Migratory Connectivity, Migratory Distance, andWing Morphology in Eastern Whip-Poor-WillsAcross the Midwest

The Eastern Whip-poor-will (Antrostomus vociferus;hereafter Whip-poor-will) has declined by 70% in re-cent decades, yet an understanding of when and wherepopulations are limited throughout the annual cycleremains poorly understood. Migration is the periodwith the highest mortality rate in many migratory birdspecies, and measuring variation in morphology andmigratory ecology helps us understand a population’sor a species’ potential for adaptation, making it criti-cal for conservation planning. Despite recent interestin the migratory period of the whip-poor-will, smallsample sizes and spatial scales have precluded a robustunderstanding of this critical phase of the annual cy-cle. In the summer of 2019, we deployed 94 archivalGPS tags on Whip-poor-wills in four states across theMidwest. Data from individuals recaptured in summerof 2020 will be added to data from 11 previously re-captured Whip-poor-wills from Ohio. We will identifymigratory routes, migratory patterns, calculate migra-tory connectivity, and determine if morphological mea-sures of wing shape or size can help explain individualmigratory distances traveled, migratory patterns at thepopulation level, and migratory connectivity. Migratoryconnectivity is exceedingly important when predictingwhich populations of migratory birds are at high riskdue to climate change and other pressures like habitatloss. Ultimately, this research will help pinpoint factorsbehind declines in this enigmatic species, highlight par-ticular populations at risk, and help us understand howmigratory birds may adapt in the coming centuries inthe face of rapid anthropogenic environmental change.