Abstract

Trace metals pose significant environmental hazards, with elevated concentrations often found in urban-dwelling animals. Although pigeons (Columba livia Gmelin, JF, 1789) have been used as biomarkers of pollution for certain metals, comprehensive assessments of broader contamination patterns—and the environmental and biological factors that influence them—remain limited. This study investigates the relationship between lead accumulation in feral C. livia feathers and various influences, including plumage coloration, environmental temperature, precipitation, the percentage of impervious surfaces, and the Global Human Modification of Terrestrial Systems index. We employed a dual approach: sampling pigeons from Santiago, Chile, across areas with differing urbanization and climatic conditions, and integrating data on lead concentrations from studies conducted worldwide (South Korea, Iran, France, Mexico, and Brazil) with our findings. Our results show lower lead levels in birds from areas with a higher percentage of impervious surfaces, in contrast to the well-known high lead concentrations typically found in urban settings and the higher values associated with an elevated Global Human Modification of Terrestrial Systems index. In environments where leaded gasoline is not the primary source of lead, we suggest that areas with greater wash capacity—such as those with more impervious surfaces and higher rainfall—are likely to have less contaminated dust, which pigeons may ingest. Another factor identified, though with a minor contribution to environmental features, was plumage darkness related to melanin content and pattern of coloration. © 2025 Elsevier B.V.