3rd Portuguese Breeding Bird Atlas and Continental Portugal Bird Red List
March 29, 2024 | alena.klvanova
Two major achievements for Portuguese ornithology were published in the past month of December. First, the III Portuguese Breeding Bird Atlas updated the distribution for 241 species (227 for the continent, 35 for the Azores and 44 in Madeira) and compared the distribution patterns among two atlases for the first time. This information was also fundamental to reviewing the Bird Red List (only for the Continental part of Portugal) published in 2005.
Online Bird Red List
Of the 241 species recorded as breeders between 2015 and 2021, 225 are native, and 16 are non-native species with established populations. 93 species have a restricted distribution (occurring in less than 10% of the country), and 20 are widely distributed (breeding in more than 90% of the country). The atlas captured a strong contraction of the distribution area, mostly in species associated with agricultural habitats (e.g. European Roller, Montagu’s Harrier, Little Bustard, Barn Owl). On the opposite side, species like the Song Thrush, Western Marsh Harrier and Gadwall showed a strong increase in their distribution.
Among the groups with the higher number/proportion of species in threatened categories are birds associated with agricultural areas, migratory waterbirds and seabirds.
60 % of the 287 populations evaluated for the update of the Bird Red List were not classified in one of the threatened categories (142 populations assessed as Least Concern and 31 as Near Threatened). Of the 95 populations classified as threatened, 47 are Vulnerable, 34 are Endangered, and 14 are Critically Endangered. Overall, we noted an increase of 9% in threatened populations, with a substantial increase in the Endangered category (+38% of populations). The number of assessed populations as Data Deficient has been reduced by half (8 populations).
All this information is available at https://www.listavermelhadasaves.pt/, a website on which we hope to host future atlases and updates on the Bird Red List.