A multiscale analysis of factors influencing Setophaga striata (Blackpoll Warbler) occupancy and abundance during the nonbreeding season in eastern Colombia.

This article focuses on the nonbreeding season habitat use and occupancy patterns of Setophaga striata (Blackpoll Warbler), a long-distance migratory bird experiencing steep population declines, in eastern Colombia’s Orinoco region. Using hierarchical occupancy and N-mixture models, the study found that regional occupancy probability is positively influenced by stationary nonbreeding season precipitation and net primary productivity, peaking at elevations between 500 and 1,000 meters. At the landscape scale, contrary to expectations, occupancy and abundance were higher in agroforestry systems—such as shade-grown cacao, citrus plantations, and silvopastures—than in native forest habitats, with occupancy negatively correlated with dense vegetation structure. These findings highlight the importance of diverse agroforestry landscapes in the conservation of S. striata during the nonbreeding season and suggest that promoting such systems in moist, productive areas could enhance habitat availability for the species.