Recoveries by Condition for Great Skua

Mostly dead recoveries, historically nearly 90% before 1960, but dropped to only one third of recoveries after 1990, representing a drastic change in the way we document movements of the species.

Annual Movements for Great Skua

Movements between breeding areas are mainly documented from June to September. Birds from Shetlands are re-encountered along the West coast of Norway from September to December, with a few records in the Baltic Sea. Recoveries along the East coast of North America from November and December, when few records are obtained in Europe. Recoveries in the Bay of Biscay are mainly obtained in September and October, those in the Mediterranean Sea are mainly obtained from January to March. Tracking data of skuas from Foula, Shetlands, documented the individual migration and wintering strategies, with e.g. a summer migration to Norway and the Gulf of Biscay, from July to September, then overwintering off West Africa, from October to February (Furness et al. 2006).

Connectivity by Month by Region for Great Skua

Recoveries in South America (Guyana and Brazil) are from the end of the winter, December to March, with also few summering immatures. Similarly, recoveries off West Africa are from February to May, and those I the Mediterranean Sea also in the second part of the winter period. The species is probably off shore earlier in the winter, while the majority of dead recoveries away from the breeding grounds might bias the pattern towards unhealthy individuals that come closer to the shores than others.

Recoveries by Condition for Wood Warbler

From 1975 to 2002 the annual number of recoveries fluctuated between 25 and 103, increasing in 2003–2010 to about 150. There has been a further increase (168–397) since then. In spring, most recoveries occur between 21 Apr and 20 Jun, in autumn the peak lies between 30 Jul and 8 Sep. Before 1960 about 70% of the recoveries were of dead birds, including 39% that were shot. Between 1960 and 1990 the percentage of dead birds fell to 16% with recoveries of live birds increasing from 23% to 82%. Since 1991 99% of recoveries have been of birds found alive.

Annual Movements for Wood Warbler

Wood Warblers are in Africa Nov- Mar. In Apr many migrants arrive in their breeding areas or are migrating around the Mediterranean Sep, although some birds are still in sub-Saharan Africa. In May most birds have reached their breeding areas. In Aug the early migrants reach S Europe. By Sep most birds have left their breeding areas and are on migration in S Europe, with a few birds already in their wintering areas. The last birds leave Europe in Oct.

Connectivity by Month by Region for Wood Warbler

Birds breeding in Fennoscandia and C Europe are found in Morocco/Iberia, Tunisia/Sardinia and Italy in equal numbers in Apr–May, although the recoveries are concentrated in Italy in autumn. In Nov-Dec Fennoscandian birds are in Chad and Cameroon, while C European birds winter to the W in Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger. Those breeding in the British Isles are found in Italy in Sep-Oct, but also in Morocco (Sep) and Algeria (Apr) indicating that some birds migrate through Iberia to/from the British Isles. Birds from W Europe are found in eastern Algeria and Italy in April–May but, unlike other populations, they are mostly found in Iberia in Sep-Oct.

Recoveries by Condition for Greater Flamingo

Overall, most (~60%) recoveries are of birds seen alive, mostly by reading their leg ring(s). However, even from 1990 to present many birds are still found dead, mostly sick/wounded (21%). As in many other large waterbirds, the use of leg rings has increased the number of recoveries very substantially, allowing a very good understanding of the species’ movement patterns and dynamics.

Annual Movements for Greater Flamingo

Dispersal of both juveniles and adults begins in Aug-Sep, although failed breeders may leave immediately after losing an egg or chick, hence well before Aug. Return to colonies is Feb-Apr in Spain; about one month earlier in N Africa, and one month later in France (Camargue) (Johnson 1989).

Connectivity by Month by Region for Greater Flamingo

Greater Flamingoes have a very complex movement pattern, both temporally and spatially, since all birds from Europe form a single population. Therefore, see the ‘Overall connectivity’ and ‘Annual movements’ sections for details.  

Recoveries by Condition for Tree Pipit

Recoveries in Scandinavia are mainly birds found dead, sick or wounded. Recoveries alive are concentrated in the coastal ringing sites. In Great Britain and Western Europe about 50% of the recoveries are alive and 50% is found dead, sick or wounded. Only in Italy the majority of recoveries are birds shot, especially in northern Italy.

Annual Movements for Tree Pipit

In December, January and February birds are in their wintering area, only very few birds stay in (Southern) Europe. In March the first birds arrive in Southern Europe, especially birds breeding in Great Britain and Central Europe. Birds breeding in Scandinavia however only arrive in second half of April. Most birds arrive in their breeding area in the last two weeks of April and first week of May. Birds start to leave the breeding area from the end of July. The migration peaks in the last week of August and first two weeks of September. Birds breeding in Great Britain seem to leave later and are recovered in South-West Europe only in September. In October and November, only few birds are still in Europe.

