# Diversity and Distribution of Avian Fauna of Swat, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan

Authors: Amir Jan Pathan; Shahroz Khan; Naveed Akhtar; Kausar Saeed
Journal: Advances in Zoology
 (2014)

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## Abstract

This survey was conducted from January 2013 to December 2013 to explore the avian fauna of Swat valley and to find out the major threats to the avian fauna of the area as it was neglected for years. Direct and indirect methods were used in the study by visiting the field and by interviewing the local peoples and hunters about the current and past status of the avian fauna of the area. During the current study direct and indirect methods were used. A total of 138 species were recorded belonging to 13 orders and 48 families. The order Passeriformes were recorded much in number that were 31 species. Most of the birds were migratory and few were resident. The fauna was very rich due to the flora of the area and also due to less hunting. Orders Anseriformes, Apodiformes, Charadriiformes, Columbiformes, Pelecaniformes, Phoenicopteriformes, and Psittaciformes were found migratory and orders Ciconiiformes, Coraciiformes, Galliformes, and Piciformes were found resident while some members of Gruiformes and Passeriformes were found migratory and some resident.


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## Body

## 1. Introduction

Birds are one of the most popular life forms on the planet, and their diversity leads to a richness of life and beauty. Apart from this, birds have always fascinated mankind with their intrinsically beautiful plumage, melodious songs, and artistic behavior. There are around 9000 species of birds living in the world today, with a tremendous diversity of life style. Besides this, birds are valuable for many aspects; that is, they are a sensitive indicator of pollution and also play great role in pest control.The bird species are friends of farmers who believe that bird consumes large numbers of harmful insects, as well as their eggs and larvae, which serves as a biological control agent of insect pests in Pakistan [1, 2].Birds are of great economic importance to the human society. They play an important role in controlling population of different insects and pests. They play the role of scavengers and pollinating agents and also help in the dispersal of seeds of vegetation. They are helpful and help to provide rich food for mankind and are known to man since ages [3].Wildlife management and conservation initiatives are only possible with the appropriate information on wildlife and its habitat [4]. Wildlife habitat basically comprises food, cover, and water. Each species requires a particular habitat or the space, food, shelter, and other needs of survival so much so that species are said to be the product of their habitat [5].With regard to birds, the total number of birds species in the world today is 9040 and the total number of taxa of birds of Indo-Pakistan subcontinent is 2060 [6]. The variety of avian species in ecosystems reflects the well-being of its habitat. Birds are the indicators of environment and are being used for conservation and environmental impact assessment [7].Of course, the Indian subcontinent, a part of the vast Oriental biogeographic regions, is very rich in biodiversity. Out of more than 9,000 birds of the world, the Indian subcontinent contains about 1,300 species, or over 13% of the world’s birds [8].Pakistan harbors a wide range of ecosystems which in turn catches the attention of a diverse avifauna to exploit their resources [9]. More than 650 species of birds have been reported in the country and their occurrence in three zoogeographical zones (Oriental, Palaearctic, and Ethiopian regions) is unique in the world [10, 11].Although the bird is intensively hunted and captured in its native range in Pakistan, owing to which local populations could be declining, the overall status of the species is regarded as stable [12–14]. The species is a friend of farmers who believe this bird consumes large numbers of harmful insects, as well as their eggs and larvae, and serves therefore as a biological control agent of insect pests in Pakistan [1, 2].The bird is normally found foraging in open cultivated tracks and grasslands intermixed with scrub forests and is rarely observed above an elevation of 1200 m in Pakistan [15]. The Grey Francolin (Francolinus pondicerianus) is widely associated with the drier regions of the Indus plains and has penetrated the Thar Desert in Sindh, as well as the Thal and Cholistan deserts in Punjab. The species also occurs in the lower hills of the Makran and Lasbela districts in Balochistan, the Cherat and Kohat districts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, the salt range and agroforestry tracks of the Pothwar Plateau in Punjab, and the Margalla hills of Islamabad [16–18].In Khyber Pakhtunkhwa the wild fauna is rich and its wildlife flourishing in forests is a precious heritage of the country but due to motorized and ground hunting these wildlife species were driven to a point of extinction. For this purpose it is necessary to provide the best protection to wildlife in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa; therefore several areas were declared as protected areas [19].The present study was conducted with the following aims:(1)
to explore the avian fauna of Swat valley,(2)
to find out the major threats to the Avian fauna of the valley,(3)
to differentiate between migratory and endemic birds.


