Natal and breeding dispersal of the White-throated Dipper Cinclus cinclus in coastal rivers of the northern Iberian Peninsula

ABSTRACT

Knowledge of avian dispersal patterns is basic to our understanding of the processes that characterise populations. We describe here the natal and breeding dispersal of White-throated Dippers Cinclus cinclus inhabiting three coastal catchments of the Basque Country, based on recaptures of ringed birds. Natal dispersal data were available for 70 Dippers, from a total of 789 nestlings ringed. Most of the birds (62.8%) were recaptured within 5 km of their natal nest (median 3.92 km). Natal dispersal differed between sexes, females moving longer distances than males. About 20% of the birds moved between catchments. Breeding dispersal data were available for 72 birds among 152 ringed adults. Both sexes showed strong fidelity to the breeding site. Only 8.7% of the birds recaptured changed their breeding site between seasons. These results are similar to those obtained in Britain, Ireland and central Europe, which suggests the existence of a shared pattern of dispersal among western European populations.

KEYWORDS:

• dispersal movements
• ring recoveries
• Basque Country
• Cinclidae

Acknowledgements

The Biscay County Council authorised our ringing activity. Laura Barroso, Santi Catchot, Ioar de Guzmán, Ainhoa Egaña, Jokin Egia, Raül Escandell, Oier Frías, Enrique Goikolea, Rowan Hardman, Marcos Isasi, Sergio Lara, Ibai Llosa, Ana López, Joseba Luzarraga, Sergio Martínez, Amaia Mendinueta, Nagore Moyúa, Iker Novoa, Maider Oar-Arteta, Mónica Orfila, Benito Sánchez, Unai Santamaría, Sandro Schäfer, Amaia Unzueta, Gorka Valdés, Mikel Yarza and Martiñe Zabala assisted field work. Rowan Hardman drafted the English version of the manuscript. An anonymous reviewer improved an early version.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).