Data from: Wing size but not wing shape is related to migratory behavior in a soaring bird

Citation
Bildstein KL, Barber D, Bechard MJ, Graña Grilli M. 2016. Data from: Wing size but not wing shape is related to migratory behavior in a soaring bird. Movebank Data Repository. https://doi.org/10.5441/001/1.37r2b884
Abstract
NOTE: An updated and larger version of this dataset is available. See https://doi.org/10.5441/001/1.f3qt46r2. ABSTRACT: Both wing size and wing shape affect the flight abilities of birds. Intra and inter-specific studies have revealed a pattern where high aspect ratio and low wing loading favour migratory behaviour. This, however, have not been studied in soaring migrants. We assessed the relationship between the wing size and shape and the characteristics of the migratory habits of the turkey vulture (Cathartes aura), an obligate soaring migrant. We compared wing size and shape with migration strategy among three fully migratory, one partially migratory and one non-migratory (resident) population distributed across the American continent. We calculated the aspect ratio and wing loading using wing tracings to characterize the wing morphology. We used satellite-tracking data from the migratory populations to calculate distance, duration, speed and altitude during migration. Wing loading, but not aspect ratio, differed among the populations, segregating the resident population from the completely migratory ones. Unlike it has been reported in species using flapping flight during migration, the migratory flight parameters of turkey vultures were not related to the aspect ratio. By contrast, wing loading was related to most flight parameters. Birds with lower wing loading flew farther, faster, and higher during their longer journeys. Our results suggest that wing morphology in this soaring species enables lower-cost flight, through low wing-loading, and that differences in the relative sizes of wings may increase extra savings during migration. The possibility that wing shape is influenced by foraging as well as migratory flight is discussed. We conclude that flight efficiency may be improved through different morphological adaptations in birds with different flight mechanisms.
Keywords
Cathartes aura,Coragyps atratus,animal tracking,avian migration,black vulture,Cathartes aura,Coragyps atratus,Env-DATA,migration,Movebank,scavenger birds,turkey vulture
Taxa
Taxon
Cathartes aura
Turkey Vulture
Taxon
Coragyps atratus
Black Vulture
Sensors
Sensor
GPS
Related Workflows
DOIs of related Publications
BibTex
@misc{001/1_37r2b884,
  title = {Data from: Wing size but not wing shape is related to migratory behavior in a soaring bird},
  author = {Bildstein, KL and Barber, D and Bechard, MJ and Graña, Grilli, M},
  year = {2016},
  URL = {http://dx.doi.org/10.5441/001/1.37r2b884},
  doi = {doi:10.5441/001/1.37r2b884},
  publisher = {Movebank data repository}
}
RIS
TY  - DATA
ID  - doi:10.5441/001/1.37r2b884
T1  - Data from: Wing size but not wing shape is related to migratory behavior in a soaring bird
AU  - Bildstein, Keith L.
AU  - Barber, David
AU  - Bechard, Marc J.
AU  - Graña Grilli, Maricel
Y1  - 2016/12/21
KW  - Cathartes aura
KW  - animal movement
KW  - Coragyps atratus
KW  - animal tracking
KW  - avian migration
KW  - black vulture
KW  - Cathartes aura
KW  - Coragyps atratus
KW  - Env-DATA
KW  - migration
KW  - Movebank
KW  - scavenger birds
KW  - turkey vulture
KW  - Cathartes aura
KW  - Coragyps atratus
PB  - Movebank data repository
UR  - http://dx.doi.org/10.5441/001/1.37r2b884
DO  - doi:10.5441/001/1.37r2b884
ER  -
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