Autumn migration and recurrence of the Thrush Nightingale Luscinia luscinia at a stopover site in central Hungary

Full article

Published:

Volume 42(1), June 1995. Pages 57-68.

Language:

English

Keywords:

Hungary, migration, recurrence, stopover, Thrush Nightingale.

Abstract:

The migration dynamics and recurrence of the Thrush Nightingale Luscinia luscinia was studied at a stopover site at Ócsa, central Hungary, between 1983 and 1993. During this time, a total of 293 birds were ringed. The migration peaked on 19 August, with the main period between 8-30 August. Adults did not seem to migrate ahead of young birds. Repeated recaptures proved that the area was used for stopover and premigratory fattening. We recaptured 114 birds on 416 occasions, 12 of them after the date of the last ringing, 24 September. The median stopover length was 11 days, the maximum 38 days. There were no significant differences in stopover lengths throughout migration. Of all birds 6.1% were recaptured after one year or later; birds arriving early and late during the migration had higher probability of being recaptured in subsequent years. The proportion of birds with the maximum fat score increased from 0% in early August to 33% by mid-September. Fat scores and body masses on arrival were significantly higher in birds arriving after 30 August than in those ringed earlier. Mean wing lengths of birds, although gradually decreasing during the course of migration, did not show significant changes.