We found a match
Your institution may have rights to this item. Sign in to continue.
- Title
Reduced take-off ability in robins ( Erithacus rubecula) due to migratory fuel load.
- Authors
Lind, Johan; Fransson, Thord; Jakobsson, Sven; Kullberg, Cecillia
- Abstract
Recent studies have shown that large fuel loads in small birds impair flying ability. This is the first study to show how migratory fuel load affects flying ability, such as velocity and height gained at take-off in a predator escape situation, in a medium-distance migrant, and whether they adjust their take-off according to predator attack angle. First-year robins ( Erithacus rubecula) were subjected to simulated attacks from a model merlin ( Falco columbarius), and take-off velocity and angle were analysed. Robins with a wing load of 0.19 g cm−2 took off at a 39% lower angle than robins with a wing load of 0.13 g cm−2, while velocity remained unaffected. The robins did not adjust their angle of ascent in accordance with the predator's angle of attack. Since many predators rely on surprise attacks, a difference in flight ability due to varying fuel loads found in migrating robins can be important for birds' chances of survival when actually attacked.
- Subjects
BIRD flight; ROBINS; SPEED; PREDATION; MERLIN (Bird); WINGS (Anatomy); ANIMAL attacks; PHYSIOLOGY; ANIMAL behavior
- Publication
Behavioral Ecology & Sociobiology, 1999, Vol 46, Issue 1, p65
- ISSN
0340-5443
- Publication type
Article
- DOI
10.1007/s002650050593