Bird communities on Mount Etna (Sicily, Italy)

Mount Etna contains a mosaic of habitats that maintain a rich bird fauna. Between 1981 and 1986 we detected 77 breeding bird species. At the lowest altitudes, the shrubby maquis and the oak woods harbour high populations of Mediterranean species. Above 1000 m dominant conifers (Pinus laricio) contain fewer species with lower diversity in even-aged stands, but with higher values in the uneven-aged conifer stands mixed with birch trees (Betula aetnensis). Forest edges yield the highest evenness and richness of the bird communities of Etna, while high-altitude scrub contains the fewest number of species. Both forest edges and high altitude scrub har bour the highest number of species restricted to these habitat types. These data could be useful in the management of the Regional Park of Etna.