Winter habitat associations of four grassland sparrows in Florida dry prairie

Abstract

Abstract North American grassland birds show long-term population declines that generally exceed the declines of other bird groups. Efforts to conserve grassland birds require knowledge of ecological and habitat requirements during both the breeding and nonbreeding periods of annual life cycles. Nonbreeding habitat associations may affect survival and the acquisition of resources needed for migration and breeding. We focused on the winter habitat associations of a suite of co-occurring grassland sparrows in the dry prairie of south-central Florida, an understudied region within the wintering range of Grasshopper Sparrows (Ammodramus savannarum pratensis) and Henslow's Sparrows (A. henslowii). During the nonbreeding winter months, these two migratory sparrows commingle with resident Bachman's Sparrows (Peucaea aestivalis) and federally endangered Florida Grasshopper Sparrows (Ammodramus savannarum floridanus). We investigated sparrow habitat associations within two defined plant communities of the dry prai...