full paper.pdf

2 (2) : 157 - 160, 2008
FEEDING GUILDS OF AVIFAUNA OF NANDINI WILDLIFE
SANCTUARY, JAMMU (JAMMU AND KASHMIR)
SAMRITI AGGARWAL*, D. N. SAHI AND AJAJ AHMED WANI
Postgraduate Department of Zoology, University of Jammu, Jammu -180 006
E-mail: samritiaggarwal@yahoo.com
INTRODUCTION
The birds live in association with each other and also form large flocks. The
concept of community structure in birds was first reported by Giller (1984).
Ali (1941) estimated 8600 species of birds all over the world. Grimmett et
al., (1998) documented 1300 species of birds in Indian subcontinent. The
present study was conducted in Nandini Wildlife Sanctuary, Jammu. The study
is related to avian diversity and their feeding guilds. Root (1967, 2001) defined
a guild as a group of species that exploit the same class of environmental
resources in a similar way. Except for few casual records namely, Ali (1941),
Ali and Ripley (1968-74, 1983), Grimmett et al., (1998), Alfred et al., (2001),
Osmaston (1927), Sharma (2003), Ahmed (2004), Kumar and Sahi (2005 and
2006) and Sahi and Sharma (2006), no work so far has been done to study the
diversity and feeding guilds of the birds in the proposed area.
Study area
The present study was carried out in Nandini Wildlife Sanctuary, named after
Nandini village, a famous and picturesque village on Jammu - Srinagar national
highway. It was notified as Sanctuary in 1990 by Jammu and Kashmir Govt.
The Sanctuary covers an area of 33.34 sq. km. and is approximately in a
banana shape. The Jammu - Srinagar zigzags pass through its middle, cutting
it into almost two identical halves. The Nandini tunnel is situated in its
middle. It is about 28 km away from railhead and 26 km from Jammu airport.
The study area lies between 32050 / and 33050 // North Latitudes 74024 // and
75018 // East Longitudes. The altitudinal range of the area varies between 741
and 843 m above MSL. The terrain of the area is rugged and hilly with moderate
to steep slopes. The entire area is a Shivalik belt.
Vegetational structure
The forest in Nandini Wildlife Sanctuary represents typical subtropical
vegetation. The forest has been classsified as northern dry mixed deciduous
with some patches of Pinus roxburgii.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
A thorough survey was done to study the avian diversity and feeding guilds of
the study area. Line Transect method (Sale and Berkmuller, 1998) and Point
Transect method (Verner, 1985) were used. All surveys were conducted early
in the morning and in the evening. Besides this, some irregular visits were
also made during different hours of the day.
Tools used
1. Handycam (800x Digital 200M / Optical 20x).The Sony handycam was
157
ABSTRACT
Avifaunal survey was carried out in
Nandini Wildlife Sanctuary of Jammu between
April, 2006 and March, 2007. The
study area lies between 32 0 50 // and 33 0 50 /
/ North Latitudes 74 0 24 // and 75 0 18 // East
Longitudes. The entire area is a Shivalik
belt. The study documents 75 species of
birds. Along with other parameters, feeding
guilds of the birds were studied. Five
major feeding guilds were observed
namely, insectivorous, grainivorous, carnivorous,
frugivorous and omnivorous.
The overall highest proportion observed
is of insectivorous birds followed by carnivorous.
Both of these feeding categories
were further subdivided into feeding
guilds for more specific approach towards
the feeding behavior of the species.
