Migratory performance and potential high-altitude flight in Black-winged Stilt inferred from GPS tracking and atmospheric modelling
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.30456/avo.30339Keywords:
Flight speed, GPS tracking, Migration, Wading birds, Wind assistanceAbstract
Understanding how migratory birds adjust their flight behaviour to cope with environmental challenges is essential to identify the limits of their aerial performance. Black-winged Stilts Himantopus himantopus are considered medium-distance migrants, yet detailed information on their migratory performance remains limited.
Using GPS tracking data from two individuals, we describe migratory routes, timing, travel rates, stopover behaviour, and seasonal differences between post-breeding and pre-breeding movements. Both birds completed long-distance migrations between the Balearic Islands and West Africa using predominantly rapid and direct movements, consistent with “jumping” migration strategies.
In several migratory segments, observed ground speeds exceeded the predicted maximum range speed (Vmr = 50 km/h). When combined with vertical wind profiles derived from ERA5 reanalysis data, these episodes were consistently associated with stronger tailwind components at mid- to high-level atmospheric layers. Although flight altitude was not directly measured, the observed displacement patterns are compatible with the potential use of atmospheric layers between approximately 2000 and 7200 m.
Because altitude was inferred indirectly from wind-field modelling and aerodynamic expectations, these estimates should be interpreted cautiously. Nonetheless, the results suggest vertical flexibility in flight behaviour and highlight the potential role of atmospheric structure in shaping migratory performance in H. himantopus. Further studies incorporating direct altitude measurements are needed to confirm the prevalence and ecological significance of hight-altitude flight in this species.
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Copyright (c) 2026 Samuel Pinya Fernández
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.
Accepted 2026-05-06
Published 2026-09-10
