Refuges for birds in fire-prone landscapes: The influence of fire severity and fire history on the distribution of forest birds.

Highlights: [•] We investigated the importance to birds of unburnt patches within a mega-fire. [•] We compared differences due to severity and time-since-fire prior to the mega-fire. [•] Unburnt patches had high richness, and a distinct composition. [•] Prior fire history was less relevant to avifauna in severely burnt sites. [•] Recent planned burns may contribute to refuge habitat if subsequent fire is avoided. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]