Skip to Main Content
-
Songbird abundance and parasatism differ between urban and rural shrublands
Author(s): Dirk E. Burhans; Frank R. Thompson
Date: 2006
Source: Ecological Applications, 16(1), 2006, pp. 394-405
Publication Series: Scientific Journal (JRNL)
Station: North Central Research Station
PDF: Download Publication (127.66 KB)Description
Many studies have examined differences in avian community composition between urban and rural habitats, but few, if any, have looked at nesting success of urban shrubland birds in a replicated fashion while controlling for habitat. We tested factors affecting nest survival, parasitism by the Brown-headed Cowbird (Molothrus ater), and species abundance in shrubland habitat in rural and urban landscapes. We found no support for our hypothesis that nest survival was lower in urban landscapes, but strong support for the hypothesis that survival increased with nest height. We found strong support for our hypothesis that cowbird parasitism was greater in urban than rural landscapes; parasitism in urban sites was at least twice that of rural sites. We found strong support for an urban landscape effect on abundance for several species; Northern Cardinal (Cardinalis cardinalis)and Brown-headed Cowbirds were more abundant in urban landscapes, whereas Field Sparrow(Spizella pusilla) and Blue-winged Warbler (Vermivora pinus) were more abundant inrural sites. There was support for lower abundances of Blue-gray Gnatcatcher (Polioptilacaerulea) and Indigo Bunting (Passerina cyanea) with increased housing density. For six other species, edge and trail density or vegetation parameters best explained abundance. Lower abundances and greater parasitism in habitat patches in urban landscapes are evidence that, for some species, these urban landscapes do not fulfill the same role as comparable habitats in rural landscapes. Regional bird conservation planning and local habitat management in urban landscapes may need to consider these effects in efforts to sustain bird populations at regional and local scales.Publication Notes
- Check the Northern Research Station web site to request a printed copy of this publication.
- Our on-line publications are scanned and captured using Adobe Acrobat.
- During the capture process some typographical errors may occur.
- Please contact Sharon Hobrla, shobrla@fs.fed.us if you notice any errors which make this publication unusable.
- We recommend that you also print this page and attach it to the printout of the article, to retain the full citation information.
- This article was written and prepared by U.S. Government employees on official time, and is therefore in the public domain.
Citation
Burhans, Dirk E.; Thompson, Frank R. 2006. Songbird abundance and parasatism differ between urban and rural shrublands. Ecological Applications, 16(1), 2006, pp. 394-405Keywords
brood parasitism, Brown-headed Cowbird, landscape, nest predation, nesting success, shrubland, songbirds, urbanRelated Search
- Cost of Parasitism Incurred by Two Songbird Species and Their Quality As Cowbird Hosts1
- Morning Nest Arrivals in Cowbird Hosts: their Role in Aggression, Cowbird Recognition, and Host Response to Parasitism
- Patterns of Cowbird Parasitism in the Southern Atlantic Coastal Plain and Piedmont
XML: View XML
Show More
Show Fewer
https://www.fs.usda.gov/treesearch/pubs/15650