Abundance of Non-Native Birds in the City: Spatial Variation and Relationship with Socioeconomics in a South American City

SIMPLE SUMMARY: Cities commonly support exotic species that can affect both wildlife and human health, but little is known regarding their distribution across the city and their relationship with socioeconomics. Here, we map the abundance of three non-native birds—domestic pigeon, house sparrow, and monk parakeet—in a Latin American city and investigate the effect of socioeconomics on their abundance. We found the domestic pigeon had a random spatial distribution across the city but reached its greatest abundance in low-income areas. The house sparrow was spatially aggregated in the southern and western areas of the city and reached its greatest abundance in low-income areas. The monk parakeet was spatially aggregated in the northeastern area of the city and reached its greatest abundance in high-income areas. Given that the abundance of non-native birds varies across the city and between socioeconomic groups, species-specific management is needed in different city zones to limit negative effects on native species and prevent human health risks. ABSTRACT: Cities commonly support a high abundance of non-native species that can affect both wildlife and human health; however, their distribution across the urban environment and their relationship with socioeconomics are not well documented. Here, we map the abundance of three non-native birds in a Latin American city—domestic pigeon (Columba livia f. domestica), house sparrow (Passer domesticus), and monk parakeet (Myiopsitta monachus)—and investigate the effect of socioeconomics on their abundance. We found that C. livia f. domestica exhibited a random distribution of abundance across the city but reached its greatest abundance in low-income areas. P. domesticus exhibited an aggregated distribution of abundance, being most abundant in the southern and western areas of the city and in low-income areas. M. monachus exhibited an aggregated distribution of abundance, being most abundant in the northeastern part of the city and reaching its greatest abundance in high-income areas. Low-income areas likely provide high abundance of food, shelter, and nesting sites for both C. livia f. domestica and P. domesticus, whereas high income areas have greater tree cover and larger trees in which M. monachus can build communal nests. Our study finds that the abundance of non-native birds varies across the city and between socioeconomic groups; therefore, targeted management is needed in different city zones to limit negative effects on native species and prevent zoonotic diseases.