Effect of Plantation Habitat on the Abundance and Breeding Ecology of Passer Species in District Sargodha, Punjab, Pakistan

Abstract

Habitat structure and human management may vary the importance of plantation-associated habitats for birds as a source of food, cover, perches, and nesting substrates. The abundance, site-level composition, nesting distribution and breeding performance of House Sparrow (Passer domesticus) and Eurasian Tree Sparrow (Passer montanus) has been evaluated in six plantation associated sites of District Sargodha, Punjab, Pakistan. At each site, 10 100m×50m line transects were set up and surveyed twice per week throughout the breeding season (February-July 2026). A total of 3,303 Passer individuals were recorded, comprising 2,246 P. domesticus (68.0%) and 1,057 P. montanus (32.0%). Kot Momin Citrus Orchards recorded the highest total abundance (698) while the lowest (458) was recorded from the University of Sargodha campus. Species composition differed significantly among sites (χ² = 217.682, df = 5, p < 0.001). The abundance of Total Passer also varied by citrus-orchard, roadside/shelterbelt and urban/institutional habitat groups (F₂,₅₇ = 3.958, p = 0.02456); the adjusted pairwise difference was between urban/institutional and citrus-orchard habitats (Bonferroni-adjusted p = 0.03728). Sixty-nine nests were recorded, including 46 P. domesticus and 23 P. montanus. Nest initiation was concentrated from March to May (χ² = 26.391, p < 0.001). Mean clutch size was 4.20 ± 0.78 eggs for P. domesticus and 4.09 ± 0.79 eggs for P. montanus. The estimated success of the nests was 55.9% overall, ranging from 38.9% in Company Bagh to 82.0% on the Sargodha–Bhalwal Road, with apparent success at 56.5%. In total, House Crow predation caused 43.3% of all failed nests. Results show high level of plantation associated landscapes used by both Passer species, and significant spatial variation in abundance and reproductive success. The study does not demonstrate causal relationships between the habitat characteristics of the plantations and the results, as the study is observational.