Distribution of the Roller Coracias garrulus in Portugal, an historical approach

The Iberian Peninsula harbours the majorityof the Roller (Coracias garrulus) populationin Western Europe. In Spain, available datasuggest a population fragmentation and a generalnegative trend (Marti & Del Moral, 2004).Although residual in an Iberian context, thePortuguese population also appears to be declining,and once considered Rare in PortugueseRed List (SNPRNC, 1990), is now classed asCritically Endangered (ICN, 2004). Recently,the Portuguese population was estimated in100-300 pairs (BirdLife International, 2004).

Ana Teresa MARQUES, Ines HENRIQUES, Ines CATRY and Maria Ines MOREIRA, Ardeola, 52(1), June 2005, 173-176