Ardea
Official journal of the Netherlands Ornithologists' Union

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Perdeck A.C. (1970) The standard direction of the Scandinavian Chaffinch during autumn migration throughout its area of passage. ARDEA 58 (3-4): 142-170
In this study it has been established that the mean standard direction of Chaffinches breeding in Norway and Sweden changes during autumn migration from about SSW in Scandinavia to SW by S in Denmark and Germany, WSW in Holland and W by N at Cap Gris Nez in North-west France. This change is not due to a following of coastlines since many of the observations were made so far inland that a direct influence of the coastline could be excluded. The mechanism of this change is unknown. Without further data it seems rather useless to make speculations. Some preliminary experiments on this phenomenon in Kramer cages have so far failed to reveal any clues. The Chaffinch is a typical woodland bird and probably less well adapted (both in behaviour and structure) to fly over large stretches of bare country or sea. 'The function (and survival value) of the change in direction might be that large sea-crossings are reduced, while at the same time a favourable winter quarter (the area around the Channel) is reached.


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