Density of five dove species in a riparian corridor of Northwestern Mexico

The objective of this study was to estimate the population density of five dove species: Rock pigeon ( Columba livia ), Red-billed pigeon ( Patagioenas flavirostris ), Eurasian collared-dove ( Streptopelia decaocto ), White-winged dove ( Zenaida asiatica ), and Mourning dove ( Zenaida macroura ) within the riparian corridor of the Sinaloa River, located in the municipality of Guasave, Sinaloa. The perpendicular distance sampling method was applied using line transects, with a total survey effort of 58.5 km conducted between March and November 2024. Data were analyzed using Distance software, and species-specific detection models were constructed. Parametric (Welch ANOVA and Tukey HSD) and non-parametric (Kruskal-Wallis and Mann-Whitney U with Bonferroni correction) statistical analyses were performed to assess differences in density among species and across seasons of the year. Results indicated that White-winged dove was the most abundant and widely distributed species, with a mean density of 744.03 individuals/km 2 , significantly higher than that of the other species. Seasonal variation was observed in White-winged dove, with the highest density during the breeding season in spring and the lowest in autumn, reflecting changes in resource availability and local movements rather than long-term population trends. The remaining species exhibited lower densities and more restricted distributions, with Rock pigeon showing localized presence along the waterfront promenade in the urban area of Guasave, and Red-billed pigeon being sparsely represented throughout the riparian corridor. These findings underscore the ecological importance of riparian corridors as key habitats for generalist species such as White-winged dove, and highlight the need for long-term monitoring of less abundant dove populations. The information generated is relevant for the design of conservation and management strategies for avifauna in agricultural and urban landscapes of northwestern Mexico.