Michele Mendi

Finch with two main breeding nuclei in Eurasia: one in Europe, up to Central Siberia; another one in E Asia (BirdLife International 2022). Populations vary from resident to migratory (this last behavior increases with latitude). Sometimes irruptive (e.g. Asensio 1985).

Season of assessment

B

Population trendStable
Population size
(min-max, best estimate)		13700000-25800000,19000000
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 Siskin

Populations from W Europe mostly resident; longer distances of migration found for birds from N, C and E Europe. Main NE-SW axis of migration, with relatively high overlap between regions of origin in winter, though to some extent leapfrog migration (siskins breeding further N and E winter in further S regions). Birds from NW Europe (UK) move mainly within the island. Birds from N Europe move SW to reach a broad wintering range from NW Europe to Iberia up to (more rarely) SE Europe. Some recoveries in N Africa. Birds breeding in further E regions (E Baltic, E Europe) follow an E-ward biased flyway, reaching from C Europe to E Spain and Italy. Birds from SE Europe show a broad range of migratory directions, even moving SE, up to the Middle East and Caucasus region.  

Recoveries by Condition for Eurasian Siskin

Highest majority of recoveries (ca. 90%) due to birds found alive, mostly recaptures (ring recoveries). Before 1990, however, around 30% of recoveries were caused by birds found dead, sick or wounded (ca. 15%) or shot (ca. 15%), a pattern that clearly changed from 1991 to present, when this fraction is just less than 5%. Nowadays, more than 95% of recoveries come from birds seen alive, mostly recaptures from ringing.

Annual Movements for Eurasian Siskin

Migration in autumn starts in Sep in N latitudes, very patent in Oct across much of Europe. Bird stay in their wintering sites in S Europe mostly from Nov to Mar/Apr. Migratory populations/individuals live in sympatry with resident ones in winter, especially in W/C Europe. Return back to breeding quarters starts in Mar, peaking in Apr. At their wintering sites, some birds show resident strategies (so they remain stationary across the season), whilst others behave as vagrants (Senar et al. 1994).

Connectivity by Month by Region for Eurasian Siskin

Birds from Britain/Ireland move S to overwinter mostly around English Channel, with scattered recoveries up to NW Africa. Siskins from W Scandinavia show recoveries mostly from UK to Iberia, mainly from Oct to Mar. Passage over C Europe mainly in Oct. Siskins from E Scandinavia/E Europe show parallel flyway, wintering from E Iberia to SE Europe. Patent passage through Alps in Oct. Recoveries in SE Europe show a main NW-SE axis of migration, of birds breeding across a broad range from NW to NE Europe; recoveries in SE Europe mostly from Nov to Feb.

Juan Arizaga

References

Statistics Map
N records N individuals N recoveries
Mapped data*
Total available data
*Mapped data include only distant (>= 50 km) recoveries
References Map
Asensio, B.1985 . Migración e invernada en España de Lúganos (Carduelis spinus, L.) de origen europeo. Ardeola 32: 179–186
BirdLife International 2022 . Species factsheet: Carduelis spinus.
Senar, J. C., Lleonart, J., Metcalfe, N. B.1994 . Wing-shape variation between resident and transient wintering Siskins Carduelis spinus. Journal of Avian Biology 25: 50–54

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