• migratory phenology
• migration
• GPS tracking
• Burhinus oedicnemus

Bird migration shows a great variability between species, populations and individuals, with multiple factors affecting its mechanisms. Routes and timings are endogenously regulated; however, birds should also consider environmental cues to cope with the interannual climatic variability. Migratory tendency varies both between populations occupying different geographical ranges and within the same population (i.e. partial migration). Furthermore, it is known the climatic influence on migratory phenologies, especially among short-distance migrants. We aimed to describe the migratory behavior of the partial migrant Eurasian stone-curlew Burhinus oedicnemus, by investigating different populations breeding in continental and Mediterranean Italy. GSM/GPS data were used to analyse the migratory tendency and to compare the time of departure, migratory speed and length among areas and seasons. Moreover, the possible role of exogenous factors on autumn departure time was investigated. Stone-curlews traveled short distance in a few days. Routes, wintering sites and autumn departures showed a large inter-individual variability. Departure probability appeared to increase with conditions hindering both foraging on soil invertebrates and a cheap bird thermoregulation (low temperature), and was probably influenced by those favoring weather (high atmospheric pressure). This study provides new data regarding the stone-curlew migratory strategies and could be useful for predicting how the species will react to the ongoing climate change.