Data Zone
Justification of Red List category
This species has an extremely large range, and hence does not approach the thresholds for Vulnerable under the range size criterion (Extent of Occurrence <20,000 km2 combined with a declining or fluctuating range size, habitat extent/quality, or population size and a small number of locations or severe fragmentation). Despite the fact that the population trend appears to be decreasing, the decline is not believed to be sufficiently rapid to approach the thresholds for Vulnerable under the population trend criterion (>30% decline over ten years or three generations). The population size has not been quantified, but it is not believed to approach the thresholds for Vulnerable under the population size criterion (<10,000 mature individuals with a continuing decline estimated to be >10% in ten years or three generations, or with a specified population structure). For these reasons the species is evaluated as Least Concern.
Population justification
Previously suspected to number 1,000-10,000 individuals (Ferguson-Lees and Christie 2001) however there are few data to support this and this species has a very large range. Generating a population estimate should be considered a priority.
Trend justification
The population is suspected to be declining due to habitat loss and degradation. The population may also be declining locally owing to the poisoning of carcasses and egg collecting (Ferguson-Lees and Christie 2001) but elsewhere may benefit from introduced rabbits and abundance of stock carrion (Debus et al. 2020).
Endemic to Australia, where it widespread but absent/rare from the south and east (Debus et al. 2020).
Inhabits arid to semi-arid woodlands, savannas, grassy plains and deserts of tropical northern and arid central Australia, to 1,000 m (Ferguson-Lees and Christie 2001). Shuns continuous forest and nests in open sclerophyll and eucalyptus woodlands.
The species has declined at least locally because of forest clearance, forest fires and the poisoning of carcasses which it scavenges.
Text account compilers
Butchart, S., Harding, M., Ekstrom, J., Berryman, A.
Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Species factsheet: Black-breasted Buzzard Hamirostra melanosternon. Downloaded from
https://datazone.birdlife.org/species/factsheet/black-breasted-buzzard-hamirostra-melanosternon on 18/12/2024.
Recommended citation for factsheets for more than one species: BirdLife International (2024) IUCN Red List for birds. Downloaded from
https://datazone.birdlife.org/species/search on 18/12/2024.