Recoveries by Condition for Song Thrush

Until 1960, 83% of the recoveries were of dead birds, including 27% shot birds. The relative importance of dead in shot birds among the recoveries has gradually declined since then.
Most song thrushes are shot in SW and S France, N and C Italy, W Mediterranean Isles, S and E Spain, Portugal and Belgium; also a lot of shot birds in N and C France, S Italy, the Balkan and N Africa.

Annual Movements for Song Thrush

In Nov - Jan birds are concentrated in S and C UK, S Ireland, W and S Europe, W Mediterranean Isles, Iberian Peninsula and N Algeria; also Morocco, Cyprus, Balkan and few in C and E Europe. Hotspots in the Low Countries and S and C UK stay year-round. From Feb fewer birds in France, in Mar more birds in N UK, C Europe and S Scandinavia, fewer in N Africa and the Balkan. In Apr numbers in Denmark, Fennoscandia, C and E urope increase, numbers in N Africa and S Europe decrease. In May - Sep new hotspots in C Europe, Denmark and S Fennoscandia; also birds in S Europe, N Scandinavia and E Europe. In Oct new hotspots in W and S France, Switzerland and Italy; numbers in E spain, N Africa, the Balkan and around the Black Sea also increase; fewer birds in Fennoscandia, C and E Europe. Song thrushes advanced autumn migration in the Baltic (Redlisiak et al. 2018).

Connectivity by Month by Region for Song Thrush

Fennoscandian and Danish birds mostly winter in SW and S France, S and E Spain and Balearic Isles from Sep - Apr; also UK, W Europe, N Africa and Italy in same period. UK birds are found in Ireland, SW UK and W France from Aug - Mar; also Portugal and Spain and few in the Low Countries and S Europe. Birds of the Low Countries are mostly found in W France; also S France, Spain, Portugal, S UK and few in C Europe, Italy, N Algeria and Morocco from Oct - Mar. Birds of C and E Europe are found mostly in SW and S France, E Spain and Balearic Isles; also many in Italy, Corsica, Sardegna, NW Africa, W Europe, few in the UK and one in Feb on Canary Islands (Las Palmas) from Sep - Mar. From E Europe, birds migrate to N Macedonia, Greece, Cyprus, Turkey, Israël and Georgia where found from Oct - Jan.

Recoveries by Condition for Greylag Goose

The very large part of the recoveries are live re-encounters (>90%) as field observations of colour neck and leg rings. As the species is a game bird in many countries, most pre-1960 recoveries are dead or shot records, with less than 10% of alive controls, with a classical switch to a vast majority (>90%) of live recoveries after 1990, thanks to a large effort in colour marking.

Annual Movements for Greylag Goose

Populations breeding in the British Isles do not leave this region in winter, and are then joint by Icelandic birds. Birds from North Europe (Scandinavia and Finland) move towards the southwest, to winter from Denmark to Spain, with two hotspots in the Netherlands and Andalucia, and staging areas along the flyway (Anderson et al. 2001).  Birds from Central Europe move southwards, e.g. from northern to southern Germany. Tracking data of geese from Neusiedler See revealed movements to the SW to Venetia and Sardinia in Italy, and to the North far up the Elbe river in Germany (Grabenhofer et al. 2022). There are numerous tracking programs on movebank which data should be analysed simultaneously to better appreciate the sedentarity/migratory behaviour of various populations, including feral ones.

Connectivity by Month by Region for Greylag Goose

Nordic birds start to move south as early as August, though main movements occur in October, with birds reaching southern Spain in November. In spring, first northwards movements by the beginning of February, peaking in March when late birds are still in Spain. Arrival on Nordic breeding grounds mainly in April (Nilsson 2017; Nilsson and Kampe-Persson 2018). The last birds of Central Europe have joined the breeding quarters by the end of April, and start to move southwards by mid-September. In Norway, climate change is advancing spring migration by almost a week per decade since the 1970s (Pistorius et al. 2006).

Recoveries by Condition for Coal Tit

Overall, 96% of recoveries due to birds recaptured alive by ringing. Before 1960, however, almost 25% of recoveries were associated to birds found dead, sick or wounded. From 1960, however, already ca. 90% of recoveries were due to birds seen alive, many recaptures from ringing. Nowadays, the proportion of individuals found dead, sick or wounded is absolutely marginal (ca. 1%).  

