyoom & T. Sheikh (2023). Study on avian diversity in the forests of district Ramban, Jammu and Kashmir, India. Munis Entomology and Zoology 18(2): 1723–1735.

McComb, B., B. Zuckerberg, D. Vesely & C. Jordan (2010). Monitoring Animal Populations and Their Habitats: A Practitioner’s Guide. CRC Press, Boca Raton, 298 pp. https://doi.org/10.1201/9781420070583

Norris, D.R. & P.P. Marra (2007). Seasonal interactions, habitat quality and population dynamics in migratory birds. The Condor 109(3): 535–547. https://doi.org/10.1093/condor/109.3.535

Pearce-Higgins, J.W., S.M. Eglington B. Martay & D.E. Chamberlain (2015). Drivers of climate change impacts on bird communities. Journal of Animal Ecology 84(4): 943– 954.

Perrow, M.R. & A.J. Davy (2002). Handbook of Ecological Restoration (Vol. 2). Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, UK, 624 pp.

Peterson, A.T., L.G. Ball & K.W. Brady (2000). Distribution of the birds of the Philippines: biogeography and conservation priorities. Bird Conservation International 10(2): 149–167.

Piersma, T. & A. Lindström (2004). Migrating shorebirds as integrative sentinels of global environmental change. Ibis 146(s1): 61–69. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1474-919X.2004.00329.x

Praveen, J. & R. Jayapal (2022). Taxonomic updates to the checklists of birds of India, and the South Asian region. Indian Birds 18(1): 1–3.

Praveen, J., R. Jayapal & A. Pittie (2019). Updates to the checklists of birds of India, and the South Asian region—2019. Indian Birds 15(1): 1– 9.

Price, T.D., D. Mohan, D.T. Tietze, D.M. Hooper, C.D.L. Orme & P.C. Rasmussen (2011). Determinants of northerly range limits along the Himalayan bird diversity gradient. The American Naturalist 178(S1): S97–S108.

Price, T., J. Zee, K. Jamdar & N. Jamdar (2003). Bird species diversity along the Himalaya: a comparison of Himachal Pradesh with Kashmir. Journal Bombay Natural History Society 100(2&3): 394–410.

Quyoom, I., B.A. Bhat, Z.H. Najar & S. Tanveer (2023). Winter diet composition of Himalayan serow Capricornis sumatraensis thar in Bani Wildlife Sanctuary: implications for the conservation of Quercus semecarpifolia forest. Biologia 79: 1–9. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11756-023-01575-4

Rahmani, A.R. (2012). Threatened Birds of India-their Conservation Requirements. Indian Bird Conservation Network: Bombay Natural History Society, Royal Society for the Protection of Birds and Birdlife International. Oxford University Press, xvi + 864 pp.

Islam, M.Z. & A.R. Rahmani (2004). Important Bird Areas in India: Priority Sites for Conservation. Indian Bird Conservation Network, Bombay Natural History Society, and Birdlife International, UK, xvii + 1133 pp.

Sharma, N., S.K. Rana, P. Raina, R. Amir & M.A. Kichloo (2018). An annotated checklist of the birds of upper Chenab catchment, Jammu & Kashmir, India. Journal of Threatened Taxa 10(7): 11869–11894. https://doi.org/10.11609/jott.3464.10.7.11869-11894

Singh, S., A. Kothari & P. Oande (eds.) (1990). Directory of National Parks and Sanctuaries in Himachal Pradesh. Indian Institute of Public Administration, New Delhi, 164 pp.

Singh, S.P. (2002). Western Himalayan Ecoregional Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan. Prepared under the National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan, India.

Sohil, A. & N. Sharma (2019). A preliminary survey of bird communities around Jammu (Jammu & Kashmir). Biological Forum 11(2): 27–49.

Stattersfield, A.J. (1998). Endemic Bird Areas of the World. Priorities for Biodiversity Conservation. Bird Life International, Cambridge, UK.

Suhail, I., R. Ahmad & K. Ahmad (2020). Avifaunal diversity in Jammu and Kashmir State. Biodiversity of the Himalaya: Jammu and Kashmir State. Springer Nature Singapore Pte Ltd., 897–931 pp.

Thakur, M.L. (2008). Studies on status and diversity of avifauna in Himachal Pradesh. PhD Thesis. Himachal Pradesh University, Shimla, India, 306 pp.

Thakur, M.L., V.K. Mattu, H. Lal, V.N. Sharma, H. Raj & V. Thakur (2010). Avifauna of Arki Hills, Solan (Himachal Pradesh), India. Indian Birds 5(6): 162–166.