This study was conducted to determine the species composition, diversity and habitat association of avian fauna from Lebu Natural Protected Forest, Southwest Showa, Ethiopia. The avian fauna survey was carried out from March to April 2019 during the dry season. A stratified sampling method was used to demarcate the study area into three habitat types, including natural forest, bushland and riverine forest. In each habitat type, point count techniques employed to record and identify birds. A total of 55 bird species belonging to 12 orders and 30 families were identified. The highest Shannon-Weiner diversity index and evenness index (H'=2. 99, J'=0. 85) were recorded from the riverine forest while the lowest from the bushland habitat (H'= 2. 24, J'=0. 75). The bird composition was similar between natural forest and bushland (SOR=0. 44). Order Passeriformes was dominant with the highest relative abundance of 63.90 % (n= 370), while Numida meleagris (13.13%) was the dominant bird species. There was a variation in species richness and abundance between the three habitats. This finding confirmed that the area has important bird diversity and integrating economic gain of the local community through ecotourism conservation of the forest need to be considered.

Keywords: Birds survey, Ethiopia, Lebu forest, Species diversity, Specie richness, Abundance