Avifaunal Diversity in Different Habitats of Semi-Arid Region of Karnataka, India

This study investigates avifaunal diversity in four sites of in and around Raichur city using the Short-Strip Transect Count (SSCT) method and point count method. The total of 52 bird species, belonging to 35 families and 16 orders, were recorded. Among these, 67.03% were resident species, while 32.69% comprised local, partially migratory, and highly migratory species. The family Ardeidae had the highest number of species occurrences, while the order Passeriformes was the most represented, with 17 species. Insectivorous birds dominated the foraging guilds, followed by carnivorous species. According to the IUCN Red List, 50 species were classified as least concern, while the spot- billed pelican and the black-headed ibis were listed as near threatened. Species abundance was highest at Manchalapur Lake and Maliyabad Lake, moderate in the Krishna River, and lowest at Raichur University, where only a few rare species were observed.