Connectivity by Month by Region for Tree Pipit

Birds breeding in Germany, the Low Countries and northern France are recovered in South-West Europe mostly in August and September. Same applies for birds breeding in Great Britain, one recovery in northern Italy in September reveals that also migration over Italy occurs. Birds breeding in West-Scandinavia are mostly recovered in South-West Europe in September, while more easterly Scandinavian birds are recovered in Central Europe and Italy in September. Several May-recoveries of eastern scandinavian breeders in Central Europe and Italy indicate that these birds use the same route in spring. Birds breeding east of Germany are recovered in Italy in September and October.

Recoveries by Condition for Whinchat

Annual numbers encountered increased from around 150 before 2000 to around 200 between 2000 and 2008 and between 400 and 800 in 2013-2018. Up to 1960 about 77% of the recoveries were of dead birds, including 28% that were shot. However, in 1961–1990 this decreased to 27% and live recoveries increased from 13% to 70%. Since 1991 97% of recoveries have been of live birds.

Annual Movements for Whinchat

The first birds wintering in sub-Saharan Africa reach S Europe in Mar, and arrive on their breeding grounds in Apr, although many are still on migration in N Africa, Iberia and Italy. By May the last migrants are in S Europe; mainly birds breeding in the British Isles and Fennoscandia. In Jun–Jul the birds have reached their breeding grounds. In Aug the first autumn migrants arrive in Iberia and in Sep most birds are migrating S within Europe. By Oct most birds are in S Europe and the early ones are already in N Africa. During Nov– Feb most recoveries are in Morocco, Italy and, especially, Iberia. With very low encounter probabilities there are few sub-Saharan winter recoveries which have come from W Europe, the British Isles and Fennoscandia.

Connectivity by Month by Region for Whinchat

Breeding birds from all regions are found in Iberia, especially Portugal, in Sep-Oct. Those breeding in S Fennoscandia are also found in N Italy in Sep–Oct. Birds encountered in Mar-May in Morocco are from all breeding regions in Europe. However, birds in Algeria in Mar-May exclude any from W Europe. Those in Italy in Aprare from breeding areas in Central Europe and Fennoscandia, while those in Iberia in Nov– Feb breed in the British Isles, W Europe and Fennoscandia. A bird encountered in N Italy in Dec was from N Finland.

Recoveries by Condition for Eurasian Hoopoe

Most encounters are obtained after 2000. They come from mainly from the breeding season – 88% from the period May-Jul. Majority of encounters are recorded in C, SW and SC Europe – ca. 97% (80, 11 and 6% respectively). The encounters based on dead birds decreased from 61-68% before 1990 to 6% after 1991; those based on alive birds markedly increased over time – from 19% before 1960 to 93% after 1991. The latter is mostly due to ringing recoveries, including ringing at nestboxes (26% of all encounters).  Shooting was responsible for 25-29% of all encounters before 1990 but it almost disappeared as a source of recoveries after 1991.

Some of the distant (>=50 km) recoveries are nearly 3000km away from the ringing site.

Long-distance recoveries from sub-Saharan Africa are almost lacking.

Annual Movements for Eurasian Hoopoe

Post-breeding dispersal and autumn migration take place mostly Aug-Sep, the numbers progressively decrease onwards.

European breeding sites are reached back in Mar-May.

Tracked birds from the Swiss population are found to winter mostly in W Sahel, but low level of migratory connectivity has been found between their breeding and wintering areas; individual wintering sites differed between years (van Wijk et al. 2016). Some birds taking SW routes showed loop migration – staging in the region of Gibraltar mid-Aug/ early Sep, wintering in Mauritania/ W Mali for about 6 months (Sep-Mar) and spring migration passing eastwards, returning to the breeding sites early to mid-Apr (Bächler et al. 2010).

Weak spatial but strong temporal migratory connectivity has been found across four C European populations (van Wijk et al. 2018).

Connectivity by Month by Region for Eurasian Hoopoe

Dispersal and autumn migratory movements are mostly evident in late summer and early autumn, but small amount of birds are encountered as late as late autumn and single birds – even in winter (N to C & N Europe).  

N Africa is reached as early as late summer, mostly in early autumn. Birds stay in their wintering grounds in W Sahel about half a year (Bächler et al. 2010). Return movements start mid-winter to early spring. Within Europe, spring migration takes place mostly early to late spring.

Data from the isotope analyses supported the evidence that Spanish and Swiss breeders winter in W Sahel (Reichlin et al. 2013).

Median flight altitude during post-breeding migration was found to be ca. 1150m a.s.l., and ca. 1630m a.s.l. during pre-breeding migration; maximum altitude recorded was 4584 m a.s.l. (Liechti et al. 2018).

Recoveries by Condition for Northern Shoveler

Game species in most European countries. Most encounters are obtained between the 1960 and 1980s. The period Jun-Dec produced the bulk of encounters (ca. 78%), marked peaks evident from Aug (ca. 18%) and Jun (ca. 15%). N & C Europe hold most of the encounters (36 and 26% respectively).

