Species respond dynamically to climate change and exhibit time lags. Consequently, species may not occupy their full climatic niche during range shifting. Here, we assessed climate niche tracking during recent range shifts of European and United States (US) birds. Using data from two European bird atlases and from the North American Breeding Bird Survey between the 1980s and 2010s, we analysed range overlap and climate niche overlap based on kernel density estimation. Phylogenetic multiple regression was used to assess the effect of species morphological, ecological and biogeographic traits on range and niche metrics. European birds shifted their ranges north and north-eastwards, US birds westwards. Range unfilling was lower than expected by null models, and niche expansion was more common than niche unfilling. Also, climate niche tracking was generally lower in US birds and poorly explained by species traits. Overall, our results suggest that dispersal limitations were minor in range shifting birds in Europe and the USA while delayed extinctions from unfavourable areas seem more important. Regional differences could be related to differences in land use history and monitoring schemes. Comparative analyses of range and niche shifts provide a useful screening approach for identifying the importance of transient dynamics and time-lagged responses to climate change. This article is part of the theme issue 'Ecological novelty and planetary stewardship: biodiversity dynamics in a transforming biosphere'.

Catalan Ornithological Institute Natural Science Museum of Barcelona Barcelona ES 08019 Spain

CREAF Cerdanyola del Vallès Barcelona ES 08193 Spain

Ecology and Macroecology Laboratory Institute for Biochemistry and Biology University of Potsdam 14469 Potsdam Germany

European Bird Census Council Prague CZ 150 00 Czech Republic

Swiss Ornithological Institute Seerose 1 6204 Sempach Switzerland

The Helsinki Laboratory of Ornithology Finnish Museum of Natural History University of Helsinki Helsinki 00014 Finland

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Range and climate niche shifts in European and North American breeding birds