Woodpeckers in a Neotropical city select exotic trees with low wood density for cavity excavation

Urbanization alters ecological resources for cavity‐nesting communities. This transformation often reduces suitable substrates for excavation, such as standing deadwood, which is commonly removed for safety or aesthetic purposes. We examined tree selection for cavity excavation by the White‐fronted Woodpecker (Melanerpes cactorum) in urban parks of Córdoba, Argentina, a temperate, highly populated Neotropical city. Across 279 ha in 89 parks, we located 49 excavated trees and compared their attributes with paired control trees. Using generalized linear mixed models, we assessed the effects of wood density, decay class, diameter at breast height, tree height, canopy cover, and local tree density on tree selection. Substrate hardness, determined by wood density and decay, strongly shaped excavation patterns. Woodpeckers predominantly excavated live trees with low wood density, especially the exotic tree Melia azedarach, which represented nearly 80% of excavated trees despite comprising only 4% of available trees. White‐fronted Woodpeckers selected live trees only for species with low wood density, whereas higher wood-density species were increasingly chosen as decay advanced. No significant selection occurred for tree height, diameter, canopy cover, or local tree density. Current urban management may filter out deadwood‐dependent bird species, but exotic plantings may benefit woodpeckers if their wood properties fall within the woodpeckers’ biomechanical limits and preferences. Management strategies that retain some deadwood and also include tree species within the suitable hardness range when living could enhance diversity and resilience in urban cavity‐nesting communities.