Annual Movements for Coal Tit

mostly resident. Juvenile birds move more than adult ones (Gosler & Clement 2007). When moving, breeding ranges left from Aug to Nov; return back to these from Apr to May.

Connectivity by Month by Region for Coal Tit

See ‘Annual movements’.

Recoveries by Condition for Guillemot

Alhtough protected in most of Europe, Guillemots are hunted legally in Iceland, the Faeroes and Greenland. Most recoveries are since the mid-1980s, primarily in Jun-Jul (~81% of total). Most recoveries are in NW (74%) and N Europe (16%). Recoveries of dead birds decreased from 84% pre-1961 to almost none after 1990, whilerecoveries of live birds increased from 4% to 83% - mostly due to recaptures, including resightings. Shooting was more important in the past - 39% of all recoveries pre-1961 (mostly in Iceland, S Norway and Denmark), and 8% in 1961-1990. Nowadays 7% of all recoveries are a result of oil spills and by-catch casualties. There are clear ringing hotspots at sites in the British Isles, Germany, Sweden and Norway and recoveries are almost all coastal.

Annual Movements for Guillemot

Within Europe, post-breeding dispersal starts from late Jun (mid-latitudes) until late Jul (Barents Sea). Guillemots undergo a flightless wing-moult after the breeding season (Ainley et al. 2021). N Icelandic breeders moult (Aug-Sep) locally and off the coast of E Greenland, while they are found both locally and in the region of the Mid-Atlantic ridge SW of Iceland in winter (Linnebjerg et al. 2018). British Isles breeders are found along the Atlantic coasts from SW to N Europe mostly in Nov-Feb, but as late as Apr. Pre-breeding concentrations close to the breeding sites are usually formed in Feb (Flint & Golovkin 1989). Breeding cliffs are occupied from early Mar (British Isles; Wernham et al. 2002) to Apr (Barents Sea); in the Baltic Sea and high-latitude populations timing is dependent on sea ice.  

Strong migratory connectivity is found across the NE Atlantic (Merkel et al. 2021).

Connectivity by Month by Region for Guillemot

Dispersal movements after the breeding season start in mid- to late summer. British Isles breeders are along the Atlantic coastline from the Iberian Peninsula to N Scandinavia from late autumn to early spring. Irish Sea breeders concentrate in winter in the Bay of Biscay, while those from E UK colonies disperse mostly in the North Sea (Harris et al. 2015, Dunn et al. 2020). Birds breeding in the Baltic Sea are mostly found locally duirng migration and winter, although some move towards the British Isles and Norway. The Barents Sea is an important autumn staging and wintering area for the C Norwegian population (Lorentsen & Ray 2012). Return to breeding sites is in early to mid-spring. There are few encounters of high-arctic populations.

Recoveries by Condition for Eurasian Coot

Most dead recoveries come from the period 1960-1990, but the large majority are live recoveries, obtained after 2000.

Annual Movements for Eurasian Coot

The movements back to the breeding grounds occur in March and are finished by early April for the North, by mid-April for the East, while birds from other regions gently shift to the NE at the end of March / beginning of April.   In autumn, the first movements are noted at the end of August, and intensify from mid-September onwards, with more arrivals to South-West Europe.

Connectivity by Month by Region for Eurasian Coot

Connectivity by month is best illustrated with birds from the North and East regions. The are all back in the breeding region in very early April, with returns on distant wintering sites mainly from the first decade of October onwards. For birds of Central Europe, the shift to SW Europe and Mediterranean wintering grounds is obvious in March and September. Only birds from South-West Europe have been recovered in North Africa, in all months.

Recoveries by Condition for European Greenfinch

Highest majority of recoveries (ca. 80%) due to birds found alive, mostly recaptures (ring recoveries). Before 1990, however, around a half of recoveries were caused by birds found dead, sick or wounded, a pattern that clearly changed from 1991 to present, when this fraction is just less than 10%. Nowadays, more than 90% of recoveries come from birds seen alive, mostly recaptures from ringing.

Annual Movements for European Greenfinch

Migration in autumn patent in Oct. Migratory populations/individuals live in sympatry with resident ones in winter. Return back to breeding quarters starts in Mar, peaking in Apr. Warmer winters probably promote increasing sedentarism in populations (e.g., Stervander et al. 2005).

