Table 4 Definitions of species traits included in the Global Alpine Breeding Bird dataset.
From: GABB: A global dataset of alpine breeding birds and their ecological traits
Trait | Trait level | Definition |
|---|---|---|
Breeding specialization | Predominant breeding habitat | |
Alpine | Alpine specialist; primarily breeds above treeline | |
General | Elevational generalist; breeds both above and below treeline | |
Tundra | Breeds only in high latitude alpine and polar tundra; occurs at alpine-Arctic transition zones where species are selecting for tundra habitat | |
Breeding status | Breeding propensity in alpine relative to other habitats | |
Common (C) | Nests in alpine across geographic range; equal to or more likely to nest in the alpine than in lower elevation habitats | |
Uncommon (U) | Often breeds in alpine habitats, but more likely to breed at or below treeline | |
Rare (R) | Incidental; alpine breeder only under localized, specific habitat conditions | |
Migration behaviour | General migration distance | |
Resident (R) | Resident year-round, allowing for occasional, temporary movements in response to extreme weather or social factors (i.e., multi-species flock) | |
Short (S) | Seasonal altitudinal, nomadic, or short-distance latitudinal migrant ( < 3,000 km), but remains within general region | |
Long (L) | Involves major latitudinal shift ( > 3,000 km) and change in region (i.e., temperate to tropics) | |
Nest type | Predominant nest structure for alpine breeding birds | |
Open | Open cup nest | |
Cavity | Nest placed in burrows, rock crevices, caves, or tree cavities | |
Domed | Nest with a roof built by the bird; globular, spherical, or semi-domed | |
BP | Brood parasite; lays eggs in any of the above nest types. | |
Nest site | Typical nest placement or substrate | |
Ground | On the ground, under a shrub or grass clump, or next to a rock | |
Bank | Cavity nest dug into the ground or a bank (i.e., a burrow/tunnel) | |
Shrub | Placed above ground in vegetation (i.e., shrub, stunted tree, bamboo, sedge) | |
Tree | Placed in branches or a cavity (natural, excavated) of a stunted tree | |
Cliff | Cliff ledge or against a vertical wall (e.g., many raptor or swallow nests) | |
Rock | Cavity nest placed within a natural rock cavity or crevice | |
Glacier | Placed in a cave or crevice within a perennial ice field | |
Data reliability | An uncertainty index based on described nest traits | |
0 | Nest traits are undescribed | |
1 | Less than 5 nests have been described | |
2 | More than 5 nests described, but only from a single population | |
3 | Nests described from multiple populations and regions. | |
Endemism | Endemic to a specific mountain region | |
Species | Species range is restricted by physical, environmental, or biological barriers to a mountainous region (e.g., endemic to Tasmania) | |
Subspecies | Same as above for recognized subspecies | |
Non-endemic | Monotypic; broad distribution across multiple regions | |
IUCN status | Global conservation status according to the IUCN red list | |
