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.
Critically Endangered | Endangered | Vulnerable |
---|---|---|
- | C2a(ii) | A2b+4b; C1+2a(i,ii); D1 |
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 |
Migratory status | full migrant | Forest dependency | does not normally occur in forest |
Land-mass type |
continent |
Average mass | - |
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 | - |
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 | 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 |
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 |
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 |
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 | ||||||
|
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Agriculture & aquaculture | Livestock farming & ranching - Small-holder grazing, ranching or farming | Timing | Scope | Severity | Impact | ||||
Ongoing | Minority (<50%) | Unknown | Unknown | ||||||
|
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Climate change & severe weather | Habitat shifting & alteration | Timing | Scope | Severity | Impact | ||||
Future | Minority (<50%) | Slow, Significant Declines | Low Impact: 3 | ||||||
|
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Energy production & mining | Renewable energy | Timing | Scope | Severity | Impact | ||||
Ongoing | Majority (50-90%) | Rapid Declines | Medium Impact: 7 | ||||||
|
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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 | ||||||
|
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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 | ||||||
|
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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 | ||||||
|
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Natural system modifications | Fire & fire suppression - Trend Unknown/Unrecorded | Timing | Scope | Severity | Impact | ||||
Ongoing | Minority (<50%) | Slow, Significant Declines | Low Impact: 5 | ||||||
|
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Pollution | Agricultural & forestry effluents - Herbicides and pesticides | Timing | Scope | Severity | Impact | ||||
Ongoing | Minority (<50%) | Slow, Significant Declines | Low Impact: 5 | ||||||
|
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Residential & commercial development | Housing & urban areas | Timing | Scope | Severity | Impact | ||||
Ongoing | Minority (<50%) | Slow, Significant Declines | Low Impact: 5 | ||||||
|
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Transportation & service corridors | Roads & railroads | Timing | Scope | Severity | Impact | ||||
Ongoing | Minority (<50%) | Negligible declines | Low Impact: 4 | ||||||
|
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.