Family RALLIDAE, rails, moorhens and coots

Water Rail, Rallus aquaticus

This rail inhabits wetlands in a major part of Eurasia, from Iberia, Iceland and southern Scandinavia to Iran, China and eastern Siberia. The birds of the south and the west of that area are largely sedentary. Those of northern and eastern Europe are migratory and winter in the south-west of the continent. Nearly all populations are adversely affected by the destruction of wetlands, and the species is showing an overall decline (EBCC Atlas of European Breeding Birds).

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Moorhen, Gallinula chloropus

This cosmopolitan species inhabits wetlands of a major part of Europe, reaching 65°N. The birds of western and southern Europe are sedentary. Those of the north and the east move to the south-west in winter. The population of the European Union (12 Members States) is totalling about 860000 breeding pairs, but it fluctuates widely according to the severity of winter condition (EBCC Atlas of European Breeding Birds).

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Coot, Fulica atra

This bird inhabits a large part of Eurasia, from the Iberian Peninsula and Scandinavia to India, China, Japan and eastern Siberia. It is known also in Australia and in north-western Africa. In a large part of Europe it is sedentary, the populations of the north and north-east of the continent are wintering in south-western Europe, in the Balkan Peninsula and in North Africa. The population of the European Union (12 Members States) is amounting to 400000 breeding pairs, and the total European population to about 1.2 million (EBCC Atlas of European Breeding Birds).

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Family HAEMATOPODIDAE, oystercatchers

Oystercatcher, Haematopus ostralegus

This bird has a fragmented distribution in Eurasia. The nominate race ostralegus inhabits the Mediterranean, from Spain to Greece, and the Atlantic and Arctic coasts of Europe. It amounts to about 875000 individuals, 150000-160000 of which breed in the European Union (12 Members States). The birds of southern and western Europe are largely sedentary. Those of northern and eastern Europe are migratory and winter mainly in the Wadden Sea, the Delta region of the southern Netherlands and around the Irish Sea. Since the 1920’s this bird, originally a strictly coastal species, has extended its distribution into the interior of the continent. The race longipes inhabits the coasts of the Black Sea and the interior of central Asia. It amounts probably to only a few ten thousands of individuals and is wintering in the eastern Mediterranean, north-eastern Africa and south-western Asia. It is known as a passage migrant in Greece (Handrinos & Akriotis).

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Family CHARADRIIDAE, plovers

Golden Plover, Pluvialis apricaria (see also Annex I)

This plover inhabits tundra, moors, fens and high altitude grasslands in northern Europe and western Asia, from Iceland to central Siberia. The total European population amounts to 440000-785000 breeding pairs. A major part of these birds is migratory, and is wintering in the British Isles and Western Europe, from the Netherlands to the Iberian Peninsula. The population of the European Union has undergone a strong decrease, and the species has disappeared from the Netherlands, Belgium, Denmark and most of Germany following destruction of its habitats. (EBCC Atlas of European Breeding Birds).

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Grey Plover, Pluvialis squatarola

This plover has a circumpolar distribution, and inhabits tundra on arctic islands and along the shores of the Arctic Ocean. The birds breeding from north-western Europe to the Taymyr Peninsula are visiting Western Europe, where many of them are wintering. The European population is estimated at a minimum of 10000 breeding pairs. Part of this population is reaching the coasts of West Africa, southwards to the Gulf of Guinea. More eastern birds visit Greece while migrating to East and South Africa (EBCC Atlas of European Breeding Birds).

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Lapwing, Vanellus vanellus

This plover inhabits boreal, temperate, steppe and Mediterranean regions of Europe and Asia, from Iberia to Finland and from Iceland and the British Isles to China. It breeds also in North Africa. European populations winter in West Europe, from the British Isles to Morocco, and in the Mediterranean regions. The population of the European Union (12 Members States) is estimated at 500000-600000 breeding pairs and the total European population – a major part of which is visiting the European Union during winter – at 2.2-11.4 million pairs. In many regions this bird is declining following wetland reclamation, intensification of agriculture and use of pesticides and chemical fertilisers (EBCC Atlas of European Breeding Birds).

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Family SCOLOPACIDAE (1), sandpipers, ruff, snipes and woodcock

Knot, Calidris canutus

This bird has a circumpolar breeding distribution in tundra, and the most important populations are found in North America, Greenland and eastern Siberia. The birds visiting Europe belong to two distinct populations. Those of north-eastern Canada and Greenland are wintering along the coasts of north-western Europe (British Isles, Netherlands and France). They amount to about 340000 individuals and have definitely decreased since the 1970’s (EBCC Atlas of European Breeding Birds). Those of Svalbard and Taymyr winter in tropical Africa, and visit Europe only as passage migrants. Their population is totalling about 500000 individuals, and seems more stable (Piersma & Davidson 1992).

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Ruff, Philomachus pugnax (see also Annex I)

This bird inhabits wet grasslands and tundras in most of Eurasia, from the British Isles to Kamchatka, north to 60°N. Most of its populations winter in sub-Saharan Africa. The breeding population of the European Union (12 Members States) amounts to about 2000-3000 pairs, which is only a tiny fraction of the total European population, estimated at 3.28 million (EBCC Atlas of European Breeding Birds).

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Jacksnipe, Lymnocryptes minimus

This snipe is breeding in boreal regions of north-eastern Europe and Siberia. The birds of Europe and western Siberia are wintering in western and south-western Europe and in north-western Africa. This population is estimated at 130000 breeding pairs. It has undergone important fluctuations, and its long-term trends are unknown (EBCC Atlas of European Breeding Birds).

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Snipe, Gallinago gallinago

This bird inhabits the major part of Europe, except the Mediterranean regions, northern Asia and North America. European populations winter in Europe, vacating areas with severe frost, and in sub-Saharan Africa. The population of the European Union is estimated at about 100000 breeding pairs, the total European population at about 900000 breeding pairs, Russia not included. In many regions this species is declining, following wetland reclamation and changing management in the remaining wetlands (EBCC Atlas of European Breeding Birds).

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Woodcock, Scolopax rusticola

This bird is breeding in deciduous and mixed forests of a great part of Eurasia, from the Canary islands, northern Spain and Scandinavia to China and Japan. The birds of north-western and southern Europe are largely sedentary. Those of the north-east are migratory and winter in the west and south of the continent, especially in France, Spain, Italy and the British Isles. This species with crepuscular habits is hard to census, but it seems that its breeding populations of south-western Europe are stable or slightly increasing, e. g. in Denmark, the Netherlands, Ireland and Spain. The total population of the European Union (12 Members States) is probably amounting to 75000 breeding pairs, which represents only 2-3% of the total European population. Regarding the birds wintering in south-western Europe, a decline has been reported in France (Fadat 1991). This statement is based on very few observations, however, and could be biased by the fact that wintering numbers in this country are strongly fluctuating according to climatic conditions. Nevertheless this species is undergoing a very strong hunting pressure, on top of degradation of its breeding habitats due to modern forestry practices (EBCC Atlas of European Breeding Birds).

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Last update : 06/10/06