Michele Mendi

Small passerine, feeds on small and medium-sized insects and other invertebrates. Ssp. rubicola: W and S Europe and N Africa to Middle East; hibernans: Britain, Ireland, coastal W France and W coast of Iberian Peninsula. Inhabits wide variety of dry plains and hillsides, characterized by scattered bushes, shrubs, stones, walls, or fences 1 m or more high. The population is stable and the status is Least Concern. Varies from migratory to resident in different parts of range, being sensitive to cold winter weather.

Season of assessment

B

Population trendDecreasing
Population size
(min-max, best estimate)		11800000-18400000,14600000
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 European Stonechat

Most populations migratory (Helm et al. 2006). Birds of the British Isles move NNW - SSE, recoveries in W France, N and E Spain and N coast of Morocco and Algeria. Birds of the Low Countries and France move NNE - SSW, recoveries in SE Spain and mainly the coasts of Morocco and Algeria. From C and E Europe birds move mainly NE - SW, recoveries in S France, S Spain and N coast of Morocco and Algeria; a minority moves N - S or NW - SE and have recoveries in N Tunesia and one in Greece.

Recoveries by Condition for European Stonechat

Until 1960 33% of the recoveries were dead birds: 22% were intentionally taken and 7,6% shot. From 1961 to 1990 41% concerned dead birds: 29% was intentionally taken and 9,6% was shot. From 1991 almost all recoveries concerned alive birds.
Most dead birds were intentionally taken or shot at the coasts of Spain, Morocco and Algeria. A few birds were shot in S France and Italy. From 1991 28% of the recoveries was identified by colour marks.

Annual Movements for European Stonechat

From Nov - Feb birds are concentrated in the UK, the coasts of Portugal, Spain, Morocco and Algeria and in Italy. In Mar - Apr numbers in the Low Countries and C and E Europe increase, a few birds are still in N Africa. From May - Aug birds are concentrated in Spain, the UK, the Low Countries, N Italy and C and E Europe. In Sep numbers in France and S Europe increase, the first birds arrive in N Africa. In Oct numbers in the Low Countries and C and E Europe decrease, there is a hotspot in S Spain and numbers in N Africa increase.

Connectivity by Month by Region for European Stonechat

Breeders in S Norway are reported from the Netherlands (May), N Germany (Nov) and S Sweden (Jan). Breeders in the UK are found from Sep - Apr in the S UK, in W and S France and in N, E and S Spain. From Nov - Feb recoveries come from Mallorca, the N coast of Morocco and Algeria and one in Aug from W coast of Morocco. Breeders of the Low Countries and France are reported in France from Sep - Nov and in SE Spain, Morocco and Algeria from Oct - Mar. For C and E Europe breeders most recoveries come from the coasts of Morocco and Algeria (Oct - Apr). Also reports come from S France and S Spain (Oct - Feb), Mallorca (Jan - Feb), Italy (Sep - Oct) and Greece (Nov).

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
References Map
Helm, B., Fiedler, W., Callion, J.2006 . Movements of European Stonechats Saxicola torquata according to ringing recoveries. Ardea 94: 33–44

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