I use point-count survey data collected from 171 locations across 11 vegetation conditions in western Mexico to illustrate common patterns of winter habitat use by 97 Nearctic–Neotropical migratory landbird species. A number of bird species are relatively restricted in their habitat use, with some (e.g., Northern Waterthrush [Parkesia noveboracensis], American Redstart [Setophaga ruticilla]) occurring only in relatively undisturbed habitats, and others (e.g., Say's Phoebe [Sayornis saya], Horned Lark [Eremophila alpestris]) occurring only in relatively disturbed lands associated with agriculture. A large number of bird species (e.g., Cassin's Vireo [Vireo cassinii], MacGillivray's Warbler [Geothlypis tolmiei]) use every one of the vegetation types considered, from low-elevation tropical deciduous forests to high-elevation conifer forests. Bird species showing patterns of restricted habitat use deserve conservation attention, but even the more broadly distributed species might become significantly less abundant in human-altered portions of habitats. Identifying the latter will require the inclusion of a wider spectrum of altered vegetation types/conditions than what I included here, or than what is typically considered in wildlife–habitat relationship programs.
How to translate text using browser tools
22 July 2020
Can patterns of habitat use by western Nearctic–Neotropical migratory landbirds in winter inform conservation priorities?
Richard L. Hutto
ACCESS THE FULL ARTICLE
agriculture
conservation
eBird
land management
Mexico
migratory landbird
winter habitat use