Austral Bird Migration Research Project

University of Florida

Ammodramus humeralis

Austral Migratory Birds: Research and Conservation

This site is dedicated to furthering the research and conservation of South America’s austral migratory birds by providing information, contacts and ideas on how to better understand this migratory system.

Because relatively little information currently exists on the biology of most of these birds, the first step in achieving the above objective is assessing what we do know and what the priorities of knowledge are for future study. We believe this is best achieved through bringing researchers, conservationists and policy-makers from across various countries and backgrounds together to share their thoughts on these issues.

Therefore, the first symposium on austral bird migration was held jointly with the VII Neotropical Ornithological Congress in Chile in October, 2003. Participants included researchers and conservationists conducting work on migratory birds in both South and North America. Workers from both continents alike presented their research and methods, emphasizing the usefulness of the methods and technology they use for understanding migration in South America.

You can learn more about each participant’s background and how the methods they use in their research can be applied to the study and conservation of austral migratory birds by following the link labelled “Symposium Participants” on the left of this screen. To learn more about austral migration and bird migration generally, simply follow the links on the left margin of this page.

What is austral bird migration?

Austral migrant birds breed in temperate latitudes of South America and move toward the Neotropics in austral fall (beginning in March) for the winter until the following austral spring (beginning in October), when they return to their breeding grounds (see map).

What information that has been gleaned on the ecology, distribution and natural history of these species is limited to certain taxa and/or localities. Chesser (1998), for example, elucidated some of the details on breeding and wintering ranges of flycatcher (Tyrannidae) migrants; however, topics such as diet, habitat use and overall constraints among seasons are poorly known for most migrant species. While most austral migrants are known to breed in open, scrubby habitats (Chesser 1994), winter range distributions and habitat use of austral migrants are poorly known (Stotz et al. 1996, Joseph 1996).

Concerning the migratory period itself, very little is known about migratory strategies or habitat use during migration of these species. For example, if austral migrants practice a strategy that takes them from breeding or wintering grounds via one long flight, resource use during migration may be insignificant. Should migrants make several to many stops along the migratory route, habitat quality may be an important determinant of migratory success.