Urban woodlots are isolated patches with habitat features similar to ‘habitat islands’. Spatial patterns between and within animal communities change with respect to habitat fragmentation, and this is especially the case for avian communities. The purpose of this paper was to test for nestedness within passeriformbird assemblages across urban woodlots of Shanghai, China and to inform conservation planning across this heavily populated city. From November 2008 to October 2009, we used line transect and point count methods to survey distribution patterns and species richness of passeriform birds across seven urban areas in the Minhang district of Shanghai. Areas surveyed included a neighborhood park, tourist park, sports park and water conservation forest, representing the main types of urban woodlots found in the area. Through surveys and satellite images we recorded park area, vegetation coverage, the distance from the center of the park to nearest water, and the extent of anthropogenic disturbance (distance from the center of habitat to arterial road). We used the Nestedness Temperature Calculator to examine whether bird communities in this area show signs of nestedness and what factors may be responsible for such a pattern. Results showed that the passeriform bird community followed a significant nested pattern influenced by habitat area, vegetation cover and water condition. However, nestedness was different from a real ‘island’ condition. Anthropogenic disturbance was also found to influence nestedness. Investigating the matrix system in which the urban woodlot bird communities are comprised showed that the temperature is 21.78 ℃, compactedness is 41.3%, and the number of species is between 14 to 38. Eleven kinds of bird exist across the seven focal urban areas, such as Motacilla alba and Parus major. However, some species as Dicrurusmacrocerus, Orioluschinensis are only found in a particular focal area. Habitat fragmentation contributes to the spread of birds. However, different urban woodlots have distinct habitat characters due to heterogeneity and human activities also interfere with the spread of birds and habitat choice. Vegetation also appears to influence the distribution of birds across urban woodlots. Birds tend to choose particular kinds of urban woodlots that include diverse species, have complex structure or are at a stage of senior evolution. These regions could provide stable food sources and concealed breeding grounds and habitats. Our findings suggest that more attention should be directed towards large habitats, those with a high level of vegetation cover and plant richness, and a reasonable structure of urban woodlot. From the point of nestedness stability, urban environments show instability following city development. Frequent change in urban woodlots influences the migration and spread of birds, and this is a fundamental difference from how ‘habitat islands’ function. Based on the application of 3S technologies to urban planning and ecological monitoring we can now utilize advanced technology such as remote sensing and GIS to monitor variation in urban woodlots and prevent the further habitat fragmentation. The extent of anthropogenic disturbance should be minimized when planning and constructing urban woodlots in major cities.