Abstract
As a consequence of geographical and climate factors, a high percentage of Pakistan’s bird fauna is migratory with a great number of Palearctic winter visitors which come to exploit the improved availability of food. Palearctic winter visitors normally are species, mainly from Soviet Union, represented by non-breeding individuals. The Black Coot, Fulica atra Linnaeus, 1758 (Gruiformes: Rallidae), comes to Pakistan from Siberia in winter (October–March) each year. Fulica atra is an omnivore that feeds on pondweeds, invertebrates, seeds, fruit and variety of small live prey, including eggs of other water birds. Birds are found mainly on freshwater lakes, reservoirs, rivers and town park lakes and they have also been found living in man-made ponds in Pakistan. These habitats provide favorable environment for breeding as well as the development of populations of snails, crustaceans and insect fauna, which enhances likelihood of acquiring parasitic infection.
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