New perspectives on waterbird migratory corridors in the Central Asian Flyway, with a focus on the role of the Himalayas and the Tibet Plateau in shaping connectivity
Year: 2026
Type: article
Abstract: The Central Asian Flyway (CAF) is uniquely shaped by the Himalaya–Qinghai–Tibet Plateau complex—a major geographic feature that influences migratory route selection of waterbirds travelling between breeding grounds in northern Eurasia and Central Asia, and the Indian subcontinent, the primary non-breeding region of the CAF. Using published and unpublished telemetry data, we compiled and digitized unique migratory trajectories and applied line-density analyses standardized across species to identify recurrent migratory pathways and areas of convergence. We identified three broad migratory corridors: (i) the Western Asian Lowland Corridor (25°–40° N, 60°–72° E), which bypasses the Central Asian mountains to the west; (ii) the Pamir–Karakoram Corridor (32°–39° N, 74°–78° E), centred on the Upper Indus–eastern Hindu Kush–Pamir–Karakoram convergence zone; and (iii) the Eastern Himalayan Corridor (26°–37° N, 87°–100° E), encompassing routes through the Sikkim–Bhutan region of the Himalayas, the Brahmaputra Valley, and pathways circumventing the eastern Himalayas. In addition, emerging evidence highlights migration routes that do not conform to these generalized corridors, including direct high-altitude crossings of the Central Himalayan Region (27°–32° N, 78°–87°E), particularly among species such as Demoiselle Crane ( Grus virgo ), Brown-headed Gull ( Chroicocephalus brunnicephalus ), and Black-tailed Godwit ( Limosa limosa ). We interpret these corridors as generalized and flexible rather than fixed biological boundaries, with species and populations utilizing multiple corridors depending on geography, season, and migration strategy. Overall, this synthesis consolidates fragmented knowledge on waterbird migration within the CAF, identifies key data gaps, and provides a foundation for future research and improved conservation planning in a flyway where 51% of waterbird populations are declining.
Source: Avian Research
Language: English
Topic: Avian ecology and behavior
Subfield: Ecology
Field: Environmental Science
Domain: Physical Sciences
Open Access status: diamond
OpenAlex ID: W7222347869