Avifaunal diversity around urban and rural areas of District Patiala, Punjab, India

The present study was conducted for assessing the avifaunal diversity in district Patiala, Punjab. Patiala being the princely state, many thick forest patches had been conserved by the Royals of Patiala. These sites are still protected but due to unprecedented rise of human population have consequently started altering natural habitat which adversely affects biodiversity. Survey includes Patiala, Nabha, Ghanaur, Rajpura, Sunam and Patran owning eight protected areas and five sanctuaries. Total 204 bird species belonging to 18 orders and 58 families along with other details like their feeding habits, occurrence, distribution status and conservation status have been recorded. The majority of the birds found during survey were listed under Least Concern category of Red List of IUCN, but few of them were listed under vulnerable notably Indian Spotted Eagle ( Clanga hastate ), White-Necked Stork ( Ciconia episcopus), Common Pochard (Aythya ferina ), near threatened are Black-tailed Godwit (Limosa limosa), Painted Stork (Mycteria leucocephala), Black Headed White Ibis (Threskiornis melanocephalus), Oriental Darter (Anhinga melanogaster), Alexandrine Parakeet (Psittacula eupatria) and endangered species Steppe Eagle (Aquila nipalensis), Egyptian Vulture (Neophron percnopterus) categories. The Passeriformes order is the most prevalent, followed by the Charadrii formes, Anseri formes, Pelecaniformes and Accipitri formes.