Migratory Strategies of Eurasian Sparrowhawk, Northern Goshawk, and Shikra Ringed in Kazakhstan

Kazakhstan is a major migration corridor for raptors in Central Asia, yet the migratory connectivity of these species remains poorly documented. We analysed 60 years of ringing data (1966–2025) for three species: Eurasian Sparrowhawk (Accipiter nisus), Northern Goshawk (Astur gentilis), and Shikra (Tachyspiza badia). In total, 5785 individuals were ringed, and 38 recoveries of Kazakhstan-ringed birds were obtained (0.66%). Because recoveries for Goshawk (n = 2) and Shikra (n = 1) are extremely limited, quantitative analyses were restricted to Sparrowhawk recoveries (n = 35), while the other two species are reported descriptively as case records. For Sparrowhawks, migration distances reached 1947 km (mean = 975 km) and did not differ detectably among age classes. Most ringing effort occurred at Shakpak Pass (94.7%), and recoveries indicate connectivity between Kazakhstan, Western Siberia and wintering areas in Central Asia and northern India. Among recovered dead birds (n = 25), shooting (n = 10) and powerline electrocution or collision (n = 3) were frequently reported causes. These long-term ring recoveries provide baseline information on movement connectivity and threats for Central Asian accipiters and highlight the value of sustained monitoring at migration bottlenecks.