Family COLUMBIDAE, pigeons and doves

Rock Dove, Columba livia

This bird inhabits coastal and inland cliffs in southern and western Europe, Africa north of the Equator and a major part of southern Asia. All its populations have to some extend hybridised with feral pigeons, so much that it is nearly impossible today to get an idea of the real situation of this species. This difficulty is even increased by the fact that feral doves have been rarely studied (EBCC Atlas of European Breeding Birds).

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Stock Dove, Columba oenas

This dove inhabits Mediterranean, temperate and boreal regions of Europe and western Asia, eastwards to Mongolia and western China. It is breeding in tree holes of old beach (Fagus) or pine (Pinus) forests, but it feeds largely in open areas. In some regions it is well adapted to urban habitats. The birds of western Europe and the Mediterranean regions are sedentary, but those of northern and central Europe winter in the Mediterranean regions. The population of the European Union is estimated at 390000 breeding pairs, and exhibits contrasting trends : in Germany and Greece it seems quite stable; in France and Spain it is decreasing (EBCC Atlas of European Breeding Birds).

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Woodpigeon, Columba palumbus (see also Annex 1)

This pigeon inhabits the major part of Europe, north to 65°N, and its distribution reaches Kazakhstan and Bangladesh. It is also known to occur in North Africa. Originally it used to be a bird of forest and densely wooded regions, but it became adapted to agricultural habitats and more recently even to urban areas. The birds of southern and south-western Europe are sedentary. Those of the north and the north-east are wintering mainly in France and the Iberian Peninsula. The population of the European Union belongs mainly to the nominate race palumbus. It amounts to 7-8 millions of breeding pairs, which represents 60-70% of the total European population. Overall this species has undergone a very strong increase and an extension of its distribution since the beginning of the century. However, since the late 1970’s a decrease has been reported from several regions, following changing agricultural practices. The migratory part of the species declines and is subject to a strong hunting pressure (EBCC Atlas of European Breeding Birds).

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Collared Dove, Streptopelia decaocto

Since the beginning of this century this dove, originally a species of India, has colonised Europe via Turkey. It inhabits now most of the continent, reaching 55°N, and it inhabits mainly urban areas. The European population amounts to about 9 millions of breeding pairs, 2,5 millions of which inhabit the European Union (EBCC Atlas of European Breeding Birds).

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Turtle Dove, Streptopelia turtur

This dove inhabits a major part of Europe, central and western Asia, North Africa and the Canary islands. European birds are wintering mainly in the Sahel regions of Africa. Since the mid-1970’s this species undergoes a strong decline amounting to more than 50% in western Europe. The population of the European Union is currently estimated at 1.5 million breeding pairs, the total European population at 2.2-8 millions. The reasons for this decline are habitat destruction (e. g. the widespread disappearance of hedges), use of pesticides, over-hunting along the migration flyways and increasing drought of the Sahel and Sudan regions (EBCC Atlas of European Breeding Birds).

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Family ALAUDIDAE, larks

Skylark, Alauda arvensis.

This lark is very common and inhabits a major part of Europe and Asia. It is breeding in all regions of the European Union, where its population amount to 15-20 million breeding pairs (EBCC Atlas of European Breeding Birds). Originally a bird of the steppes or similar open habitats, it has become adapted to cultivation. Since a few decades it undergoes a strong decrease following more general use of pesticides and changing agricultural practices.

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Family TURDIDAE, thrushes

Blackbird, Turdus merula

This thrush inhabits north-western Africa and a major part of Europe, being absent only from northern Scandinavia and Finland. In Asia its distribution is extending from Turkey to southern China. In southern and western Europe the species is sedentary, but the birds of the north and the east are migratory and winter in the south-west. Originally a bird of dense forest, this species has become adapted to man-made environments and urban areas since the last century. The total population of Europe, Russia not included, is amounting to 43 million breeding pairs (EBCC Atlas of European Breeding Birds).

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Fieldfare, Turdus pilaris

This thrush inhabits a major part of Eurasia, from central Europe and Scandinavia to eastern Siberia. It is a species of the taiga, which has considerably extended its breeding area to the west, and colonised Iceland and Greenland. Inside the European Union it has colonised Belgium, the Netherlands and eastern France. Most birds are migratory and winter in western and southern Europe (Tucker & Heath).

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Song thrush, Turdus philomelos

This thrush inhabits a major part of Europe, from the Pyrenees and the British Isles to extreme northern Scandinavia and Lake Baikal in central Asia. The populations of southern and western Europe are sedentary. Those of the north and the east are migratory and winter in the south and west of the continent. Some birds reach North Africa. The breeding population of the European Union is amounting to 4-9 million breeding pairs. It is declining in the British Isles and the Netherlands. Elsewhere it seems to be stable or fluctuating (Tucker & Heath).

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Redwing, Turdus iliacus

This thrush has a widespread distribution in boreal regions of Eurasia. It inhabits also sub-arctic regions and alpine regions. The birds of northern Europe are wintering from the British Isles to the Mediterranean region and Morocco. The total European population is estimated at 5-7.5 million breeding pairs, and fluctuates according to the severity of climatic conditions in winter (EBCC Atlas of European Breeding Birds).

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Mistle Trush, Turdus viscivorus

This thrush inhabits north-western Africa and a major part of Europe and western Asia, reaching India and Mongolia to the east. It breeds in coniferous forests, some deciduous forests and open habitats with isolated large trees. It has undergone a strong expansion at the beginning of this century, but is seems now to be stable and in a few regions a decline has even been reported. In southern and western Europe it is sedentary. The population of the European Union (12 Members States) is estimated at 1.2-2.2 million breeding pairs and the total European population at 1.8-4.1 pairs (EBCC Atlas of European Breeding Birds).

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Last update : 10/11/9906 oct. 2006 13:16:36 +0200