Competition in migrant birds in the nonbreeding season.

Abstract

Reviews the role of competition in theories about migratory bird distribution. Considers the roles of dominance, territoriality age- and sex-related geographical separation in intraspecific competition, and discusses latitudinal separation of and leap-frog migration between geographical races and closely-related species. Interspecific competition is examined, again in terms of dominance and territoriality, and also with regard to resource partitioning via feeding specialisation. Means of testing predictions of community theory are proposed. Winter allopatry may be used as a means of reducing competition. -P.J.Jarvis