Avifauna de matas ciliares do Rio Batalha e adjacências, região centro-oeste do estado de São Paulo, Brasil

Abstract

Forest fragmentation and habitat loss in tropical regions are implicated for different organisms responses, with special attention to avian species susceptible to disturbance. They react negatively in the face of changes in their habitats, reducing population size. In this scenario, the riparian forests play an important role as refuge for many species of birds. This study aimed to survey the avifauna of two riparian forests belonging to the Batalha River, West-central region of the state of São Paulo. The birds were described according to their composition, guild structures, degree of dependence on forest quality and level of sensitively to disturbances. Altogether, the census methods applied across the paths and point counts revealed a total of 162 bird species distributed in 48 families and 21 orders, among which 98 were forests, 14 endemic to other kind of vegetation, 3 endangered, 8 near threatened 32 abundant residents and various insectivorous specialists. These results testify the important contribution of riparian forests of west-central of São Paulo state in the conservation of local birds that are sensitive to the fragmentation.