Differential timing of autumn migration between sex groups in adult European honey buzzards Pernis apivorus

Abstract

The European honey buzzard Pernis apivorus is a summer visitor in Europe, wintering mostly in West-central Africa. Previous studies concerning timing of autumn migration in relation to sex groups provided contrasting results. In particular, a field survey made in southern Sweden did not report differences in timing, while a satellite study via GPS tracking on six adults, three males, and three females, revealed that the latter departed earlier. The aim of this 4-year study is to further investigate the timing of autumn migration in this species carrying out observations at the Strait of Messina, a bottleneck located along the Central Mediterranean flyway, between August 10th and September 30th 2016–2019. Adult European honey buzzards concentrated the passage between late August early September, with females passing on average 5 days earlier than males. It is suggested that a different role of sexes concerning exhibition of territorial displays during the late breeding season, would explain differences between sex groups in timing of both moult and autumn migration.