Central-place foraging poses variable constraints year-round in a neotropical migrant.

ABSTRACT:

Background

"Central-place foragers" are constrained in their habitat selection and foraging range by the frequency with which they need to return to a central place. For example, chick-rearing songbirds that must feed their offspring hourly might be expected to have smaller foraging ranges compared to non-breeding songbirds that return nightly to a roost.

Methods

We used GPS units to compare the foraging behaviour of an aerial insectivorous bird, the purple martin (Progne subis), during the breeding season in three regions across North America, as well as the non-breeding season in South America. Specifically, we tested foraging range size and habitat selection.

Results

Foraging range did not vary among regions during breeding (14.0 ± 39.2 km²) and was larg

SUBMITTER: Lalla KM 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9487155 | biostudies-literature | 2022 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature