Geolocators reveal variation and sex‐specific differences in the migratory strategies of a long‐distance migrant

Songbird populations are in decline all over the world, and our understanding of causal mechanisms remains surprisingly limited. It is important to identify extent individual variations migratory behaviour better understand species' ability respond environmental change. We describe annual British breeding European Pied Flycatchers Ficedula hypoleuca by using light-recording geolocators. During both autumn spring migrations, individuals used previously unknown staging areas on Iberian Peninsula northern West Africa. Furthermore, partial sex-specific segregation location non-breeding was observed within Africa, with females located west males. also found sex-based phenological differences, staying longer undertaking Sahara Desert crossing later than Irrespective sex, multiple use two predominant regions identified during 63% stopping more once these regions. instances behaviours rarely documented individually tracked songbirds. These include making daytime landfall crossing, a case temporary retreat migration, an aborting before second successful 14 days later. Together, results show variability between sexes individuals. For Flycatchers, such flexible may increase their resilience