|
|
Article: Molt patterns and molting grounds of Lucy's and Virginia's Warblers: similar yet different.
- Article from:
- Wilson Bulletin
- Article date:
- June 1, 2002
- Author:
CopyrightCOPYRIGHT 2002 Wilson Ornithological Society. This material is published under license from the publisher through the Gale Group, Farmington Hills, Michigan. All inquiries regarding rights should be directed to the Gale Group. (Hide copyright information)
|
Molt studies of birds which breed primarily in the western portions of North America have suggested interesting life history trade offs. The most widespread of these patterns is molt migration, which has been found in a number of diverse lineages (Rohwer and Manning 1990, Young 1991, Voelker and Rohwer 1998). Molt migration involves commencing the fall migration prior to the fall (prebasic) molt. This fall migration is then interrupted, as birds stop in the Sonoran and Chihuahuan desert regions of the southwestern United States and northwestern Mexico to begin molting. A stopover in this region allows molt-migrating species to avoid the late season droughts and ...