First tracking of individual American Robins (Turdus migratorius) across seasons

Author(s)

Jahn, Alex E. ^{[1, 2]} ; Lerman, Susannah B. ^[3] ; Phillips, Laura M. ^[4] ; Ryder, Thomas B. ^[1] ; Williams, Emily J. ^[4]

Affiliation

^[1] Smithsonian Conservat Biol Inst, Migratory Bird Ctr, Natl Zool Pk, Washington, DC 20008 - USA

^[2] Indiana Univ, Environm Resilience Inst, Bloomington, IN 47405 - USA

^[3] US Forest Serv, USDA, Northern Res Stn, Amherst, MA - USA

^[4] Denali Natl Pk & Preserve, Denali National Pk, AK - USA

• Document type: Journal article
• Source: Wilson Journal of Ornithology; v. 131, n. 2, p. 356-359, JUN 2019.
• Web of Science Citations: 0

Abstract

The American Robin (Turdus migratorius) is one of the most widespread. common bird species in North America; yet. very little is known about its migratory connectivity, migration timing, and migratory routes. Using archival GPS tags, we tracked the movements of 7 individual robins from 3 breeding populations in the United States. Four robins captured in Denali National Park and Preserve, Alaska, overwintered in Texas, Nebraska, Oklahoma, and Montana, up to 4,500 km from the capture location. One robin captured in Amherst, Massachusetts, overwintered in South Carolina 1,210 km from the capture location, whereas 2 robins captured in Washington, D.C., spent the entire year within 6 km of their original capture location. Understanding the annual cycle and differences in migration strategies for a species that exhibits large regional variation in movement has the potential to provide novel insights into how conspecific populations respond to current and future heterogeneity in climate and habitat. The region-specific patterns presented here suggest robins could serve as sentinels of environmental change at a continental scale. (AU)

• FAPESP's process: 12/17225-2 - The evolution of bird migration: does current theory apply in South America?
• Grantee: Alejandro Edward Jahn
• Support Opportunities: Research Grants - Young Investigators Grants