Sex, age and condition bias of decoy-trapped Citril Finches (Serinus citrinella)

Abstract

Decoys are extensively used in the mediterranean region to trap finches. In Citril Finches (Serinus citrinella) decoy-trapping causes a bias in the age and body condition of the birds caught, first year females and males in bad body condition being more easily attracted by decoys. The importance of the knowledge of these possible biasses for the interpretation of ring recovery data in finches is stressed.