Scientific Journal of the BirdLife Hungary

A Magyar Madártani és Természetvédelmi Egyesület tudományos folyóirata

Ornis Hungarica. vol.10. (2000) p.153-161.

Autumn migration of Red-backed Shrike (Lanius Collurio) in Hungary
Csörgő Tibor és Parádi István

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Abstract:

The migration of the Red-backed shrike is described on the basis of a study between 1983 and 1999 during the autumn migration period, at Ócsa Landscape Protection Area (N 47'19', E 19' 13'), in central Hungary. A total of 1357 Red-backed Shrikes were captured and 307 individuals were recaptured. Birds were captured in mist-nets and processed according to the routine of "Actio Hungarica" bird ringing network. Migration was fast for every age and sex group, with only a few birds spending longer time in this area. Adults started their migration about three weeks earlier than juveniles. Birds were usually lean, most of them close to the estimated fat free body mass, except individuals captured late in the migration period. Vk compared the mean daily mass changes among sex and age groups according to arrival dates, body mass at first capture and lengths of minimum stopover periods. Juvenile daily body mass changes were significantly altered by all three factors, while that of adults only mass on arrival was different. No migratory stopover site fidelity was found, We concluded that the Carpathian basin is an important migratory route for the northern populations of Red-backed Shrikes only. This area did not seem to be important refuelling site before birds reach similar sites at the Aegean. Numbers did not seem to decline over the study period.