Lipid and water depletion in migrating passerines following passage over the Gulf of Mexico

Abstract

Lipid depletion is currently believed to be the primary factor limiting flight duration of migrating birds in North America, while the influence of water loss is thought to be small. Three migrating species of passerines, wood thrush (Hylocichla mustelina), Swainson's thrush (Catharus ustulatus), and summer tanager (Piranga rubra) were captured during the 1993 spring migration just after crossing the Gulf of Mexico and examined for lipid and water depletion. The redwinged blackbird (Agelaius phoeniceus), a winter resident, was examined for comparison. Although some migrants had low levels of fat, most were not seriously fat-depleted and had much higher lipid levels than red-winged blackbirds. Migrants appeared dehydrated, usually having less than 60% body water and significantly less water than the blackbirds. Recaptured wood thrushes had significantly higher mass than when initially captured. Many of these birds were replenishing significant amounts of water, while the acquisition of lipid mass was dependent on the amount of time the birds spent on the study site. Migrants were significantly fatter but had significantly less water mass when captured during unfavorable weather than under favorable conditions. It appears that both dehydration and lipid depletion are major physiological constraints on migrating passerines.