Abstract
There are no high mountains in Hungary, but in winter several montane species visit from the Alps and the Carpathians. Here, we used data from an internet database and a detailed literature review to investigate the spatial and temporal occurrence of four altitudinal migrant species in Hungary. Two of these species, Wallcreeper and Alpine Accentor, nest only in the Alps and Carpathians, while White-throated Dipper and Grey Wagtail breed in the mountainous areas of Hungary as well. The first individuals of Wallcreepers typically arrive in early October, but some birds migrate further south. In spring, it is considered rare in early April and exceptionally rare later on. The Alpine Accentor occurs in Hungary in a similar period as the Wallcreeper, but the birds do not leave the mountaineous areas in winter. Both species are found in anthropogenic environments, but the Wallcreeper is more often found on urban buildings and in lowlands. The White-throated Dipper has been recorded for a total of 10 times in lower regions during the coldest winter months, perhaps driven by the freezing of mountain streams. The Grey Wagtail is most often found in lowlands in mid-March and in September–October. It is typically found along rivers, and often overwinters along thermal waters.
Introduction
Several types of migration are known, which can refer to the distance, direction and drivers of migration (Alerstam 1993, Newton 2010). A special case of bird migration is the so-called altitudinal migration, which is characteristic of certain high mountain species (Barcante et al., 2017). This phenomenon was first observed in species from tropical regions (Beebe 1947, Slud 1964), but was later described for temperate species as well (for review, see Boyle 2017). These species do not move seasonally over long distances, but between higher and lower regions of the mountains (Borras et al. 2010, Newton 2010, Boyle 2017, Hsiung et al. 2018).
The movement is typically towards lower regions, but some species may move to lower regions for breeding, while migrate upwards for wintering (Tidemann et al. 1988, Hess et al. 2012). In autumn, as the weather becomes less favourable in higher regions and snowfall increases, birds are prevented from accessing food and move to lower regions of the mountains. However, in some cases, such as in extreme winters, they may leave the mountains and appear in lowland areas far from the mountains. Among the typical altitudinal migrants, it has been shown that individuals from populations nesting in the Alps may migrate to the Pyrenees in adverse weather conditions, but this is no longer an altitudinal migration but a short-distance movement (Resano-Mayor et al. 2020).
The proportion of altitudinally migrating individuals within a species can vary between populations and between age and sex groups. Individuals in some populations try to stay as close as possible to breeding sites due to competition for them, and only migrate when food availability is drastically reduced (Watts et al. 2018). For this reason, these species are not only altitudinal, but often also irruptive migrants, as these environmental conditions affect all birds in the same way, and they may leave breeding sites en masse (Newton 2010, Fudickar et al. 2013, Reid et al. 2018).
A good example of age- and sex-specific differences is the Pygmy Owl (Glaucidium passerinum Linnaeus, 1758), where the proportion of juveniles and females leaving the nesting sites is much higher than that of adults and males (Polakowski et al. 2008, Lehikoinen et al. 2011). A similar pattern in Passerines can be observed in Common Blackbirds (Turdus merula Linnaeus, 1758) (Csörgő & Kiss 1986, Ludvig et al. 1991).
In Hungary, there are not high mountains and therefore species breeding in such habitats are lacking, but individuals of several species from the Alps and the Carpathians arrive in winter, mainly to mountainous areas (Csörgő et al. 2009).
The two most characteristic of these species are the Wallcreeper (Tichodroma muraria Linnaeus, 1766) and the Alpine Accentor (Prunella collaris Scopoli, 1769), the occurrence of which has not been analysed at national level.
Some altitudinal migratory species breed in the Hungarian mountains, but even in the case of the most common breeding species, the Grey Wagtail (Motacilla cinerea Tunstall, 1771), its population do not exceed a few hundred pairs (Lovászi 2022a). After the breeding period, they also appear in areas where they are otherwise absent (Hadarics & Zalai 2008). As it is very difficult to separate the members of the local population from the migrating/overwintering individuals in areas where these species breed, the best method to study the migration and overwintering of these species is to analyse their occurrence in lowland areas.
The Wallcreeper nests in high mountain areas from Europe to Central Asia (Fig. 1). Due to its special habitat, its distribution in Europe is fragmented. Its strongest populations are in the Alps and the Caucasus, but its nesting population in the Carpathians, for example, is underestimated. Overall, its population has declined in recent decades in most areas, including the nearest nesting sites (Alps, Carpathians), perhaps mainly due to drought in the nesting areas (Luisier & Savioz 2020).
The distribution of four study species within Europe (A: Wallcreeper, B: Alpine Accentor, C: White-throated Dipper, D: Grey Wagtail)
Source: www.hbw.com.
Citation: Animal Taxonomy and Ecology 70, 1; 10.1556/1777.2024.11081
The Alpine Accentor is distributed from southwestern Europe and the Atlas Mountains to the Sea of Japan (Fig. 1). In Europe, its range is similar to that of the Wallcreeper, fragmented and restricted to the high mountains. Its largest populations live in the Alps and the Caucasus. Its range has declined, mainly in the peripheral areas of the area and at lower altitudes, which may have been contributed to by climate change and drought of the habitats (Knaus 2020).
The White-throated Dipper (Cinclus cinclus Linnaeus, 1758) has also a fragmented distribution from Western Europe to China (Ormerod et al. 2020) (Fig. 1). Fast-flowing, clear streams are a prerequisite for its breeding, as it can only find suitable food in such environments (Tyler & Ormerod 1992, Sorace et al. 2002). Its European population is generally stable, increasing or decreasing in some places, but is unlikely to decline in the long term due to general improvements in water quality (Vickery 2020). In Hungary, it is on the verge of extinction, despite being a common breeder in the low mountain ranges as late as the 1980’s (Horváth 1985). Considering that the Hungarian population is considered to be the peripherial population of the South-Slovakian population, it is significantly affected by its change (Csörgő et al. 2009). Rainfall is also crucial and the persistent water shortage in the 1980’s and 1990’s probably caused the collapse of the population, adding that it was also significantly affected by water pollution and increasing tourism (Illés 2021). Based on literature (Vollnhoffer 1906), it is likely that it was never very common in Hungary. In 1951, however, at least 16 pairs nested in two streams of the Bükk alone, and even in 1975 the Hungarian population was estimated at 50 pairs. Significant populations were found in the Bükk, the Mátra, the Pilis and the Zemplén Hills, but it also bred in the Alpokalja, the Tokaj Hills, the Medves, the Börzsöny and the Aggtelek Karst (Horváth 1985). In the 2010’s the Hungarian population was estimated a total of 0–4 pairs in the Zemplén Hills, the Bükk, the Aggtelek Karst and the Alpokalja (Lovászi 2022b). During winter it used to occur regularly in mountain streams, but is now rare even in this period (Illés 2021).
The Grey Wagtail has a large distribution range in the Palaearctic, from Western Europe to the Far East, and even nests in NW-Africa. However, there is a significant gap in its European breeding area between Poland and the Ural Mountains (Kwak 2020, Tyler 2020) (Fig. 1). Its European range has increased significantly northwards in recent decades, and it now breeds in lowland areas in Fennoscandia, the Baltic States and Western Europe (Kwak 2020). It is possible that a similar process is taking place in Hungary, where nests have been found in several places along lowland rivers and streams in recent years (Bebesi 2021, Staudinger 2021). Some populations of the species are migratory, others are resident, but altitudinal migration occurs even in resident populations (Tyler 2020). Birds from central Europe typically winter in France and the Iberian Peninsula (Jørgensen 1976). Grey Wagtails arrive to Hungary in winter not only from the surrounding mountain regions but also from beyond the Carpathian Basin (Csörgő et al. 2009). In Hungary, it breeds regularly in the Northern and Transdanubian Mountains, in the Alpokalja and Mecsek (Hadarics & Zalai 2008). In recent years, it has also colonised lowland areas (Bebesi 2021, Staudinger 2021). The population of this species was estimated at 300–600 pairs in the period 2014–2018 (Lovászi 2022a).
During our work we investigated the spatial and temporal occurrence and distribution in Hungary of the four species mentioned above, with special attention to their occurrence in the lowlands. We have reviewed the available literature as well as used data available on the internet. We hypothesised that species that nest in the Hungarian mountains may be more common in lowland areas than species breeding in high mountains.
Material and methods
The study area contains the whole area of Hungary, which can be divided into geographically distinct geomorphological areas. The country is located in the central part of the Carpathian Basin, surrounded by the Carpathians and Alps, with peaks above 2,000 m a.s.l. Hungary has mountains in the northern and western parts of the country and in the southern Transdanubian region, but the highest point is only 1,014 m. Hilly areas are mainly found in the Transdanubian region, with an average altitude of a few hundred m a.s.l. A large part of the country is lowland, with an average altitude of around 100 m. The largest plain is the Great Plain, covering 52,000 km2.
The data used in our work come from two sources: the literature on the species and data uploaded by observers to the website www.birding.hu. Data for the Wallcreeper and the Alpine Accentor were collected from the whole country, while the data for the White-throated Dipper and the Grey Wagtail were collected only from the Great Plain. The different altitude zones are defined as follows: lowland (a.s.l. < 200 m), hilly areas (a.s.l. = 200–500 m), mountains (a.s.l. = 500–1,500 m), high mountains (a.s.l. > 1,500 m). For the first two species, we analysed the spatial as well as the annual and intra-annual distribution of the data. The spatial distribution of observations was analysed at the national level, by geographical region, by county and also for the municipalities with the most data. In some counties, the large amount of data over time also allowed us to collect seasonal earliest autumn and latest spring occurrences of birds. In several cases, the exact date or the location of the observations were not available, we only found the year or the month of these data. Accordingly, these numbers of data are specifically mentioned in all species.
For the Wallcreeper, the total number of data published between 1841 and 2022 (MOK 1905, Vadas 1911, Chernel 1916, Radetzky 1919, Schenk 1920, 1926, Dornyai 1922, Szeőts 1922, Vasvári 1926, Barcza 1928, Chernel Istvánné 1928, Csath 1928, Györgyey 1928, Mauks 1928, Warga 1928, Greschik 1929, Hegymeghy 1929, Agárdi 1930, 1942, 1955, 1968, Vásárhelyi 1930, 1965, Nagy 1931, 1942, Vigh 1931, Breuer 1938, Páldy 1938, Vertse 1938, Sághy 1942, 1955, 1968, Sóvágó 1943, Beretzk 1947a, 1947b, Geréby 1947, 1957, Pátkai 1947a, 1951, Bársony 1951, 1957, Király 1955, Széchenyi 1955, Péczely 1957, Zilahi-Sebess 1957, Dely 1958, Pénzes 1960, Pap 1961, Anon 1963, 1965, 1977, 1978a, 1978b, 1979a, 1979b, 1980a, 1981, 1988, Csaba 1963, Schmidt 1970a, 1975, 1977, Kiss 1975, Moskát 1975, Bankovics 1976, 2016, Keve 1978, Simig 1978, Homoki-Nagy 1980, Korsós 1981, Szalai 1981, Molnár 1982a, 1982b, 1982c, 1983, 1984, 1985, 1993, Tóth 1988, Bóday 1990, 1995, Rékási & Kerényi 1992, Vasuta 1993a, 2008, Bereczky 1995, Wágner 1995, Hadarics 1996, 1997a, 1998c, 1999a, 1999b, 2000a, 2000b, 2001a, 2001b, Rékási 1997, Ecsedi 2004, Baumgartner 2005, Gyurácz & Kóta 2020, Kóta 2013, 2014, 2016), or uploaded to the online database www.birding.hu, containing the year of observation is 2,929 (Fig. 2A). Based on these two sources, more data are available from two different periods: the first from the 1930’s to the 1960’s (mainly from István Vásárhelyi) and the second from the 2000’s (mainly from the online database www.birding.hu). Apart from these two sources, only 295 records of the species have been published in various journals and books with at least one year of precision. The date of observations was recorded to the nearest month in 2,916 cases. In 1,130 cases the exact date of observation is also given (Fig. 2C). The exact number of observed individuals is known in 1,140 cases. The most important areas where the species observed in Hungary can be determined on the basis of 1,150 data with exact location (Fig. 3A). The most detailed data are from the period 2004–2022, from the online database www.birding.hu. The species was observed in 50 different localities during this period. For four counties (Baranya, Heves, Komárom-Esztergom and Veszprém), sufficient sightings were available for the period 2004–2022 to process the earliest autumn and latest spring migration data (Appendix 1).
