Evidence of postbreeding prospecting in a long-distance migrant.

ABSTRACT: Organisms assess biotic and abiotic cues at multiple sites when deciding where to settle. However, due to temporal constraints on this prospecting, the suitability of available habitat may be difficult for an individual to assess when cues are most reliable, or at the time they are making settlement decisions. For migratory birds, the postbreeding season may be the optimal time to prospect and inform settlement decisions for future breeding seasons.We investigated the fall movements of flammulated owls (Psiloscops flammeolus) within breeding habitat after fledglings had gained independence and before adults left for migration. From 2013 to 2016, we trapped owls within a breeding population wherein all nesting owls and their young have been banded since 1981. We used stable isotopes

SUBMITTER: Ciaglo M 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7790652 | biostudies-literature | 2021 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature