EN
Black Harrier Circus maurus



Taxonomy

Taxonomic source(s)
del Hoyo, J., Collar, N.J., Christie, D.A., Elliott, A. and Fishpool, L.D.C. 2014. HBW and BirdLife International Illustrated Checklist of the Birds of the World. Volume 1: Non-passerines. Lynx Edicions BirdLife International, Barcelona, Spain and Cambridge, UK.

IUCN Red List criteria met and history
Red List criteria met
Critically Endangered Endangered Vulnerable
- C2a(ii) A2b+4b; C1+2a(i,ii); D1

Red List history
Year Category Criteria
2021 Endangered C2a(ii)
2017 Endangered C2a(ii)
2016 Vulnerable D1
2012 Vulnerable D1
2008 Vulnerable D1
2004 Vulnerable
2000 Vulnerable
1994 Lower Risk/Near Threatened
1988 Near Threatened
Species attributes

Migratory status full migrant Forest dependency does not normally occur in forest
Land-mass type continent
Average mass -
Range

Estimate Data quality
Extent of Occurrence (breeding/resident) 1,340,000 km2 medium
Extent of Occurrence (non-breeding) 1,860,000 km2 medium
Severely fragmented? no -
Population
Estimate Data quality Derivation Year of estimate
Population size 251-999 mature individuals medium estimated 2015
Population trend decreasing medium estimated 2005-2023
Rate of change over the past 10 years/3 generations (longer of the two periods) 30-49% - - -
Rate of change over the past & future 10 years/3 generations (longer of the two periods) 30-49% - - -
Generation length 5.86 years - - -
Number of subpopulations 2 - - -
Percentage of mature individuals in largest subpopulation 95-99% - - -

Population justification: The total population is estimated at <1,000 individuals in South Africa, Lesotho and Eswatini (Taylor 2015) with only c.10 mature individuals outside this region (Taylor 2015; <50 individuals of all ages in Namibia [Simmons 2015]). This would equate to approximately 670 mature individuals, placed here in the range 251-999 mature individuals. Based on its distribution, it is thought to form 2 subpopulations, with the largest subpopulation holding the majority of individuals.

Trend justification: The population is thought to have undergone a major decline of 85% in the past 100 years (17% in 20 years) due to the loss of parts of its habitat (in its core habitat it is believed to have declined by as much as 50%) (Taylor 2015). Analysis by Cervantes Peralta et al. (in prep 2020) suggests that population trajectories are dependent on adult survival, which is estimated to be 0.69. The analysis also estimates that populations are declining at a rate of just over 2% per annum, equating to a three-generation decline rate of c.30%. The overall rate of decline has therefore been placed here in the 30-49% band. Based on the population trajectory, it is thought that this rate will continue into the future.


Country/territory distribution
Country/Territory Presence Origin Resident Breeding visitor Non-breeding visitor Passage migrant
Botswana extant vagrant
Eswatini extant vagrant yes
Lesotho extant native yes
Namibia extant native yes
South Africa extant native yes

Important Bird and Biodiversity Areas (IBA)
Country/Territory IBA Name
Lesotho Mafika - Lisiu
Lesotho Sehonghong and Matebeng
South Africa Amatola - Katberg Mountain
South Africa Bitterputs Conservation Area
South Africa Boland Mountains
South Africa De Hoop Nature Reserve
South Africa Golden Gate Highlands National Park
South Africa Grasslands
South Africa Greater Ingwangwana River
South Africa Haramoep and Black Mountain Mine
South Africa Kouga - Baviaanskloof Complex
South Africa Langeberg Mountains
South Africa Maloti Drakensberg Park
South Africa Matatiele Nature Reserve
South Africa Mattheus-Gat Conservation Area
South Africa Overberg Wheatbelt
South Africa Rooiberge-Riemland
South Africa Tsitsikamma - Plettenberg Bay
South Africa Umtamvuna Nature Reserve
South Africa Umvoti Vlei
South Africa West Coast National Park and Saldanha Bay islands
South Africa Woody Cape Section: Addo Elephant National Park

