Winter distribution of willow flycatcher subspecies

The Condor
By: , and 

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Abstract

Documenting how different regions across a species' breeding and nonbreeding range are linked via migratory movements is the first step in understanding how events in one region can influence events in others and is critical to identifying conservation threats throughout a migratory animal's annual cycle. We combined two studies that evaluated migratory connectivity in the Willow Flycatcher (Empidonax traillii), one using mitochondrial DNA sequences from 172 flycatchers sampled throughout their winter range, and another which examined morphological characteristics of 68 museum specimens collected in the winter range. Our results indicate that the four subspecies occupy distinct but overlapping regions of the winter range. Connectivity between specific breeding and winter grounds appears to be moderate to strong, with distributions that suggest migration patterns of both the chain and leap-frog types connecting the breeding and nonbreeding grounds. The Pacific lowlands of Costa Rica appear to be a key winter location for the endangered Southwestern Willow Flycatcher (E. t. extimus), although other countries in Central America may also be important for the subspecies.

Publication type Article
Publication Subtype Journal Article
Title Winter distribution of willow flycatcher subspecies
Series title The Condor
DOI 10.1525/cond.2011.090200
Volume 113
Issue 3
Year Published 2011
Language English
Publisher Cooper Ornithological Society
Publisher location Waco, TX
Contributing office(s) Southwest Biological Science Center, Pacific Islands Ecosys Research Center
Description 11 p.
First page 608
Last page 618
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