## 2. Methods and Materials

### 2.1. Study Area

The historic Swat Valley lies between 34°-40′ to 35°N latitude and 72′ to 74°-6′E longitude and is part of the Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA) of the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province of Pakistan. Total area is 5,337 km2, total population is 1,257,602, and capital is Saidu Sharif.The survey was conducted from January 2013 to December 2013. The data was collected by using the direct and indirect methods in order to study the present status of avian fauna of the district Swat. Direct data collection will be made by visiting the study area once or twice a day early in the morning at 8:00 am till sunset. The bird fauna were observed using binoculars and the status of each bird was stated as follows: M is migratory; R is resident; C is common; r is rare; WM is winter migrant; and SM is summer migrant.In indirect data collection, hunters, wildlife staff, local residents, farmers, and other knowledgeable persons were interviewed about the present and past status of the birds diversity of the study area. The main focus was made by visiting study area rather than relaying the data which was collected indirectly.


## 2.1. Study Area

The historic Swat Valley lies between 34°-40′ to 35°N latitude and 72′ to 74°-6′E longitude and is part of the Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA) of the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province of Pakistan. Total area is 5,337 km2, total population is 1,257,602, and capital is Saidu Sharif.The survey was conducted from January 2013 to December 2013. The data was collected by using the direct and indirect methods in order to study the present status of avian fauna of the district Swat. Direct data collection will be made by visiting the study area once or twice a day early in the morning at 8:00 am till sunset. The bird fauna were observed using binoculars and the status of each bird was stated as follows: M is migratory; R is resident; C is common; r is rare; WM is winter migrant; and SM is summer migrant.In indirect data collection, hunters, wildlife staff, local residents, farmers, and other knowledgeable persons were interviewed about the present and past status of the birds diversity of the study area. The main focus was made by visiting study area rather than relaying the data which was collected indirectly.


