Grassland birds in Asia: A review of their ecology, threats, and conservation

Asian grasslands, including the vast Palearctic steppes and alpine meadows of the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau (QTP), form a vital part of the global temperate grassland biome. These open landscapes support unique bird communities with many species specially adapted to harsh conditions. However, historical and ongoing land-use changes, climate shifts, and direct human activities threaten these birds, causing widespread population declines and biodiversity loss. This review synthesizes findings from 120 studies published over the past three decades, focusing on research published since 2010. It examines (1) spatial distribution, migration strategies, and evolutionary adaptations; (2) impacts of land-use practices (such as agricultural abandonment, intensification, and grazing) and climate change on populations, communities, and physiology; (3) the ecology, behavior, and conservation status of major groups including larks, raptors and bustards; (4) key threats like habitat loss, fragmentation, electrocution, hunting, and biotic homogenization; and (5) evidence-based conservation strategies, including sustainable land management, threat mitigation, and research priorities. We highlight the need for integrated, cross-scale, and multidisciplinary approaches to reconcile socio-economic development with biodiversity conservation, and to secure the long-term persistence of steppe bird assemblages under rapid environmental change.