Microhabitat Selection by Ground-Foraging Birds in Urban Parks

Abstract

Urban parks are refuges for a diversity of birds in cities. Therefore,understanding the relationship between park structure and different bird species is essentialto achieve nature-friendly park planning and management. However, the selection offoraging substrates by ground-feeding species has been very little explored. The aim of thisstudy was to analyze the use and selection of foraging substrates by birds in urban parks inBuenos Aires City, Argentina. The species with the most records were the Rufous-belliedThrush (Turdus rufiventris), the Eared Dove (Zenaida auriculata), and the Rufous Hornero(Furnarius rufus). Most of the species foraged on ground substrates. Several species, such asthe Thrush and the Picazuro Pigeon (Patagioenas picazuro), selected lawn and bare ground.The Monk Parakeet (Myiopsitta monachus) and the Cattle Tyrant (Machetornis rixosa) selectedlawn, while the Eared Dove and the Picui Ground Dove (Columbina picui) selected bareground. Some species such as the Picui Ground Dove and the Green-barred Woodpecker(Colaptes melanochloros) did not use impermeable surfaces. The results obtained revealedthat not only is green cover necessary for birds in urban parks, but also other surfaces suchas bare ground can favor native bird species.