Microhabitat Selection by Ground-Foraging Birds in Urban Parks

Urban parks are refuges for a diversity of birds in cities. Therefore, understanding the relationship between park structure and different bird species is essential to achieve nature-friendly park planning and management. However, the selection of foraging substrates by ground-feeding species has been very little explored. The aim of this study was to analyze the use and selection of foraging substrates by birds in urban parks in Buenos Aires City, Argentina. Between December 2020 and February 2021, 16 urban parks were visited. During each visit, focal observations of individuals feeding on different microhabitats were made. For ground-foraging species, the use of each substrate was then compared with its availability by means of contingency tests. A total of 38 species and 7823 foraging attempts were registered. The species with the most records were the Rufous-bellied Thrush (Turdus rufiventris), the Eared Dove (Zenaida auriculata), and the Rufous Hornero (Furnarius rufus). Most of the species foraged on ground substrates. Several species, such as the Thrush and the Picazuro Pigeon (Patagioenas picazuro), selected lawn and bare ground. The Monk Parakeet (Myiopsitta monachus) and the Cattle Tyrant (Machetornis rixosa) selected lawn, while the Eared Dove and the Picui Ground Dove (Columbina picui) selected bare ground. Some species such as the Picui Ground Dove and the Green-barred Woodpecker (Colaptes melanochloros) did not use impermeable surfaces. The results obtained revealed that not only is green cover necessary for birds in urban parks, but also other surfaces such as bare ground can favor native bird species.