Life histories of North American wood warblers, Part 1 (of 2)Bent, Arthur Cleveland
Science
Life histories of North American wood warblers, Part 1 (of 2)
Bent, Arthur Cleveland
Birds -- North America; Passeriformes; Wood warblers
The migration is also prolonged or very irregular, for according to the
dates of departure given to me by Alexander F. Skutch (see under
_Winter_), the last of these warblers do not leave Central America until
the very last of April, or the first of May, after the first arrivals
have reached New England; some of these records, however, may apply to
one of the western races. After the birds reach the United States, the
migration fans out northward and northeastward and seems to be more
rapid. Of this Frederick C. Lincoln (1939) says: "Coming north from the
Tropics these birds reach New Orleans about April 5, when the average
temperature is 65° F. Travelling on northward much faster than does the
season, they reach their breeding grounds in Manitoba the latter part
of May, when the average temperature is only 47°. Encountering
progressively colder weather over their entire route, they cross a strip
of country in the 15 days from May 11 to 25 that spring takes 35 days to
cross. This 'catching up' with spring is characteristic of species that
winter south of the United States and of most of the northern species
that winter in the Gulf States."
_Territory._--Soon after their arrival on their breeding grounds the
males begin to select their territories and then to defend them. Dr. S.
Charles Kendeigh (1941) made a study of the territories of birds in a
prairie community in northwestern Iowa, and writes:
A special study of the Yellow Warbler indicated that territorial
requirements included suitable nest-sites, concealing cover, tall
singing posts, feeding areas in trees, and space, and that when certain
of these factors were lacking, territorial relations became confused and
the behavior of the birds was modified. * * * These warblers possessed
territories that averaged about 150 feet in diameter, or approximately
two-fifths of an acre. Even in locations where trees were included, the
territories appeared to be of about the same size. The limits of the
territory often did not coincide with the boundaries of the thicket in
which the nest was located but extended over the neighboring grassland
and often included parts of neighboring thickets. These territories were
defended by the males partly by singing, although in shrubby areas
lacking trees they were handicapped by lack of singing posts from which
to proclaim their ownership and to advertise themselves. A few made use
of fences from which to sing and also of tall posts and wire from an
abandoned electric line that extended through the area. The rôle of the
female in defense of territory was not determined.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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