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Nocturnal but not diurnal threats shape stopover strategy in a migrating songbird

Bianco, Giuseppe LU orcid ; Raj Pant, Sara LU ; Wu, Xiaojia and Åkesson, Susanne LU orcid (2025) In Journal of Animal Ecology
Abstract

Songbird migration involves frequent migratory flights interrupted by several days of stopover to refuel. For first-year migratory birds, this entails stopping in unfamiliar locations to exploit local resources and maximise fuelling rates. However, stopovers also pose mortality risks due to predator presence. We aimed to determine whether auditory cues from avian predators with differing hunting strategies elicit distinct anti-predator responses in European robins (Erithacus rubecula) during autumn stopover. We exposed captive first-year European robins to calls of either a diurnal predator, the Eurasian sparrowhawk (Accipiter nisus), which captures prey in flight, or a nocturnal predator, the tawny owl (Strix aluco), which relies on... (More)

Songbird migration involves frequent migratory flights interrupted by several days of stopover to refuel. For first-year migratory birds, this entails stopping in unfamiliar locations to exploit local resources and maximise fuelling rates. However, stopovers also pose mortality risks due to predator presence. We aimed to determine whether auditory cues from avian predators with differing hunting strategies elicit distinct anti-predator responses in European robins (Erithacus rubecula) during autumn stopover. We exposed captive first-year European robins to calls of either a diurnal predator, the Eurasian sparrowhawk (Accipiter nisus), which captures prey in flight, or a nocturnal predator, the tawny owl (Strix aluco), which relies on pouncing attacks. We monitored changes in daily food intake, body condition, activity levels, and timing of nocturnal activity. Robins react to the perceived risk of predation by the nocturnal predator but do not alter their strategy in response to diurnal predator cues. Specifically, exposure to tawny owl calls led to reduced night-time activity, lower food intake, and slower fuel accumulation, resulting in poorer body condition by the end of the experiment. Lower body condition after stopover can result in a slower migration pace and consequently later arrival to wintering areas, potentially affecting individual fitness. This novel study highlights the flexibility of avian migration programs in adapting to perceived predation risks based on predator activity time and hunting modalities, and how these adaptations differentially shape stopover strategies.

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Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
author
; ; and
organization
publishing date
type
Contribution to journal
publication status
epub
subject
keywords
fuelling, landscape of fear, migration, prey–predator interactions
in
Journal of Animal Ecology
pages
11 pages
publisher
Wiley-Blackwell
external identifiers
  • scopus:105006595925
  • pmid:40406959
  • pmid:40406959
ISSN
1365-2656
DOI
10.1111/1365-2656.70059
language
English
LU publication?
yes
id
673f941c-0909-4193-984b-68725a1f834e
date added to LUP
2025-05-26 13:03:23
date last changed
2025-07-01 14:15:11
@article{673f941c-0909-4193-984b-68725a1f834e,
  abstract     = {{<p>Songbird migration involves frequent migratory flights interrupted by several days of stopover to refuel. For first-year migratory birds, this entails stopping in unfamiliar locations to exploit local resources and maximise fuelling rates. However, stopovers also pose mortality risks due to predator presence. We aimed to determine whether auditory cues from avian predators with differing hunting strategies elicit distinct anti-predator responses in European robins (Erithacus rubecula) during autumn stopover. We exposed captive first-year European robins to calls of either a diurnal predator, the Eurasian sparrowhawk (Accipiter nisus), which captures prey in flight, or a nocturnal predator, the tawny owl (Strix aluco), which relies on pouncing attacks. We monitored changes in daily food intake, body condition, activity levels, and timing of nocturnal activity. Robins react to the perceived risk of predation by the nocturnal predator but do not alter their strategy in response to diurnal predator cues. Specifically, exposure to tawny owl calls led to reduced night-time activity, lower food intake, and slower fuel accumulation, resulting in poorer body condition by the end of the experiment. Lower body condition after stopover can result in a slower migration pace and consequently later arrival to wintering areas, potentially affecting individual fitness. This novel study highlights the flexibility of avian migration programs in adapting to perceived predation risks based on predator activity time and hunting modalities, and how these adaptations differentially shape stopover strategies.</p>}},
  author       = {{Bianco, Giuseppe and Raj Pant, Sara and Wu, Xiaojia and Åkesson, Susanne}},
  issn         = {{1365-2656}},
  keywords     = {{fuelling; landscape of fear; migration; prey–predator interactions}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  month        = {{05}},
  publisher    = {{Wiley-Blackwell}},
  series       = {{Journal of Animal Ecology}},
  title        = {{Nocturnal but not diurnal threats shape stopover strategy in a migrating songbird}},
  url          = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/1365-2656.70059}},
  doi          = {{10.1111/1365-2656.70059}},
  year         = {{2025}},
}