Urban Bird Ecology in an Oasis Moroccan City: Integrating Field Surveys, GIS, and Multivariate Analyses to Reveal Diversity, Breeding Ecology, Habitat Use, and Infrastructure–Bird Interactions

Urban ecosystems increasingly support diverse bird communities, yet comprehensive assessments integrating biodiversity, breeding ecology, spatial distribution, behavior, and infrastructure interactions remain scarce in North African oasis cities. This study investigated avian diversity, breeding ecology, habitat selection, behavioral patterns, and bird–infrastructure interactions in the urban ecosystems of Errachidia (southeastern oasis of Morocco) in 2024. Field surveys were combined with Geographic Information Systems (GIS), Correspondence Analysis (CA), and Generalized Linear Mixed Models (GLMM). A total of 1134 individuals from 13 species, 11 families, and 4 orders were recorded in urban ecosystems compared to 83 species in the entire province. Passeriformes accounted for 76.9% of species, and Passer domesticus represented 41.4% of birds. Six breeding species constructed 88 nests, primarily in buildings (48 nests) and trees (40 nests) (p < 0.05). Green spaces supported the highest species richness (46.2%) and promoted feeding, mating, singing, and flying behaviors, whereas wall habitats negatively affected feeding and flight budgets. Strong habitat–behavior–species associations were recorded, and GIS mapped heterogeneous nesting hotspots. Bird nesting and droppings also affected buildings, electrical installations, and urban aesthetics. This study represents the first integrated assessment of urban bird ecology in Morocco combining field observations, spatial analyses, and advanced multivariate statistics. The findings provide a scientific baseline for urban biodiversity conservation, bird-friendly green infrastructure planning, and sustainable management of urban heritage, while opening new avenues for long-term monitoring of the impacts and land-use change.