Eastern Whip-poor-wills have larger nonbreeding home ranges in areas with more agriculture and forest fragmentation

Abstract Migratory bird populations can be limited by events in disparate parts of the world. Birds wintering tropical regions are facing rapid habitat loss, climate change, and intensive agricultural regimes, potentially contributing to population declines. However, an understanding basic nonbreeding ecology species, such as space use, is critical for determining if this case. Populations nocturnal/crepuscular Eastern Whip-poor-will (Antrostomus vociferus) have declined 70% since 1960’s, yet data on species sparse outside breeding season. We extracted from 41 archival GPS tags deployed whip-poor-wills estimated home ranges land covers used. used satellite imagery stable carbon nitrogen isotope values claws grown during season analyze how cover moisture impacted range size relative trophic level. Forest was far most prevalent whip-poor-wills, occurring all accounting >80% diurnal roosting points. found that less forest, presence agriculture, more edge (irrespective cover) were associated with larger ranges. Stable differed broadscale ecoregion but not local characteristics our study, indicating regional idiosyncrasies or processes important ratios. Our findings suggest fragmentation, replacement forest agriculture core whip-poor-will’s may represent a threat they rely heavily upon appear alter use response changes cover.