Species fact sheet by Global Register of Migratory Species - www.groms.de

Use the GROMS database for dynamic search for migratory species, new links and references.

Mainly migratory; at least, shows certain nomadic or dispersive tendency after breeding. Nominate migrants markedly migratory, wintering mainly in sub-Saharan Africa (S to South Africa), and to lesser extent in Middle East; lineatus also migratory, although only partially, or even resident, in China and Japan, but some wintering from SE Asia and Indian Subcontinent, W to Middle East. Race govinda makes movements to avoid monsoon, and depending on food availability; parasitus shows complex pattern, influenced, like govinda and affinis, by seasonal rains, with South African populations migrating N after breeding; aegyptius mainly resident, although appears S to Kenya and Tanzania outside breeding season. Race affinis has resident, partly migratory and irruptive populations; status of birds in Lesser Sundas uncertain, perhaps only vagrants from Australia. Migrates in flocks and gathers to cross sea straits: 40,000-60,000 birds in post-breeding migration at Gibraltar each year; 36.690 recorded in spring 1980 at Elat (Israel).   (del Hoyo J, Elliott A, Sargatal J (eds), 1994)

• digitised by GROMS, after del Hoyo J A Elliott; J Sargatal (eds) (1994) - www.hbw.com,
• Copyright: GROMS/BfN - www.groms.de