An avifaunal checklist of the Zanskar Region, Ladakh Himalaya, India

The present study highlights the significant records of the avifauna of the Zanskar Region of Ladakh Trans Himalaya and forms a first record of its kind. The study was conducted from 1 July 2023 to 30 June 2024, focusing on early morning and late evening observations. Using line transect and random encounter methods, around 81 bird species across 11 orders, and 27 families were recorded. Passeriformes emerged as the predominant order with (44 species). Among the avifauna, 45 species were identified as summer visitors, 27 as residents, six as passage migrants, and three as vagrants. Habitat-specific distribution patterns revealed 53 species in alpine meadows and grasslands, 16 in wetlands and riverine areas, and 12 in rocky cliffs and gorges. Notably, all species, except the Lammergeier Gypaetus barbatus and the Himalayan Griffon Gyps himalayensis, are categorized as ‘Least Concern’ according to the IUCN Red List. Both the Lammergeier and Himalayan Griffon are classified as ‘Near Threatened’, underscoring the region’s biodiversity conservation importance.