Description:    Although it is widely recognized that animal movement may be facilitated by corridors and hindered by the matrix, the influence of matrix composition on the use of corridors still remain poorly understood. We used translocation experiments and state-space models to assess if the movement response of the frugivorous bird, the austral thrush, to riparian forest strips varies depending on matrix composition (open pasture vs. eucalyptus plantation). In agricultural landscapes, the directions displayed by most birds when moving in the open pasture matrix were consistent with an edge-following behavior. Riparian strips also functioned as passive drift fences in agricultural landscapes, with strips being used as conduits for movements once birds entered into a riparian strip. Our results suggest that visual perception of riparian strips by birds is hampered by the complex habitat structure in the eucalyptus matrix and that the use of riparian strips as habitat is conditioned by the surrounding matrix. Content Type Journal Article Category Research Article Pages 1-13 DOI 10.1007/s10980-012-9821-5 Authors Pablo M. Vergara, Departamento de Gestión Agraria, Universidad de Santiago de Chile, Libertador Bernardo O’Higgins, 3363 Santiago, Chile Christian G. Pérez-Hernández, Departamento de Ciencias Ambientales y Recursos Naturales Renovables, Universidad de Chile, Santiago, Chile Ingo J. Hahn, Institute of Landscape Ecology, University of Münster, Münster, Germany Jaime E. Jiménez, Department of Biological Sciences & Department of Philosophy and Religion Studies, University of North Texas, Denton, TX, USA Journal Landscape Ecology Online ISSN 1572-9761 Print ISSN 0921-2973