Individual variation in migration patterns of Iberian little bustards Tropical and Mediterranean Biodiversity

Online access • LINK
Password • scientia

Migration is a critical behavioural strategy that allows animals to respond to seasonal shifts in environmental conditions and resource availability. Understanding animal movements, their plasticity, and their variation within- and among- individuals, is essential for assessing species resilience to environmental changes and developing effective conservation strategies. This study investigates the individual variation in migration patterns of the little bustard (Tetrax tetrax), one of Europe’s most threatened birds, using tracking data from 66 individuals in Southwest Iberia and a combination of analytical approaches. We found a high inter-individual variation with four main migration patterns, with most birds being resident; but a low within-individual variation, with most individuals tracked for multiple years maintaining the same strategy. The framework presented here for little bustards can be easily applied to other tracking data, guiding conservation strategies and offering a practical tool for classifying movement patterns and exploring individual variation or plasticity.