Number of observations per year of Wallcreeper (A) and Alpine Accentor (B), and the number of observations per decade of Wallcreeper (C) and Alpine Accentor (D)
Citation: Animal Taxonomy and Ecology 70, 1; 10.1556/1777.2024.11081
The spatial distribution of the Wallcreeper (A) and Alpine Accentor (B) observations
Citation: Animal Taxonomy and Ecology 70, 1; 10.1556/1777.2024.11081
For the Alpine Accentor, the total number of data published (Chernel 1917, Sághy 1942, 1955, Pátkai 1947b, 1955, 1961, Dorning 1944, Dandl 1951, Szijj 1951, Lenner 1958, Habán 1959, Csaba 1961, Anon 1963, 1978b, 1980b, 1981, 1982, 1988, Varga 1967, 1991, 1993, Schmidt 1970a, 1970b, 1975, 1978, 1985, Moskát 1975, Simig 1978, Molnár 1982c, 1983, 1985, 1992, Hraskó 1984, Ruzsik 1987, Vasuta 1993b, Hadarics 1996, 1997a, 1997b, 1997c, 1998a, 1999a, 1999b, 1999c, 1999d, 2000a, 2000b, 2000c, 2001a, 2001b) or uploaded to the online database www.birding.hu between 1917 and 2022, is 1,331 (Fig. 2B). The first record with an exact date was only published in 1917, and the number of published records started to increase only from the 1980’s. 81.3% of the data are from the online database www.birding.hu, and only 249 records have been published with at least one year of accuracy in various journals and books. In 1,322 cases, the exact date of observation is also given (Fig. 2D). The number of individuals observed is known in all cases. The most important areas where the species observed in Hungary can be determined on the basis of 1,317 data with exact location (Fig. 3B). The most detailed data are from the period 2004–2022, from the online database www.birding.hu. The species was observed in 68 different localities during this period. For four counties (Pest, Veszprém, Heves, Nógrád), sufficient observations were available for the period 2004–2022 to analyse the earliest autumn and latest spring migration data (there are both autumn arrival and spring departure data from et least 10 different years) (Appendix 2).
Results
Wallcreeper
The sightings in September are rare, with the first birds arriving in early to mid-October. Most sightings occur between the second half of October and mid-November, after which the number of sightings drops. Thereafter, the number of observations decreases, with a drastic drop from mid-March onwards (Fig. 2C).
In 92% of the cases were one, 6.8% two and 1% three birds observed at the same time in the same place. The highest number of Wallcreepers observed at one place at one time was 4 or 4–5 in three cases. There are also reports of 20 individuals observed on one day in a relatively narrow geographical region (Agárdi 1955).
Most observations were made in the Dunazug Mountains and the Bükk, but the species was also frequently seen in the Balaton Highlands, Mecsek and Villány Hills (Fig. 3A).
At least 20 sightings have been recorded in Bélapátfalva (138), Nagyharsány (111), Esztergom (84), Pécs (76), Tata (60), Badacsonytördemic (48), Tatabánya (40), Miskolc (32), Badacsonytomaj (26) and Doba (22). In every years only observed in Szársomlyó, Bükk and Badacsony. An interesting feature of the urban data is that the species appears there only in certain periods (one or two, rarely in a few years, for weeks or months), otherwise no data are available. At these times, however, because of the easy of observation, there are many sightings. The same is true for many natural habitats, where the species is present at certain times, but can disappear for decades at others.
The earliest ever autumn sighting was in Szeged on 14 September 2013, while the latest spring sighting was in Kőszeg on 27 May 1897.
In a total of 12 cases were observed in the Great Plain (Table 1).
Wallcreeper observations from the Great Plain
| Date | Location | Number of individuals | Source |
| 23 Oct 1928 | Tápiógyörgye, rooftop | 1 | Györgyey (1928) |
| 17 Nov 1943 | Debrecen, wall of the university | 1 | Sóvágó (1943) |
| Sep 1945 | Szeged, dome and arcade | 1 | Beretzk (1947a, 1947b) |
| 9–12 Mar 1946 | Szeged, dome and arcade | 1 | Beretzk (1947a, 1947b) |
| first week of Sep 1946 | Deszk, village | 1 | Beretzk (1947a, 1947b) |
| first part of Oct 1951 | Debrecen, wall of the university | 2 | Zilahi-Sebess (1957) |
| second part of Feb 1953 | Szeged, dome and arcade | 1 | Agárdi (1955) |
| 10 Jan 1954 | Csorvás, village | 1 | Agárdi (1955) |
| 16 Oct 1955 | Hódmezővásárhely, rom. cath. church | 1 | Péczely (1957) |
| 30 Nov 1962 | Debrecen | 1 | Schmidt (1970a) |
| 15 Dec 1962 | Debrecen | 1 | Schmidt (1970a) |
| 21 Oct 2003 | Hortobágy, Nagyiván, farmland | 1 | Ecsedi (2004) |
From 1951 to 2022, only three individuals were ringed in Hungary, one of which was recaptured 13 days later at the ringing site (MME 2023).
Alpine Accentor
It is rarely observed until mid-October. The number of observations starts to increase in the second half of October. From mid-January onwards, the number of sightings gradually decreases, becoming quite rare in April (Fig. 2D).
In 76.9% of the whole dataset 1–4 birds were observed, while 10 or more Alpine Accentors were seen together in only 5.9% of cases. The highest number of birds observed at one place and time was 18 in two cases (Nagyharsány, 18 February 2000 and Bélapátfalva, 18 February 2007, www.birding.hu).
Most of the sightings are from the Dunazug Mountains, Karancs and Bakony (Fig. 3B).
At least 20 sightings were recorded in Doba (184), Tapolca (126), Salgótarján (125), Bélapátfalva (101), Visegrád (94), Budaörs (34), Szigliget (32), Tatabánya (28) and Csókakő (26). None were observed in any of the settlements in all the years.
In contrast to the Wallcreeper, the Alpine Accentor is typically present for a long period of time, often decades of years, in a given wintering area. However, this species may also be absent from traditional wintering sites for a year or two.
