Beyond green space area: How landscape structure shapes urban bird communities in a megacity

Urbanization poses a significant threat to biodiversity, with urban green spaces providing crucial habitats for birds within cities. However, studies have often focused on site-scale variables when assessing urbanization effects on birds, neglecting the role of landscape structure on shaping bird communities. In this sense, the effects of landscape structure on birds requires further research in urban environments. We aimed to assess how landscape structure influences bird diversity in public green spaces across Mexico City. We surveyed birds in 20 public green spaces and estimated bird abundance, diversity and evenness for each study site. We estimated landscape composition and configuration metrics and analyzed their effects on bird responses at multiple spatial scales (100–900 m radius). We recorded 1,194 individual birds from 56 species during our surveys, where bird assemblages were dominated by few synanthropic bird species. Landscape composition was more important than landscape configuration for birds. Deforested landscapes promoted bird abundance, while lower forest and grass cover enhanced bird species richness and diversity. Evenness was most strongly influenced by urban landscapes with higher grass cover and lower proportions of pavement and built-up areas. Our findings highlight the importance of integrating landscape-scale ecological principles into urban planning to enhance avian diversity and promote sustainable urban ecosystems. Prioritizing landscapes with high forest (native and non-native) and grass cover, and minimizing and managing impervious surfaces, could improve the quality of urban green spaces for birds and the environmental services they provide.