Bird migration within the Neotropics

JAHN, A.E,; CUETO, V.R.; FONTANA, C.S.; GUARALDO, A.C.; LEVEY, D.J.; MARRA, P.P.; RYDER, T.B.

AUK

AMER ORNITHOLOGISTS UNION

Año: 2020

0004-8038

Although the migration ecology of birds breeding in the Neotropics is still poorly studied relative to that of theircounterparts breeding at north-temperate latitudes, studies conducted over the last 2 decades have revealed thatmigration in the Neotropics is much more common and diverse than previously thought. These studies have identifieddozens of species that migrate latitudinally within South America, altitudinally within various mountain ranges, to andbetween Caribbean islands, and longitudinally across diverse ecosystems such as the Amazon rainforest. Advances inminiaturized tracking technologies, enormous citizen science databases, and powerful analytical approaches providean unprecedented ability to detect and evaluate temporally and spatially fine-scale patterns, greatly facilitating thestudy of migratory patterns across tropical regions. We argue that a renewed effort in research on short- and longdistancebird migration within the Neotropics will allow (1) comparative studies that identify the emergent propertiesof migratory behavior, (2) identification of the convergent or unique mechanistic drivers of migration across diverseecological settings, (3) formulation of effective conservation and management plans for migratory Neotropical birds,and (4) predictions about how migratory birds will respond to large-scale climatic changes within the Neotropics. Here,we review the current state of knowledge on Neotropical bird migration, with a focus on South America. We specificallyexamine similarities and differences in the observed migratory patterns of birds that breed in the Nearctic compared tothe Neotropics and highlight key future research questions.