A summer odyssey: Female dotterels seek multiple mates across Northern Europe
On a high Norwegian plateau in late May, patches of bare ground begin to appear through the snow, and with them arrive some of Europe's most approachable birds. Eurasian dotterels breed on exposed mountain ridges and Arctic tundra from Scotland, through Scandinavia, to Siberia, and are famously tolerant of people—a trait that has long made them easy prey for hunters. They are unusual in another…
In late May, as snow melts on a Norwegian mountain plateau, the rare sight of Eurasian dotterels emerges. These birds, known for their approachability, breed on exposed ridges and tundra across Europe and Asia. Scientists have long noticed that female dotterels, larger and more colorful than males, take the lead in courtship and leave males to incubate the eggs and raise the chicks.
However, the whereabouts of female dotterels after laying their eggs has puzzled researchers for decades. A new study by an international team, including Bart Kempenaers from the Max Planck Institute for Biological Intelligence, has finally tracked female dotterels using satellite transmitters, revealing their surprising migratory behavior.
Females travel hundreds of kilometers between breeding sites in a single summer, a behavior previously unseen. This discovery challenges traditional views of bird migration and opens new questions about the role of female movements in reproductive success and population connectivity.
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