The encounters based on dead birds (mostly as a result of shooting/ hunting) kept their number pretty high over the years (75-93%), while those based on alive birds showed a marked increase: from ca. 4% pre-1960 to 14% after 1991. The latter is largely due to ringing recoveries and identification from a distance (metal and colour ring read in the field) – coming mostly from W Europe.

Annual Movements for Northern Shoveler

The species undergoes a flightless wing-moulting period of about 3-4 weeks in mid- to late summer. The breeding sites are left by the adult males first, followed by females and juveniles (Dubowy et al. 2020). Autumn movements in migratory populations start in Aug. Migration is well marked Sep-Nov, most birds reach their wintering grounds in W Europe, the Mediterranean basin and Black Sea region by Oct. British Isles are left by most local breeders by late Oct but immigrants from continental Europe often form a peak later in the season (Nov) (Kirby, Mitchell, 1993). Cold weather movements induced by winter cold spells have been recorded in W Europe (Wadden Sea) (Scott, Rose, 1996).

Spring migration starts in Feb, it is more intensive in Mar-Apr. Breeding sites are occupied Apr-May.

A loop migration across W Europe and the Mediterranean has been suggested (Spina, Volponi, 2008).

Connectivity by Month by Region for Northern Shoveler

During the wing moult males could either stay on their brood-rearing areas or perform moult migrations, usually not as extensive as in the other waterfowl species (Dubowy et al. 2020). Important moulting concentrations are formed in the North/ Baltic Seas region (IJsselmeer, Matsalu Bay) and Volga Delta. Mid- to late summer concentrations in W Europe tend to be of moulting males (Delany et al. 2006). Autumn migration is evident from late summer but more intensive migratory movements take place largely from early- to mid-autumn, locally (British Isles) – until late autumn. The wintering sites are occupied normally until late winter or early spring, but some encounters of birds on their wintering grounds exist as late as mid-spring (even from Africa and Middle East). Return movements take place mostly during mid- to late spring.

Recoveries by Condition for Icterine Warbler

Overall, most (89%) recoveries are due to ringing. Before 1960, most recoveries were due to birds found dead, sick or wounded (ca. 40%) or birds dead by shot (ca. 30%). Then, only a 8% of recoveries were obtained through ringing. Between 1961-1990, however, this last proportion rose up to ca. 80% and, from 1991 to present, it comprises more than 90% of all recoveries.

Annual Movements for Icterine Warbler

Autumn migration starts in Jul; recoveries in Europe mostly up to Oct. Arrival to winter quarters from Aug to Oct (Kennerley & Pearson 2010). Spring migration starts late Feb to late Mar, passing through continental Europe from late Apr to even Jun (Kennerley & Pearson 2010).

Connectivity by Month by Region for Icterine Warbler

N European populations pass over S Fennoscandia and the circum-Baltic region mostly in late May early Jun.; passage through central Mediterranean in the way to Africa mostly in Aug-Sep, up to Oct. Recoveries y N Egypt in Aug-Sep. Spring passage through the Mediterranean peaks in May.

Recoveries by Condition for Spotted Flycatcher

Most old records are dead recoveries, while most recent records come from usual ringing activities, both having potential different spatial and temporal heterogeneities across the continents. The recent use of light loggers on striata, tyrrhenica and balearica provided detailed information on migration flyway and phenology for some regions.

Annual Movements for Spotted Flycatcher

Most returns on breeding grounds occur from April onwards, mostly in the first decade of May in South-West, up to the second decade of May in the North. Autumn departures occur mainly in the second decade of September, with a rapid southward movement to reach the Sahel (Schaub and Jenni 2000), without long stopovers (Biebach 1985). Numerous records obtained in West Africa and Central Africa outside December-February indicate long stopovers and temporal staging in dedicated regions along the flyways, mostly in October and April. Adults and first calendar-years have been resighted in same African regions.

Connectivity by Month by Region for Spotted Flycatcher

Nominate striata from West and North West regions migrate first southwards to Western Africa, then move eastwards to later reach the wintering grounds late November/early December. Populations from North, Central and South-Central Europe display a more direct southwards movement across South-East Europe, with records on the wintering grounds from December to February for Northern birds. The multiple recoveries from various regions in central Africa in October-November and March-April might concern birds on the move to or from the wintering grounds. In autumn, Sahara crossing occurs during the second and third decade of September for striata of West and North-West Europe, about a week later for tyrrhenica and balearica, but the later reach their wintering grounds in early November (Jiguet et al. 2019). In spring, desert crossing occurs during the second half of April and the first decade of May (Jiguet et al. 2019).

Recoveries by Condition for Montagu's Harrier

Annual Movements for Montagu's Harrier

Connectivity by Month by Region for Montagu's Harrier