A Tennessee Warbler (Leiothlypis peregrina) Captured In the Web of a Golden Silk Orb-Weaver (Trichonephila clavipes)
Document Type
Article
Publication Date
6-1-2020
Department
Biological Sciences
School
Biological, Environmental, and Earth Sciences
Abstract
During migration, transient birds usually find themselves stopping in unfamiliar habitats in order to rest and refuel before resuming migratory flight. Here we document the first case, to our knowledge, of a Tennessee Warbler (Leiothlypis peregrina) entrapped in a spiderweb. The warbler's tarsus became caught in the mooring thread of a golden silk orb-weaver (Trichonephila clavipes) web and the bird was unable to free itself, resulting in death. While the role of spiderweb-related mortalities is likely minimal, they may represent a type of additive mortality that has been largely unconsidered during migration. Given the spatiotemporal overlap in the prevalence of spiderwebs and movement of migratory birds, researchers should document and report such anecdotal observations to determine the role spiders may play in mortality events during migration.
Publication Title
Wilson Journal of Ornithology
Volume
132
Issue
2
First Page
456
Last Page
459
Recommended Citation
Zenzal, T.,
Calderón, L.,
Lefever, J.,
Weber, V.
(2020). A Tennessee Warbler (Leiothlypis peregrina) Captured In the Web of a Golden Silk Orb-Weaver (Trichonephila clavipes). Wilson Journal of Ornithology, 132(2), 456-459.
Available at: https://aquila.usm.edu/fac_pubs/19384