Portugal’s critically endangered rolieiro bird rebounds in numbers but loses two‑thirds of breeding area

A long‑term study by the Faculty of Sciences at the University of Lisbon shows that Portugal’s rolieiro (Coracias garrulus) population has increased by about 26% since 2009, rising to an estimated 72‑82 breeding pairs. Despite the numerical gain, the species has lost roughly 67% of its historic breeding territory, with 96% of all pairs now concentrated in the Special Protection Area of Castro Verde in the Alentejo region.

The research, published in the journal Ardeola, compiled more than 20 years of monitoring, including around 650 nesting attempts and ring‑recapture data from over 1,500 individuals. Conservation measures such as the installation of artificial nests—used by about 81% of couples—have been identified as key drivers of the population recovery, though the extreme concentration of the birds in a single area raises concerns about long‑term vulnerability.

Scientists stress that ongoing, consistent protection efforts are essential to prevent further decline and to safeguard the rolieiro, which remains classified as Critically Endangered in Portugal.