Connectivity by Month by Region for European Greenfinch

Across the Atlantic façade, N European populations show recoveries from S Scandinavia to Iberia mostly in winter, from Oct-Nov to Feb-Mar. Similar patterns for the populations from C/E Europe, though in this case recoveries from C Europe concentrate mainly in S France up to the S part of the Alps and recoveries from E Europe concentrate mostly in Italy and the W coasts of the Balkan peninsula. Recoveries in NW Africa mainly from Feb to Mar, of birds from W/SW Europe, that could however being part of flocks on passage with a further N European origin.

Recoveries by Condition for White-tailed Eagle

Most encounters are obtained after 1992. They come from throughout the year, mostly from Nov to Mar (74%); smallest number of birds are encountered Jul-Sep (2.5% combined). N Europe holds the bulk of encounters (86%), followed by C (11%) & E Europe (3%). The encounters based on dead birds decreased considerably over time – from 87% pre-1960 to 4% after 1991, while those based on alive birds – markedly increased from practically none pre-1960 to 95% after 1991; the latter is largely due to ringing recoveries and colour ring resightings. Shooting was responsible for a big part of all cases mainly in the past (61% pre-1960); its importance got progressively reduced in subsequent years.

Most of the distant (>=50 km) recoveries are less than 500km away, some from N & E Europe – more than 2000km.

Annual Movements for White-tailed Eagle

Post-breeding dispersal in C and SE European juveniles starts from Jul to mid-Nov. Overall area used during the first year of life varies largely between individuals (Cheshmedzhiev et al. 2001, Rymešová et al. 2021).

Birds breeding in N & NE Europe leave their breeding grounds Oct-Nov, juveniles usually preceding adults. Large numbers stay in winter in Finland, at least during the winter artificial feeding years (Saurola et al. 2013). Finnish birds are encountered during winter as far as Germany and Croatia in Dec-Mar. Northernmost breeding sites are occupied back in Feb-Apr.

The E Baltic countries population is generally resident, but juveniles disperse mainly SW, reaching C Europe as early as Sep; they winter from France to S European Russia mainly Oct-Mar, some remaining until Apr. C European juveniles and immatures disperse to W & Europe from Sep to Apr.

Connectivity by Month by Region for White-tailed Eagle

Juvenile birds are known to be more dispersive and gregarious than adults (Orta et al. 2020). Natal dispersal distances are significantly shorter in males (Whitfield et al. 2009).

N & NE European breeders migrate SW mostly mid- to late autumn, returning from late winter to mid-spring.

C European and Baltic region populations are generally sedentary but juvenile and immature birds disperse mostly SW (but also S & SE) from their breeding grounds from early autumn to mid-spring spreading between Germany and France to Italy and S Ukraine and European Russia.

A juvenile marked in Israel was encountered as an immature during the following summer on the Turkish Black Sea Coast.

Spatial distribution of the resightings of colour marked birds in N Europe biased due to observers’ effort.

Recoveries by Condition for Sand Martin

Ringed sand martins have been present since the 50s, with a growing number in the 80s and reaching 10000 encounters over the last five years. The vast majority of encounters, 95% is a result of bird ringing projects between Apr and Sep. The highest number of encounters is reported from NW Europe with the most individuals encountered in July. SC, SE and E Europe have significantly fewer ringing effort than the rest of Europe. Despite the quantity of ringed birds in Europe, only a few are being recovered in African countries. There is overall a high proportion of birds observed alive. The recoveries through dead birds come from the African continent, France and Spain. Shot birds are rare.

Annual Movements for Sand Martin

From Nov to Feb most European regions have only sporadic encounters. Many birds are reported to migrate to Sub-Saharan Africa and overwinter there in these months. From Mar, first encounters appear in the Mediterranean, birds from SW and SC Europe en route to the breeding destinations. In Apr many encounters are still concentrated in N Africa, while some birds have already reached the Mediterranean region on the way to W and C Europe. By May, birds of all regions have more or less approached their breeding destination. Peak in encounters is in Jun-Jul at the breeding sites, with localized movements. Highest number of encounters observed in the UK, W Europe and Baltic. First birds beginning autumn migration are seen already in Aug from which many reaches their wintering site in Sep.