KEY WORDS
Sanctuary
Avifauna, Latitudes
Longitudes, Feeding guild
Received : 29.02.2008
Revised : 10.09.2008
Accepted : 05.10.2008
*Corresponding author

SAMRITI AGGARWAL et al.,
Table 1: Feeding guilds of avian fauna of Nandini Wildlife sanctuary, Jammu
S. No Name of the bird Scientific name Feeding guild
I.Carnivores
1. Indian Pond Heron Ardeola grayii grayii Sykes WC
2. Night Heron Nycticorax nyctcorax (Linnaeus WC
3. Pariah Kite Milvus migrans govinda Sykes ATC
4. Indian Shikra Accipiter badius dussumieri Temminick ATC
5. Steppe Eagle Aquila nipalensis Hodgson ATC
6. Indian White Backed Vulture Gyps bengalensis (Gmelin) TC
7. Indian Long Billed Vulture G.indicus G.R.Gray TC
8. Northern Spotted Owlet Athene brama indica Franklin ATC
9. Pied kingfisher Ceryle rudius leucomelanura (Reichenbach) AAqC
10. Rufous-backed Shrike Lanius schach erythronotus (Vigors) ATC
II. Birds using more than one feeding guilds
1. Cattle Egret Bubulcus ibis coromandus Boddaert WC/U
2. Red Wattled Lapwing Vanellus indicus (Boddaert) SIP/TI
3. Indian Red Jungle Fowl Gallus gallus (Linnaeus) G, I
4. Indian peafowl Pavo cristatus Linnaeus G, I
5. White Brested Kingfisher Halcyon smyrnensis smyrnensis (Linnaeus) ATC/AAqC
6. Indian koel Eudynamys scolopacea scolopacea (Linnaeus) F, I
7. Crow Pheasant Centropus sinensis sinensis (Stephens) C/UI
8. European Hoopoe Upupa epops epops Linnaeus G/UI
9. Indian Golden Oriol Oriolus Oriolus kundoo (Sykes) F, I
10. Bank Myna Acridotheres ginginnianus (Latham) G, F, I
11. Indian Myna A.tristis tristis (Linnaeus) G, F, I
12. Brahminy Myna Sturlus pagodarum (Gmelin) G, F, I
13. Indian Pied Myna S.contra contra Linnaeus G, F, I
14. Northern Jungle Myna A.fuscus fuscus (Wagler) G, F, I
15. Starling S.vulgaris indicus Blyth G, F, I
16. Red Vented Bulbul Tycnonotus cafer cafer (Linnaeus) G, I
17. White-cheeked Bulbul T.leucogelys leucogelys (Gray) G, I
18. Indian Tailor Bird Orthotomus sutorius guzuratus (Latham) CI/TI
19. Himalayan Whistling Thrush Myiophonus caeruleus (Scopoli) O/UI
20. Indian White Wagtail Motacilla alba ddukhunensis Sykes SIP/TI
21. Indian Large Pied Wagtail M. maderaspatensis Gmelin SIP/TI
22. Purple Sunbird Nactarinia asiatica asiatica (Latham) N/I
23. Yellow Backed Sunbird Aethopyga siparaja seheriae (Tickell) N/I
24. Indian House Sparrow Passer domesticus(Linnaeus) G/I
25. Grey Tit Parus major (Linneaus) C, I, F
26. Grey Patridge Francolimus pondiecirianu(Gmelin) G, I
27. Black Patridge Francolimus francolinus(Linnaeus) G, I
III Insectivores
1. Common Sand Piper Actitis hypoleucos Linnaeus SIP
2. Green Shank Tringa nebularia SIP
3. Indian Small Green Bee-eater Merops orientalis orientalis Latham AI
4. Blue Tailed Bee-eater M.phillipinus phillipinus Linnaeus AI
5. Lesser Golden-backed Woodpecker Dinopium benghalense benghalense (Linnaeus) T/BF
6. Yellow Fronted Pied Woodpecker Picioides maharattensis maharattensis(Latham) T/BF
7. Black Drongo Dicrurus adsimilis albirictus (Hodgson) AI
8. North Indian Scarlet Minivet Pericrocotus flammeus speciosus (Latham) CI
158

used to study the feeding guilds of the birds from the
distance in order to avoid any disturbance to them.
2. Binoculars (7 X 50).
3. Photographic camera with 300 mm Zoom Lens.
Identification and classification
For identification and field diagnosis of birds, coloured
plates of Ali and Ripley (1968-74), Ali (1996), Grimmett
et al., (1998), Grewal et al., (2002) were used.
Classification of birds was made in accordance with
Grewal et al., (2002) followed after an annotated checklist
of the birds of the Oriental region by Inskipp et al., (1996).
