Max Planck Institute of Animal Behavior, that aims to increase the understanding of animal decision-making and movement in the natural world, has published revolutionary research showing the long-term energetic costs of migratory and resident populations of the common blackbird (Turdus merula) using Star-Oddi‘s Heart Rate and Temperature data loggers. The findings show that there is no added energy cost of migratory lifestyle.

Invaluable insight into migrant and resident bird lifestyles
The research provides unprecedented insight into the lifestyle of migrant and resident birds and their strategies to preserve energy prior to migration. This gives an invaluable insight into which birds species may respond to climate change.

The findings have been covered extensively in the New York Times.

Research paper: Linek N, Yanco SW, Volkmer T, Zúñiga D, Wikelski M, Partecke J. 2024 Migratory lifestyle carries no added overall energy cost in a partial migratory songbird. Nature Ecology & Evolution

You can read more about the scientific article with the findings, a press release from Max Planck, and get further information.

Photo credit: © Christian Ziegler / Max Planck Institute of Animal Behavior