Stone-curlew

    Burhinus oedicnemus

Castilian: Alcaraván común

Catalan: Torlit

Gallego: Alcaraván

Euskera: Atalarra

CLASIFICACIÓN:

Orden: Charadriiformes

Family: Burhinidae

Migratory status: Permanent resident

CONSERVATION STATUS:

On the National List of Threatened Species, it appears in the “Vulnerable” category. In the 2004 edition of the Red Book of Spanish Birds (Libro Rojo de las Aves de España) it is listed as “Near Threatened”.

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THREATS

Urbanisation, the decrease in pastureland, the transformation of land into irrigation systems, reforestation, insecticides, hunting and electrical cables are some of the problems this bird faces. The effect that the introduction of predators has had in the Canary Islands should also be noted.

Length / size: 40-44 cm / 77-85 cm

Identification: Wader with large yellow eyes enclosed by two white stripes. It is earth-coloured with a white stripe edged in black on its wing, a yellow bill with a black tip, and long, yellow legs. Juveniles are lighter, and their wing band and eye stripes are less defined. In flight the part under the wings is pale, while the part on top has two white stripes edged in black, and the ends of the back part are also black.

Song: In summer, during twilight hours it makes a strident "cur-lee-eeee" sound.

Diet: It feeds on insects.

Reproduction: The breeding period runs from April to early July. Both sexes build the nest on the ground, surrounded by rocks, shells and even rabbit droppings, and they are responsible for incubation. Shortly after hatching, the chicks leave the nest, but they continue to be cared for by their parents.

HABITAT

It occupies flat, arid or semi-arid areas with few or no treeds. It can be found in steppes, semi-deserts and uncultivated land.

DISTRIBUTION

In Spain: It occupies areas influenced by the Mediterranean region, avoiding mountain and forest regions.

In Castile and León: It is distributed throughout all the provinces, although it is rare in Segovia.

Movements and migrations: In Europe it is a summer species that winters in the peninsula, northern Africa and southern Sahara. Specimens from France, Great Britain and Holland come to the peninsula to spend the winter.

POPULATION

In Spain: There is an estimated population of 28000-38000 breeding pairs (2000 data).

In Castile and León: There is an estimated population of 3500 breeding pairs.