Connectivity by Month by Region for Sand Martin

Ringing is concentrated in summer between Jun-Aug. Sand Martins breeding in N Europe are mostly encountered in Africa in Dec. Birds from NW and W have many encounters in the Mediterranean in Aug-Oct and Mar-Apr, and Dec-Mar in W Africa. SW and W European breeders, specifically from W coast of France are encountered in the UK in summer, indicating connectivity between these populations. SC breeders are not connected to UK or N/W Europe in summer, but were encountered in S Europe at migration sites. Birds in Jun-Jul in C Europe are often re-encountered within the region during breeding at short distance, indicating local dispersal. In Sep-Nov all populations move to S Europe. Birds from E/SE Europe in Jun-Jul are often encountered in the Mediterranean in spring.

Recoveries by Condition for Eurasian Wren

Until 1960 65% of the recoveries were dead birds: 3% were shot and 1% intentionally taken. From 1961 to 1990 13% concerned dead birds: no shot or intentionally taken birds. From 1991, almost all recoveries concerned alive birds.
The few birds shot were mostly in N Italy (6) and SW France (3). Dead birds were reported in all W and C Europe but most came from the S UK and Denmark.

Annual Movements for Eurasian Wren

In Nov - Mar hotspots in S and C UK, the Low Countries and N Italy. Also birds in Spain, C Europe, S coast of Norway and Ireland. Few birds in C Scandinavia, SE Europe and France. The hotspots in S and C UK and the Low countries stay year around. Also numbers in Spain, Ireland and C Europe do not fluctuate much during the year. In Apr - May the hotspot in N Italy disappears, few birds in France, no birds left in SE Europe. Numbers in C Scandinavia and S Finland increase. In Jun - Jul few birds left in Italy. In Aug - Sep numbers in Italy increase. In Oct the hotspot in N Italy is building up and numbers in France and SE Europe increase. Numbers in C Scandinavia and Finland decrease.

Connectivity by Month by Region for Eurasian Wren

Scandinavian breeders are reported from S Scandinavia (Sep - Apr), the Low Countries, France and C Europe (Oct - Apr) and Spain (Dec - Feb). Finnish birds are reported from S Sweden (Sep, Oct and Apr), Lithuania (Sep), Poland (Oct - Feb) and Czechia (Oct, Mar). UK breeders are found in France (Jan - Mar) and Ireland (Nov). Breeders of the Low Countries are found in France (Oct - Apr), the UK (Oct - Feb), Poland (Oct), Spain and Morocco (Nov). Breeders in C Europe are found in France (Oct - Apr), N Italy (Oct - Feb), the Low Countries (Oct - Dec), Algeria (Mar) and the UK (Nov). Birds from E Europe were reported from W Europe (Oct - Feb), Italy (Nov - Mar), C Europe (Sep -Jan), S Sweden (Oct), Croatia (Jan - Feb) and the UK (Feb).

Recoveries by Condition for European Herring Gull

Most recoveries due to birds seen alive (86%), either with metal ring (17%), or with leg ring(s) or other marks (65%). This proportion of recoveries of birds seen alive was very low in former times (6% before 1960; 15% during the period 1961-1990). The greatest proportion of recoveries before 1960 was due to dead individuals by sickness/wounded or other and 33% of dead by shooting.

Annual Movements for European Herring Gull

First movements after breeding found in Aug, especially in C/W Europe. Migration of N and E European populations peak in Sep/Nov. Within-winter movements also possible, especially under harsh conditions such as a cold spells or strong storms. Return to breeding quarters very soon in W/C populations (adults settled even in Jan). Arrival to breeding quarters for the N European population in Mar/Apr.

Connectivity by Month by Region for European Herring Gull

N and E populations leave breeding sites by Aug. Migration peak in Sept/Oct towards N and W Europe, English Channel. Spring migrations of these northern birds back to breeding sites in Mar/Apr. Other European populations sedentary or short-distance dispersive (Olsen & Larsson 2004). First-year movements of the C and W populations from Aug onwards. Arrival to winter quarters seems to be rapid, since these birds normally move no more than some hundreds of kilometers. In Britain, abundance peaks in Dec-Feb (Olsen & Larsson 2004).