Studies on avian diversity and behavioral ecology on a single host tree Ficus benghalensis in Nagpur, India

Abstract: The present study reports the recorded observations of several bird species visiting the Ficus beneghalensis with a major focus on territorial intra-specific interactions, sharing of livestock, foraging habits and population assessment of the avian species dependent on a single host tree in an urbanized settlement in Nagpur, Maharashtra. A total of 849 individuals of six different frugivorous species were reported to visit the host tree during the study duration, along with it the temporal and seasonal variations in the avian population were studied over a period of seven months including both the major fruiting seasons of the tree. The feeding habitat, social interactions and territorial defence of a female Asian koel were the major focus of the study. The study examines the territorial distribution amongst avian species with respect to a single host tree and focuses on the evolutionary aspects of niche occupation in the survival of a species.