Patterns in bird community zonation, diversity and abundance in Western Himalaya are synthesized and mechanisms involved in these patterns are explored. A synthesis emerging from analysis of a database of breeding birds along the entire gradient (500-5500 m) of western Himalaya and field studies conducted at two study sites are presented. The local scale field sites were Kedarnath Wildlife Sanctuary and adjoining areas in Rudraprayag and Chamoli Districts of Uttaranchal (2000-4000m)  and the Goriganga basin (<1000 to >4000 m) in Pithoragarh district of Uttaranchal. Four broad bird zones can be recognized in western Himalaya. These zones correspond to subtropical, temperate, sub alpine and alpine zones. Among habitats, broadleaved forests are more distinct from each other than conifers. At local scales, bird communities are closely associated with forest types and track vegetation composition. These ecological groupings however seem to have different source pools. Communities at higher or lower altitude seem to represent correspondingly high or low latitudinal pools in temperate Asia and south-east Asia. 

Around 450 species of terrestrial birds are known to breed in the western Himalaya region as a whole. Of these, 230 and 240 species of birds are known to occur in Kedarnath and Goriganga region, respectively. Species diversity shows a curvilinear trend with altitude at both scales. It peaks at 1500-2000 m in western Himalaya as a whole (y = 0.5426x3 - 13.453x2 + 72.988x + 121.71, R2 = 0.98) and at 2600 m in Kedarnath (y = -6E-06x2 + 0.0309x - 29.603 R2= 0.78) as well as in Goriganga region (y = 0.037x3 - 3.2784x2 + 95.348x - 900.65, R2 = .60). Examination of species altitude ranges suggests that the mid-elevation peak emerges from an ecotonal effect in regional as well as local scales. Relevance of this finding for conservation planning is elaborated. Total bird densities ranged from 68 birds/ha to 30 birds/ha (C.V in all cases but one, lower than 20%).  Bird density does not seem to be related with altitude however upper temperate and subalpine sites had highest densities. Kedarnath in general had higher densities than Goriganga sites. Relationship of abundance with body size and other life history traits is explored. These patterns are synthesized in a macro ecological framework and their relevance in planning conservation strategies for western Himalayan avifauna are discussed.