author(s)
A Sharief, S Paliwal, AK Sidhu and T Kubendran

abstract
Himachal Pradesh is known for its rich forests, rugged mountains, great climatic variability, altitudinal variation which supports an amazing faunal diversity especially the bird diversity. The present study deals with the avifaunal diversity of Pong Dam Wildlife Sanctuary which reveals the presence of 169 bird species belonging to 16 orders and 48 families. Family Anatidae dominates among all bird families, representing 17 species of birds with a total count of 36625 individuals. Mean avian density is found to be maximum in winter (1.235 individuals/km²) as compared to summer (0.032 individuals /km²). About 43.19% species of birds observed in the study area are migrants and rests are residents. Moreover the analysis of data also reveals that among all the bird species recorded, most of the birds are listed under the category of Least Concern of IUCN, except a few of them which are threatened. One species white rumped vulture (Gyps bengalensis) out of 169 species of birds recorded is listed under category critically endangered; Egyptian vulture (Nephron percnopterus) and black bellied tern (Sterna acuticauda) are under the category Endangered; Ferruginous duck (Aythya nyroca), Himalayan griffon (Gyps himalayensis), great thick knee (Esacus recurvirostris), river lapwing (Vanellus duvaucelii), river tern (Sterna aurentia) are the birds which are under the category near threatened; Woolly necked stork (Ciconia nigra) and greater spotted eagle (Clanga clanga) are listed under category Vulnerable according to IUCN status.