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Distribution imperfectly known due to secretive behaviour , and few wintering sites known (map tentative). West Palearctic breeders probably winter in Mediterranean basin, Africa (including Egypt), Arabia (Oman and possibly elsewhere), Iraq, and Iran; winters occasionally in C Europe, and W to Britain. S movement late Aug- Nov, probably peaking Sept-Oct; occurs as migrant on all larger Mediterranean islands, passes through N Africa (Morocco to Egypt) late Aug-Oct, Sudan Sept-Nov and Somalia Sept-Oct; present Oman Aug-Apr: Presumed wintering birds recorded Senegal Sept-Nov, N Nigeria Dec and Feb-Mar, S Niger Sept, Oct and Jan, W Uganda. Like P.porzan, probably itinerant in African wintering areas in response to habitat changes. Return passage noted N Africa Mar-May (sometimes Jun) and Mediterranean late Feb-May; also 1 presumed migrant Ethiopia Apr; most arrive on breeding grounds late Mar-Apr. Most N African records are in spring, suggesting that autumn migrants may overfly region. Vagrant or uncommon (overlooked?) winter visitor to Liberia (no dates), Zambia (Mar 1980) and possibly Ivory Coast (1 questionable Jun record); accidental Ireland, Denmark, Norway, Finland, Lebanon, Syria, Azores, canary Is and Madeira. Little information on movement of E populations: in Azerbaijan passage noted Nov and Mar-Apr; formerly remained during warm winters but no recent information. Normally migrates singly; concentrations rarely recorded, possibly because species secretive.   (del Hoyo J, Elliott A, Sargatal J (eds), 1996)

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