Older birds have better feathers: A longitudinal study on the long-distance migratory Sand Martin, Riparia riparia.

ABSTRACT: Feather quality is of critical importance to long-distance migratory birds. Here, we report a series of analyses of a unique data set encompassing known-age individuals of the long-distance migratory Sand Martin (Riparia riparia). Sampling over 17 years along the Tisza River, eastern Hungary, has resulted in the recapture of numerous individuals enabling longitudinal and cross-sectional investigation of the role of adaptation to variable environmental conditions on feather morphology. We show that older individuals tend to possess better quality feathers, measured using bending stiffness, feather length and thickness as proxies. Bending stiffness and feather thickness do not change with individual age, in contrast with increases in feather length and declines in daily feather growth versus

SUBMITTER: Szep T 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6319700 | biostudies-literature | 2019

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature