Branta Issues > Issue №6 (2003)

Revision of rare, poor known and vagrant species of Passerines (Passeriformes) in the Crimea

Kinda V.V., Beskaravainy M.M., Diadicheva E.A., Kostin S.Yu., Popenko V.M.

Fifty-seven rare, non-numerous and poor known species of the Crimean passerines are considered in the paper basing on the detailed analysis, literary and personal data. There were discovered changes in the composition of the peninsula omithofauna and in the status of some species. The changes have taken place over the last 20 years after publishing of the monograph about the Crimean birds written by Yu.V.Kostin. Nineteen studied species were not even mentioned in the report of Yu.V.Kostin (1983). These are 9 rare vagrant species from the family of Sylviidae (the data of them were received during the last decade), six species of Emberizidae, 2 species of Paridae, 1 of Motacillidae and 1 of Turdidae. 10 species are discussed in the paper on the background of the literary data, while others basing from the results of observations and captures. For poor known species of the Crimean fauna such as Citrine Wagtail, Icterine Warbler, Marsh Warbler, River Warbler, Nightingale and Bluethroat the migration characteristics are described in more details. There are analyzed new data regarding to the status of Woodchat Shrike, River Warbler and Grasshoper Warbler, Marsh Warbler, Goldcrest and Firecrest, Penduline Tit, Black-eared Wheater, Scarlet Rosefinch. There were registered the increased breeding number of Isabeline Wheater, Reed Bunting, Oriole and Penduline Tit. For the latter species an important determinant in distribution and number increase was the construction of the North-Crimean Canal and artificial forest belts along its route.

So from the middle of XIX century until the present time 137 species of the Crimean Passerines were considered in total (literary and personal data). 124 of them are reliably identified (for 118 species the collection materials are presented, other six species were undoubtedly identified by capture). The fact of the rest 13 species presence in the Crimea needs to be extra proved.