The earliest autumn sighting ever recorded was on 9 October 1999 in the Gerecse, while the latest spring sighting was on 16 May 2009 at the same location.
Only one sighting (3 May 1999, Balmazújváros) was recorded in the Great Plain (Hadarics 1999c, Ecsedi 2004).
From 1951 to 2022, 48 individuals were ringed in Hungary, of which five were recaptured. The furthest displacement was 142 km, while the longest time elapsed between ringing and recapture was 709 days (MME 2023).
White-throated Dipper
Hill and lowland data
According to Barta (2000), it is a rare vagrant in hilly and lowland areas, mainly in November and February, but no specific data are mentioned. We found 10 published data from these areas (Table 2).
White-throated Dipper's observation data from hilly and lowland areas
| Date | Location | No. of individuals | Source |
| 17 Feb 1956 | Pécel, Rákos-stream | 1 | Schmidt (1958) |
| 19 Jan 1974 | Tata | 1 | Schmidt (1977) |
| 13–16 Dec 1986 | Debrecen, Tócó | 1 | Juhász and Tóth (1989), Pásti (1999) |
| 08 Jan 1989 | Virágoskút fishpond | 1 | Ecsedi (2004) |
| 12 Nov 2000 | Keleti-főcsatorna near Virágoskút fishpond | 1 | Ecsedi (2004) |
| 07 Dec 1993 | Alsógöd, Danube | 1 | Horváth and Gorman (1994) |
| 1990’s | Tótkomlós, Száraz-ér | ? | Stirbiczné Dankó (1998) |
| 09 Dec 2017 | Zalacsány, Zalacsányi-stream | 1 | Gál (2017) |
| 2–25 Nov 2003 | Kis-Balaton | 1 | Gál (2017) |
| 07 Feb 2022 | Tiszakóród, Túr river | 1 | www.birding.hu |
Grey Wagtail
Lowland data
It has been published a total of 34 lowland data of the species between 1894 and 1926 in the frame of the national spring migration observatory network (Appendix 3).
Since the mid-20th century, 75 lowland data have been published in the literature (Appendix 4).
In Békés county, according to Csath (1938), it occurred rarely in the first half of the 20th century, mainly in late autumn and early winter near waters. According to Tarján (1930), in the first decades of the 20th century it occurred regularly in winter along the drains of artesian wells in the region of Békéscsaba. It migrated in the vicinity of Nagyszénás between 1939 and 43, but was otherwise absent (Sterbetz 1965). In the area of Orosháza it was a migratory and wintering species between the 1940’s and 1960’s (Megyeri 1965). In Szabadkígyós, one or two individuals were observed every winter until the mid-1970’s (Réthy 1977). According to Fintha and Szabó (1994a), it was scarce in the Hortobágy and in the Southern Great Plain, but more common along rivers and canals in the Szatmár-Bereg plain. It occurred mainly during the autumn migration and was less frequent in spring.
In the Hortobágy, mainly solitary birds have been regularly recorded every year since 1990, but in four cases, two individuals were observed, while three birds have seen on 24 September 1994 and five on 22 November 1998. The autumn migration took place between the beginning of September and the end of October, with a single migration wave between 15 and 25 September and 5–15 October. It was rare in November and observed only twice in December (19 December 1993 and 14 December 1999). In spring, they returned between 14 and 25 March, but migrants can be seen until the third week of April. Sightings were also made on 11 May 1996 (two ind.) and 17 May (one ind.) and 25 July 2003 (one ind.) (Ecsedi 2004). Between 1990 and 2001, the highest number of sightings was in 1997 (7), while none was recorded in 2001. During the same period, the highest number of monthly records was recorded from September to October and from March (Ecsedi 2004).
The migration of the species has been studied in detail in Zala county (Faragó 1999). Between 1993 and 1996, it was regular wintering species at a warm-water canal in Zalaegerszeg. In 1997 and 1998 a targeted survey was carried out and a total of 48 observations were made. 2.1% of the data are from January, 8.3% from February, 27.1% from March, 2.1% from July, 2.1% from August, 22.9% from September, 22.9% from October, 10.4% from November and 2.1% from December. These indicate that the autumn migration is prolonged, while the spring migration is rapid. One individual was seen in 36 cases (75%), two birds in 9 cases (18.7%), three birds in 2 cases (4.2%) and four birds in only 1 case (2.1%). The latest spring sighting was on 28 March 1998 on the Zala River. In Zala County, the number of migrants may be between 20 and 40, and the number of wintering birds between 5 and 10 individuals (Faragó 1999).
A total of 16 occurrences were recorded in Kevermes between 2004 and 2022, all of which were solitary individual (Appendix 5).
A total of 340 data were uploaded by observers from the Great Plain to the www.birding.hu. The number of observations varies considerably from year to year (Fig. 4A).
Number of observations per year (A) and per decade (B) of Grey Wagtail
Citation: Animal Taxonomy and Ecology 70, 1; 10.1556/1777.2024.11081
An analysis of the data by decade shows that the first birds arrive in the lowlands in mid-September and that the autumn migration is most intense until mid-October. After that, the number of sightings decreases. There is a new peak at the turn of December and January and the spring migration peaks in mid-March. In April, there is only one observation (Fig. 4B).
In 73.2% of cases 1, in 20.3% 2, in 5.3% 3, in 0.9% 4 and once 6 individuals were observed (n = 340).
Discussion
During our work we tried to give a comprehensive picture of the occurrence of 4 altitudinal migrant species in Hungary.
The temporal distribution of the Wallcreeper data was greatly influenced by the very large amount of data provided by a single specialist in the species over a period, and then by the increasing number of field birdwatchers today, compared to the most part of the 20th century. For this reason, the data series and sampling is not continuous, although the species was certainly a regular migrant and winter visitor to the country, as pointed out by e.g. Chernel (1899). On the other hand, the species is very easy to identify, so that the risk of mis-identification is almost non-existent and the data can be used with a high degree of confidence. As regards the temporal occurrence of the species, it can be stated that it is very rare between May and September as well as not frequent in April. In autumn, the first birds typically appear in early October, with peak migration in the second half of October and the first half of November. This is very similar to the results of a Slovakian study. In the Devínska Kobyla hills (SW Slovakia) the species occurred at the wintering site between late October (with one observation in early October) to early April (Václav 2016).
The peak in the number of observations in late December and early January is certainly an artefact. This is because the holiday season gives observers more time to collect data in the field. Adult birds leave the nesting sites from mid-July onwards, before the juveniles leave (von Blotzheim & Bauer 2001), but according to Samwald and Ringert (2015), the Wallcreeper is present in climatically favourable breeding habitats throughout the year. However, this is likely to be possible only if the nesting sites have suitable weather conditions (Vivaldi et al. 2009). In Croatia, it was only recorded during the colder, snowier winters. Most birds were seen in January and February, with the earliest autumn sighting on 6 September and the latest spring sighting on 2 May (Lukač et al. 2016a). These results suggest that in Hungary, sightings are reduced during the winter months because birds move to more southerly wintering grounds. A more interesting question is why the number of observations is much lower in spring compared to, for example, the autumn migration period. The winter mortality of birds may obviously contribute to this, but this alone does not explain the significant difference. It is likely that the spring migration of this species is also faster, they spend shorter periods of time at resting sites in Hungary, and thus the possibility of detection is lower (Bankovics 2016). It is typically seen solitary birds, observations of pairs or small flocks are very rare. The distribution of sightings within the country may be a better reflection of bird observation activities than the actual occurrence of the species. The species is found every year in its classic native habitats, such as the Bél-kő in Bélapátfalva, where it is targeted by observers. This study in Slovakia mentioned above has shown that the same individual can return to a wintering site for years (Václav 2016). By contrast, some of the urban data, for example, are not the result of systematic searches but are found random, so it is not clear whether they have not occurred more regularly in previous years. The fact that it occurs in some years in a certain area that is said to be a „classic” and not in others may be due to the fact that an individual that arrived there earlier died and another individual finds it years later. In the case of a Croatian study, it was also striking that there were significant inter-annual differences in the timing of arrival and departure of birds (Lukač et al. 2016a). This is due to the current weather conditions, which essentially determine the occurrence of the species in wintering areas. In the case of extreme late observations, bird injury cannot be excluded either.
The vast majority of observations in the lowlands were made during the autumn migration period, with far fewer sightings in spring and winter. This fits with the pattern observed in upland areas and indicates that it can occur anywhere during migration. However, it should be stressed that even in Austria, sightings in lowland areas were extremely rare (Samwald & Ringert 2015).
The number of published Alpine Accentor records is rather small, similar to that of the Wallcreeper, and does not reflect the current abundance of the species in Hungary. Chernel (1899) considered only the Carpathians as the area of occurrence. The first record of the species from Hungary dates from 1917. At that time, the classical sites of occurrence recorded since then were less frequented by birdwatchers, as the observation network was mainly concentrated in western Hungary and the Carpathians. The number of sightings started to increase only in the 1980’s. This is surprising, as it occurs in habitats similar to that of the Wallcreeper, and the species was already seen in high numbers at that time. The migration is most intense in the first half of November, but unlike the Wallcreeper, there is no significant drop in numbers in winter. This suggests that most of the Alpine Accentors that arrive in Hungary in autumn overwintering in the mountains of the country, and do not migrate further south. This is supported by the fact that it has been observed only a few times in Croatia, in contrast to the Wallcreeper (Lukač et al. 2016b), but it may also be confirmed by the fact that the species has been observed only once in the Great Plain. When migrating, it is typical that they do not cover distances longer than 10–20 km, but occasionally the distance covered can be 400–500 km (von Blotzheim & Bauer 2001, Danko et al. 2002). They leave their nesting sites only between the end of September and November (von Blotzheim & Bauer 2001, Danko et al. 2002), so it is not surprising that the first individuals appear later than the Wallcreeper in Hungary. Migration was also most intense in November in southern France. Here, the age- and sex-dependent migration of the species was studied in detail, and the results showed that the adult birds arrived at the wintering site earlier than the juveniles. In spring, males left the area earlier than females. The main conclusion of their study was that adults and males were less likely to leave their nesting sites for the winter (Henry 2011). Unfortunately, our data were not suitable for studiing age- and sex-dependent migration, but the pattern is likely to be similar in wintering populations in Hungary. It typically occurs solitarily or in small flocks, similar to populations wintering in southern France (Henry 2011). The distribution of observations within the country differs somewhat from that of the Wallcreeper. The role of the Bükk in the wintering of this species seems to be less significant, in contrast to the Transdanubian Mountains and the western parts of the Northern Mountains. For this reason, it cannot be ruled out that the greatest numbers of Alpine Accentors are mainly from the Alps and the Northern Carpathians. Significant populations nest mainly in the Northern and Eastern Carpathians and in the Alps. It is unlikely that the Eastern Carpathian population reaches the Hungarian mountains. The timing of autumn arrivals shows a very consistent pattern, with no significant variation in annual data, but the timing of spring departures may differ significantly. It does not occur in urban areas, which may be due to its more specific habitat requirements than the Wallcreeper (Knaus 2020).
It occurs in some wintering sites every year, which may indicate high wintering site fidelity, but this cannot be stated with certainty in the absence of capture-recapture data. In the case of extremely late observations, the possibility of injury to this species cannot be excluded.
The migratory propensity of the White-throated Dipper also varies between populations and between age and sex groups. The extent of movements varies considerably, averaging no more than a few kilometres, but individuals from some Scandinavian populations, for example, can migrate up to 1,000 km between nesting and wintering sites, flying across the Baltic Sea (Jost 1969, Andersson & Wester 1973, 1976, O'halloran et al. 2000, Sikora & Neubauer 2018). In Hungary, birds typically leave breeding sites only when streams dry up or freeze over, and displacement is only exceptionally large enough to cause the bird to migrate to another mountain area (Horváth 1985, Illés 2017). Birds also arrive in Hungary from the mountainous areas of the Carpathian Basin during winter, but the numbers of these migrants may not be significant, based on the low number of observations in recent years. However, there are relatively many occurrences of the species in lowland and hilly areas far (sometimes hundreds of kilo) from breeding sites. This is probably due to the freezing of mountain streams when the birds leave those areas.
In the case of the Grey Wagtail, the main spring migration period in lowland areas is mid-March, but migrants can occasionally be seen as late as early April. In the autumn, most individuals are seen in September and October, becoming less common from November onwards, after which time it is mainly the later overwinterers that are seen. Sightings in lowland areas are partly associated with rivers and lakes, but not necessarily, as indicated by the numerous sightings of Grey Wagtails in agricultural areas. In winter, however, it is strongly associated with waters, particularly preferring warm water channels, which are rich in food. There are observations from the breeding season as well as immediately after the breeding season. The former may refer to injured individuals, while the latter may be a consequence of some individuals leaving the nesting site immediately after breeding (Tyler 2020).
Observations from the late 19th and early 20th centuries suggest that the species migrated in lowland areas during a similar period than nowadays, and that overwintering individuals were regularly present at that time. Typically, solitary individuals or small groups were observed, but Fintha and Szabó (1994a) and Beretzk (1947a, 1947b) also report groups of several dozen or even several hundred individuals. Considering that there have been no similar examples in the last decades, it is possible that this could be a mis-identification. When migrating, it is often associated with other Wagtails, such as White Wagtails (Motacilla alba Linnaeus, 1758) (Fintha & Szabó 1994b).
In general, we do not have precise data on the origin of the birds. This is due to the low number of ringed and recaptured individuals. This is also true for the species that nest in Hungary and are therefore more frequently ringed. Based on ringing data from Hungary, the White-throated Dipper has only been recaptured in six cases in other mountain areas, at a maximum distance of 80 km, and only two known cases of foreign ringing close to our borders (Csörgő et al. 2009, MME 2023). The individuals of the Wallcreeper, the Alpine Accentor and the White-throated Dipper are most likely from the surrounding mountain areas. On the other hand, some recapture data for the Grey Wagtail from abroad suggest that individuals from beyond the Carpathian Basin may also be observed here during migration (MME 2023). In any case, further studies are needed to answer this question.
Acknowledgements
We are grateful to Ádám Selmeczi-Kovács for authorising the use of data uploaded to the www.birding.hu website.
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Appendices
Earliest autumn and latest spring observations of the Wallcreeper by county.
| Year | Baranya | Heves | Komárom-Esztergom | Veszprém | ||||
| first | last | first | last | last | last | first | last | |
| 2004 | — | – | – | – | 28 Oct | – | ||
| 2005 | 18 Nov | 01 Apr | – | – | 01 Dec | 30 Mar | ||
| 2006 | 27 Oct | 20 Jan | – | – | 28 Oct | 08 Apr | 28 Oct | 12 Feb |
| 2007 | 20 Oct | 18 Jan | 11 Nov | 15 Mar | 19 Nov | 09 Jan | 17 Oct | – |
| 2008 | 16 Oct | 22 Jan | 26 Oct | 18 Mar | 28 Nov | – | 13 Oct | 22 Mar |
| 2009 | 04 Nov | 13 Mar | 01 Nov | 16 Mar | 17 Dec | 14 Mar | 29 Oct | – |
| 2010 | 28 Oct | 01 Jan | 31 Oct | – | 06 Nov | – | 11 Oct | – |
| 2011 | – | 14 Mar | 01 Nov | 26 Feb | 27 Nov | – | 12 Oct | 10 Mar |
| 2012 | 09 Nov | 25 Jan | 30 Oct | 17 Mar | – | 03 Feb | 14 Oct | 10 Apr |
| 2013 | 11 Nov | 20 Mar | 13 Nov | 24 Feb | – | 12 Jan | 27 Oct | – |
| 2014 | – | 16 Feb | 14 Nov | – | – | – | 06 Oct | – |
| 2015 | 21 Oct | 28 Feb | 19 Nov | – | 15 Nov | – | 18 Oct | – |
| 2016 | 31 Oct | 07 Feb | 22 Nov | 16 Mar | – | 26 Mar | 17 Oct | – |
| 2017 | 27 Oct | 05 Feb | 25 Oct | 26 Feb | 17 Oct | – | 06 Oct | – |
| 2018 | 01 Dec | 02 Apr | 29 Dec | 07 Jan | 18 Nov | 07 Feb | 05 Oct | – |
| 2019 | 03 Nov | 30 Jan | 26 Oct | 26 Jan | 01 Nov | 20 Apr | 15 Oct | – |
| 2020 | 29 Dec | 01 Jan | 07 Nov | 14 Feb | – | – | 20 Oct | – |
| 2021 | 23 Oct | 30 Mar | 15 Oct | 24 Mar | 24 Oct | – | 20 Oct | – |
| 2022 | 15 Feb | 27 Nov | 31 Oct | 07 Mar | – | – | 22 Oct | – |
Earliest autumn and latest spring observations of the Alpine Accentors by county
| Year | Pest | Veszprém | Heves | Nógrád | ||||
