Avian Fauna of Khajjiar Lake, District Chamba, Himachal Pradesh, India

Avifauna of Khajjiar lake revealed the presence of 77 species of birds belonging to 62 genera, 12 orders and 31 families. In this area Muscicapidae is the most represented family with 22 species belonging to 15 genera followed by Accipitridae and Corvidae (six species each), Paridae, Phasianidae, Columbidae and Picidae (three species each). 20 species of birds were local and the rest 57 seasonal-local and long range migrants Of the 57 species, 35 were seasonal-local migrants, four were winter visitors and ten were summer visitors. Moreover, Khajjiar lake supported eight such species which showed winter and summer influx. Of these, six showed summer influx, whereas, winter influx was shown by two species only. Data on relative abundance showed that 25 species of birds were very common, 30 common, 21 uncommon and one rarely seen in the area.