Agricultural intensification has led to widespread pesticide contamination, contributing to the decline of farmland bird populations. Organic farming (OF) presents an alternative approach, relying on nature-based methods and prohibiting synthetic pesticides. This study aimed to investigate contamination patterns in wild farmland passerines and compare pesticide exposure levels between OF and conventional farming (CF) environments. During the breeding season, five passerine species were captured across 9 hedgerows surrounded by OF and 10 hedgerows adjacent to CF. Blood samples were analysed for 104 pesticide residues, providing insights into recent and local exposure. Contamination levels were assessed using two metrics: (1) the number of compounds detected and (2) the total concentration of pesticides. Overall, 84.5 % of the birds were contaminated with at least one compound, with 57 compounds detected, including 14 pesticides banned for over a year. Contamination patterns varied across species: Eurasian blackcaps (Sylvia atricapilla) exhibited the lowest pesticide load, whereas cirl buntings (Emberiza cirlus) had the highest number of detected compounds, and common blackbirds (Turdus merula) displayed the highest total pesticide concentration. While the number of compounds did not significantly differ between agricultural systems, common blackbirds and Eurasian blackcaps had lower pesticide concentrations in OF than in CF, suggesting that organic farming may offer some reduction in exposure. However, pesticide contamination remains persistent across environments, indicating potential exposure risks for other species, including humans, with possible health implications under the One Health framework.
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