The nesting ecology of song thrush (Turdus philomelos) in Stepanakert City of Nagorno-Karabakh and its adjoining areas

Urbanization and intensive anthropogenic transformation of natural habitats significantly influence avian breeding ecology, particularly in rapidly changing urban environments. Understanding species-specific reproductive responses to these pressures is essential for effective conservation planning. This study presents the first comprehensive analysis of the nesting ecology and breeding success of the Song Thrush (Turdus philomelos) in the Republic of Nagorno-Karabakh, focusing on Stepanakert city and its surrounding urban, suburban, and peri-urban habitats. Field studies were conducted during the breeding seasons from 2017 to 2023 across a range of habitat types, including parks, gardens, orchards, bushes, cemeteries, and suburban forests. Nest placement, nesting substrates, nest dimensions, egg characteristics, and breeding phenology were recorded using standard ornithological and biometric methods. Breeding success and fledging  success were assessed across habitat categories. The results revealed clear habitat-related differences in nesting success. Breeding success ranged from 78.5% in urban parks to 94.4% in suburban forests. Fledging success was lowest in bush habitats (52.2%) and highest in urban forests (78.2%). Overall, 73.1% of chicks reached fledging age, and approximately 64% of the 1,277 recorded eggs resulted in mature juveniles. Breeding activity occurred in two main periods, with hatching primarily observed from early June onward. The findings demonstrate that song thrush exhibits considerable ecological plasticity, with higher reproductive success in less disturbed semi-urban habitats. These results highlight the importance of habitat structure and anthropogenic pressure in shaping breeding success and provide essential baseline data for the conservation and management of urban bird populations in the region. This study is particularly relevant as it provides the first quantitative evidence of how habitat type and anthropogenic pressure shape the breeding success and population ecology of song thrush in urban, suburban and peri-urban landscapes of Nagorno-Karabakh.