Publication Type: | Journal Article |
Year of Publication: | 1992 |
Authors: | Senar, JC, Burton, PJK, Metcalfe, NB |
Journal: | Ornis Scandinavica |
Volume: | 23 |
Issue: | 1 |
Date Published: | 1992 |
ISBN Number: | 00305693 |
Keywords: | Carduelis, Carduelis Spinus, Fringillidae, Spain, Spinus, Spinus spinus, United Kingdom |
Abstract: | Patterns of residence and site-fidelity were examined in the nomadic Siskin Carduelis spinus at 14 wintering sites in Britain and Spain where excess food was continually available. In spite of the stability of the food source, only 8% of birds captured at the study sites became "resident", being caught on over 70% of trapping days over several months. In contrast, the majority of birds were classified as "transients", staying for short periods and often being caught only once. Both residents and transients continued to arrive throughout the winter. Residents appeared to become sedentary as soon as they arrived. Transients were very mobile (making movements of 10-40 km in a single day), whereas residents made only short-range movements (usually less than 3 km). There were no sex, age, or size differences between residents and transients. An index of body condition (mass/wing length3) varied daily and seasonally, birds being heaviest in midwinter and in the afternoon. However, residents were consistently heavier than transients from the date of their initial capture onward. The evidence suggests that the observed variation in site fidelity fits the hypothesis of Gauthreaux which relates residence to dominance. |
URL: | http://www.jstor.org/stable/3676428 |
Short Title: | Ornis Scandinavica |
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