Body mass and lipid content of shorebirds overwintering on the south Texas coast
Journal of Field Ornithology
By: D. H. White and C. A. Mitchell
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Abstract
Three species of shorebirds were collected at bimonthly intervals in 1979-1980, from the time of their arrival in early autumn to mid-February, on the south Texas coast. Female Long-billed Dowitchers (Limnodromus scolopaceus) and Western Sandpipers (Calidris mauri) were heavier (P < 0.05) than males, but the reverse was true for American Avocets (Recurvirostra americana). Lipid content, relative to whole body mass, did not differ (P > 0.05) between sexes in any of the three species. During the wintering period, fat stores in Long-billed Dowitchers and Western Sandpipers declined 70% and 44%, respectively, but not in American Avocets. Lipid content was highly correlated (P < 0.001) with body mass in all three species, providing further evidence that fat accumulation is responsible for the major variation in total mass of some shorebird species.
| Publication type | Article |
|---|---|
| Publication Subtype | Journal Article |
| Title | Body mass and lipid content of shorebirds overwintering on the south Texas coast |
| Series title | Journal of Field Ornithology |
| Volume | 61 |
| Issue | 4 |
| Year Published | 1990 |
| Language | English |
| Contributing office(s) | Patuxent Wildlife Research Center |
| Description | 445-452 |
| Larger Work Type | Article |
| Larger Work Subtype | Journal Article |
| Larger Work Title | Journal of Field Ornithology |
| First page | 445 |
| Last page | 452 |
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