Satellite tracking reveals a migratory divide and population-specific migratory strategies in White-naped Cranes

Migratory divides, where individuals from distinct breeding populations within a species exhibit divergent migratory routes and strategies, play a critical role in shaping avian ecology and evolution. These divides can drive intraspecific genetic divergence and promote reproductive isolation, potentially leading to population differentiation and speciation. Understanding the migration strategies of populations utilizing distinct flyways is essential not only for elucidating the mechanisms underlying migration patterns but also for informing effective species conservation efforts. From 2014 to 2023, we used satellite tracking to monitor the migration patterns of 87 White-naped Cranes (Antigone vipio) from the species’ two breeding populations—western (Mongolia) and eastern (Songnen Plain, China). We delineated their migratory routes, quantified key migration parameters, and identified their population- and season-specific differences in migratory strategies. Our results indicate that the Greater Khingan Mountains and the Bohai-Yellow Sea formed a distinct migratory barrier separating the eastern and western populations. Significant differences in migration strategies were observed between populations and seasons. The western population adopts a “longer-distance, slower-speed, more-stopover” strategy, while the eastern population employs a “shorter-distance, higher-speed, fewer-stopover” strategy. Our study identifies the migratory divides between the two populations of White-naped Cranes and highlights the importance of migratory divides in shaping distinct migration strategies. These findings enhance our understanding of the factors driving population-specific migration strategies and provide a foundation for tailored conservation efforts for these populations.