Multi-sensor tracking reveals the extent of nocturnal migration in landbirds

Dufour, Paul;Nussbaumer, Raphaël;Doniol-Valcroze, Paul;Rime, Yann;Johnson, Matthew;et.al.
(2026) Current Biology — Vol. 36, p. 1-14 (2026)

Files

1-s2.0-S0960982226007402-main.pdf
  • Open Access
  • Adobe PDF
  • 3.78 MB
Download

Details

Authors
  • Dufour, Paulorcid-logoBird Migration Unit, Swiss Ornithological Institute, Sempach 6204, Switzerland
    Author
  • Nussbaumer, RaphaëlBird Migration Unit, Swiss Ornithological Institute, Sempach 6204, Switzerland
    Author
  • Doniol-Valcroze, PaulCESCO, UMR7204 MNHN-CNRS-Sorbonne Université, Paris 75005, France
    Author
  • Rime, YannFitzPatrick Institute of African Ornithology, University of Cape Town, Rondebosch 7701, South Africa
    Author
  • Evens, RubenUCLouvain
    Author
  • Johnson, MatthewLouisiana State University AgCenter, Baton Rouge, LA 70803, USA
    Author
  • et. al.
Show more
Abstract
Graphical abstract Highlights • Multi-sensor geolocators are uniquely suited to quantify flight timing in landbirds • Nocturnal flights dominate (82%) across 56 small-to medium-sized landbird species • Departures and landing times cluster around civil dusk and dawn • Nocturnal flight timing shows moderate to strong phylogenetic signal In brief Dufour et al. combine multi-sensor geolocator data from 411 individuals across 56 landbird species to quantify nocturnal and diurnal migratory flight. They show that nocturnal migration is the dominant strategy among small landbirds, is phylogenetically conserved, and that several species previously considered diurnal migrants in fact fly exclusively at night.
Affiliations

Citations

  • APA
  • Chicago
  • FWB

Dufour, P., Nussbaumer, R., Doniol-Valcroze, P., Rime, Y., Adamík, P., Åkesson, S., Arlettaz, R., Barras, A., Batbayar, N., Beggs, I., Bell, F., Benito Ruiz, A., Bensch, S., Bocher, P., Boves, T., Brodersen, J., Burgess, M., Burnus, L., Caballero-Lopez, V., et al. (2026). Multi-sensor tracking reveals the extent of nocturnal migration in landbirds. Current Biology, 36, 1-14. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cub.2026.06.030 (Original work published 2026)