Factors determining territory fidelity in a migratory forest raptor, the Booted Eagle Hieraaetus pennatus

Abstract We estimated annual return rate, fidelity, and breeding dispersal in a migratory population of Flammulated Owls (Otus flammeolus) in central Colorado. Return rates, based on capture-recapture histories of 39 males and 52 females from 1981 to 2003, were higher for males (84%) than for females (45%). Annual recapture probability was higher for females, because breeders are easier to capture than nonbreeders and females always attempted to nest, whereas some males were unpaired (did not nest) for up to four years. Territory fidelity was male biased (92%, vs. 56% for females, adjusted for undetected emigration), and mean tenure on territories was more than twice as long for males as for females. Females, but not males, had lower return rates to territories in the year following nesting failure compared with females whose nests were successful. Most males appeared to occupy one territory their entire reproductive lives, countering predictions of habitat-selection models that individuals should move to higher-quality habitats when they become available. We estimated that 74% of pairs retained the same mate in consecutive nesting attempts, but mates that bred together for multiple years had no reproductive advantages over mates that bred together for the first time. In most cases, females dispersed from territories if their mates did not return. When females dispersed, they went to territories where total productivity over the study and lifetime reproductive success of new mates were higher than on original territories, which supports the hypothesis that dispersal by females increases individual fitness. Tasa de Retorno, Fidelidad y Dispersión en una Población Reproductiva de Otus flammeolus

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Male's return rate, rather than territory fidelity and breeding dispersal, explains geographic variation in song sharing in two populations of an oscine passerine (Oreothlypis celata)

Behavioral Ecology and Sociobiology ◽

10.1007/s00265-013-1579-5 ◽

2013 ◽

Vol 67 (10) ◽

pp. 1691-1697 ◽

Cited By ~ 4

Author(s):

Jongmin Yoon ◽

T. Scott Sillett ◽

Scott A. Morrison ◽

Cameron K. Ghalambor

Keyword(s):

Geographic Variation ◽

Return Rate ◽

Breeding Dispersal ◽

Song Sharing ◽

Territory Fidelity ◽

Two Populations

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Site Fidelity, Territory Fidelity, and Natal Philopatry in Willow Flycatchers (Empidonax Traillii)

The Auk ◽

10.1093/auk/121.4.1103 ◽

2004 ◽

Vol 121 (4) ◽

pp. 1103-1121 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

James A. Sedgwick

Keyword(s):

Odds Ratio ◽

Site Fidelity ◽

Site Quality ◽

Adult Males ◽

Natal Philopatry ◽

Breeding Performance ◽

General Hypothesis ◽

Territory Fidelity ◽

Empidonax Traillii ◽

Dispersal Distances

Abstract I investigated the causes and consequences of adult breeding-site fidelity, territory fidelity, and natal philopatry in Willow Flycatchers (Empidonax traillii) in southeastern Oregon over a 10-year period, testing the general hypothesis that fidelity and dispersal distances are influenced by previous breeding performance. Willow Flycatchers adhered to the generally observed tendencies of passerine birds for low natal philopatry and high breedingsite fidelity. Site fidelity (return to the study area) of adult males (52.0%) and females (51.3%), and median dispersal distances between seasons (16 m vs. 19 m) were similar. Previous breeding performance and residency (age-experience), but not study-site quality, explained site fidelity in females. Site fidelity of females rearing 4–5 young (64.4%) exceeded that of unsuccessful females (40.0%), breeding dispersal was less (successful: 15 m; unsuccessful: 33 m), and novice residents were more site-faithful than former residents. Probability of site fidelity was higher for previously successful females (odds ratio = 4.76), those with greater seasonal fecundity (odds ratio = 1.58), novice residents (odds ratio = 1.41), and unparasitized females (odds ratio = 2.76). Male site fidelity was not related to residency, site quality, or previous breeding performance. Territory fidelity (return to the previous territory) in females was best explained by previous breeding performance, but not by site quality or residency. Previously successful females were more likely to return to their territory of the previous season than either unsuccessful (odds ratio = 14.35) or parasitized birds (odds ratio = 6.38). Male territory fidelity was not related to residency, site quality, or previous breeding performance. Natal philopatry was low (7.8%) and similar for males and females. Site quality appeared to influence philopatry, given that no birds reared at a low-quality study site returned there to breed, and birds reared there dispersed farther than birds reared at two other study sites. My results partially support the hypothesis that site fidelity is an adaptive response: (1) previously successful females that switched territories underperformed those that did not switch (P = 0.01); and (2) previously unsuccessful females that switched territories outperformed those that did not switch, but not significantly (P = 0.22).

