Wing and leg bone microstructure reflects migratory demands in resident and migrant populations of the Dark-eyed Junco (Junco hyemalis)

Migration is the primary strategy that temperate birds use to avoid overwintering under harsh conditions. As a consequence, migratory birds have evolved specific morphological features in their wings and skeleton. However, in addition to varying in overall shape and size, bone can also change at the microstructural level by, for example, increasing its thickness. Such changes are critical to preventing fracture and damage under repeated loading (fatigue), yet it is not known whether migratory behaviour influences bone microstructure. To address this gap in the literature, we performed micro-computed tomography on skeletons of resident and migrant subspecies of the Dark-eyed Junco Junco hyemalis. We investigated the differences in the major wing bone, the humerus, and the major leg bone, the femur. In each bone, we studied the microarchitecture of the two types of bone tissue: cortical bone, the thick outer layer of bone; and trabecular bone, which is the porous network of bone tissue at the ends of long bones. We used linear models to quantify morphological features with respect to body mass and migratory behaviour. Humeri from migratory birds were thinner, wider and had higher overall geometric stiffness, i.e. a higher polar moment of inertia, relative to humeri from resident birds. These features may help keep their bones stiff to maintain their increased body mass during migration. In contrast, migrant femora were shorter, thinner and had lower geometric stiffness than femora of residents, potentially to reduce total body mass. Tissue mineral density was lower in both the humerus and the femur of migratory birds. In addition, migratory subspecies had less trabecular bone (lower bone volume fraction) due primarily to a loss of trabecular thickness. Migratory behaviour may thus select for improved stiffness and fatigue resistance in the wing bones and reduced mass of leg bones. Our work demonstrates how important insights into morphological adaptation can be obtained by investigating bone microstructure.

Automated summary

Migration behavior influences the microstructure of bones in migratory birds, with wing bones being thicker, wider, and stiffer, while leg bones are shorter, thinner, and less stiff in migrants compared to resident birds. Migratory birds also have lower tissue mineral density and less trabecular bone volume fraction, potentially to improve stiffness and fatigue resistance in wing bones and reduce mass in leg bones. This study highlights the importance of investigating bone microstructure to understand morphological adaptations in migratory birds.