Molt-Migration in the American Redstart (Setophaga Ruticilla) Revisited: Explaining Variation in Feather δD Signatures

[摘要] In the present study, we report additional data on the relationship between reproductive effort, molt location (as inferred by δD analysis), and feather color to test the robustness of these relationships and to further document the frequency of molt-migration. We also test an alternative hypothesis that a high degree of variation of δD on the breeding grounds, coupled with inadvertent feather loss during the non-breeding period, can explain the occurrence of individuals returning to the breeding grounds with more positive δD signatures and tail feathers with lower red chroma.

[学科分类] 动物科学