Avian community characteristics of urban greenspaces in St. Louis, Missouri

Abstract

We studied bird communities among six vegetation classes in St. Louis to determine how a range of greenspace types function as avian habitat. During 1997 and 1998, 67 bird species were recorded along strip transects among the six habitats sampled. The open woodland habitat supported a unique community, and provided habitat for cavity and middle/upper canopy nesting species. The important species that specialized in woodlands were the Red- headed Woodpecker (Melanerpes erythrocephalus) and House Wren (Troglodytes aedon). All other habitats separated out based on the interpretation of species data in an ordination analysis. We measured 13 habitat variables, and of these, canopy closure, shrub density, forb cover, and canopy height best explained bird species variation, suggesting these features are important for managing bird habitat in St. Louis.