Movements of Cyprus Wheatear Oenanthe cypriaca fledglings: evidence of a post-fledging home range away from the natal site prior to first migration

摘要: Dispersal to efficiently locate future breeding areas in young animals has important consequences for survival, life history and success, therefore population dynamics evolution. Long-distance migrant birds that have little time immediately pre-breeding may use the post-fledging period their territory. We radio-tracked 37 juvenile Cyprus Wheatears, Oenanthe cypriaca, a long-distance passerine, investigate movements 10 weeks post-fledging. measured how distance from nest of consecutive changed with age. tested whether stopped increasing movement became similar pre-dispersal distances, consistent fledgling adopting post-fledgling home range could reflect scoping out local Fledglings had very high survival rate. Directed away natal territory started at about 18 days until 45 days when individuals adopted more fixed location on average 600 m (range 0–1500) site, further were scale equivalent within an adult-sized Our results suggest dispersal followed by settlement prior first migration function identify site following year.