1. Worldwide distribution
Migration
Falconiformes
3 families, 304 species
Worldwide distribution

2. Eagles, hawks, kites, Old World vultures
Accipitridae
Eagles, hawks, kites, Old World vultures
233 species

3. European Sea Eagles

10. Old World Vultures
15 species
Many threatened
Griffon Vulture

11. Cathartidae
New World Vultures
7 species
King Vulture

12. California Condor

15. Pervious nares, urohydrosis

16. Caracaras, falcons and falconets
Falconidae
Caracaras, falcons and falconets
64 species
Gyrfalcon

19. Merlin

20. Migration

21. What is migration? What are its advantages? General features

22. Definition
Population movements in a predictable direction at predictable times of year between breeding areas and one or more non-breeding areas

23. Advantages of migration
1) Avoid harsh climate
2) Secure more abundant food
3) Longer days for feeding young in the north (clutch size increases in the north)
4) May reduce predation
5) Reduces disease and parasites
6) Increase space available for each pair
7) Genetic selection for fitness?

24. Migration timing Varies by species
Varies from year to year depending upon weather
Some species remarkably consistent

25. Since 1777, Cliff Swallows have arrived the week of March 19th
Cliff Swallows arrive the week of March 19 at San Juan Capistrano; Short-tailed Shearwaters arrive at breeding colonies off southern Australia within a week of the same date each year.
Short-tailed Shearwater
South Australia

26. Non-migratory movements
Dispersal
Irruption
Nomadism

27. Dispersal Natal – away from birth place
Breeding – away from breeding place
Movements typically unidirectional

28. Irruption Mass movement away from usual range
Typically caused by food shortage

29. Nomadism
Irregular, seemingly random movements

30. General Features ca. 4,000 bird species migrate (42%)
Most from temperate or high latitudes
Geographic asymmetry
Old World asymmetry
even greater

31. New World Warblers

34. Yellow Warbler

37. Migration study methods
Banding/radiotracking
Direct observation
Radar
Laboratory studies

38. Site fidelity
Ovenbird

41. Migrate faster in spring than fall and adults travel faster than young
General Features
Migrate faster in spring than fall and
adults travel faster than young

42. Day v night
Most small birds migrate at night (stopping by 2 a.m.) and feed during the day

43. Duration James Bay to Louisiana (2,700 km) in 60 hrs
1,100 km/day or 46 km/hr
Radar gives km/hr for most species

44. Speed
Northward in spring at
32 km/day
Black-and-white Warbler

45. Most species fly at 1,500 m or less during the day, higher at night
Altitude
Most species fly at 1,500 m or less during the day,
higher at night

46. Rueppell’s Griffon 37,000’. Bar-headed Goose 27,880’ Ivory Coast
Rueppell’s Griffon 37,000’ Bar-headed Goose 27,880’ Ivory Coast Himalayas
Griffin collided with airplane
Yellow-billed Chough 26,900’ Himalayas

47. Long-distance v short-distant migrants

48. Long-distance migrant
Short-distance migrant

50. Longest distance migrant
35,000 km

52. Partial v Complete Migrants
Fox Sparrow

53. Ringed Plover

54. Loop Migration

55. If a Blackpoll were burning gas it would get 720,000 miles/gallon
If a Blackpoll were burning gas it would get 720,000 miles/gallon. Running 4-min miles for 80 hours
720,000 miles/gallon!

56. Physiological Preparation
Short days trigger hyperphagia
Nocturnal restlessness
Zugunruhe – captive birds hop and flutter in normal migration direction
Warm weather inc zugunruhe in spring, cold weather depresses it
Castrated birds still exhibit zugunruhe

57. Barriers to migration can shape species diversity
Large bodies of water
Mountain ranges
Inhospitable habitat
Western warbler example

58. Number of warbler species
Western NA 12
(Wash., Ore., Ca)
Eastern NA 38
Europe 50