First migratory route of an Upland Sandpiper tracked with satellite transmitter during fall migration

摘要

Upland Sandpipers Bartramia longicauda are long-distance migrants that breed in temperate grasslands in the Great Plains and northern regions of North America and migrate south to Argentina in South America (Houston et al. 2011). Their fall migration starts in July (Vickery et al. 2010, Houston et al. 2011) and reaches its peak in September. This species seems to prefer the western migratory route of the American continent and its appearance in the Caribbean Islands is but anecdotal. Little is known of its migration over the ocean and of the specific route farther south (Vickery et al. 2010). In Mexico, its migratory route is mostly through the central part of the country and along the Gulf of Mexico. Houston et al. (2011) mention that it is not commonly found in Belize, but sighting reports in eBird show a regular occurrence of the species in that country (eBird 2012). Schulenberg et al. (2007) report its migration through Peru between October and November. Blanco & López-Lanús (2008) compiled sightings to map migration routes in South America, showing a possible migratory corridor in eastern Peru and Bolivia towards Paraguay. Here we document, for the first time, the migratory movements and phenology of autumn migration of the Upland Sandpiper, using satellite tracking to better understand the migration patterns of this species.