## 3. Results

The survey was conducted from January 2013 to December 2013. In this survey total 138 species were recorded which belong to 13 orders and 48 families (see Table1). The fauna of the study area was rich due to the current cease fire in the district Swat due to the current terrorism situation in the area. Most of the birds were migratory. Orders Anseriformes, Apodiformes, Charadriiformes, Columbiformes, Pelecaniformes, Phoenicopteriformes, and Psittaciformes were found migratory and orders Ciconiiformes, Coraciiformes, Galliformes, and Piciformes were found resident while some members of Gruiformes and Passeriformes were found migratory and some resident.Table 1
Table showing the details of species recorded during the study.
Order
Family
Scientific name
Local name
Status
Anseriformes
Anatidae
Aythya baeri
Shingare
M (SM) (r)
Anseriformes
Anatidae
Anas formosa
Shingare
M (SM) (r)
Anseriformes
Anatidae
Tadorna ferruginea
Shingare
M (SM) (r)
Anseriformes
Anatidae
Anas falcate
Shingare
M (SM) (r)
Anseriformes
Anatidae
Anas strepera
Shingare
M (SM) (r)
Anseriformes
Anatidae
Anas crecca
Shingare
M (SM) (r)
Anseriformes
Anatidae
Anas platyrhynchos
Shingare
M (SM) (r)
Anseriformes
Anatidae
Anas poecilorhyncha
Shingare
M (SM) (r)
Anseriformes
Anatidae
Anas acuta
Shingare
M (SM) (r)
Anseriformes
Anatidae
Anas clypeata
Shingare
M (SM) (r)
Anseriformes
Anatidae
Aythya ferina
Shingare
M (SM) (r)
Anseriformes
Anatidae
Aythya nyroca
Shingare
M (SM) (r)
Anseriformes
Anatidae
Clangula hyemalis
Shingare
M (SM) (r)
Anseriformes
Anatidae
Bucephala clangula
Shingare
M (SM) (r)
Anseriformes
Anatidae
Mergus merganser
Shingare
M (SM) (C)
Apodiformes
Apodidae
Tachymarptis melba
Lagarai
M (r)
Apodiformes
Apodidae
Cypsiurus balasiensis
Lagarai
M (r)
Apodiformes
Apodidae
Apus apus
Lagarai
M (r)
Apodiformes
Apodidae
Apus pacificus
Lagarai
M (r)
Apodiformes
Apodidae
Apus nipalensis
Lagarai
M (r)
Apodiformes
Apodidae
Apus pallidus
Lagarai
M (r)
Charadriiformes
Scolopacidae
Limosa lapponica
Tum Tel
M (SM) (C)
Charadriiformes
Scolopacidae
Calidris ferruginea
Tum Tel
M (SM) (C)
Charadriiformes
Scolopacidae
Lymnocryptes minimus
Chaghat
M (SM) (C)
Charadriiformes
Scolopacidae
Calidris acuminata
Tum Tel
M (SM) (C)
Charadriiformes
Scolopacidae
Limicola falcinellus
Tum Tel
M (SM) (C)
Charadriiformes
Scolopacidae
Actitis hypoleucos
Tum Tel
M (SM) (C)
Charadriiformes
Scolopacidae
Calidris alpina
Tum Tel
M (SM) (C)
Charadriiformes
Scolopacidae
Calidris alba
Tum Tel
M (SM) (C)
Charadriiformes
Scolopacidae
Calidris temminckii
Tum Tel
M (SM) (C)
Charadriiformes
Dromadidae
Dromas ardeola
Tum Tel
M (SM) (C)
Charadriiformes
Recurvirostridae
Himantopus himantopus
Tum Tel
M (SM) (C)
Charadriiformes
Glareolidae
Cursorius cursor
Tum Tel
M (SM) (C)
Charadriiformes
Glareolidae
Cursorius coromandelicus
Tum Tel
M (SM) (C)
Charadriiformes
Charadriidae
Vanellus vanellus
Babozai
M (WM) (r)
Charadriiformes
Charadriidae
Charadrius hiaticula
Tum Tel
M (SM) (C)
Charadriiformes
Charadriidae
Vanellus leucurus
Tum Tel
M (SM) (C)
Charadriiformes
Charadriidae
Charadrius mongolus
Tum Tel
M (SM) (C)
Charadriiformes
Stercorariidae
Stercorarius pomarinus
Tum Tel
M (SM) (C)
Charadriiformes
Laridae
Larus canus
—
M (SM) (C)
Charadriiformes
Laridae
Larus heuglini
Tum Tel
M (SM) (C)
Charadriiformes
Laridae
Larus ridibundus
Tum Tel
M (SM) (C)
Charadriiformes
Rostratulidae
Rostratula benghalensis
Tum Tel
M (SM) (C)
Charadriiformes
Haematopodidae
Haematopus ostralegus
Tum Tel
M (SM) (C)
Ciconiiformes
Ardeidae
Ardea modesta
Bagh
R (r)
Ciconiiformes
Ardeidae
Ixobrychus flavicollis
Bagh
R (r)
Ciconiiformes
Ardeidae
Nycticorax nycticorax
Bagh
R (r)
Ciconiiformes
Ardeidae
Ardea cinerea
Bagh
R (r)
Ciconiiformes
Ardeidae
Ardea goliath
Bagh
R (r)
Ciconiiformes
Ardeidae
Ardea purpurea
Bagh
R (r)
Ciconiiformes
Ardeidae
Egretta intermedia
Bagh
R (r)
Ciconiiformes
Ardeidae
Egretta gularis
Bagh
R (r)
