Short‐distance migration of W rynecks J ynx torquilla from C entral E uropean populations

European Wrynecks Jynx torquilla torquilla have generally been considered to be long‐distance P alaearctic–African migrants that spend the non‐breeding season in S ahelian A frica, where they have been reported regularly. Results from tracking individual birds showed that Wrynecks from two C entral E uropean populations migrated only relatively short distances to the I berian P eninsula and northwestern Africa ( c . 1500 km and 3000 km, respectively), compared with a minimum distance of about 4500 km to S ahelian A frica. Additionally, differences in wing lengths of populations from C entral and N orthern Europe support the idea of leap‐frog migration, populations from N orthern Europe being long‐distance migrants with a non‐breeding distribution in S ahelian A frica.