Natal and breeding dispersal of the White-throated Dipper Cinclus cinclus in coastal rivers of the northern Iberian Peninsula

Abstract

ABSTRACT Knowledge of avian dispersal patterns is basic to our understanding of the processes that characterise populations. We describe here the natal and breeding dispersal of White-throated Dippers Cinclus cinclus inhabiting three coastal catchments of the Basque Country, based on recaptures of ringed birds. Natal dispersal data were available for 70 Dippers, from a total of 789 nestlings ringed. Most of the birds (62.8%) were recaptured within 5 km of their natal nest (median 3.92 km). Natal dispersal differed between sexes, females moving longer distances than males. About 20% of the birds moved between catchments. Breeding dispersal data were available for 72 birds among 152 ringed adults. Both sexes showed strong fidelity to the breeding site. Only 8.7% of the birds recaptured changed their breeding site between seasons. These results are similar to those obtained in Britain, Ireland and central Europe, which suggests the existence of a shared pattern of dispersal among western European populations.