Ciconiiformes
Ardeidae
Egretta garzetta
Bagh
R (r)
Ciconiiformes
Ardeidae
Ardeola grayii
Bagh
R (r)
Ciconiiformes
Ardeidae
Bubulcus ibis
Bagh
R (r)
Ciconiiformes
Ardeidae
Butorides striata
Bagh
R (r)
Ciconiiformes
Ardeidae
Ixobrychus minutus
Bagh
R (r)
Ciconiiformes
Ardeidae
Ixobrychus cinnamomeus
Bagh
R (r)
Ciconiiformes
Ciconiidae
Ciconia nigra
Zanrai
R (C)
Ciconiiformes
Ciconiidae
Ephippiorhynchus asiaticus
Zanrai
R (C)
Ciconiiformes
Ciconiidae
Ciconia ciconia
Zanrai
R (C)
Columbiformes
Columbidae
Chalcophaps indica
Toti ranga kautara
M (SM) (r)
Columbiformes
Columbidae
Streptopelia decaocto
Kautara
M (SM) (C)
Columbiformes
Columbidae
Columba livia
Shna Kautara
M (SM) (C)
Columbiformes
Columbidae
Columba rupestris
Shna Kautara
M (SM) (C)
Columbiformes
Columbidae
Columba leuconota
Kautara
M (SM) (C)
Columbiformes
Columbidae
Columba eversmanni
Banj karoro kautara
M (SM) (C)
Columbiformes
Columbidae
Columba palumbus
Shna Kautara
M (SM) (C)
Columbiformes
Columbidae
Columba hodgsonii
Tapasai kautara
M (SM) (C)
Columbiformes
Columbidae
Streptopelia turtur
Kanra kautara
M (SM) (C)
Columbiformes
Columbidae
Streptopelia chinensis
Kautara
M (SM) (C)
Columbiformes
Columbidae
Streptopelia senegalensis
Spalama kautara
M (SM) (C)
Columbiformes
Columbidae
Treron pompadora
Toti ranga kautara
M (SM) (r)
Columbiformes
Columbidae
Treron phoenicoptera
Toti ranga kautara
M (SM) (r)
Columbiformes
Columbidae
Streptopelia orientalis
Karkorai kautara
M (SM) (C)
Coraciiformes
Alcedinidae
Halcyon pileata
Shentagh
R (C)
Coraciiformes
Alcedinidae
Alcedo atthis
Shentagh
R (C)
Coraciiformes
Alcedinidae
Megaceryle lugubris
Mula chargakh
R (C)
Coraciiformes
Coraciidae
Coracias garrulus
Shentagh
R (C)
Coraciiformes
Upupidae
Upupa epops
Mula chargakh
M (r)
Galliformes
Phasianidae
Alectoris chukar
Zarka
R (C)
Galliformes
Phasianidae
Francolinus francolinus
Taro
R (C)
Galliformes
Phasianidae
Francolinus pondicerianus
Tanzarai
R (C)
Galliformes
Phasianidae
Coturnix coturnix
Batair
R (C)
Galliformes
Phasianidae
Coturnix coromandelica
Batair
R (C)
Galliformes
Phasianidae
Perdicula asiatica
Batair
R (C)
Galliformes
Phasianidae
Lophophorus impejanus
Late
R (C)
Galliformes
Phasianidae
Catreus
wallichii
Sham
R (C)
Galliformes
Phasianidae
Lophura leucomelanos
Taro
R (C)
Gruiformes
Turnicidae
Turnix suscitator
Nwaraz
R (C)
Gruiformes
Turnicidae
Turnix sylvatica
Nwaraz
R (C)
Gruiformes
Gruidae
Grus antigone
Deng
M (C)
Gruiformes
Gruidae
Grus nigricollis
Deng
M (C)
Gruiformes
Gruidae
Anthropoides virgo
Deng
M (C)
Gruiformes
Rallidae
Gallicrex cinerea
Khwar chargai
R (C)
Gruiformes
Rallidae
Gallinula chloropus
Khwar chargai
R (C)
Passeriformes
Sturnidae
Sturnus vulgaris
Sakhakha
M (WM) (C)
Passeriformes
Sturnidae
Acridotheres ginginianus
Kharoo
R (C)
Passeriformes
Sturnidae
Acridotheres tristis
Kharoo
R (C)
Passeriformes
Zosteropidae
Zosterops palpebrosus
Zyar chatai
R (C)
Passeriformes
Dicaeidae
Dicaeum erythrorhynchos
Chatai
R (C)
Passeriformes
Passeridae
Passer domesticus
Chanchanra
R (C)
Passeriformes
Corvidae
Corvus splendens
Kargha
R (C)
Passeriformes
Corvidae
Corvus corone
Kagha
R (C)
Passeriformes
Leiothrichidae
Turdoides
caudata
Soorra
R (C)
Passeriformes
Hirundinidae
Hirundo rustica
Totakarkai
M (WM) (C)
Passeriformes
Dicruridae
Dicrurus macrocercus
Toranakha
M (SM) (C)
Passeriformes
Monarchidae
Terpsiphone paradise
Partoghakhai
M (WM) (C)
Passeriformes
Certhiidae
Certhia himalayana
Tak takai
R (r)
Passeriformes
Ploceidae
Ploceus philippinus
Tan tanai
R (C)
Passeriformes
Laniidae
Lanius vittatus
Teghak
R (r)
Passeriformes
Fringillidae
Carpodacus pulcherrimus
Sur sare
M (SM) (C)
Passeriformes
Pycnonotidae
Pycnonotus atriceps
Balbala
R (C)
Passeriformes
Pycnonotidae
Pycnonotus leucogenys
Balbala
R (C)
Passeriformes
Pycnonotidae
Pycnonotus leucotis
Balbala
R (C)
Passeriformes
Pycnonotidae
Pycnonotus cafer
Balbala
R (C)
Passeriformes
Emberizidae
Emberiza melanocephala
Tan tanai
R (C)
Passeriformes
Emberizidae
Emberiza fucata
Chanchanra
R (C)
Passeriformes
Emberizidae
Melophus lathami
Tan tanai
R (C)
Passeriformes
Motacillidae
Motacilla alba
Sper lakai
R (C)
Passeriformes
Motacillidae
Motacilla madaraspatensis
Sper lakai
R (C)
Passeriformes
Motacillidae
Motacilla citreola
Sper lakai
R (C)
Passeriformes
Motacillidae
Motacilla lugens
Sper lakai
R (C)
Passeriformes
Campephagidae
Pericrocotus erythropygius
Tan tanai
R (C)
Passeriformes
Regulidae
Regulus regulus
Tan tanai
R (C)
Passeriformes
Aegithinidae
Aegithina tiphia
Tan tanai
R (C)
Passeriformes
Cinclidae
Cinclus pallasii
Dabagai
R (C)
Pelecaniformes
Phaethontidae
Phaethon aethereus
Batha
M (SM) (C)
Pelecaniformes
Pelecanidae
Pelecanus onocrotalus
Batha
M (SM) (C)
Pelecaniformes
Pelecanidae
Pelecanus philippensis
Batha
M (SM) (C)
Pelecaniformes
Pelecanidae
Pelecanus crispus
Batha
M (SM) (C)
Pelecaniformes
Anhingidae
Anhinga melanogaster
Batha
M (SM) (C)
Phoenicopteriformes
Phoenicopteridae
Phoenicopterus roseus
Deng
M (SM) (r)
Phoenicopteriformes
Phoenicopteridae
Phoenicopterus minor
Deng
M (SM) (r)
Piciformes
Picidae
Dendrocopos moluccensis
Tak takai
R (r)
Psittaciformes
Psittacidae
Psittacula krameri
Toti
M (C)
Psittaciformes
Psittacidae
Psittacula himalayana
Toti
M (C)
Psittaciformes
Psittacidae
Psittacula cyanocephala
Toti
M (C)Feeding and habitat availability play an important role in the diversity and distribution of the avian fauna of area. The flora of the study area was rich and due to the thick flora the study area was bearing rich avian fauna. As the flora of the study area was very thick the Quails and Grey Partridge were found in large numbers as there were many places of shelters for their breeding and other activities.It was observed that the birds were hunted but the hunting ratio was low due to the current situation of terrorism in Swat; therefore the bird fauna was rich. In our study theAlectoris chukar was found widely in many numbers due to less hunting in the study area due to the cease fire in Swat.During the survey total 15 species belonging to family Anatidae were recorded and all were summer migratory (SM); all the species were rare (r) exceptMergus merganser which was common. The species of family Apodidae were found migratory and were rare in number. Most of the species of the order Charadriiformes were found migratory and were summer migratory (SM) and were found to be common, whileVanellus vanellus was winter migratory (WM) and was recorded as rare (r). All species of the families Ardeidae and Ciconiidae were found resident (R) but were rare in numbers. The species of family Columbidae were found migratory (M), and all were found as common (C) exceptChalcophaps indica, Treron pompadora, andTreron phoenicopterawhich were rare in numbers. The species of the order Coraciiformes were resident (R) and were common (C), whileUpupa epopswas found rare (r). The members of family Phasianidae were resident (R) and were found as common. The members of the families Turnicidae and Rallidae were resident (R) and were common (C), while the members of family Gruidae were migratory (M) and were also noted as common (C). Most of the species of the order Passeriformes were resident (R) and were common exceptSturnus vulgaris, Hirundo rustica,andTerpsiphone paradisewhich were found to be winter migratory (WM) and were common, whileDicrurus macrocercusandCarpodacus pulcherrimus were summer migratory (SM) and were common. All members of the order Pelecaniformes were summer migratory (SM) and were found common. Species of the order Phoenicopteriformes were found summer migratory (SM) and were rare in numbers. TheDendrocopos moluccensiswas the only member of family Picidae recorded during the study and was resident (R) and was found as rare (r). Members of family Psittacidae were found migratory (M) and were common.


## 4. Discussion

The food availability, feeding, and habitats may be the main factors of variation in the birds population slightly than any other risk [20]. In our study it was found that feeding and habitat availability play important roles in the diversity and distribution of the avian fauna of area. The flora of the study area was rich and due to the thick flora the study area was bearing rich avian fauna.The birds are intensively hunted and captured in their native range in Pakistan, owing to which local populations could be declining, but the overall status of the species is regarded as stable [12–14]. In our study it was observed that the birds were hunted but the hunting ratio was low due to current situation of terrorism in Swat; therefore the bird fauna was rich.To avoid the severe winter season a large number of birds migrate from central Asian countries and Europe towards wetlands of Pakistan. There are seven fly zones all over the world in which one zone (Indus fly zone) is present in Pakistan. The birds reach Pakistan flying over Karakorum, Sulaiman Ranges, and Hindu Kush along the Indus River. Falcons, cranes, swans, ducks, flamingos, waders, and geese are important migratory birds in host country [21]. Similarly in our study the migratory birds recorded were ducks, geese, and swans, which were mostly summer visitors.Birds are normally found foraging in open cultivated tracks and grasslands intermixed with scrub forests and are rarely observed above an elevation of 1200 m in Pakistan [22]. The elevation of the study area ranges from 4500 to over 6000 meters.Rose ringed parakeet, house crow, house sparrow, mynas, and bulbuls were common among the resident birds, while kingfisher, koel, rollers, and tree pie were rare in number and have small spread families [23]. House sparrow, house crow, myna, and bulbul were recorded as residential and abundant as also reported previously [24, 25]. In our study the resident birds were chukars, pheasants, house crow, house sparrow, mynas, and bulbuls which are quite similar to the previous studies.Common sandpiper is common winter visitor to Azad Kashmir. Plumbeous redstart and river chats are also common and locally migrant [25]. Similarly in our study sandpipers were found as winter visitors.Alectoris chukar has worldwide distribution, which is found in India, Afghanistan, Middle East, and western Himalayas, east to central Nepal [6]. In Pakistan,Alectoris chukar is very adaptable to all kinds of the arid, rocky, and hilly country ascending to the higher mountain valleys of the inner Himalayas ranges [15] and bare, arid hillside of the Punjab and western Himalayas [26]. It is distributed throughout Pakistan in certain places, that is, Punjab, Sind, Baluchistan, Chitral, Salt range, Swat, Kohistan, and Gilgit [15, 26]. This bird is also found throughout the AJK [27]. In our study theAlectoris chukar was found widely in many numbers due to less hunting in the study area due to the cease fire in the Swat.The Grey Francolin (Francolinus pondicerianus) is widely associated with the drier regions of the Indus plains and has penetrated the Thar Desert in Sindh, as well as the Thal and Cholistan deserts in Punjab. The species also appears in the lower hills of the Makran and Lasbela districts in Balochistan, the Cherat and Kohat districts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, the salt range and agroforestry tracks of the Pothwar Plateau in the Punjab, and the Margalla hills of Islamabad [17, 18]. In our study the Grey Francolin was found in many numbers.The Quail carries out all its vital functions (feeding and nest-building) in the herbaceous strata of natural coastal grasslands (abundant grasses), high altitude prairies (e.g., uncultivated land in the Aveyron and Capcir, France) or, as for the Grey PartridgePerdix perdix, the grassy areas of open agrosystems (with the notable exception of ryegrass). The Quail prefers cover which, although dense enough to provide protection, allows fluid movements, hence the choice of alfalfa, winter barley, and winter wheat when still green and showing abundant basal leaves or early shoots [28]. As the flora of the study area was very thick, the Quails and Grey Partridge were found in large numbers as there were many places of shelters for their breeding and other activities.Red Turtle Dove is summer visitor and spotted dove is common [15]. The work of [25] reported its status as common. This species is found in Himalaya and Kashmir but locally migrant [24]. In our study the Rock Pigeon, Hill Pigeon, Snow Pigeon, Pale-backed Pigeon, Common Wood-Pigeon, Speckled Wood-Pigeon, Eurasian Turtle Dove, and other members of the same family were recorded as migratory and were found to be summer visitors.


## 5. Conclusion

Hunting and habitat destruction are major threats to wildlife. Fauna of an area depends on the flora present in the area because it provides food and shelter to the fauna and destruction of the habitats also results in the elimination or migration of species. The avian fauna of the study area was rich because the flora was thick. Hunting in the study area was very much loss due to the cease fire in Swat due to the current situation of terrorism in Swat. It was concluded from the current study that hunting and habitat destruction are the major threats to the wildlife.



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*Source: 430297-2014-09-02.xml*