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

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Mostly migratory; some birds resident in W of range, especially in British Is and Ireland. Small numbers regularly winter in Iceland and Faeroes. Scandinavian and Balkan populations move SW to W European coasts. The subspecies mix in Balkans after breeding, and probably in winter quarters from Mediterranean to W India. Nominate arquata presumably winters as far S as Babc d'Arguin (Mauritania), Morocco, Algeria and Italy; with orientalis occupying rest of African wintering grounds, e.g. birds wintering in Guinea-Bissau originate from C Siberia. Some transcontinental migration in Africa, e.g. across Sahara. Most birds winter at moulting grounds, with little evidence of post moulting movements. High fidelity to wintering grounds. Southward migration Jun-Nov, starting with non-breeder and adult females; return starts Feb, but mainly Mar- Apr; migration from Fenno-Scandian and Russian breeding grounds mainly mid-Apr to early May. Many 1st- year birds remain in winter quarters all year.   (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,
• Copyright: GROMS/BfN - www.groms.de
  
  (A digitised version of this map is published in GIS shape format on the GROMS CD).