1 92 1.] Birds of Macedonia. 187 



The bird-life of Macedonia is varied and plentifiiL Tlie 

 Struma plain abounds with large Accipitres ; Vultur(!S, 

 Kagles, Buzzards, Kites, and Harriers may be seen. In the 

 winter there are good numbers of Ducks and Geese. On the 

 (Struma itself are Grebes, Cormorants, and Coots, and in 

 the summer, Terns. The level ground is haunted by Crested 

 Larks and their kindred, the thickets by Warblers, and 

 Buntings of several species are conimon evei-y where and at 

 all seasons. In the autumn there are flocks of Wagtails, 

 Finches, and Pipits, and hordes of Redstarts and Flycatchers 

 a))[)ear in their season. Late in the year huge assemblies of 

 Crows can be seen near the Struma. In the snrino; hand- 

 some species from the south arrive and pre[)are to nest, 

 including the Hoopoe, Roller, Bee-eater, Black-headed 

 Bunting, and White Stork. The Magpie, Little Owl, and 

 Tree-S[)arrow are characteristic resident birds. 



There are very pronounced local movements at nearly all 

 seasons, and these complicate the real migratory events. 

 These local movements are caused mainly by the withdrawal 

 of resident species from their winter quarters to their breeding 

 grounds, by severe weather compelling the birds on the hills 

 and high ground to descend to the level of the river and some 

 species to the coast, and by the gregarious habits of young 

 birds of the year and attendant shitting from the locality of 

 birth. In the case of the Jackdaw and Hooded Crow there 

 was always the ditficulty of distinguishing" between residents 

 and their broods, and migrants. Isolated pairs of Wagtails 

 and Finches seen throughout the summer in selected 

 localities were also confusing. I think, however, that the 

 main features of migration as seen in the concerned area 

 could be summarized as follows : — 



(1) The arrival of breeding species in the spring accom- 

 panied by a "■ through '' passage of other birds on their way 

 to the north. It was not easy to distinguish migrants during 

 the vernal movement, but there was a stream of Martins, 

 Swifts, and W^hinchats at any rate. The return journey in 

 autumn is more pronounced — Redstarts, Spotted Flycatchers, 



o 2 



