Multi-isotope (δ²H, δ¹³C, δ¹⁵N) feather profiles and morphometrics inform patterns of migratory connectivity in three species of North American swallows.

ABSTRACT: Aerial insectivorous birds have suffered steep population declines in North America over the last 60 years. A lack of information on migratory connectivity between breeding and non-breeding grounds for these species limits our ability to interpret factors affecting their population-specific trends. We determined likely Latin American non-breeding regions of Bank (Riparia riparia), Barn (Hirundo rustica) and Cliff (Petrochelidon pyrrhonota) swallow from populations across their breeding ranges. We used predicted feather hydrogen (δ²H_f) and carbon (δ¹³C_f) isoscapes for winter-grown feathers to indicate areas of highest probability of moult origin and incorporated these results into a cluster analysis to determine likely broad non-breeding regions.

SUBMITTER: Hobson KA 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10391972 | biostudies-literature | 2023 Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature