187 
1921 .] Birds of Macedonia. 
The bird-life of Macedonia is varied and plentiful. The 
Struma plain abounds with large Accipitres; Vultures, 
Eagles, 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 common everywhere and at 
all seasons. In the autumn there are flocks of Wagtails, 
Finches, and Pipits, and hordes of Redstarts and Flycatchers 
appear in their season. Late in the year huge assemblies of 
Crows can be seen near the Struma. In the spring hand¬ 
some species from the south arrive and prepare to nest, 
including the Hoopoe, Roller, Bee-eater, Black-headed 
Bunting, and White Stork. The Magpie, Little Owl, and 
Tree-Sparrow 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 shifting from the locality of 
birth. In the case of the Jackdaw and Hooded Crow there 
was always the difficulty 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 Whinchats at any rate. The return journey in 
autumn is more pronounced—Redstarts, Spotted Flycatchers, 
o 2 
