22/02/2023
New paper in Avian Research:
Predicting the non-breeding distributions of the two Asian subspecies of Black-tailed Godwit using morphological information
In the study 朱冰润 et al. developed a simple discriminant function to assign Black-tailed Godwit individuals to two Asian subspecies, bohaii and melanuroides, based on their bill and wing length. Cross-validation with individuals based on molecular analysis showed the developed function to be 97.7% accurate.
The authors hypothesise that bohaii and melanuroides from the west of their breeding ranges mostly migrate over Chinese mainland. Birds of both subspecies from the east of their ranges are expected to migrate along the Pacific Ocean.
For details see https://doi.org/10.1016/j.avrs.2022.100069
