Fuel load and flight range estimation of migrating passerines in the western part of the Carpathian Basin during the autumn migration

Estimating fuel load and potential flight ranges of migrant passerines are basic issues in understanding bird migration strategies. Thirteen sub-Saharan three pre-Saharan passerine species were analysed this study. The birds captured at the Tömörd Bird Ringing Station western part Carpathian Basin. A general linear model with body mass as dependent variable fat score, muscle score wing length independent variables used to estimate lean (body without deposits) load. In ten studied, models considering interactions between factors fit data better than main-effect models. Body was positively correlated all species, 14 species. During autumn, tended be larger migrants, especially four which pass over Mediterranean Sea, Common Nightingale (Luscinia megarhynchos), Icterine Warbler (Hippolais icterina), Garden (Sylvia borin) Barred (Curruca nisoria). Nine Marsh (Acrocephalus palustris), Sedge (A. schoenobaenus), Eurasian Reed scirpaceus), European Pied Flycatcher (Ficedula hypoleuca), Spotted (Muscicapa striata), Wood (Phylloscopus sibilatrix), Willow (Ph. trochilus), Whitethroat (C. communis) Lesser curruca) had estimated similar (<1300 km) two pre-Saharans, Robin (Erithacus rubecula) Blackap (S. atricapilla). short-distance including Chiffchaff collybita) shortest distance, sufficient reach their southern wintering sites needing refuel stopover sites.