The migration of the great snipe Gallinago media: intriguing variations on a grand theme

• DOI: 10.1111/jav.00829
• Publication Date: 2015-10-29T02:44:47Z
• Authors: Åke Lindström; Thomas Alerstam; Peter Bahlenberg; Robert Ekblom; James W. Fox; Johan Råghall; Raymond H. G. Kla...
• Keywords: Bird migration; Annual cycle

The migration of the great snipe Gallinago media was previously poorly known. Three tracks in 2010 suggested a remarkable migratory behaviour including long and fast overland non‐stop flights. Here we present pattern Swedish male snipes, based on 19 individuals tracked by light‐level geolocators four different years. About half birds made stopover(s) northern Europe early autumn. They left breeding area 15 d earlier than those which flew directly to sub‐Sahara, suggesting two distinct autumn strategies. trans‐Sahara flights were average 5500 km long, lasted 64 h, flown at ground speeds 25 m s −1 (90 h ). arrival Sahel zone west Africa coincided with wet season there, stayed for three weeks. arrived their wintering grounds around lower stretches Congo River late September seven months. In spring snipes similar length speed as autumn, but remaining through eastern notably slow. All returned within one week mid‐May. annual cycle characterized relaxed temporal synchronization between during autumn–winter period, maximum variation area. Synchronization increased spring, minimum time This suggests that date is under strong stabilizing selection, while there room more flexibility details remain be elucidated, identification main stopover areas important future conservation work this red‐listed bird species.