Autumn temperatures at African wintering grounds affect body condition of two passerine species during spring migration.

ABSTRACT: Most papers on the physical condition of birds during spring migration focused on food availability preceding migratory take-off. Only a few studies examined the effect of climate conditions at the wintering grounds upon autumn arrival on bird physical condition later on. Here, we hypothesized that environmental conditions upon arrival at the wintering grounds, and not necessarily upon departure, have a crucial carry-over effect on bird spring migration. Using 29,000 observations of the lesser whitethroat, Sylvia curruca, and the eastern Bonelli's warbler, Phylloscopus orientalis, we found temperatures upon arrival at the African wintering grounds to be the only climatic variable correlated with birds' body state upon spring stopover in Israel, six months later. Two different mechanisms co

SUBMITTER: Aloni I 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6541296 | biostudies-literature | 2019

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature