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

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Migratory. European and W Asian populations leave breeding grounds from late Jun to late Aug, wintering mostly in Africa; large flocks on E side of Sea of Azov in late Aug, and passing through E Mediterranean in Aug-Sept; negligible movement off W coasts, but species numerous in Senegal in Sept. A few occasionally winter on Black Sea. Common migrants through E Africa, mainly inland, occasionally on coast. In spring, large flocks pass through E Mediterranean, and massive numbers recorded at N Red Sea; at N Gulf of Aqaba, c. 20,000 in one afternoon in 1984, and total of 81,000 in 5-day period in 1990. C & E Asian breeders winter from Burma and SE China, S through Indonesia and Indochina to Australian and New Zealand; wintering birds in Persian Gulf, Pakistan, Sri Lanka and elsewhere in N Indian Ocean may come from these populations.   (del Hoyo J, Elliott A, Sargatal J (eds), 1996)

• digitised by GROMS, after del Hoyo J A Elliott; J Sargatal (eds) (1996) - www.hbw.com,
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