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Patterns of change in body condition in wintering Neotropical-Nearctic migratory birds in shaded plantations in the Andes

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Abstract

Despite the widely accepted idea that shaded plantations are valuable habitats for Neotropical migrants in disturbed landscapes, little empirical evidence is available in relation to the quality of this habitat for Neotropical-Nearctic migratory birds in the Andes. We evaluated the suitability of shaded plantations for overwintering Neotropical-Nearctic migratory birds by examining diurnal and seasonal variation in body condition of migrants in these agroforests in the Andes. During October to April 2008–2009 and 2009–2010, we mist-netted eight species of Neotropical-Nearctic migrants in shaded plantations in the Colombian Andes. Body condition improved throughout the day for Cerulean Warbler (Setophaga cerulea), Blackburnian Warbler (Setophaga fusca), Tennessee Warbler (Leiothlypis peregrina), and especially Canada Warbler (Cardellina canadensis). Similarly, body condition improved across the season for Tennessee Warbler, Rose-breasted Grosbeak (Pheucticus ludovicianus), and Summer Tanager (Piranga rubra). Our results provided additional evidence that several common Neotropical migrants, including species of conservation concern such as Cerulean Warbler and Canada Warbler, may improve their body condition in shaded plantations. However, about half of the species assessed in this study did not show any significant improvement in their body condition (e.g. Red-eyed Vireo). Furthermore, on average, species were in poor condition (i.e. body condition scores were negative) in these coffee farms. Thus, the extent to which this agricultural system represents high quality habitat should be looked with caution. Overall, our data contribute novel information on daily patterns of body condition improvement for several common migratory birds in Andean shaded plantations.

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Acknowledgments

We thank United States Forest Service International Programs, National Fish and Wildlife Foundation, National Council for Air and Stream Improvement (NCASI), The Nature Conservancy and CORANTIOQUIA for financial support to conduct this research. To the School of Environment and Natural Resources from the Ohio State University and the Universidad Nacional de Colombia. Our gratitude extends to Carlos Mazo, Edwin Munera, Santiago David, Jenny Muñoz, David Ocampo, Giovany Valencia, Felicity Newell and Ian Ausprey for their help in the field. To anonymous reviewers who provided comments that improved the quality of this document.

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  1. Universidad Nacional de Colombia sede Amazonia, km 2 via Leticia-Tarapaca, Leticia, Colombia

    Gabriel J. Colorado Z.

  2. Cornell Lab of Ornithology and Department of Natural Resources, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, 14850, USA

    Amanda D. Rodewald

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  1. Gabriel J. Colorado Z.
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Correspondence to Gabriel J. Colorado Z..

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Colorado Z., G.J., Rodewald, A.D. Patterns of change in body condition in wintering Neotropical-Nearctic migratory birds in shaded plantations in the Andes. Agroforest Syst 91, 1129–1137 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10457-016-9989-9

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