Birds in Kurigram district of Bangladesh

Abstract

A study of the birds in the area adjacent to the Dharala and Brahmaputra rivers in Kurigram District, Bangladesh, was conducted between November 2000 and February 2002. A total of 105 species of birds belonging to 12 orders, 35 families and 77 genera were recorded. Out of 105 species, 51 (48.6%) were non-passerine and 54 (51.4%) passerine, 33 (31.4%) migratory and 72 (68.6%) resident. Of the non-passerine birds, 15 (29.4%) were migratory and 36 (70.6%) were resident, while, among the passerines 18 (33.3%) were migratory and 36 (66.7%) were resident. Of the total (105) species 14 (13.3%) were found to be very common, 30 (28.6%) common, 25 (23.8%) fairly common and 36 (34.3%) were rare or few. Out of 105 species, 30 (28.6%) were aquatic and semiaquatic birds and 75 (71.4%) were terrestrial. Among 105 species, 52 (49.5%) were widely distributed in Kurigram, 31 (29.5%) restricted only to the northern side, five (4.8%) to the central side, eight (7.6%) to the southern side, and nine (8.6%) species were common in two or three parts of the study area. Among the three canopy categories, 16 (15.2%) species were observed in lower canopy, 32 (30.5%) species were recorded from both lower and middle canopies, 19 (18.1%) species from upper and middle canopies and only one (1%) species was recorded from upper canopy. In the study area 37 (35.2%) species of birds used all levels of the canopy. Out of 105 species, 48 (45.7%) were insectivorous, 11 (10.4%) were grainivorous, five (4.8%) frugivorous, 10 (9.5%) were piscivorous, five (4.8%) were predatory, and 19 (18.1%) species of birds were omnivorous. Only one (1%) was vegetarian and the diet of 6 (5.7%) species could not be determined.