Site fidelity and annual survival of territorial male willow warblers phylloscopus trochilus at four adjacent sites in surrey

Abstract

Willow Warblers, colour‐ringed for individual recognition, were studied at four adjacent sites of differing habitat composition in 1987–1993. The site fidelity of territorial males differed significantly across sites, ranging from 14% to 43%, and was thought most likely to be related to habitat quality. Site fidelity also varied, to a lesser extent, with respect to the age and/or previous residence of males, but not in relation to breeding success. Minimum average annual survival rates varied from 31% to 41% between sites, and there was some evidence of mortality occurring during the breeding season. © 1994 Taylor & Francis Group, LLC.