A recent study has suggested that many of Africa's bird of prey species may be highly threatened. These birds face a variety of threats, including reductions in habitat, food and breeding sites, deliberate poisoning by ivory poachers and farmers, accidental poisoning, collision with electrical cables and wind turbines and ritual killings.
Of the 42 species analysed in the study, 90% have shown declines and more than two-thirds of them may be globally threatened.
The study birds, and their suggested statuses, are as follows (they are listed by population change %, with the worst-performing species higher on the list):
Critically Endangered
Ruppell's vulture
African hawk-eagle
Steppe eagle
Lappet-faced vulture
White-headed vulture
Martial eagle
Bateleur
White-backed vulture
Secretary bird
Beaudouin's snake-eagle
Endangered
Long-crested eagle (right on the Critically Endangered boundary)
Augur buzzard
Wahlberg's eagle
Common kestrel
Hooded vulture *
Tawny eagle
Lesser kestrel
Black kite
African harrier-hawk
Brown snake-eagle
Dickinson's kestrel
Montagu's harrier (right on the Vulnerable boundary)
* While this study found the decline rate of the hooded vulture was lower than previously feared, because the generation length estimate was substantially shortened, the authors believe the species would still be Critically Endangered because of a surge in demand for vulture parts in West Africa.
Vulnerable
Scissor-tailed kite
Shikra
Dark chanting-goshawk
Fox kestrel
Black-winged kite
Grasshopper buzzard (right on the lower risk boundary)
Eurasian buzzard (right on the lower risk boundary)
Lower risk, but declining
Red-necked falcon
Short-toed snake-eagle
Grey kestrel
Gabar goshawk
Lizard buzzard
Lanner falcon
Greater kestrel
Western marsh harrier
Increasing
Booted eagle (very slight increase)
Black-chested snake-eagle
Pale chanting-goshawk
African pygmy-falcon
Eastern chanting-goshawk (an increase of over 100%)
An article about the study can be seen here:
African birds of prey face massive declines - BirdGuides
The full scientific paper can be viewed here:
African savanna raptors show evidence of widespread population collapse and a growing dependence on protected areas | Nature Ecology & Evolution
Of the 42 species analysed in the study, 90% have shown declines and more than two-thirds of them may be globally threatened.
The study birds, and their suggested statuses, are as follows (they are listed by population change %, with the worst-performing species higher on the list):
Critically Endangered
Ruppell's vulture
African hawk-eagle
Steppe eagle
Lappet-faced vulture
White-headed vulture
Martial eagle
Bateleur
White-backed vulture
Secretary bird
Beaudouin's snake-eagle
Endangered
Long-crested eagle (right on the Critically Endangered boundary)
Augur buzzard
Wahlberg's eagle
Common kestrel
Hooded vulture *
Tawny eagle
Lesser kestrel
Black kite
African harrier-hawk
Brown snake-eagle
Dickinson's kestrel
Montagu's harrier (right on the Vulnerable boundary)
* While this study found the decline rate of the hooded vulture was lower than previously feared, because the generation length estimate was substantially shortened, the authors believe the species would still be Critically Endangered because of a surge in demand for vulture parts in West Africa.
Vulnerable
Scissor-tailed kite
Shikra
Dark chanting-goshawk
Fox kestrel
Black-winged kite
Grasshopper buzzard (right on the lower risk boundary)
Eurasian buzzard (right on the lower risk boundary)
Lower risk, but declining
Red-necked falcon
Short-toed snake-eagle
Grey kestrel
Gabar goshawk
Lizard buzzard
Lanner falcon
Greater kestrel
Western marsh harrier
Increasing
Booted eagle (very slight increase)
Black-chested snake-eagle
Pale chanting-goshawk
African pygmy-falcon
Eastern chanting-goshawk (an increase of over 100%)
An article about the study can be seen here:
African birds of prey face massive declines - BirdGuides
The full scientific paper can be viewed here:
African savanna raptors show evidence of widespread population collapse and a growing dependence on protected areas | Nature Ecology & Evolution
