Woodland Birds from Neolithic Settlements in Bulgaria

In this study, a first attempt was made to present a general composition of birds (with an emphasis on forest birds) found in Neolithic settlements in Bulgaria. Based on data from 29 settlements, 82 bird taxa have been identified. Of these, 72 species have been identified to the species level. They constitute 17.3% (almost one-sixth) of the 417 recorded bird species in the country. About one-third (23 species) are inhabitants of forest ecosystems. Two species (2.7%) no longer nest in Bulgaria (Lyrurus tetrix and Phasianus colchicus), and another rare winter migrant (Buteo lagopus) has been found in two Neolithic settlements in Southern Bulgaria. Today, the two locations of Tetrao urogallus are far outside the limits of the species’ current shortened range. A very high number of the uncovered Neolithic birds (33 species, 45.8%) are included in the national Red Data Book of Bulgaria. Summer migrants significantly outnumber winter migrants.