Avian Feeding Guilds in Winter and Rainy Crop Seasons of Guava

A comparative study was conducted on avian feeding guilds in winter and rainy crop seasons of guava at Punjab Agricultural University campus, Ludhiana, Punjab, during 2021-22. A total of 53 bird species belonging to 46 genera, 31 families and 13 orders were noted during the study period. The recorded bird species were classified into six feeding guilds. Except for insectivore, carnivore and omnivore birds, 13 species were recorded to play no beneficial role in the combined data of winter and rainy crop seasons. Relative abundance of insectivore bird species was found to be 40.34% at flowering stage, 25.44% at fruit set stage and 13.92% at fruit ripening stage in winter crop season; 35.43% at flowering stage, 26.35% at fruit set stage and 14.21% at fruit ripening stage in rainy crop season. Major feeding groups of omnivore and frugivore species were noted during the fruit ripening stage of both seasons. During rainy crop season, nine bird species were observed feeding on insects. A statistical analysis of avian feeding guilds using the T-test revealed a significant difference in flowering and fruit ripening stages of guava crop seasons in the winter and rainy seasons.