Habitats & altitude
Habitat (level 1) Habitat (level 2) Importance Occurrence
Artificial/Terrestrial Arable Land suitable non-breeding
Artificial/Terrestrial Arable Land suitable breeding
Grassland Subtropical/Tropical Dry suitable non-breeding
Grassland Subtropical/Tropical Dry suitable breeding
Grassland Temperate suitable non-breeding
Grassland Temperate suitable breeding
Shrubland Subtropical/Tropical Dry suitable non-breeding
Shrubland Subtropical/Tropical Dry suitable breeding
Shrubland Temperate suitable non-breeding
Shrubland Temperate suitable breeding
Wetlands (inland) Permanent Freshwater Lakes (over 8ha) marginal resident
Wetlands (inland) Permanent Freshwater Marshes/Pools (under 8ha) marginal resident
Altitude 0 - 3000 m Occasional altitudinal limits  

Threats & impact
Threat (level 1) Threat (level 2) Impact and Stresses
Agriculture & aquaculture Annual & perennial non-timber crops - Agro-industry farming Timing Scope Severity Impact
Ongoing Majority (50-90%) Slow, Significant Declines Medium Impact: 6
Stresses
Ecosystem degradation, Ecosystem conversion
Agriculture & aquaculture Livestock farming & ranching - Small-holder grazing, ranching or farming Timing Scope Severity Impact
Ongoing Minority (<50%) Unknown Unknown
Stresses
Ecosystem degradation
Climate change & severe weather Habitat shifting & alteration Timing Scope Severity Impact
Future Minority (<50%) Slow, Significant Declines Low Impact: 3
Stresses
Ecosystem degradation
Energy production & mining Renewable energy Timing Scope Severity Impact
Ongoing Majority (50-90%) Rapid Declines Medium Impact: 7
Stresses
Species mortality
Invasive and other problematic species, genes & diseases Invasive non-native/alien species/diseases - Unspecified species Timing Scope Severity Impact
Ongoing Minority (<50%) Negligible declines Low Impact: 4
Stresses
Ecosystem degradation, Ecosystem conversion
Invasive and other problematic species, genes & diseases Problematic native species/diseases - Unspecified species Timing Scope Severity Impact
Ongoing Minority (<50%) Negligible declines Low Impact: 4
Stresses
Reduced reproductive success, Species mortality
Natural system modifications Dams & water management/use - Abstraction of ground water (unknown use) Timing Scope Severity Impact
Ongoing Minority (<50%) Slow, Significant Declines Low Impact: 5
Stresses
Ecosystem degradation, Ecosystem conversion
Natural system modifications Fire & fire suppression - Trend Unknown/Unrecorded Timing Scope Severity Impact
Ongoing Minority (<50%) Slow, Significant Declines Low Impact: 5
Stresses
Ecosystem degradation
Pollution Agricultural & forestry effluents - Herbicides and pesticides Timing Scope Severity Impact
Ongoing Minority (<50%) Slow, Significant Declines Low Impact: 5
Stresses
Reduced reproductive success, Species mortality
Residential & commercial development Housing & urban areas Timing Scope Severity Impact
Ongoing Minority (<50%) Slow, Significant Declines Low Impact: 5
Stresses
Ecosystem degradation, Ecosystem conversion
Transportation & service corridors Roads & railroads Timing Scope Severity Impact
Ongoing Minority (<50%) Negligible declines Low Impact: 4
Stresses
Species mortality

Utilisation
Purpose Scale
Pets/display animals, horticulture international

Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Species factsheet: Black Harrier Circus maurus. Downloaded from https://datazone.birdlife.org/species/factsheet/black-harrier-circus-maurus on 23/12/2024.
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 23/12/2024.