FEEDING GUILDS OF AVIFAUNA OF NANDINI WILDLIFE SANCTUARY
Table 1: Feeding guilds of avian fauna of Nandini Wildlife sanctuary, Jammu
S. No Name of the bird Scientific name Feeding guild
9. Small Minivet P.cinnamomeus (Linnaeus) CI
10. Jungle Babbler Turdoides striatus somervillei (Sykes) UI
11. Common Babbler T.caudatus caudatus (Dumont) UI
12. Paradise Flycatcher Terpsiphone paredisii paredisii (Linnaeus) AI
13. Whitethroated Fan-tailed Flycatcher Rhipidura albicollis(Veillot) AI
14. Verditer Flycatcher Muscicapa thalassina thalassina Swainson AI
15. Brown Rock Chat Cercomela fusca (Blyth) UI
16. Pied Bush Chat Saxicola caprata bicolor (Sykes) TI
17. Indian Robin Saxicccoloides fulicata TI
18. Indian Magpie Robin Copsychus saularis saularis (Linnaeus) TI
19. White Capped Red Start Chaimarrornis leucocephalus (Vigors) AqI
20. Plumbeous Red Start Rhyacornis fuliginosus (Vigors) AqI
21. Indian White Eye Zosterops palpebrosa palpebrosa (Temminck) CI
22. House Swift Apusaffinis AI
23. Red Rum Swallow Hirundo daurica erythropygia Sykes AI
III. Granivores
1. Indian Ring Dove Streptopelia decaocto decaocto(Frivaldszky) G
2. Red Turtle Dove S.tranquebarica tranquebarica (Hermann) G
3. Indian Spotted Dove S. chinensis suratensis (Gmelin) G
4. Indian Blue Rock Pigeon Columba livia intermedia Strickland G
5. Spotted Munia Lonchura punctulata punctulata (Linnaeus) G
6. Baya Weaver Bird Ploceus philippinus philippinus (Linnaeus) G
IV. Frugivores
1. Large Indian Parakeet Psittacula eupatria nipalensis (Hodgson) F
2. Blossom Headed Parakeet P.cyanocephala (Forester) F
3. Rose Ringed Parakeet P.krameri manillensis (Bechstein) F
4. Large Green Barbet Megalaima zeylanica zeylanica (Gmelin) F
5. Copper Smith M.haemacephaia indica (Latham) F
6. Common Grey Hornbill Tockus birostris(Scopoli) F
V. Omnivores
1. House Crow Corvus splendens splendens Vieillot O
2. Indian Jungle Crow C.macrorhynchos culminates Sykes O
3. Northwestern Tree-Pie Dendrocitta vagabonda (Blyth) O
F- Frugivore; G –Gramnivore; O –Omnivore; N – Nectarivore; DH – Diving herbivore; Insectivores: AI – Aerial, CI – Canopy,TI – Terrestrial,
SIP – Shore Insect Plover; AqI– Aquatic,UI – Under-storey, T/BF – Trunk or Bark Feeder; Carnivores: WC – Wading carnivore,DC – Diving
Carnivore,ATC – Arboreal Terrestrial; Carnivore, AAqC – Arboreal Aquatic Carnivore.
159
RESULTS AND DISCUSSION
The distribution of birds in a particular area depends on
various factors which include quantity and quality of food
available, perching, roosting, and nesting sites. But, most
important among these is the quantity and quality of food.
So, depending upon the feeding habits, an attempt was
made to categorize birds into insectivorous, carnivorous,
grainivorous, omnivorous and frugivorous. Of the total 75
species reported, 23 species were insectivorous, 10
carnivorous, 6 grainivorous, 3 omnivorous, 6 frugivorous
and rest of the 27 species used more than one feeding
guilds (Table 1).

SAMRITI AGGARWAL et al.,
Insectivores and carnivores were further subdivided into
feeding categories based on habitat preference. Among
insectivorous, 8 species were aerial insectivorous, 3 species
were canopy insectivorous, 2 were shore insect plover , 2
species were trunk / bark feeder, 3 species were terrestrial
insectivore, 3 species belonged to under-storey insectivore
category and 2 species were found to be aquatic
insectivore. Carnivore category comprises of 1 species of
arboreal aquatic carnivore, 5 species of arboreal terrestrial
carnivore, 2 species of terrestrial carnivore and 2 species
of wading carnivore.
