Eurasian Woodcock Scolopax Rusticola
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Key concepts of Article 7(4): Version 2008 Species no. 50: Eurasian Woodcock Scolopax rusticola Distribution: The Eurasian Woodcock has an extensive Palaearctic distribution. It breeds from the Azores and Ireland to the pacific coast of Russia. Birds winter in Europe, North Africa, the Middle East, India and Southeast Asia to Japan. In Europe breeding occurs from Fennoscandia and Russia to the Mediterranean basin and the Canary Islands. Movements: Breeding populations in western maritime countries are sedentary, whilst those elsewhere are migratory. Scandinavian populations move southwest to winter mainly in Britain and France. Finnish birds move mainly south and winter mostly in Italy and the Balkans. Autumn movements start after the onset of frosts. Birds from the large Russian population are recorded wintering across most of West and Central Europe. The majority of birds are in their winter quarters by November but further (sometimes large scale) movements may occur in response to cold weather. Return migration starts in February in the Mediterranean region and the first half of March elsewhere. Population size and trends: The Woodcock is a difficult bird to count accurately. The European breeding population is estimated at 1,800,000 – 6,600,000 pairs of which 1,200,000 - 5,000,000 breeds in Russia (BirdLife Int. 2004A). The EU 27 population is estimated at 460,000 - 1,500,000 pairs (BirdLife Int. 2004A, 2004B). During 1990-2000 trends were stable across most of its European range, but declining in its Russian stronghold resulting in an overall moderate decline in Europe (>10%) (BirdLife Int. 2004A). Biological and behavioural aspects: Breeding: clutch size is usually 4 eggs (2-5); incubation 21-24 days; fledging period 15-20 days but sometimes able to get off ground at 10 days; independence: 5-6 weeks after hatching; brood: normally one brood. Reproduction & Prenuptial Migration * 298 * Key concepts of Article 7(4): Version 2008 Movements Eurasian Woodcock Scolopax rusticola Member MIGRANT RESIDENT State Breeding Passage Wintering FI 9 9 SE 9 9 EE 9 9 Occasional LV 9 9 LT 9 9 PL 9 9 SK 9 9 CZ 9 9 rare DK 9 9 9 UK 9 9 9 IE 9 9 9 DE 9 9 9 NL 9 9 9 BE 9 9 9 LU 9 9 9 HU 9 9 AT 9 9 SI 9 9 FR 9 9 9 9 ES 9 9 9 PT (9) 9 9 IT 9 9 9 MT 9 GR Probably 9 9 breeding CY 9 9 RO 9 9 9 BG 9 9 9 HR 9 9 9 Reproduction & Prenuptial Migration * 299 * Key concepts of Article 7(4): Version 2008 Definition of period of reproduction Eurasian Woodcock Scolopax rusticola Member Period of reproduction Comments References State begins with FI Occupation of breeding 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 sites SE Occupation of breeding 1, 9, 12, 14 sites EE Occupation of breeding sites LV LT Occupation of breeding 7 sites, courtship display PL Occupation of breeding sites SK Occupation of breeding 1, 2 sites CZ Occupation of breeding sites DK Occupation of breeding sites UK Nuptial parade 1 IE Occupation of breeding 1, 2, 3 sites DE Occupation of breeding 1 sites NL Nuptial parade 21 BE Occupation of breeding 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 sites LU Occupation of breeding 1 sites HU Occupation of breeding HU1 sites AT Occupation of breeding Arrival on breeding 2 sites ground, mating SI FR Occupation of breeding 6 sites ES Occupation of breeding 1 sites PT Occupation of breeding Only breeds in Madeira 8 sites and Azores - no data available IT Occupation of breeding Scarce and irregular 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 sites breeder MT GR CY RO 3 BG Occupation of breeding 6, 10 sites HR Occupation of breeding Small breeding 23 sites population Reproduction & Prenuptial Migration * 300 * Key concepts of Article 7(4): Version 2008 Period of reproduction Eurasian Woodcock Scolopax rusticola J A N F E B M A R A P R M A Y J U N J U L A U G S E P O C T N O V D E C FI SE EE LV LT PL SK CZ DK UK IE DE NL BE LU HU AT SI FR ES PT IT MT GR CY RO BG HR Comments and conclusions 1) The period of reproduction begins with the occupation of the breeding sites (courtship display - roding). 2) The beginning of the reproduction period ranges from 3rd decade of February (FR) to 2nd decade of April (HU, EE, LV) 3) End of the period of reproduction ranges from the 3rd decade of July (EE, DK, HU, RO, BG) to the 1st decade of September (AT, CZ, IE, UK, SK). The end of the reproduction period is difficult to observe in the field, but can be extrapolated from the laying date. Therefore, its end is c. 4 decades after hatching (full flight of young birds). Reproduction & Prenuptial Migration * 301 * Key concepts of Article 7(4): Version 2008 Prenuptial migration Eurasian Woodcock Scolopax rusticola  Difficulty in identifying the beginning of the period of return to the rearing grounds? Member YES NO References State FI X 1, 2, 3, 4 SE X 1, 12 EE X LV 3 LT Mixed population of residents & 5,7 