Composition and seasonal variation in the richness of the avifauna in a Caatinga area in Passagem, Paraíba, Brazil

Birds are one of the most studied groups of vertebrates, however, within the Caatinga Domain, a knowledge gap has persisted for a long time. Recently, an increase in studies has revealed the significance of the Caatinga as an area of considerable endemism. Nevertheless, many regions still lack detailed investigation, especially in the field of ornithology. The state of Paraíba is one of those areas where information on avifauna is scarce. This study aimed to conduct an inventory and investigate the seasonality of avifauna in a Caatinga area in the state of Paraíba, specifically in a region not included in protected areas. The research was carried out at Fazenda Aba, located in the municipality of Passagem, Paraíba, Brazil. A total of 155 bird species were identified, distributed across 46 families. The most representative families were Tyrannidae, with 28 species, followed by Thraupidae, with 11, and Accipitridae, with 8. The richness estimates of Chao2 and Jacknife1 for the study period were 157 and 166 species, respectively, with a similarity index of 69% between the seasonal periods. Fourteen species were considered endemic, and one species, Penelope jacucaca, was identified as endangered. It was observed that 47.7% of the species (N=74) inhabited open environments, while 12.9% (N=20) were dependent on forest environments, and 39.3% (N=61) were considered generalists. The results of this study indicate that the region of Fazenda Aba plays an essential role in the conservation of birds in the Caatinga region, presenting characteristics that align with the patterns of priority areas for avifauna protection.