International Science Community Association International Research Journal of Biological Sciences 2278-3202 7 3 2018 03 10 Habitat selection and behaviour of purple moorhen (Porphyrio porphyrio) in district Ambala, Haryana, India 41 45 EN Alakesh Barman 1 P.G. Department of Zoology, Bajali College, Barpeta-781325, India Binode Kr. Baruah 2 Department of Zoology, Cotton University, Guwahati-781001, India Ahmed J. 1 Department of Zoology, Ahmadu Bello University Zaria, Nigeria Shehu D.M. 2 Department of Zoology, Ahmadu Bello University Zaria, Nigeria Ndams I.S. 3 Department of Zoology, Ahmadu Bello University Zaria, Nigeria Mahimasanthi A. 1 Central Sericultural Research and Training Institute (CSRTI), Central Silk Board (CSB), Srirampura, Mysore- 570 008, Karnataka, India Vedavyasa Vedavyasa 2 Research Extension Centre, CSRTI, CSB, Tumkur and Madiwala, Karnataka, India Morrison M.N. 3 Research Extension Centre, CSRTI, CSB, Tumkur and Madiwala, Karnataka, India Sivaprasasd V. 4 Central Sericultural Research and Training Institute (CSRTI), Central Silk Board (CSB), Srirampura, Mysore- 570 008, Karnataka, India Saraswat Punit 1 Dept. of Zoology and Env.Sci. Lachoo Memorial College of Sci and Tech (Autonomous), Jodhpur (Rajasthan), India Manas Ranjan Dash 1 Department of Zoology, B.B. Mahavidyalaya, Harichandanpur, Keonjhar-758028,Keonjhar Dist., Odisha, India Dhananjaya Soren 2 Department of Zoology, Ravenshaw University, Cuttack-753003, Cuttack Dist., Odisha, India Sarita Rana 1 Deptt. of Zoology, University College, Kurukshetra University, Kurukshetra, Haryana, India > Short Communication 2017 12 18 2018 03 10 Purple moorhen (Porphyrio porphyrio) is a purple color bird of order Gruiformes and Ralidae family. It is found inhabiting marshy lands, swamps and often found foraging in paddy fields. Purple moorhen usually prefers wetlands for various activities like feeding, foraging and nesting, but due to increased encroachment of these wetlands large scale change in habitat selection and behavior has been observed since last decade. The study was conducted in the district Ambala of Haryana from May 2015 to October 2016. As the breeding season commences aquatic plant species Salvinia was found to be abundant in the water bodies and so it is most preferred species for nesting by the purple moorhen. Maximum time was allocated to the activities like foraging feeding, care of chicks and resting. For most of the activities of the day preferred microhabitat was Salvinia and Eichornia. Copyright@ International Science Community Association