migrants PL X 3 SK X 1, 2 CZ X DK Overlap between wintering birds and returning breeders UK Mixed population of residents & 1 migrants; secretive habits / cryptic colouration. IE Secretive species and nocturnal 1, 3 migrant Overlap between wintering birds and returning breeders DE X 4 NL Secretive species; presence of wintering birds BE Secretive species; presence of 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 wintering birds LU Secretive species 1 HU X 1 AT X 9 SI X FR No direct observation of birds 2, 6 ES Secretive species 1, 11, 12, 15,17 PT Difficult to detect and census 8 IT Secretive species. Mixing of 1, 4 wintering and passage birds. MT 5 GR No data on counts, phenology of 1, 2, 3 migration CY X RO 6 BG X 6, 10, 13, 16 HR X 12, 19 Reproduction & Prenuptial Migration * 302 * Key concepts of Article 7(4): Version 2008 Period of prenuptial migration Eurasian Woodcock Scolopax rusticola J A N F E B M A R A P R M A Y J U N J U L A U G S E P O C T N O V D E C FI SE EE LV LT PL SK CZ DK UK IE DE NL BE LU HU AT SI FR ES PT ? ? IT MT GR CY ? ? ? RO BG HR Comments and conclusions 1) In western maritime countries, it is difficult to identify the beginning of the period of return because the Woodcock is a secretive species, a nocturnal migrant and, furthermore, movements can occur in response to cold weather. In other regions where it is mainly migratory, it is not difficult to identify the beginning of that period (AT, DE, FI, SE). 2) Beginning of the prenuptial migration period ranges from the 2nd decade of January (IT, ES) to the 3rd decade of March (LT). Reproduction & Prenuptial Migration * 303 * Key concepts of Article 7(4): Version 2008 Species no. 51: Black-tailed Godwit Limosa limosa Distribution: Palearctic. Wide but disjointed breeding distribution from Iceland, across Europe to western Siberia, and isolated populations in eastern Siberia. Two-thirds of the world population of the species breeds in Europe. Two races occur in Europe: L. l. islandica which breeds in Iceland and sporadically in Ireland and Scotland, whilst the nominate from breeds from France and the Netherlands through central and Eastern Europe to Kazakhstan. Movements: Both races are migratory. Icelandic birds winter in Britain, Ireland and along the Atlantic coast of France, Spain and Portugal. Western populations of nominate limosa migrate down the Atlantic coast to tropical Africa whereas eastern populations (east of the German-Polish border) cross the Mediterranean Sea and the Sahara to winter in central and eastern Africa. Population size and trends: L. l. limosa population in Europe numbers 84,000 – 115,000 pairs and the L. l. islandica 15,000-25,000 pairs (BirdLife Int. 2004A). The EU 27 population is estimated at 60,000 – 69,000 pairs (BirdLife Int. 2004B). The European population underwent a large decline during 1970-1990 and the decline continued in the Eastern and Western populations during 1990-2000 (BirdLife Int. 2004A). In the same time the Icelandic population increased. Biological and behavioural aspects: Clutch size is usually 3-4 eggs, rarely 5; incubation: 22-24 days; fledging period: 25-30 days; broods: one brood; independence: become independent at or soon after fledging; brood: one. Reproduction & Prenuptial Migration * 304 * Key concepts of Article 7(4): Version 2008 Movements Black-tailed Godwit Limosa limosa Member MIGRANT RESIDENT State Breeding Passage Wintering FI Few 9 SE 9 9 EE 9 9 LV 9 9 LT 9 9 PL 9 9 9 SK Few 9 CZ Few 9 DK 9 9 UK 9 9 9 IE Few 9 9 DE 9 9 NL 9 9 Few BE 9 9 Very few LU Very few HU 9 9 AT 9 9 SI Few 9 FR Few 9 9 ES Few 9 9 PT 9 9 IT Few 9 MT 9 GR 9 9 CY Few RO 9 9 BG 9 9 HR 9 Reproduction & Prenuptial Migration * 305 * Key concepts of Article 7(4): Version 2008 Definition of period of reproduction Black-tailed Godwit Limosa limosa Member Period of reproduction Comments References State begins with FI Occupation of breeding 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 sites SE Occupation of breeding 8, 11, 12 sites EE Occupation of breeding sites LV 1 LT Occupation of breeding 7 sites PL Occupation of breeding 3 sites SK Occupation of breeding sites CZ Occupation of breeding sites DK Occupation of breeding sites UK Occupation of breeding 2 sites IE Courtship display 1, 2, 3 DE Occupation of breeding 4, 7 sites NL Occupation of breeding 11, 18 sites BE Occupation of breeding 1, 2, 3, 4 sites LU HU Occupation of breeding sites AT Occupation of breeding 13, 19 sites SI FR Occupation of breeding 1, 4, 6 sites ES PT IT Courtship display MT GR CY RO 7 BG HR Reproduction & Prenuptial Migration * 306 * Key concepts of Article 7(4): Version 2008 Period of reproduction Black-tailed Godwit Limosa limosa J A N F E B M A R A P R M A Y J U N J U L A U G S E P O C T N O V D E C FI SE EE LV LT PL SK CZ DK UK IE DE NL BE LU HU AT SI FR ES PT IT MT GR CY RO BG HR Comments and conclusions 1) The period of reproduction begins with the occupation of the breeding sites.