Censusing wintering populations of Swainson's warblers: Surveys in the Blue Mountains of Jamaica

Abstract

Census methods developed for breeding populations of Nearctic-Neotropic migrant passerines are largely ineffective for determining the distribution and abundance of Swainson's Warbler (Limnothlypis swainsonii) on its wintering grounds in the Caribbean basin. Using playback of tape-recorded call notes interspersed with advertising songs, I found the warbler to be widespread and relatively common in montane forests of the Blue Mountains of Jamaica. Detection rates with playback varied from 17.8 to 29.2 warblers/10 h along five census transects. Census efficiency was increased by an estimated factor of five to 10 times with the use of tape playback.