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Diffuse, short and slow migration among Blue Tits

Nilsson, Anna LU ; Alerstam, Thomas LU and Nilsson, Jan-Åke LU (2008) In Journal of Ornithology 149(3). p.365-373
Abstract
The knowledge of migration systems in long-distance regular migrants is in many cases extensive. Our understanding of the migratory characteristics of partial migrants, on the other hand, is far more rudimentary. We investigated migratory characteristics of partially migratory Blue Tits Cyanistes caeruleus using ringing recoveries of Swedish birds, to answer questions about geographic migration patterns, age-specific migrations, migration speeds and synchrony of movements. Median migration distance of Swedish Blue Tits was 82 km, with a main autumn direction in the sector between S and W (large directional scatter). Northerly and southerly populations did not differ in migration directions or distances, suggesting chain migration to be the... (More)
The knowledge of migration systems in long-distance regular migrants is in many cases extensive. Our understanding of the migratory characteristics of partial migrants, on the other hand, is far more rudimentary. We investigated migratory characteristics of partially migratory Blue Tits Cyanistes caeruleus using ringing recoveries of Swedish birds, to answer questions about geographic migration patterns, age-specific migrations, migration speeds and synchrony of movements. Median migration distance of Swedish Blue Tits was 82 km, with a main autumn direction in the sector between S and W (large directional scatter). Northerly and southerly populations did not differ in migration directions or distances, suggesting chain migration to be the general pattern. A larger proportion of adult Blue Tits remained near the breeding grounds during winter than was the case for juveniles. Some of the migrating birds (17%) seemed not to return in spring but stayed to breed closer to the winter area. Swedish Blue Tits show an exceptionally slow migration speed (median 13 km/day), among the slowest speeds recorded for any migrant bird. The Blue Tit represents an extreme case of diffuse, short and slow bird migration. (Less)
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author
; and
organization
publishing date
type
Contribution to journal
publication status
published
subject
keywords
migration, partial migration, adaptations to, short-distance migration, timing of migration
in
Journal of Ornithology
volume
149
issue
3
pages
365 - 373
publisher
Springer
external identifiers
  • wos:000256660000009
  • scopus:45549086203
ISSN
2193-7206
DOI
10.1007/s10336-008-0280-3
language
English
LU publication?
yes
id
b4338e33-a95a-494e-b752-64032f6e51f8 (old id 1191308)
date added to LUP
2016-04-01 14:42:57
date last changed
2024-03-27 22:37:42
@article{b4338e33-a95a-494e-b752-64032f6e51f8,
  abstract     = {{The knowledge of migration systems in long-distance regular migrants is in many cases extensive. Our understanding of the migratory characteristics of partial migrants, on the other hand, is far more rudimentary. We investigated migratory characteristics of partially migratory Blue Tits Cyanistes caeruleus using ringing recoveries of Swedish birds, to answer questions about geographic migration patterns, age-specific migrations, migration speeds and synchrony of movements. Median migration distance of Swedish Blue Tits was 82 km, with a main autumn direction in the sector between S and W (large directional scatter). Northerly and southerly populations did not differ in migration directions or distances, suggesting chain migration to be the general pattern. A larger proportion of adult Blue Tits remained near the breeding grounds during winter than was the case for juveniles. Some of the migrating birds (17%) seemed not to return in spring but stayed to breed closer to the winter area. Swedish Blue Tits show an exceptionally slow migration speed (median 13 km/day), among the slowest speeds recorded for any migrant bird. The Blue Tit represents an extreme case of diffuse, short and slow bird migration.}},
  author       = {{Nilsson, Anna and Alerstam, Thomas and Nilsson, Jan-Åke}},
  issn         = {{2193-7206}},
  keywords     = {{migration; partial migration; adaptations to; short-distance migration; timing of migration}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  number       = {{3}},
  pages        = {{365--373}},
  publisher    = {{Springer}},
  series       = {{Journal of Ornithology}},
  title        = {{Diffuse, short and slow migration among Blue Tits}},
  url          = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s10336-008-0280-3}},
  doi          = {{10.1007/s10336-008-0280-3}},
  volume       = {{149}},
  year         = {{2008}},
}