The data depicts that the overall highest proportion is of
insectivorous birds followed by carnivorous. Karr et al.,
(1990) emphasizes the presence of food resources available
to and exploited by birds in defining the trophic structure
of the community. Wiens (1989) stressed that similarities
or difference among species in diet composition are
especially relevant to the tests of niche or guild concept.
The species composition of bird association and guilds
changed periodically. Availability of food resource
appeared to be a very influential factor controlling
seasonal fluctuation of bird communities, the other being
changes of climatic conditions and consequent emigration
and immigration.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
The authors are thankful to the Head, Dept. of Zoology
University of Jammu, Jammu for providing facilities to
carry out the present study.
REFERENCES
Ahmed, A. 2004. Diversity and Community Structure of the
Birds of Tehsil Doda, Jammu. M.Phil. Dissertation. University
of Jammu, Jammu: 1-176.
Alfred, J. R. B., Kumar, A., Tak, P. C. and Sati, J. P. 2001.
Waterbirds of Northern India. Zoological survey of India.
Ali, S. 1941. The Book of Indian Birds. Bomb. Nat. Hist. Soc.
Ali, S. 1996. The Book of Indian Birds (12th and enlarged
centenary edition). J. Bomb. Nat. Hist. Soc. Oxford Univ.
Press, New Delhi.
Ali, S. and Ripley, S. D. 1968-74. The Handbook of Birds of
India and Pakistan.Ten Volumes. Oxford University Press,
160
Bombay.
Ali, S. and Ripley, S.D. 1983. Compact Handbook of Birds of
India and Pakistan. Oxford Univ. Press, Bombay.
Giller, P. S. 1984. Community structure and niche. Chapman
and Hall Publishing Co.
Grewal, B., Harvey, V. and Pfister, O. 2002.A photographic
guide to the birds of India. Periplus Editions(HK) Ltd. Singapore.
Grimmett, R., Inskipp, C. and Inskipp, T. 1998. Birds of the
Indian subcontinent. Oxford Univ. Press, Delhi.
Inskipp, T., Lindsey, N. and Duckworth, W. 1996. Annotated
checklist of the birds of the Oriental region. Oriental bird
club,Sandy.
Karr, J. R., Robinson, S. K., Blake, J. G. and Berregard, R. O.
1990.The bird communities of four neotropical forest. (A.
Gentry,Ed.).Yale university press,new haven,C.T: 237-269.
Kumar, S. and Sahi, D. N. 2005. Avian fauna of Sewa River
Catchment area Dist. Kathua (J&K). Nat. J. Life Sciences,
2(Supp.): 83-89.
Kumar, S. and Sahi, D. N. 2006. Diversity and Status of
avifauna of Jasrota Wildlife Sanctuary, Kathua (J&K state). J.
Himalayan. Ecol. Sustain. Dev. (1): 95-104.
Osmaston, B. B. 1927. Notes on birds of Kashmir, Part-I. J.
Bomb. Nat. Hist. Soc. 31: 975-999.
Root, R. B. 1967. The niche exploitation pattern of the Bluegray
Gnatcatcher. Ecological Monographs. 37, 317–350.
Root, R. B. 2001. Guilds. In: Encyclopedia of biodiversity, S.
A. Levin (Ed.) Vol. 3 (pp. 295-302). San Diego: Academic Press.
Sahi, D. N. and Sharma, B. 2006. Diversity Status and feeding
Ecology of Avifauna of Ramnagar Wildlife Sanctuary, Jammu.
In: Perspectives in Animal Ecology and Reproduction, Gupta
V. K. and Verma A. K.(Eds), Daya Publishing house. New Delhi.
3: 244-264.
Sale and Berkmuller. 1998. Manual of Wildlife Techniques
for India. Food and Agriculture Organization of the United
Nations, Dehradun.
Sharma, B. 2003. Faunal Diversity of Ramnagar Wildlife
Sanctuary, Jammu. M.Phil.Dissertation, University of Jammu,
Jammu.
Verner, J. 1985. Assesment of counting techniques.Current
Ornithology. 2: 247-302.
Wiens, J. A. 1989.The ecology of bird communities Vol. 1.
Foundation and pattern.Cambridge university press.