Movement Patterns of Adult Male Ovenbirds During the Post-Fledging Period in Fragmented and Forested Boreal Landscapes

Abstract

Abstract Movement of forest songbirds among isolated forest patches following breeding represents an important but poorly understood component of landscape ecology and metapopulation theory. Using radio-telemetry, we followed 44 male Ovenbirds (Seiurus aurocapillus) during the post-fledging period to determine if movement patterns differed in landscapes dominated by agriculture versus those dominated by forest. No differences in home-range size, mean distance moved per day, or maximum distance moved were observed for males captured in a forested landscape vs. those captured in forest fragments in an agriculturally dominated landscape. Male Ovenbirds observed with young moved less than males without young and rarely crossed open gaps. Individuals that failed to breed moved more extensively than successful breeders, possibly in an effort to find new territories for use in future breeding seasons.