| first | last | first | last | first | last | first | last | |
| 2004 | 04 Dec | – | 22 Nov | – | – | – | – | – |
| 2005 | – | 06 Mar | 02 Nov | 19 Feb | – | – | 13 Nov | – |
| 2006 | 09 Dec | 10 Mar | 15 Nov | – | – | – | 16 Nov | – |
| 2007 | – | – | 20 Oct | 26 Mar | 11 Nov | 17 Mar | 21Oct | 18 Mar |
| 2008 | 28 Oct | 26 Jan | 17 Oct | 28 Feb | 26 Oct | 27 Mar | 22 Dec | 26 Feb |
| 2009 | 25 Oct | 13 Mar | 27 Oct | 16 Feb | 24 Oct | 16 Mar | 31 Oct | 14 Mar |
| 2010 | 26 Nov | 31 Jan | 29 Oct | 25 Apr | 07 Nov | 03 Jan | 30 Oct | 21 Feb |
| 2011 | 19 Dec | 04 Mar | 22 Oct | 22 Apr | 15 Oct | 26 Feb | 20 Nov | 07 Mar |
| 2012 | 11 Nov | 26 Feb | 21 Oct | 09 Apr | 03 Nov | 13 Mar | 08 Nov | – |
| 2013 | 28 Nov | 02 Feb | 30 Oct | 03 Mar | – | – | 01 Nov | 08 Mar |
| 2014 | 28 Dec | 02 Feb | 25 Oct | 13 Mar | 14 Nov | 26 Feb | 29 Nov | – |
| 2015 | 27 Oct | 20 Feb | 20 Oct | 22 Feb | 30 Nov | 03 Mar | 21 Oct | 14 Feb |
| 2016 | 18 Oct | 13 Jan | 19 Oct | 08 Feb | 26 Nov | 02 Jan | 22 Oct | 13 Mar |
| 2017 | 10 Nov | 17 Feb | 17 Oct | 13 Apr | 03 Nov | 26 Feb | 30 Oct | 20 Mar |
| 2018 | 30 Dec | 04 Feb | 21 Oct | 10 Mar | 08 Nov | 14 Jan | 27 Oct | 31 Mar |
| 2019 | – | – | 27 Oct | 09 Feb | 01 Nov | 26 Jan | 01 Nov | 15 Apr |
| 2020 | – | – | 28 Oct | 06 Mar | 07 Nov | 22 Feb | 07 Nov | 07 Apr |
| 2021 | 27 Oct | 26 Apr | 20 Oct | 20 Jan | 15 Oct | 24 Mar | 15 Dec | 31 Mar |
| 2022 | – | 30 Mar | 30 Oct | 19 Mar | 04 Dec | 20 Feb | – | 13 Feb |
Observations of Grey Wagtail in the lowlands between 1894 and 1926
| Year | Location | Date | Source | Year | Location | Date | Source |
| 1899 | Békéscsaba | wintering | Schenk (1901) | 1910 | Kemecse | 21 Mar | Lambrecht (1911) |
| 1900 | Békéscsaba | wintering | Vezényi (1902) | 1911 | Kemecse | 14 Mar | Lambrecht (1912) |
| 1905 | Békéscsaba | wintering | Schenk (1906) | 1911 | Aga | 05 Apr | Lambrecht (1912) |
| 1905 | Iharosberény | wintering | Schenk (1906) | 1911 | Babapuszta | 24 Mar | Lambrecht (1912) |
| 1906 | Pécs | 15 Mar | Schenk (1907) | 1911 | Szabadszállás | 28 Mar | Lambrecht (1913) |
| 1906 | Tura | 09 Mar | Schenk (1907) | 1912 | Mezőtúr | 29 Mar | Lambrecht (1913) |
| 1906 | Békéscsaba | wintering | Schenk (1907) | 1912 | Kemecse | 19 Mar | Schenk (1914) |
| 1909 | Bácsordas | 13 Mar | Greschik (1910) | 1913 | Rezsőháza | wintering | Schenk (1919) |
| 1909 | Polgárdi | 07 Mar | Greschik (1910) | 1918 | Rezsőháza | 02 Mar | Schenk (1919) |
| 1909 | Mezőtúr | 14 Mar | Greschik (1910) | 1916 | Budapest | wintering | Warga (1922) |
| 1909 | Szerep | 16 Mar | Greschik (1910) | 1922 | Budapest | 01 Oct | Warga (1924) |
| 1909 | Tura | 22 Mar | Greschik (1910) | 1923 | Szeged | wintering | Warga (1926) |
| 1909 | Kisbag | 30 Mar | Greschik (1910) | 1924 | Szeged | 31 Dec | Warga (1926) |
| 1909 | Nyíregyháza | 04 Mar | Greschik (1910) | 1924 | Szeged | 9 Jan – 6 Feb | Warga (1926) |
| 1910 | Babapuszta | 18 Mar | Lambrecht (1911) | 1925 | Hete | 21 Mar | Warga (1926) |
| 1910 | Kecel | 16 Mar | Lambrecht (1911) | 1924 | Sashalom | 06 Apr | Warga (1926) |
| 1910 | Mezőtúr | 16 Mar | Lambrecht (1911) | ||||
| 1910 | Csonkaerdő | 05 Apr | Lambrecht (1911) |
Lowland Grey Wagtail data published since the 1940's
| Date | Location | No. of individuals | Notes | Source |
| Sep | Szeged, Fehér-tó | – | scarce in Sep. | Beretzk (1947a, 1947b) |
| Mar, Oct | Sándoros, Konyár-Sóstó | – | two observations | Győrösy and Zeke (1989) |
| – | Debrecen, Tócó | – | regularly wintering | Pásti (2013) |
| 22 Aug 1942 | Szarvas, Halásztelek | 2 | Réthy (1981) | |
| 26 Sep 1948 | Szeged, Fehér-tó | 80–100 | Beretzk (1947a, 1947b) | |
| 02 Sep 1949 | Hódmezővásárhely, Sasér | – | Sterbetz (1972) | |
| 10 Sep 1952 | Hódmezővásárhely, Sasér | – | Sterbetz (1972) | |
| 07 Sep 1953 | Hódmezővásárhely, Sasér | – | Sterbetz (1972) | |
| 01 Oct 1955 | Tornyosnémeti, Hernád | flock | Köves (1957) | |
| 4 Nov 1957 | Kardoskút | 1 | Sterbetz (1975) | |
| 20 Apr 1958 | Kardoskút | 3 | Sterbetz (1975) | |
| 29 Aug 1961 | Szamos | 30 | Fintha and Szabó (1994a) | |
| 08 Sep 1963 | Hódmezővásárhely, Sasér | – | Sterbetz (1972) | |
| 29 Jul 1964 | Szamos | 2 | Fintha and Szabó (1994a) | |
| 15 Aug 1964 | Szamos | 25 | Fintha and Szabó (1994a) | |
