Distribution of passerines in grassland and wood habitats

During spring and summer of 2002 the variety and distribution of passerines were studied in grasslands, shrublands (sparse and dense) and oak wood in Langadas province of Thessaloniki. The vegetation structure, which is mostly affected by the grazing pressure, influences the composition and distribution of bird fauna. During the study, a total of 125 point counts and line transects were carried out. During these counts 43 bird species were recorded. Diversity Index and Evenness was higher in dense shrublands and oak woods and lower in grasslands. The grasslands were proved to be the most degraded habitats for passerines where the most common species were Magpie (Pica pica) and Starling (Sturnus vulgaris). The most common species in sparse shrublands was Corn bunting (Miliaria calandra), while in the dense shrublands was Black-headed bunting (Emberiza melanocephala). Certain species were selective to the type of habitat they chose and this was obvious both in woodlands and in grasslands. The four different habitats vary as regards the passerines’ community allocated in them, with the oak forests and the grasslands presenting the greatest diversity. Grazing seems to have a favourable effect on passerines variability in shrublands but not in grasslands. The excessive grazing pressure in grasslands seems to have a favorable effect on certain bird species that by their dominance seems to affect negatively the passerines diversity.