Michele Mendi

The species occupies sparsely vegetated semi-arid, arid and steppe grassland habitats; it is locally adapted to arable land, occurs on coastal dunes, and stony fields (Hume et al. 2020). Its distribution extends from the S half of Europe to C Asia, Middle East and N Africa. European species strongholds are located in France, Spain and locally in SE & E Europe (Keller et al. 2020).

Most European populations are migratory, the wintering grounds being in N & NE Africa. Iberian & N African populations are considered largely resident.

Its population trend in Europe is increasing. Evaluated as “Least Concern” (BirdLife International 2021).

Season of assessment

B

Population trendDecreasing
Population size
(min-max, best estimate)		123000-193000,152000
Red List categoryLC
Franks, S., Fiedler, W., Arizaga, J., Jiguet, F., Nikolov, B., van der Jeugd, Ambrosini, R, Aizpurua, O., Bairlein, F., Clark, J., Fattorini, N, Hammond, M., Higgins, D, Levering, H., Skellorn, W., Spina, F, Thorup, K. Walker, J., Woodward, I. and Baillie, S.R. (1) (2022) Online Atlas of the movements of European bird populations. https://migrationatlas.org EURING/CMS (1) Principal investigator
Map

Overall Connectivity for Eurasian Stone-curlew

Except for the populations on the Iberian Peninsula and locally in S Italy, most birds breeding in Europe are considered migratory, spending the winter in N & NE Africa (Hume et al. 2020).

Birds breeding on the British Isles are encountered during migration in SW France, Spain & N Morocco, even S to W Africa (Sierra Leone) (Green et al. 1997). W European breeders (France) are encountered both in Spain & N Algeria. Birds of the C European population (Germany) are found in Italy. SW & SC European populations undertake mostly short-distance within-region movements. Birds breeding in N Italy overwinter in Sardinia or in Tunisia (Giunchi et al. 2015).

Satellite-tracking study of a juvenile marked in NE Turkey revealed an autumn migration in S-SW direction via N Iraq to the Red Sea Coast of Saudi Arabia where the bird died due to falconry (Kittelberger et al. 2021).

Recoveries by Condition for Eurasian Stone-curlew

Most encounters come from the period 1998-2008. They are obtained mainly during the breeding season – 76% from the period Apr-Jul. Majority of encounters are recorded in SC & SW Europe (79 and 12% respectively). In general, there are few recoveries before 1990. The encounters based on dead birds first increased from 60% pre-1960 to 78% in 1961-1990, then markedly decreased to 9% after 1991; those based on alive birds considerably increased over time – from 21% in 1961-1990 (there were none pre-1960) to 90% after 1991. The latter is mostly due to ringing recoveries, and especially to colour ring resightings. Shooting was an important factor in the past (40% of all recoveries pre-1960), it is currently responsible for 2% of all cases.

Ringing recovery data from SE & E Europe are lacking.

Annual Movements for Eurasian Stone-curlew

In migratory populations, autumn migration takes place mostly Oct-Nov. Migrating birds from the British population are encountered as early as Sep in W France, more encounters exist from Oct-Nov both from Spain and France. Records from Jan suggest either definite (Sierra Leone) or possible wintering (S Spain).

Satellite-tracked juvenile in Turkey started migrating S in late Oct, reaching Red Sea region in early Nov (Kittelberger et al. 2021).

A juvenile marked in S France is encountered in N Algeria early Mar next spring, either on passage or wintering in the region.

In general, spring movements are evident from late March, mostly in Apr (sometimes as late as May).

Satellite tracking study of two birds wintering in Tunisia revealed spring flights mainly above Tyrrhenian Sea towards the breeding grounds in N Italy (Giunchi et al. 2015).

Connectivity by Month by Region for Eurasian Stone-curlew

Based on distant recoveries (>=50 km), the distance moved by the C & W European populations is much larger than S European birds (sample sizes rather limited, though). Birds breeding on the British Isles are encountered mostly mid- to late autumn in W & SW Europe. In Portugal, except for the local population, wintering of birds from W Europe is also suggested (Equipa Atlas 2018). A possible loop migration for the British population has been suggested, based on colour-ring resightings in the Low Countries (Wernham et al. 2002). C European breeders (Germany) are encountered in Italy during migration. Birds breeding in SW & SC Europe perform mainly short-distance movements (Balearic islands – mainland Spain, within N Italy).

Return migration takes place mostly in mid-spring.

Long-distance recoveries from Africa are almost lacking.

Boris Nikolov

References

Statistics Map
N records N individuals N recoveries
Mapped data*
Total available data
*Mapped data include only distant (>= 50 km) recoveries
References Map
2002 . The Migration Atlas: movements of the birds of Britain and Ireland. T. & A.D. Poyser, LondonEditor(s): Wernham, C.V., Toms, M.P., Marchant, J.H., Clark, J.A., Siriwardena, G.M., Baillie, S.R.
2020 . European Breeding Bird Atlas 2: Distribution, Abundance and Change. European Bird Census Council & Lynx Edicions, BarcelonaEditor(s): Keller, V., S. Herrando, P. Voříšek, et al.
BirdLife International 2021 . Species factsheet: Burhinus oedicnemus. Downloaded from http://www.birdlife.org on 05/09/2021.
Equipa Atlas 2018 . Atlas das Aves Invernantes e Migradoras de Portugal 2011-2013. Sociedade Portuguesa para o Estudo das Aves, LabOr- Laboratório de Ornitologia – ICAAM - Universidade de Évora, Instituto da Conservação da Natureza e das Florestas, Instituto das Florestas e Conservação da Natureza (Madeira) et al., Lisboa
Giunchi, D., Caccamo, C., Mori, A. , Fox, J. W., Rodrı´guez-Godoy, F., Baldaccini, N. E., Pollonora, E. 2015 . Pattern of non-breeding movements by Stone-curlews Burhinus oedicnemus breeding in Northern Italy. J Ornithol 156: 991–998
Green, R.E., Hodson, D.P., Holness, P.R. 1997 . Survival and movements of Stone-curlews Burhinus oedicnemus ringed in England. Ringing Migration 18: 102–112
Hume, R. and G. M. Kirwan 2020 . Eurasian Thick-knee (Burhinus oedicnemus), version 1.0. In Birds of the World Link to Article (DOI: https://doi.org/10.2173/bow.eutkne1.01) Cornell Lab of Ornithology, Ithaca, NY, USA
Kittelberger, K. D., Buechley, E. R., Ford, M., Ağırkaya, K., Şekercioğlu, Ç. H. 2021 . First satellite-tracked migration of an Eurasian Thick-knee (Burhinus oedicnemus) in the Middle East ends in human-caused mortality. Zoology in the Middle East 67: 119–125

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