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Corn Bunting Miliaria calandra populations, landscape and land-use in an arable district of eastern England

Bird Conservation International ◽

10.1017/s0959270900000150 ◽

2000 ◽

Vol 10 (2) ◽

pp. 169-186 ◽

Cited By ~ 10

Author(s):

Christopher F. Mason ◽

Sheila M. Macdonald

Keyword(s):

Winter Period ◽

Late Winter ◽

Corn Bunting ◽

North East ◽

The United Kingdom ◽

Breeding Populations ◽

Territory Fidelity ◽

Selection For ◽

National Significance ◽

Spring Sowing

A study of Corn Buntings Miliaria calandra, a rapidly declining red-listed species in the United Kingdom, was conducted over five years in the intensively cultivated, arable landscape of north-east Essex, eastern England. Mean densities in study plots ranged from 8 to 15 territories per km2, with evidence of a decline over the five years. A total of 278 singing males was located in 247 km2 of farmland, some 2–3% of the U.K. population and therefore of national significance. The distribution of territories was highly clumped and there was marked territory fidelity between years. There was a strong preference for territories encompassing field boundaries without hedges and a general avoidance of hedges. Territories occupied in four or five years were more likely to contain water-filled ditches and/or weedy farm tracks than territories occupied in a single year. Song posts may be important resources. There was little preference shown for particular crops or other land-uses during the breeding season. During the winter period there was a strong selection for feeding on the small amount of grass, and in the late winter period, on stubbles. Lack of feeding opportunities in winter would appear to be critical to Corn Buntings. It is suggested that a retention of stubbles over winter on the 26% of farmland destined for spring sowing could be highly beneficial to Corn Bunting populations and that this could be initially targeted at those areas currently holding dense breeding populations.

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Territory fidelity, reproductive success and prey choice in the brown falcon, Falco berigora: a flexible bet-hedger?

Australian Journal of Zoology ◽

10.1071/zo02059 ◽

2003 ◽

Vol 51 (4) ◽

pp. 399 ◽

Cited By ~ 19

Author(s):

Paul G. McDonald ◽

Penny D. Olsen ◽

D. J. Baker-Gabb

Keyword(s):

Prey Availability ◽

Population Level ◽

Breeding Strategy ◽

Territorial Defence ◽

Individual Level ◽

Nest Sites ◽

Mate Fidelity ◽

Dietary Breadth ◽

Territory Fidelity ◽

The Individual

The brown falcon, Falco berigora, is one of Australia's most common and widespread raptors, inhabiting a broad array of habitats and most climatic zones across Australia. We monitored a large, marked population (44–49 pairs) over three annual breeding seasons in southern Victoria. Reproductive parameters such as clutch size and the duration of parental care were constant across years. However, there were marked differences in brood size and the proportion of pairs breeding. Both sexes of falcons were found to have high territory and mate fidelity, with only 10% of members of each sex changing territories during the study. Falcons were flexible in their choice of nest sites, using a variety of tree species and even isolated nest trees. Nest sites and territories were regularly distributed throughout the study area, with the density of the population the highest on record for this species. The diet of the population as a whole was very broad, but each pair predominantly specialised on either lagomorphs, small ground prey, small birds, large birds or reptiles. Individuals that changed territory within the study area also switched their diet according to the predominant land-use within the new territory and thus prey availability. We argue that, at the population level, broad dietary breadth, flexibility in choice of nest site, and a conservative, static breeding strategy allows the species to persist in a broad range of environments, possibly through 'bet-hedging'. At the individual level, changeable dietary specialisation, high territory fidelity, strong year-round territorial defence, confining breeding to years when individual conditions were favourable and adjusting brood sizes when required appear to be the main strategies enabling brown falcons to thrive under a variety of conditions.

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Determinants of Between-Season Site, Territory, and Mate Fidelity in Hooded Warblers (Wilsonia Citrina)

The Auk ◽

10.1093/auk/120.2.457 ◽

2003 ◽

Vol 120 (2) ◽

pp. 457-465

Author(s):

Joan S. Howlett ◽

Bridget J. M. Stutchbury

Keyword(s):

Breeding Site ◽

Research Area ◽

Biological Research ◽

Breeding Area ◽

Wilsonia Citrina ◽

Nest Sites ◽

Mate Fidelity ◽

Territory Fidelity ◽

Feeding Area ◽

Hooded Warblers

Abstract We examined nestling paternity, fate of nests, and prior experimental manipulations in Hooded Warblers (Wilsonia citrina) to test the hypothesis that those factors influenced the warblers' fidelity to their previous breeding site (general breeding area), territory (specific nesting and feeding area within general breeding area), and mate the following year. Field re-search was conducted at Hemlock Hill Biological Research Area in northwestern Pennsylvania from 1991 to 1998. Hooded Warblers returned to Hemlock Hill at an average annual rate of 47% over seven years. Significantly more males than females returned in 1992 and 1995, but overall difference between male and female return rates was not significant. Frequency of males returning to their former territory (58%) was greater than frequency of females returning to their former territory (29%). When mates from the previous year returned, remated pairs (n = 13) occupied their former territory more often than they occupied a new territory. Average number of young fledged per nest tended (P = 0.06) to be greater for females that returned to Hemlock Hill than for females that did not return. There was also a tendency (P = 0.09) for females that returned to the breeding site to have more nests with extrapair young than those that did not return. Territory fidelity and mate fidelity for both males and females were not related to prior nest fate or paternity of young. During those years, we conducted two relatively long-lasting experimental manipulations: vegetation removal from nest sites and radiotagging. Those experimental manipulations did not significantly affect future selection of breeding site, territory, or mate. Thus, whereas male Hooded Warblers demonstrated greater territory fidelity than females, only females were possibly affected by factors that we examined from the previous year, specifically extrapair fertilization and prior reproductive success or failure.

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