Autumn migration patterns of buntings (Emberiza spp.) in eastern Fennoscandia

The paper examines the migration chronology of three bunting species (Emberiza spp.) in eastern Fennoscandia (Russia), focusing on autumn when most captured individuals were first-year birds undertaking their first migration. The data were gathered in the southern part of the Kola Peninsula by trapping and measuring migrating birds. The study found that juvenile Reed Buntings (E. schoeniclus) exhibited post-fledging dispersal from 26 July to 30 August (n=142), while their autumn migration occurred between 15 August and 18 September (n=206). Adult Reed Buntings migrated from 26 July through 18 September. Juvenile Rustic Buntings (E. rustica) dispersed from 8 to 31 August (n=11) and migrated from 14 August to 19 September (n=88). Juvenile Little Buntings (E. pusilla) showed dispersal movements from 1 to 21 August (n=7) followed by migration between 9 and 25 August (n=22). Sample sizes permitted detailed migration analysis only for adult Reed Buntings. Significant temporal overlap between dispersal (post-fledging migration) and autumn (post-moult) migration was observed in Rustic and Little Buntings.