Diversity, status and guild structure of the avifauna in the Ajodhya Foothills, Baghmundi, Purulia, West Bengal, India

Avifaunal diversity acts as an important indicator to evaluate different habitats both quantitatively and qualitatively. Avian species diversity of Ajodhya foothill areas (22.60°–23.50° N and 85.75°–86.65° E), Baghmundi block, Purulia, West Bengal, Eastern India was evaluated from January 2017 to December 2017 to prepare a checklist of birds with their present status and guild structure. The line transect method was used to record the avian diversity of eight study sites (96 samples) selected within the entire study area based on the variability of topography, habitat and vegetation types. The present study, the first scientific record of avian diversity in recent times from this less explored geographical area, recorded 167 bird species belonging to 19 orders and 58 families including two “near threatened” and two “vulnerable” species. The species number mean for a total of 96 samples was 53.66. Out of 167 species, 108 were resident while 59 species showed seasonal (20 species) or passage migration (39 species). Family Muscicapidae (10 species) dominated followed by Accipitridae and Ardeidae (9 species each). The highest species richness value was observed in summer (123) followed by winter (118) and the lowest in the post-monsoon season (101). Shannon–Wiener diversity index (H′) of total of 96 samples was 4.17 and evenness (J) 0.815. Analysis of feeding guilds revealed dominance of omnivores (50 species), followed by carnivores (40 species) and insectivores (33 species). Rich avian diversity of the Ajodhya foothill area including some near threatened and vulnerable species recorded during the present study strongly emphasizes enforcement of conservation efforts to save the avian species diversity and its habitats from the prevailing threats.