| 17 Aug 1964 | Szamos | 25 | Fintha and Szabó (1994a) | |
| 29 Sep 1969 | Kardoskút | 1 | Sterbetz (1975) | |
| 06 Dec 1969 | Debrecen | 1 | Fintha and Szabó (1994a) | |
| 06 Nov 1973 | Hortobágy | 1 | first record | Ecsedi (2004) |
| 02 Mar 1976 | Hortobágy | 1 | Ecsedi (2004) | |
| 20 Mar 1976 | Hortobágy | 1 | Ecsedi (2004) | |
| 28 Mar 1976 | Hortobágy | 1 | Ecsedi (2004) | |
| 16 Dec –9 Mar 1977–1978 | Újszeged, Tisza | 1 | regularly | Kasza (1981) |
| 6 Jan – 3 Mar 1979 | Újszeged, Tisza | 1 | regularly | Kasza (1981) |
| 15 Jan 1979 | Újszeged, Tisza | 3 | Kasza (1981) | |
| Nov 1979 | Újszeged, Tisza | 1 | Kasza (1981) | |
| Jan 1980 | Újszeged, Tisza | 1 | Kasza (1981) | |
| Nov 1980 | Újszeged, Tisza | 1 | Kasza (1981) | |
| Dec 1980 | Újszeged, Tisza | 1 | Kasza (1981) | |
| 14 Jan 1980 | Újszeged, Tisza | 2 | Kasza (1981) | |
| 8 Dec 1981 | Békéscsaba | 1 | Kesjár (1982) | |
| 14 Dec 1981 | Békéscsaba | 1 | Kesjár (1982) | |
| 15 Dec 1981 | Békéscsaba | 3 | Kesjár (1982) | |
| 15 Jan 1982 | Békéscsaba | 1 | Kesjár (1982) | |
| 21 Mar 1982 | Hortobágy | 1 | Ecsedi (2004) | |
| 18 Mar 1984 | Balmazújváros, Virágoskút fishpond | 2 | Sóvágó (1985) | |
| 30 Sep 1984 | Balmazújváros, Virágoskút fishpond | 1 | Sóvágó (1985) | |
| 06 Oct 1984 | Hajdúböszörmény | 1 | Sóvágó (1985) | |
| 18 Mar 1984 | Hortobágy | 1+2 | Ecsedi (2004) | |
| 30 Sep 1984 | Hortobágy | 1 | Ecsedi (2004) | |
| 5–12 Sep 1987 | Túr river | 1,000 | total number | Fintha and Szabó (1994a) |
| 15 Sep 1987 | Ököritófülpös | 8 | Fintha and Szabó (1994a) | |
| 19 Sep 1987 | Tarpa, Tisza | 14 | Fintha and Szabó (1994a) | |
| 20 Sep 1987 | Tyukod-Zsírostanya | 3+3 | Fintha and Szabó (1994a) | |
| 20 Sep 1987 | Fábiánháza-Előtelek | 4 | Fintha and Szabó (1994a) | |
| 01 Apr 1987 | Hortobágy | 1 | Ecsedi (2004) | |
| 04 Apr 1987 | Hortobágy | 1 | Ecsedi (2004) | |
| 10 Oct 1987 | Hortobágy | 1+1 | Ecsedi (2004) | |
| 26 Sep 1988 | Túrricse-Tisztaberek, Túr river | 250 | total number | Fintha and Szabó (1994a) |
| 28 Jun 1989 | Fülesd | family | Fintha and Szabó (1994a) | |
| 10 Sep 1989 | Méhtelek, Sár-Éger-csatorna | 400 | flocks of 20, 30, 40–50 individuals | Fintha and Szabó (1994a) |
| 13 Sep 1992 | Debrecen | 3 | Fintha and Szabó (1994a) | |
| 22 Sep 1992 | Tiszabecs | 300 | total number | Fintha and Szabó (1994a) |
| 23–27 Sep 1992 | Tiszabecs | 30-50 daily | Fintha and Szabó (1994a) | |
| 23 Jun 1993 | Tiszabecs | 3 | Fintha and Szabó (1994a) | |
| 11 Sep 1993 | Tiszabecs | 2 | Fintha and Szabó (1994a) | |
| 23 Sep 1993 | Debrecen | 2 | Fintha and Szabó (1994a) | |
| 23 Sep 1993 | Debrecen | 2 | with migratory White Wagtails | Fintha and Szabó (1994b) |
| 13 Nov 1996 | Balmazújváros, Nagy-szik | 2 | Hadarics (1997) | |
| 18 Sep 1997 | Debrecen | 1 | Pásti (1999) | |
| 29 Sep 1997 | Debrecen | 2 | Pásti (1999) | |
| Jan – Feb 1998 | Debrecen | 1 | Pásti (1999) | |
| 24 Feb 1998 | Debrecen, szeméttelep | 1 | Hadarics (1998b) | |
| 14 Mar 1998 | Hortobágy, Fényes fishpond | 1 | Hadarics (1998b) | |
| 15 Mar 1998 | Basaharc, Danube | 1 | Hadarics (1998b) | |
| 30 Mar 1998 | Kisköre fishponds | 1 | Hadarics (1998b) | |
| 02 Apr 1998 | Biharugra fishponds | 1 | Hadarics (1998b) | |
| 11 Sep 1999 | Debrecen, Tócó | 1 | Pásti (1999) | |
| Oct 1999 | Maros | 3 | regular on the Maros | Paulovics (2001) |
| winter 2003 | Hódmezővásárhely, wastewater treatment | 1 | wintering | Kotymán (2003) |
| 21 Oct 2003 | Zsadány | 1 | Tőgye (2003) | |
| 12 Dec 2003 | Begécs fishponds | 1 | Tőgye (2003) | |
| 28 Dec 2003 | Biharugra, Fancsika | 1 | Tőgye (2003) | |
| 01 Oct 2004 | Csanádi-pusta | 1 | Mészáros (2004) | |
| 09 Oct 2004 | Csanádi-pusta | 1 | Mészáros (2004) |
Grey Wagtail observations from Kevermes
| Date | Location | No. of individuals |
| mid-Mar 2008 | Cigányka-ér | 1 |
| 24 Sep 2012 | Sóderbánya | 1 |
| 13 Sep 2014 | Sóderbánya | 1 |
| 20 Sep 2014 | Sóderbánya | 1 |
| 06 Oct 2015 | Sóderbánya | 1 |
| 07 Oct 2015 | Sóderbánya | 1 |
| 22 Oct 2015 | Sóderbánya | 1 |
| 18 Sep 2018 | Sóderbánya | 1 |
| 01 Oct 2018 | village | 1 |
| 13 Oct 2019 | village | 1 |
| 31 Jan 2020 | village | 1 |
| 27 Mar 2020 | Sóderbánya | 1 |
| 30 Mar 2020 | Sóderbánya | 1 |
| 06 Oct 2020 | fácántelep | 1 |
| 01 Oct 2022 | Sóderbánya | 1 |
| 18 Oct 2022 | fácántelep | 1 |
