Many long-distance migrants appear to be genetically programmed to respond to changing day length. Species that move short distances, however, may not need such a timing mechanism, instead moving in response to local weather conditions. Thus mountain and moorland breeders, such as wallcreeper Tichodroma muraria and white-throated dipper Cinclus cinclus, may move only altitudinally to escape the cold higher ground. Other species such as merlin Falco columbarius and Eurasian skylark Alauda arvensis move further, to the coast or towards the south. Species like the chaffinch are much less migratory in Britain than those of continental Europe, mostly not moving more than 5 km in their lives. COUNT 5
QSN1 What are many long distance migrants genetically programmed to do? ANS1 respond to changing day length QSN2 How do species that move short distances know when to migrate? ANS2 response to local weather conditions QSN3 Why do mountain and moorland breeders move only altitudinally? ANS3 to escape the cold higher ground QSN4 Where do the merlin Falco columbarius migrate to? ANS4 the coast or towards the south QSN5 How far do British chaffinch more in their lives? ANS5 5 km