Individual variation in migratory path and behavior among Eastern Lark Sparrows
Two general migration strategies prevail among temperate-breeding migratory songbirds of North America. Most “Eastern” birds migrate relatively directly from breeding to wintering grounds immediately after molting, whereas a substantial proportion of “Western” species depart breeding grounds early,...
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| Autores principales: | , , , |
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| Formato: | article |
| Lenguaje: | EN |
| Publicado: |
De Gruyter
2015
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| Materias: | |
| Acceso en línea: | https://doaj.org/article/eecaee7a9e16412eb4f03d0913d33323 |
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| Sumario: | Two general migration strategies prevail
among temperate-breeding migratory songbirds of North
America. Most “Eastern” birds migrate relatively directly
from breeding to wintering grounds immediately after
molting, whereas a substantial proportion of “Western”
species depart breeding grounds early, and molt during
extended migratory stopovers before reaching wintering
areas. The Lark Sparrow is one of a few Western
Neotropical migrants with a breeding range that extends
into regions dominated by Eastern species. We sought to
determine whether Eastern Lark Sparrows migrated in a
manner consistent with Western conspecifics or follow
typical Eastern songbird migratory patterns. To do so,
we tracked individual Eastern Lark Sparrows equipped
with geolocators between their breeding grounds in
Ohio and their unknown wintering locations. Data from
three Ohio Lark Sparrows revealed 1) individual variation
in the duration and directness of autumn migrations,
2) autumn departures that consistently preceded molt,
3) wintering grounds in the central highlands of Mexico, and
4) brief and direct spring migrations. These observations
suggest that eastern populations of prevailingly Western
migrants, such as Lark Sparrows, may be behaviorally
constrained to depart breeding grounds before molt, but
may facultatively adjust migration en route. |
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