European regional assessment: Vulnerable (VU⁰)
EU28 regional assessment: Not Applicable (NA)

In Europe, this species' range is not known, and therefore the range size criteria (criteria B and D2) cannot be applied. The population trend is not known, and the population size reduction criterion (criterion A) cannot be applied. The probability of extinction has not been calculated for this species, therefore criterion E cannot be applied. The population size is very small, and meets the thresholds for Endangered (EN) under the population size criterion D and is therefore assessed as such in Europe. As the species is migratory, and there is a larger neighbouring population, there is considered to be a significant potential for rescue from outside the region, and therefore the final category has been downlisted one step to Vulnerable (VU⁰). 

This species does not occur in the EU28 and is therefore considered Not Applicable (NA) in the region.

The species has a predominantly North African and Central Asian breeding distribution, which just extends into Europe in Russia, where the entirety of the European population is found. The population is small and is situated around the Caspian Sea (Aymí and Gargallo 2016).

The European breeding population is estimated at 40–70 pairs, which equates to 80–140 mature individuals. The species does not occur in the EU28. For details of national estimates, see the Supplementary Information.

This species inhabits steppe-desert and semi-desert areas covered with Artemisia, low scrub and grasses and is usually found in sandy terrain but less frequently on stony soils.

Egg-laying occurs in the nominate race from late April and clutches are usually four to six eggs (Aymí and Gargallo 2016). The nest is a strong, thick-walled cup made of twigs, grass stems, leaves, plant down and cobwebs, lined with finer grasses and fibres and usually down. It is built in low scrub up to 110 cm above the ground (Snow and Perrins 1998).

The diet is thought to be mostly small insects, with some seeds and berries taken as well.

In Europe the species is a long distance migrant (Aymí and Gargallo 2016).

Although the generation length for both EU and Europe regional assessments were calculated using the same methodology, new information arriving after the EU assessments were undertaken gave rise to an update in the generation lengths. This new information was then used for the Europe level assessments giving rise to a difference between the generation lengths used for the EU and Europe regions.

The species is affected by habitat loss driven by overgrazing and agricultural intensification (Hagemeijer and Blair 1997).

Conservation Actions Underway
CMS Appendix II. Bern Convention Appendix II. There are currently no known conservation measures for this species.

Conservation Actions Proposed
The restoration of suitable habitat is needed for this species. Traditional low-intensity farming and grazing methods should be restored and promoted.