Bird community of small urban remnants of the Atlantic Forest, northeastern Brazil

Human activities greatly decrease the availability of natural areas. Many of these areas become isolated, evidencing the process of forest fragmentation. In Brazil, the Atlantic Forest is one of the biomes that suffered most from the process of human occupation. Between 2015 and 2017, we studied fragments of Atlantic Forest in an urban area of the municipality of João Pessoa, Paraíba State, northeastern Brazil. We obtained data of richness, diversity and species composition of 10 small urban remnants of Atlantic Forest. The size of remnants varied between 1.6 and 8.6 ha. Data were obtained by the method of Mackinnon lists. The samplings were performed in the early hours of the morning, and also at the end of the afternoon, through direct observation and detection of bird sounds. We obtained 210 lists were obtained, totaling 2100 records, of 49 species. Seven of the 49 species represented 72% of the detections. The most common species were Tangara palmarum, Coereba flaveola, Turdus leucomelas, Todirostrum cinereum, Pitangus sulphuratus, Tangara cayana and Vireo chivi. The number of species among the forest fragments were relatively similar (21 to 31 species). Leptodon forbesi, a critically endangered species, was detected in the area. More data is needed to determine the importance of our area for this species. Probably the proximity of our fragments to two other larger areas, including a conservation unit with more than 500 ha, may explain the presence of this species in this area.