Callum Macgregor

Small warbler, feeds almost wholly on insects. Ssp. collybita: Denmark to Pyrénées, Poland and Romania; abietinus: Scandinavia to Urals, Caucasus, Transcaucasia and N Iran; brevirostris: highlands of W Turkey and Black Sea coastlands of N Turkey; caucasicus: east of range of brevirostris at lower elevations south to Armenia. A bird of mature lowland woodland with not too dense canopy and fairly copious variety of medium or tallish undergrowth. The population is increasing and the status is Least Concern. Migratory, western populations winter within and south of breeding areas.

Season of assessment

B

Population trendStable
Population size
(min-max, best estimate)		72100000-114000000,89400000
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 Common Chiffchaff

Scandinavian birds mainly move NNW - SSE, most reported in W Europe, Spain and N Italy, but also in NW Africa. From S Scandinavia birds also move E - W, found in the UK. Birds from Finland, E Europe and also Scandinavia move NW - SE, recoveries in the Baltic States, SE Europe, Turkey, Near East and Uganda. UK Breeders move mainly NNW - SSE, recoveries in W France, W Iberia, W coast N Africa to Guinea Bissau. Birds of Ireland and also UK move NW - SE, recoveries in NW, Italy, C and SE Europe. From W Europe most birds move NW - SE, found in Spain, NW Africa and Senegal. Fewer birds move NW - SE, recoveries in the UK, Italy and C Europe. From C Europe most move NE - SW, found along the mediteranean coasts of SW Europe and NW Africa; also birds move NW - SE, found in SE Europe and Near East.

Recoveries by Condition for Common Chiffchaff

Until 1960 54% of the recoveries were dead birds: 19% were shot and 4% intentionally taken. From 1961 to 1990 13% concerned dead birds: 2% was shot and 1% was intentionally taken. From 1991 almost all recoveries concerned alive birds.
Most dead birds were intentionally taken or shot S and E Spain (Mallorca), Portugal, SW France, Italy (Sardegna), Morocco and Algeria. Relatively high numbers were found dead in the Netherlands.

Annual Movements for Common Chiffchaff

In Dec - Feb hotspots in S UK, Low Countries, Iberia, Italy and NW Africa. Fewer in France, C and SE Europe, Near East, S Algeria and sub-Saharan Africa. In Mar numbers in S UK, Low Countries, N Italy and C Europe increase, first birds in S Scandinavia and fewer in N Africa. In Apr more birds in C Europe and Fennoscandia, fewer in Spain and few birds in Africa and Near East. In May - Sep hotspots in S and C UK, Low Countries, C Europe, SW Norway and the SW Finland. Fewer birds in France, N Italy and Iberia. In Oct numbers more birds in France, Iberia and N Italy; Fewer in Fennoscandia and C UK; first arrive in N Africa, SE Europe and Near East. In Nov hotspots are in the S UK, Low Countries, Iberia and N Italy; more birds in N Africa and Near East; Fewer in France, C Europe and Fennoscandia.

Connectivity by Month by Region for Common Chiffchaff

Scandinavian breeders are reported from the UK, the Low Countries. S and SE Europe and Near East from Sep - Apr; from Africa most in Dec - Feb. UK breeders are found in W France (Sep - Oct), Spain (Sep - Mar), NW Africa (Oct - Feb), Italy (Mar - Apr), Iceland (Oct - Nov), Scandinavia (Sep - Oct) and C Europe (Sep - Jan). Breeders of W Europe are found in the UK (Sep - Jan), France and Spain (Sep - Mar) and NW Africa (Nov - Mar). Breeders in C Europe are found in the Low Countries (Sep - Oct), SE Spain (Oct - Mar), N Africa (Dec - Mar), Italy (Nov - Apr), Norway (Sep - Oct), the UK (Sep - Mar),Israël (Jan - Mar) and Egypt (Oct).

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