Avifauna of Thrissur district, Kerala, India

Abstract

Three hundred and thirteen taxa of birds belonging to 64 Families were recorded in the Thrissur district, Kerala during a study on the avifauna there carried out from 1992 to 2002. 219 species of these were residents, 68 were transcontinental migrants, 26 were local migrants and one species was a straggler. The Order Passeriformes was highest in dominance followed by Charadriiformes, Ciconiiformes, Falconiformes, Coraciiformes and Piciformes. Seven species endemic to the Western Ghats and 11 species having threatened status were recorded. Out of the 1,340 species of birds recorded from the Indian subcontinent, 23% were found in Thrissur district. This is the first attempt to compile district-wise distribution of avifauna in Kerala, which will pave way for a Bird Atlas of Kerala.