The majority are killed in Egypt (5.7 million), followed by Italy (5.6 million), Syria (3.9 million), Lebanon (2.6 million) and Cyprus (2.3 million). About 700,000 are illegally killed in Greece and 500,000 in France, Croatia and Libya each.
BirdLife International says the methods used to kill birds "include illegal shooting, capture in nets and recordings of bird sounds used to lure them to illegal trapping locations. Many of the cruel methods used, such as lime sticks that glue the birds to branches, cause considerable suffering before resulting in the bird's death."
Figures suggest Eurasian Chaffinch comes top of the 'kill list' (an estimated 2.9 million are killed each year), with Eurasian Blackcap (1.8 million), Common Quail (1.6 million) and Song Thrush (1.2 million) making up the rest of the top four.
The Common Coot "is reported to be highly impacted by illegal killing in Croatia... One of the major issues to tackle is the use of illegal methods during open season. For example, Common Quail... and waterfowl are illegally killed using tape lures."
BirdLife International CEO Patricia Zurita said: "This review shows the gruesome extent to which birds are being killed illegally in the Mediterranean." She called for better protection regulations and a better application of European legislation.