<abstract xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><p>Ornithological studies often rely on large temporal scale ringing datasets as source of information. However, basic descriptive statistics of collected data are rarely provided. In order to fill this gap, here we present the second item of a series of exploratory analyses of migration timing and body size measurements of the most frequent Passerine species at a ringing station located in Central Hungary (1984–2015). First, we give a concise description of foreign ring recoveries of the Dunnock in relation to Hungary. We then shift focus to data of 11,617 individuals deriving from the ringing station, where birds have been trapped, handled and ringed with standardized methodology since 1984. Timing is described through annual and daily capture and recapture frequencies and their descriptive statistics. We show annual mean arrival dates within the study period and we present the cumulative distribution of first captures with stopover durations. We present the distributions of wing, third primary, tail length and body mass, and the annual means of these variables. Furthermore, we show the distribution of individual fat and muscle scores, and the distribution of body mass within each fat score category. We distinguish migration periods (spring and autumn), and age groups (i.e. juveniles and adults). Our aim is to provide a comprehensive overview of the analysed variables. However, we do not aim to interpret the obtained results, merely draw attention to interesting patterns, that may be worth exploring in detail. Data used here are available upon request for further analyses.</p></abstract>

Ornithological studies often rely on large temporal scale ringing datasets as source of information. However, basic descriptive statistics of collected data are rarely provided. In order to fill this gap, here we present the second item of a series of exploratory analyses of migration timing and body size measurements of the most frequent Passerine species at a ringing station located in Central Hungary (1984–2015). First, we give a concise description of foreign ring recoveries of the Dunnock in relation to Hungary. We then shift focus to data of 11,617 individuals deriving from the ringing station, where birds have been trapped, handled and ringed with standardized methodology since 1984. Timing is described through annual and daily capture and recapture frequencies and their descriptive statistics. We show annual mean arrival dates within the study period and we present the cumulative distribution of first captures with stopover durations. We present the distributions of wing, third primary, tail length and body mass, and the annual means of these variables. Furthermore, we show the distribution of individual fat and muscle scores, and the distribution of body mass within each fat score category. We distinguish migration periods (spring and autumn), and age groups (i.e. juveniles and adults). Our aim is to provide a comprehensive overview of the analysed variables. However, we do not aim to interpret the obtained results, merely draw attention to interesting patterns, that may be worth exploring in detail. Data used here are available upon request for further analyses.

Exploratory analyses of migration timing and morphometrics of the Dunnock <italic>(Prunella modularis)</italic>

Department of Biomathematics and Informatics, University of Veterinary Medicine, 1078 Budapest, István utca 2.,

Department of Zoology, Hungarian Natural History Museum, 1088 Budapest, Baross utca 13.,

Hungarian Bird Ringing Center, BirdLife Hungary, 1121 Budapest, Költő utca 21.,

Department of Anatomy, Cell- and Developmental Biology, Eötvös Loránd University, 1117 Budapest, Pázmány Péter sétány 1/C,

Ornis Hungarica

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 3.0 License.

Exploratory analyses of migration timing and morphometrics of the Dunnock 

Ornithological studies often rely on large temporal scale ringing datasets as source of information. However, basic descriptive statistics of collected data...

Exploratory analyses of migration timing and morphometrics of the Dunnock (Prunella modularis)

Published Online: Jan 25, 2017

Page range: 127 - 144

Received: Nov 26, 2016

Accepted: Dec 14, 2016

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1515/orhu-2016-0020

Keywords
Hedge Accentor, Hedge Sparrow, Hedge Warbler, Ócsa Bird Ringing Station, wing, third primary, tail length, body mass, fat, muscle, bird banding, capture-recapture, long term data, meta-analyses

© 2016 Andrea Harnos et al., published by De Gruyter Open

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 3.0 License.

Exploratory analyses of migration timing and morphometrics of the Dunnock (Prunella modularis)

Published Online: Jan 25, 2017

Page range: 127 - 144

Received: Nov 26, 2016

Accepted: Dec 14, 2016

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1515/orhu-2016-0020

KeywordsHedge Accentor, Hedge Sparrow, Hedge Warbler, Ócsa Bird Ringing Station, wing, third primary, tail length, body mass, fat, muscle, bird banding, capture-recapture, long term data, meta-analyses

© 2016 Andrea Harnos et al., published by De Gruyter Open

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 3.0 License.

Keywords
Hedge Accentor, Hedge Sparrow, Hedge Warbler, Ócsa Bird Ringing Station, wing, third primary, tail length, body mass, fat, muscle, bird banding, capture-recapture, long term data, meta-analyses