This is the 3955th most frequent Russian word.
житель
Inhabitant; resident.
In this sentence, 'жителями' refers to those who inhabit a forest naturally, emphasizing wildlife rather than human beings.
Эти леса богаты различными видами животных и птиц, которые являются его естественными жителями.
These forests are rich in various species of animals and birds, which are its natural inhabitants.
Here, 'житель деревни' specifically denotes a person who lives in a village, highlighting the connection to the locality.
Житель деревни рассказал о традициях своего региона.
A villager shared the traditions of his region.
Here 'жители' refers to the inhabitants of a particular place—'город' (city)—indicating people who live there collectively.