Studies of Birds Killed in Nocturnal MigrationTordoff, Harrison Bruce
Science
Studies of Birds Killed in Nocturnal Migration
Tordoff, Harrison Bruce
Birds -- Migration
_Vireo olivaceus._ Red-eyed Vireo.--Weights: 1 adult male,
16.1, moderately fat; 38 immature males, mean 21.21 ± .43,
S. D. 2.60, little fat (1 specimen) to excessively fat,
mostly moderately fat or fat; 2 adult females, 18.1, 18.1,
both fat; 23 immature females, mean 19.28 ± .46, S. D. 2.16,
little (2 specimens) to very fat, mostly fat.
Wing length: 1 adult male, 79.1; 38 immature males, mean
78.05 ± .30, S. D. 1.80; 2 adult females, 76.3, 79.0, 23
immature females, mean 75.83 ± .42, S. D. 1.99.
As mentioned below, the presence of only 3 adults in the
sample of 64 Red-eyed Vireos is highly significant and their
occurrence only in the earlier samples is strong evidence of
early migration by the adults.
_Vireo philadelphicus._ Philadelphia Vireo.--Weights: 2
adult males, 12.1, 15.9, moderately fat and very fat; 2
immature males, 11.1, 13.2, fat and very fat; 2 adult
females, 13.1, 14.2, both fat; 5 immature females, mean 14.1
(12.0-15.2), moderately fat to very fat.
This species previously has been collected in Kansas only
twice. Both records are from Doniphan County in September,
1922. Field observers occasionally record the Philadelphia
Vireo in eastern Kansas. Long (1940:450) calls it a "very
rare migrant in the extreme east." Our sample of 12 birds
killed on two nights (and probably after the peak of
migration of this species) leads us to think that this vireo
is actually a regular, but overlooked, migrant in fair
numbers.
_Vireo g. gilvus._ Warbling Vireo.--Weights: 12 adult males,
mean 15.92 ± .43, S. D. 1.44, moderately fat to very fat; 8
immature males, mean 16.64 (14.2-17.8), fat to very fat; 5
adult females, mean 16.1 (13.7-18.0), fat to very fat; 5
immature females, mean 15.4 (14.1-17.8), little fat to fat.
Wing length: 12 adult males, mean 73.08 ± .49, S. D. 1.64; 8
immature males, mean 71.15 (69.9-72.8); 5 adult females,
mean 70.0 (69.2-71.0); 5 immature females, mean 68.4
(67.7-70.3).
Tail length: 12 adult males, mean 53.33 ± .53, S. D. 1.77; 8
immature males, mean 50.03 (47.1-51.3); 4 adult females,
mean 48.6 (47.7-49.8); 5 immature females, mean 49.2
(47.3-53.0).
There is no indication that western birds (_V. g.
swainsonii_) make up any part of this sample.
The sample of 34 Warbling Vireos is too small to show the
significance, if any, of the 2:1 ratio of males to females
in the sample. Adequate samples of this species, taken at
intervals, would add interesting information on time of
migration of the four sex- and age-classes.
_Mniotilta varia._ Black and White Warbler.--Weights: 1
adult male, 12.5, fat; 2 adult females, 10.0, 10.0, little
fat, fat.
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