Passerine Birds

A majority of Eurasian short-distance migrants moult after breeding and before autumn migration, while most long-distance migrants perform a winter moult in the tropics after autumn migration. Another strategy among long-distance migrants is a partial moult on the breeding grounds, suspended moult and then completion of moult on the wintering grounds. The Savi’s Warbler Locustella luscinioides is a small passerine adopting such a ‘suspended moulting’ strategy. Here, we investigate the sequence and extent of the post-breeding moult in Savi’s Warblers breeding in and migrating through northern Poland in relation to sex, body mass and date. We analysed 65 molecularly sexed adult Savi’s Warblers (32 females and 33 males) caught during autumn migration in 2010– 2011. Adult Savi’s Warblers from the studied populations were found to suspend moult. Exchange of wing feathers started at the third primary (P3) and progressed in both directions. The onset of secondary moult began with S1 and occurred when P6 was shed. Tail moult occurred almost simultaneously with the secondaries. We did not find any significant differences between the sexes in time and extent of moult. Lack of sex differences in the time of moulting suggests comparable post-breeding condition (fat load, body mass) of females and males. In contrast to the present study, adults caught in Western Europe started post-breeding moult from P5, which may be explained by different populations migrating through northern Poland and Western Europe.

Passerines are the largest avian order, and the 6000 species comprise more than half of all extant bird species. This successful radiation probably had its origin in the Australasian region, but dating this origin has been difficult due to a scarce fossil record and poor biogeographic assumptions. Many of New Zealand's endemic passerines fall within the deeper branches of the passerine radiation, and a well resolved phylogeny for the modern New Zealand element in the deeper branches of the oscine lineage will help us understand both oscine and passerine biogeography. To this end we present complete mitochondrial genomes representing all families of New Zealand passerines in a phylogenetic framework of over 100 passerine species. Dating analyses of this robust phylogeny suggest Passeriformes originated in the early Paleocene, with the major lineages of oscines 'escaping' from Australasia about 30 Ma, and radiating throughout the world during the Oligocene. This independently derived conclusion is consistent with the passerine fossil record.

We investigated the evolutionary history of the Spotted flycatcher Muscicapa striata, a long distance migratory passerine having a widespread range, using mitochondrial markers and nuclear introns. Our mitochondrial results reveal the existence of one insular lineage restricted to the western Mediterranean islands (Balearics, Corsica, Sardinia) and possibly to the Tyrrhenian coast of Italy that diverged from the mainland lineages around 1 Mya. Mitochondrial genetic distance between insular and mainland lineages is around 3.5%. Limited levels of shared nuclear alleles among insular and mainland populations further support the genetic distinctiveness of insular Spotted flycatchers with respect to their mainland counterparts. Moreover, lack of mitochondrial haplotypes sharing between Balearic birds (M. s. balearica) and Corso-Sardinian birds (M. s. tyrrhenica) suggest the absence of recent matrilineal gene flow between these two insular subspecies. Accordingly, we suggest that insular Spotted flycatchers could be treated as one polytypic species (Muscicapa tyrrhenica) that differs from M. striata in morphology, migration, mitochondrial and nuclear DNA and comprises two subspecies (the nominate and M. t. balearica) that diverged recently phenotypically and in mitochondrial DNA and but still share the same nuclear alleles. This study provides an interesting case-study illustrating the crucial role of western Mediterranean islands in the evolution of a passerine showing high dispersal capabilities. Our genetic results highlight the role of glacial refugia of these islands that allowed initial allopatric divergence of insular populations. We hypothesize that diff erences in migratory and breeding phenology may prevent any current gene flow between insular and mainland populations of the Spotted flycatcher that temporarily share the same insular habitats during the spring migration.

The way towards more effective conservation practices: Understanding Lullula arborea and Lanius collurio occurrence patterns in the National Park of Lakes Koronia-Volvi and the Macedonian Tempe The study was funded by the Operational Programme Macedonia-Thrace 2007-2013, in the framework of the avifauna monitoring project of Lakes Koronia-Volvi and the Macedonian Tempe National Park. We would like to thank the personnel and the board members of the Management Body of the National Park for their collaboration throughout this project. The need to preserve biodiversity in constantly changing landscapes in Europe has led to the designation of the Natura 2000 network and the need for a closer examination of species distributions and requirements within each site for the implementation of effective conservation measures. Heterogeneity in agricultural landscapes is a key feature for preserving farmland bird species, many of which are listed as threatened 1. However, different habitat requirements sometimes pose a challenge for multiple species conservation. In this study we examine habitat suitability for two passerine species, L. arborea and L. collurio, listed in Annex I of Dir.2009/147, in the National Park of Lakes Koronia-Volvi and the Macedonian Tempe (SPA GR1220009). For L. collurio, the wetland zone, arable land and loose forests were the most important features, while the presence of 5-10% high maqui or low altitude forest was significant. The species also requires maqui or open-forest edges, while PO peaked at northern slopes. When it comes to habitat selection, L. arborea and L. collurio seem to share many common characteristics. However, differences is what makes their conservation challenging within a certain area, as satisfying the requirements of both may not be an easy task 4. L. arborea is a species using both forest and open habitat, positively affected by forest edges 5. It is mainly threatened by agricultural land intensification, while land abandonment seems to have a positive effect, as the expansion of shrubland, up to a threshold benefits it 6. At the same time, L. collurio is an ecotone species, long known for its sensitivity to agricultural land use changes, including both intensification, through the destruction of hedges, and abandonment, through forest expansion 7,8,9. In an attempt to best serve the needs of both species we suggest the establishment of large areas of traditional, mild agricultural use, mixed with scattered shrubland and open forest patches, within the study area. However, given the importance of a great variety of bird species in the National Park, the necessity to better serve the needs of as many as possible, renders further studies critical, so that other species-specific needs are also evaluated.

Studies at various locations in Europe show that nest-box populations of tits in urban areas lay earlier and produce fewer eggs than do birds in rural areas. Long-term data on laying date and clutch size were studied for Blue Tit (Cyanistes caeruleus) populations in two, structurally and floristically contrasting sites (an urban parkland and a rich decidu-ous forest, located only 10 km apart) in central Poland. The peak abundance of caterpil-lars, the optimal food of breeding tits, was also studied at both breeding areas. We focused on four environmental factors; year, site, insect availability and ambient temperature. Birds initiated breeding earlier in the urban area compared to the forest area and the laying date was highly correlated with air temperature during the period between 15 March and 15 April. At both study areas there was a similar negative temporal trend – birds started breeding earlier with later years. The number of eggs laid per breeding pair tended to be lower in ...