Nesting Features of the Woodpigeon (Columba palumbus L., 1758) in Urban and Natural Landscapes in Belarus.

As birds adapt to life in urban areas, separate urban populations are formed which are, in regards to many biological and ecological characteristics, distinct from birds of the same species that inhabit natural environments. The woodpigeon is one of the most common representatives of synurbic bird species that has successfully managed to spread to cities in most of Europe over the past century. This article explores the history of formation of synurbic woodpigeon groups in Belarus and looks at the differences in the breeding biology of forest and urban birds based on research in 2000–2021. During this period, we collected information about 109 woodpigeon nests in forest areas and 368 nests in urban areas. In the course of our research, we found out that the synurbic woodpigeon continues spreading to northern and eastern parts of Belarus. By now, urban birds live in around 70% of the entire territory of the country. Our analysis of the woodpigeon breeding biology shows that there are differences between forest and urban birds that stem from the fact that the latter live in urban areas. Despite the absence of clear differences in the phenology of the arrival of the woodpigeon in cities and natural landscapes, the nesting period of urban birds starts earlier and lasts much longer. In addition, the share of birds that breed more than once per season is larger than in forest birds. The peculiarities of nesting sites observed in urban birds as opposed to wild birds result from the peculiarities of urban green spaces and the effect of predation. We discovered that the share of nest failures peaks in spring (April–May). The breeding success of the woodpigeon in urban areas amounts to 52% of all nesting cases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]