Birds in the Concrete Forest: Nest-site Use on Human-made Structures across Western Ecuador

Daniel Velasco-Cedeño; Elías Viteri-Basso; Walter Vivas; Ariel Guerrero-Campoverde

doi:10.56178/eh.v41i1.1538

Articles Published 30 June 2026 https://doi.org/10.56178/eh.v41i1.1538

Birds in the Concrete Forest: Nest-site Use on Human-made Structures across Western Ecuador

bird nesting participatory science urban birds urbanization

Daniel Velasco-Cedeño Instituto de Biodiversidad Tropical IBIOTROP, Laboratorio de Zoología Terrestre, Museo de Zoología, Quito 170901, Ecuador

Elías Viteri-Basso Instituto de Biodiversidad Tropical IBIOTROP, Laboratorio de Zoología Terrestre, Museo de Zoología, Quito 170901, Ecuador

Walter Vivas Instituto de Biodiversidad Tropical IBIOTROP, Laboratorio de Zoología Terrestre, Museo de Zoología, Quito 170901, Ecuador

Ariel Guerrero-Campoverde Instituto de Biodiversidad Tropical IBIOTROP, Laboratorio de Zoología Terrestre, Museo de Zoología, Quito 170901, Ecuador

Abstract

Urban expansion is a major driver of habitat transformation, reducing the availability of natural nesting sites for birds and promoting the use of anthropogenic structures. In this study, we document nesting behavior of native bird species in human-made structures across Western Ecuador, a region experiencing rapid urban growth and significant ecosystem fragmentation. We combined field observations (2023–2025), detailed monitoring of two focal species (Tyrannus niveigularis and Myrmia micrura) in 2025, and participatory science data from the iNaturalist platform (2009–2025). We compiled 49 nesting records from 15 species using a wide variety of artificial substrates including walls, light poles, roofs, cables, and air conditioning units. Detailed observations revealed successful reproduction in both focal species including nest reuse and biparental care by T. niveigularis and repeated nesting attempts by M. micrura on an unconventional artificial substrate. Our findings include novel records of anthropogenic nesting for three species and expand existing knowledge of urban nesting ecology in the region. While artificial structures may provide alternative nesting opportunities, they can also expose birds to risks such as disturbance, predation, and reduced reproductive success. These results highlight the importance of urban environments as emerging ecological systems and underscore the value of integrating field observations with participatory science data to better understand species responses to human-modified landscapes in tropical regions.

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References

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How to cite

Daniel Velasco-Cedeño, Elías Viteri-Basso, Walter Vivas, Ariel Guerrero-Campoverde (2026). Birds in the Concrete Forest: Nest-site Use on Human-made Structures across Western Ecuador. El Hornero, Vol. 41 No. 1 (2026), 115-129. https://doi.org/10.56178/eh.v41i1.1538

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[1] Afrifa JK, Deikumah JP, Monney KA (2023) Comparative use of artificial structures and natural vegetation by birds in a built-up urban area in Ghana. Avian Conservation and Ecology 18(1):6. https://doi.org/10.5751/ace-02351-180106

[2] Alcívar J, Cornejo X (2022) Neotipificación, descripción del nido y plantas que visita Myrmia micrura (Gould, 1854). Revista Científica Ciencias Naturales y Ambientales 16(1). https://doi.org/10.53591/cna.v16i1.1598

[3] Alexandrino ER, Silva GA, Corbo MC, Demuner BA, Szabo JK (2022) Urban southern House Wren (Troglodytes musculus) nesting in apparently unsuitable human-made structures: is it worth it? Ornitología Neotropical 33(1):44-52. https://doi.org/10.58843/ornneo.v33i1.879

[4] Araneda P, Ohrens O, Ibarra JT (2021) Socioeconomic development and ecological traits as predictors of human–bird conflicts. Conservation Biology 36(1):e13859. https://doi.org/10.1111/cobi.13859

[5] Armijos-Ojeda D, Székely D, Székely P, Cogălniceanu D, Cisneros-Heredia DF, Ordóñez-Delgado L, Escudero A, Espinosa CI (2021) Amphibians of the equatorial seasonally dry forests of Ecuador and Peru. ZooKeys 1063:23-48. https://doi.org/10.3897/zookeys.1063.69580

[6] Baker JL (Ed.) (2012) Climate change, disaster risk, and the urban poor: cities building resilience for a changing world. The World Bank, Washington, DC

[7] Baptista LF, Trail PW, Horblit HM, Boesman PFD, de Juana E, Garcia E (2020) Ecuadorian Ground Dove (Columbina buckleyi), version 1.0. En: del Hoyo J, Elliott A, Sargatal J, Christie DA, de Juana E (Eds.) Birds of the World. Cornell Lab of Ornithology, Ithaca, NY, USA. https://doi.org/10.2173/bow.ecgdov1.01

[8] Baptista LF, Trail PW, Horblit HM, Boesman PFD, Garcia E, Pantoja-Maggi V (2024a) Eared Dove (Zenaida auriculata), version 1.1. En: del Hoyo J, Elliott A, Sargatal J, Christie DA, de Juana E, Medrano F (Eds.) Birds of the World. Cornell Lab of Ornithology, Ithaca, NY, USA. https://doi.org/10.2173/bow.eardov1.01.1

[9] Baptista LF, Trail PW, Horblit HM, Boesman PFD, de Juana E, Garcia E (2024b) Croaking Ground Dove (Columbina cruziana), version 1.1. En: del Hoyo J, Elliott A, Sargatal J, Christie DA, de Juana E, Medrano F (Eds.) Birds of the World. Cornell Lab of Ornithology, Ithaca, NY, USA. https://doi.org/10.2173/bow.crgdov1.01.1

[10] Barco G, Peralta G, Díaz A, Peluc SI (2024) Características reproductivas de Zenaida auriculata (Aves: Columbidae) en ambientes urbanos de la ciudad de Córdoba, Argentina. Ecología Austral 34(1):001-009. https://doi.org/10.25260/EA.23.33.3.0.2236

[11] Barrantes G, Sandoval L (2019) Effect of El Niño and La Niña on abundance of frugivorous and nectarivorous terrestrial birds in three tropical forests. Revista de Biología Tropical 67(2SUPL):S282-S297. https://doi.org/10.15517/rbt.v67i2supl.37252

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