Studies on the bird composition and their foraging ecology help in developing bird pest management strategies as well as in identifying the insectivorous species for biological control of agricultural pests. Keeping this objective in mind, study on the avian food and foraging ecology was conducted on mustard crop in relation to its different phenological stages in selected villages (Palkadim and Shankar in Jalandhar district, Sangera and Mehalkalan in Sangrur district) during 2009–10. Maximum number of bird species along with the complexity in their food and foraging guilds was recorded at the ripening stage of mustard crop. Twelve purely insectivorous species were observed feeding on insect pests like Painted bug Bagrada hilaris, Mustard aphid Lipaphis erysimi and Green peach aphid Myzus persicae at the ripening stage. Grassland inhabiting species represented the avian fauna at sowing, seedling and vegetative ecophases. Grain ripening ecophase had attracted birds from two distinct pools, viz., the grasslands (ground foragers) and the low bushes/scrubbed habitats (vegetation gleaners).
Avian foraging ecology, Bird community, Farmland birds, Insectivorous birds
