The origins of European Swallows wintering in Namibia and Botswana

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Abstract
There are now 19 recoveries of swallows ringed in Europe and recovered in Namibia/ Botswana or vice versa. Most of the birds wintering in Namibia/ Botswana are of west‐and central European origin, while 21% originated from eastern Europe. If there is a west‐ east‐ distribution in Namibia/ Botswana analogous to their origins in Europe, it cannot be clearly diagnosed. Five January recoveries support the theory that there is a resident wintering population in Namibia. As the recovery rates in Europe of birds ringed in Africa are considerably higher than vice versa, gaps in our knowledge could be closed by intensive ringing in Africa.