Animal world The breeding season of the snow sparrow shifts with every degree
Climate change is shifting the breeding season of the snow sparrow. For this reason, the survival of the alpine bird species in Switzerland is at risk in the long term, as the Swiss Ornithological Institute in Sempach LU warns in a study.
04.06.2025, 10:10
SDA
"Our data show that the breeding season is shifted forward by an average of around six days per additional degree in spring, but is shortened by over four days per degree in summer," explained Carole Niffenegger in a press release issued by the ornithological institute on Tuesday. She is the first author of the study, which was published in the journal "Ecology and Evolution".
Young snow sparrows need insect larvae as food. However, these are only available for a short time. Especially in the mountains. This makes it all the more important for birds such as the snow sparrow, which are specialized in the high mountains, to find exactly the right time window for breeding.
Limited adaptation to environmental conditions
However, the snow sparrow cannot fully adapt its breeding time to the changing environmental conditions, which is probably why it lacks food for its young. The ornithological station described the process as a "race against time".
The bird species is therefore being pushed to higher altitudes. However, the habitat is limited towards the top, warned Vogelwarte. This endangers the survival of the bird species.
The study is based on over 12,000 reports from birdwatchers on the citizen science platform "ornitho.ch".
