This document summarizes a study on the habitats and distribution of birds in Singapore's urban environment. It describes the natural and urban habitats of three bird species - Javan mynah, feral pigeon, and Oriental pied hornbill - and where sightings of each were recorded in the city. The Javan mynah and feral pigeon were found to be well-adapted to urban areas, with widespread and varied distributions, while sightings of the Oriental pied hornbill were largely limited to forests and parks. The study aims to identify which urban habitat types different bird species prefer.

1. Bird Cribs in the Lion City - Where do city
birds like to hangout ? By
Ishmam Ahmed

2. Bird
Habitats
An overview of avian
habitats - both natural and
urban
Bird
Profiles
Profiles of birds that are (i)
well-suited, and (ii) not very
well suited to the urban
environment
Study
Design
Birds selected for the study
Urban habitats/typologies
selected and categorised for
this study
Study
Findings
So, where do the birds live?

3. Provide food, shelter,
and nesting sites for
many bird species,
including both
deciduous and
coniferous forests.
Forests
Natural
Habitats
Swamps, marshes,
and bogs that are
important habitats for
waterfowl, wading
birds, and shorebirds.
Wetlands
Open spaces with
sparse tree cover,
home to
ground-dwelling birds
and birds of prey.
Grasslands
Beaches, cliffs, and
rocky shores that are
home to seabirds,
shorebirds, and
waterfowl that rely on
the marine
environment.
Coastal

4. Provide important urban
habitats for a variety of
bird species, with trees,
water bodies, and food
sources.
Parks & Green
Urban
Habitats
Attract bird species
that prefer suburban
areas, with trees, small
parks, and gardens for
food and nesting.
Low Rise
Have a limited range of
bird species, with
pigeons and mynahs
common, and a lack of
nesting sites.
High Rise
Very limited habitats for
bird species, with some
opportunistic nesting
on building ledges and
rooftops.
High Rise Commercial

5. This bird is common in urban
areas and is known for its
adaptability and opportunistic
feeding habits. They can be
found in parks, gardens, and
residential areas, and are often
seen foraging for scraps of food.
This species is well adapted to
urban areas worldwide and can
be found in many parts of
Singapore. They are known for
their pigeonholing behavior and
are often seen roosting on
buildings and ledges.
This bird is a resident species in
Singapore and is commonly
found in parks and gardens.
They are known for their
distinctive calls and are often
seen building their nests in
shrubs and bushes.
Javan Mynah Feral Pigeon Common Tailorbird
Urban
Gangsters
These birds are well adapted
to the Urban Environment

6. This bird prefers mature forests
with a high canopy cover.
Primarily found in the forested
areas of the Central Catchment
Nature Reserve and Bukit Timah
Nature Reserve, but sightings
are rare and irregular.
This species is primarily found
in forested areas and requires
tall trees for nesting and
hunting. Rarely seen outside of
forested areas, such as the
Central Catchment Nature
Reserve.
This large bird requires large
trees with cavities for nesting
and roosting. Commonly found
in forested areas, but
deforestation and habitat
fragmentation pose significant
threats to their populations.
Straw-headed Bulbul Jerdon’s Baza Oriental Pied Hornbill
This city
sucks
These birds are not very well
adapted to the Urban
Environment

7. The
Study

8. This bird is common in urban
areas and is known for its
adaptability and opportunistic
feeding habits. They can be
found in parks, gardens, and
residential areas, and are often
seen foraging for scraps of food.
This species is well adapted to
urban areas worldwide and can
be found in many parts of
Singapore. They are known for
their pigeonholing behavior and
are often seen roosting on
buildings and ledges.
This large bird requires large
trees with cavities for nesting
and roosting. Commonly found
in forested areas, but
deforestation and habitat
fragmentation pose significant
threats to their populations.
Javan Mynah Feral Pigeon Oriental Pied Hornbill
Birds Selected
For Study
The Javan Mynah and the
Feral Pigeon are generally
well-suited to the urban
environment - while the
Oriental Pied-Hornbill is not.

9. Javan Mynah is a glossy black
bird with a yellow bill and white
patches, native to Java, Bali, and
nearby islands.
In their natural habitat, Javan Mynahs can be found in
primary and secondary forests, as well as in open areas
such as grasslands, agricultural lands, and scrublands.
They can also be found in urban areas such as parks,
gardens, and residential neighborhoods.
About Natural vs Urban Habitat
Javan
Mynah

10. The Feral Pigeon, also known as
the Rock Pigeon, is a common
bird found in cities worldwide,
known for its adaptability and
pigeonholing behavior.
The Feral Pigeon's natural habitat is rocky cliffs, coastal
regions, and urban areas, where they can find ample food
and shelter. They are highly adaptable and have been
able to colonize cities worldwide, often roosting on
buildings and feeding on human scraps. They are
considered a pest in some areas.
About Natural vs Urban Habitat
Feral
Pigeon

11. The Oriental Pied Hornbill is a
large bird with a distinctive
casque on its bill, native to
Southeast Asia and parts of
India.
The Oriental Pied Hornbill's natural habitat consists of
tropical and subtropical rainforests, secondary forests,
woodlands, and mangroves in Southeast Asia and parts
of India. They require large trees with cavities for nesting
and roosting and feed on fruit.
About Natural vs Urban Habitat
Oriental Pied
Hornbill
Blue-Green Infrastructure
work together to manage
water, provide ecological and
social benefits, and enhance
resilience to environmental
challenges such as climate
change and urbanization.

12. Spatial
Approach
I looked at the different
kinds of ‘Urban Habitats’ -
and tried to figure out where
the birds in Singapore live.
I assumed that birds in the
study would prefer low
density urban areas - based
on personal observation

13. Process

14. Base Map
1
Parks & Nature Reserves
2
Low Rise/Density
3
High Rise/Density
4
High Rise Commercial
5
Bird Data - iNaturalist
6
Process

15. Base Map
1
Parks & Nature Reserves
2
Low Rise/Density
3
High Rise/Density
4
High Rise Commercial
5
Bird Data - iNaturalist
6
Process

16. Base Map
1
Parks & Nature Reserves
2
Low Rise/Density
3
High Rise/Density
4
High Rise Commercial
5
Bird Data - iNaturalist
6
Process

17. Base Map
1
Parks & Nature Reserves
2
Low Rise/Density
3
High Rise/Density
4
High Rise Commercial
5
Bird Data - iNaturalist
6
Process

18. Base Map
1
Parks & Nature Reserves
2
Low Rise/Density
3
High Rise/Density
4
High Rise Commercial
5
Bird Data - iNaturalist
6
Process

19. Process
Base Map
1
Parks & Nature Reserves
2
Low Rise/Density
3
High Rise/Density
4
High Rise Commercial
5
Bird Data - iNaturalist
6

20. Findings

21. Javan
Mynah
Hougang 405A
Civic District
Distribution
27 6 32 7

22. Feral
Pigeon
Hougang 405A
Little India
Distribution
24 4 37 15

23. Oriental-Pied
Hornbill
Pulau-Ubin/Pasir Ris Park
Yale-NUS College
Distribution
68 6 16 3

24. ● Some birds species (javan mynah) are spread evenly
across the urban landscape - even
non-residential/industrial zones
● Some birds (feral pigeons) live close to
residential/high density areas
● Some birds (hornbill) tend to exclusively stick to
forested areas or dense urban parks
● Very few birds are spotted in high density commercial
zones - except near open squares and parks
● Low density zones seem to not be very popular among
the birds studied - against initial assumption
Conclusions

25. The End