AGE, TIME AND SPACE RELATED VARIABILITY OF BIOMETRIC CHARACTERISTICS OF COLLARED FLYCATCHER (FICEDULA-ALBICOLLIS) FEMALES

We tested the hypothesis that study of metric microgeographic variatio n in collared flycatcher (Ficedula albicollis) must be based on the me asurement of Individuals for whom age is known. The study was conducte d in 1988-1993 at three habitat types, 1) flooded, 2) oak and 3) oak-b eech forests, which were about 15 km each other in Central Moravia, Cz ech Republic. We found different rent values for the tarsus and wing l engths and the extent of white spot in wing in one-year and older fema les. The age structure of females changed over the study, mainly in th e oak-beech forest, this being related to breeding success in the prev ious breeding season. Changes in age structure caused significant diff erences in average values for biometric characteristics in breeding se asons. Therefore, the age of measured females must be taken into accou nt when evaluating metric microgeographic variation. The study showed that metric microgeographic variation, found in wing- and tarsus-lengt hs, can exist in collared flycatcher.