"Roast"

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Cocofrastis is an ostrich bird of the Spizid family, which also occurs in the Greek area. The scientific name of the species is Coccothroustes coccothroustes and includes 6 subspecies.

In Greece it responds mainly to the subspecies Coccothroustes coccothroustes coccothroustes (Linnaeus, 1758), but there is hybridism with Coccothroustes coccothroustes nigricans (Buturlin, 1908).

The granulator is the most impressive and massive of the ostruthiomorphs that, in Greece, are called by the generic name of cises.

Nomenclature
The scientific name of the genus and species Coccothroustes has a Greek root and means "the one that breaks grain (seeds)", referring to the bird's diet.

Systematic taxonomics
The species was first described, in 1758, by Linnaeus in South Europe (probably in Italy) as Loxia coccothroustes. Bird-related fossils have been found in Bulgaria, since the Late Pleistocene and have been listed as Coccothrauses balcanicus and Coccothraustes simeonovi. The genus appears to be closely associated with the genera Eophona and Mycerobas.

Geographical breakdown

The granulator is a species of the Old World, with most populations living permanently and/or breeding in Eurasia and some small parts in the northwest. Africa. However, it is a common species only locally (localy common), meaning it is quite difficult to observe. Its expansion in Europe includes the entire central and southern part of the continent, while to the north it does not respond from the north/north-central United Kingdom and further north, as well as most of Scandinavia and North Russia.

In Asia its spread reaches the Far East, including North Japan, but the spread zone is quite narrow, limited within Siberia, along its longest length. At the eastern end of this zone, the southern limits may reach the Korean Peninsula (main wintering area of eastern populations), while there are scattered enclaves in the Caucasus, North Iran, Afghanistan and South China.

In Africa, finally, the species is restricted to the northwestern part of the continent (Morocco, Tunisia and Algeria).

The main winter areas are located in the south of the breeding areas, depending on the longitude concerned. In Europe, many populations winter in the Iberian Peninsula and, more eastward, Asia Minor.

Source:
(in bold letters the subspecies found in Greece)

Immigrant behaviour
As shown in the subspecies distribution table, the granulator in C. Europe is a living bird, while northern and eastern European populations are partially migratory, moving southward. Migration takes place in swarms, starts gradually from July and peaks in September, while the journey takes place both during the day and at dusk. Return to breeding grounds shall take place per child