Winter Avian Distribution and Relative Abundance in Six Terrestrial Habitats on Southern Eleuthera, The Bahamas

Abstract

—We studied winter avian distribution and relative abundance in six common terrestrial broadleaf habitats, selected on a continuum of disturbance from recently disturbed (abandoned plantation) to mature vegetation (tall coppice), on the island of Eleuthera, The Bahamas. During 158-point counts conducted 22 January—10 March 2003, 1357 individuals were detected, comprising 33 species. Winter residents comprised 47% of species detected and 20% (248/1357) of individuals. The abundance of both permanent and winter residents was highest in taller, more mature vegetation (short and tall coppice) and lowest in more recently disturbed shorter vegetation (abandoned plantations). Four permanent residents: Vireo crassirostris, Loxigilla violacea, Tiaris bicolor, and Aramus guarauna; and three winter residents Geothlypis trichas, Dendroica palmarum, and Dumetella carolinensis were unevenly distributed among habitats; three (V. crassirostris, L. violacea, D. carolinensis) were more commonly detected in mature habitats and four (T. bicolor, A. guarauna, G. trichas, D. palmarum) in more recently disturbed environments. There were marked similarities in the composition of bird communities among all habitats; the largest differences were between the least and most disturbed habitats. There was little evidence of habitat specialization by either permanent or winter residents. Intra-specific variation in abundance of permanent and winter residents is discussed in relation to habitat structure and disturbance regimes.