A Review on Avifaunal Diversity Studies in Vidarbha Region of Maharashtra, India
Keywords:
Avifaunal diversity, Bird assemblages, Habitat heterogeneity, Conservation status, Vidarbha regionAbstract
Birds are important indicators of ecosystem health due to their sensitivity to habitat alteration and climate variability. The Vidarbha region of Maharashtra, India, supports diverse avifauna across forests, wetlands, agricultural landscapes, and urban ecosystems. Although numerous studies conducted over the past two decades have documented avian diversity in different habitats of Vidarbha, the available information remains fragmented and largely site-specific. The present review synthesizes published literature (2011– 2025) to provide a consolidated regional overview of avifaunal diversity, focusing on species richness, habitat associations, seasonal patterns, and conservation status. The review highlights high bird diversity in wetlands and protected areas and moderate to high richness in agricultural and urban landscapes, including several migratory and threatened species. However, major research gaps persist, particularly in long-term monitoring, landscape-level assessments, and evaluation of anthropogenic impacts. The study emphasizes the need for integrated and long-term avifaunal research to support effective conservation and management of bird diversity in the Vidarbha region.
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