Urban Low-Rise Residential Areas Provide Preferred Song Post Sites for a Resident Songbird

Abstract

Urbanization is expanding rapidly worldwide, and brings additional selection pressure on animals. The song differences between urban and rural songbirds have been widely verified, but the effects of urban morphological variation on long-settled urban birds have been poorly explored. Here, we investigated the distribution and song differences of a common resident songbird—the oriental magpie-robin (Copsychus saularis) between three urban morphology types (i.e., urban park, low-rise residential area, and high-rise residential area). The results indicated that the population density in low-rise residential areas was significantly higher than in urban parks, while it was the lowest in high-rise residential areas. Males in low-rise residential areas had greater song length, syllable numbers, frequency bandwidth, and song diversity than those in urban parks. The song differences were mainly related to habitat types, independent of singing height and perch type. Our findings suggest that low-rise residential areas may provide preferred song post sites for the oriental magpie-robin, which is well-adapted to the low-rise building morphology, but rejects the emerging high-rise buildings. Future studies are needed to assess the effects of urban morphological variation on more resident animals to determine which urban morphologies are conducive to enhancing biodiversity and encouraging animals to settle in urban areas.

Assessment of the ecological role of historic centres based on the relationship between biodiversity and urban composition

“…The height most associated with the presence of birds in this study is three stories. The results of our study are consistent with recent research by Chen et al [ 49 ] and Polak et al [ 50 ], which indicate that a combination of building heights, especially from one to three stories, can increase avian biodiversity and improve the comfort of urban residents. The social benefits of green spaces and biodiversity are linked to the capacity for reflection, attachment, and a sense of identity through memories connected with the green space and its surroundings, which translates as well-being [ [51] , [52] , [53] ].…”

Bird Assemblages in a Peri-Urban Landscape in Eastern India

“…Farmland, pastureland, and urban areas are important bird habitats as they hold much wildlife outside the protected areas [28,30]. Urban habitats encourage bird populations in cities and their surroundings; however, the urbanization process, like landscape conversion, is a great threat to the bird population [15,32]. The growing human population and rapid landscape transformation for urban uses threaten biodiversity [33].…”