Download (PDF 84 KB): https://research.fs.usda.gov/download/treesearch/15471.pdf
Abstract
We examined dispersal distance of young Western Screech-owls (
Otus kennicottii) from nest sites to overwintering sites in relation to two hypotheses for sex-biased dispersal. Overall, young Screech-owls (N = 31) dispersed an average of 10.6 ± 1.8 km to overwintering sites, and females (14.7 ± 2.5 km; N = 13) dispersed farther than males (5.1 ± 2.3 km; N = 15). This result is not consistent with the behavioral dominance hypothesis, which predicts that individuals of the more dominant sex class (apparently females in Western Screech-owls) should be more philopatric. The mating system hypothesis, which predicts that the sex that establishes the territory should disperse shorter distances, remains tenable as an explanation for female-biased dispersal in Western Screech-owls.
Parent Publication
Citation
Ellsworth, Ethan; Belthoff, James R. 1997. Sex-biased dispersal of young Western Screech-owls (
Otus kennicottii) in southwestern Idaho. In: Duncan, James R.; Johnson, David H.; Nicholls, Thomas H., eds. Biology and conservation of owls of the Northern Hemisphere: 2nd International symposium. Gen. Tech. Rep. NC-190. St. Paul, MN: U.S. Dept. of Agriculture, Forest Service, North Central Forest Experiment Station. 155-159.
