Parameters of autumn migratory stopover of young chaffinches (Fringilla coelebs Linnaeus, 1758) in the Eastern Russian Plain
G.L. Nakul
Section: Population ecology
Over a five-year period, young chaffinches were captured to determine the parameters of their migratory stopover (timing and dynamics of flight, duration of migratory stopover, molting during migration, and the rate of birds’ fat accumulation during migratory stopover) in the taiga zone in the Eastern Russian Plain. The data from the 416 birds’ initial captures were analyzed, only 20 individuals of which were recaptured. The average migratory stopover for young chaffinches lasted 1 day. During the first day the birds lose about 5 % of their average body weight, but in the following days, the losses are restored. The behavioral strategy of young chaffinches at migratory stopovers in the Eastern Russian Plain coincides with the general behavioral strategy of many passerines, regardless of the continent and species. This species is characterized by a combination of post-juvenile molting and autumn migration, which reduces the rate of fat accumulation, but does not prevent an increase in body weight due to other types of tissue. The combination of two costly physiological processes occurs in conditions where the species does not need to make long migration and overcome extensive ecological barriers, and as a result, chaffinches make minimal migratory stopovers. Longer stopovers are much more beneficial for young birds, since they allow them to increase their “fuel” reserves and increase their chances of successfully completing the next migration.
ISSN 1995-4301
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