Juan Arizaga

An insectivorous passerine and long-distance migrant which breeds from western Europe to East Asia, European birds wintering in sub Saharan Africa. Favours breeding in borders of open forests, marshes and moors. Status on IUCN list is Non-Threatened.

Season of assessment

B

Population trendDecreasing
Population size
(min-max, best estimate)		38900000-70100000,52000000
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 Tree Pipit

The overall direction of movement is northeast – southwest. Birds breeding in West-Europe migrate through France and Spain to Africa, while more easterly breeders migrate through Central Europe and Italy. As a result, birds of West-Europe winter more westerly in Africa than birds of Central Europe and Finland, although there are not many sub Saharan recoveries to support this. Norwegian birds mostly migrate over the western part of the European continent, a minority cross the North Sea and migrates through Great Britain.

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.

Henk van der Jeugd

References

Statistics Map
N records N individuals N recoveries
Mapped data*
Total available data
*Mapped data include only distant (>= 50 km) recoveries