LC
Karoo Bustard Heterotetrax vigorsii



Taxonomy

Taxonomic note
Heterotetrax vigorsii (del Hoyo and Collar 2014) was previously placed in the genus Eupodotis.

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
- - -

Red List history
Year Category Criteria
2024 Least Concern
2016 Least Concern
2012 Least Concern
2009 Least Concern
2008 Least Concern
2004 Least Concern
2000 Lower Risk/Least Concern
1994 Lower Risk/Least Concern
1988 Lower Risk/Least Concern
Species attributes

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

Estimate Data quality
Extent of Occurrence (breeding/resident) 862,000 km2 medium
Severely fragmented? no -
Population
Estimate Data quality Derivation Year of estimate
Population size unknown - - -
Population trend increasing - suspected -
Generation length 8.66 years - - -

Population justification: The global population size has not been quantified, but the species is reported to be generally common (del Hoyo et al. 1996). The population is suspected to be increasing as ongoing habitat degradation is creating new areas of suitable habitat (del Hoyo et al. 1996).

Trend justification: The population is suspected to be increasing as ongoing habitat degradation is creating new areas of suitable habitat (del Hoyo et al. 1996).


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

Important Bird and Biodiversity Areas (IBA)
Country/Territory IBA Name
Namibia Namib-Naukluft Park
Namibia Sperrgebiet
South Africa Augrabies Falls National Park
South Africa Bitterputs Conservation Area
South Africa Camdeboo National Park
South Africa Haramoep and Black Mountain Mine
South Africa Karoo National Park
South Africa Mattheus-Gat Conservation Area
South Africa Olifants river estuary
South Africa Platberg-Karoo Conservancy
South Africa Upper Orange River

Habitats & altitude
Habitat (level 1) Habitat (level 2) Importance Occurrence
Artificial/Terrestrial Arable Land suitable resident
Artificial/Terrestrial Pastureland suitable resident
Shrubland Subtropical/Tropical Dry major resident
Altitude 0 - 1530 m Occasional altitudinal limits  

Threats & impact
Threat (level 1) Threat (level 2) Impact and Stresses
Climate change & severe weather Habitat shifting & alteration Timing Scope Severity Impact
Future Whole (>90%) Unknown Unknown
Stresses
Indirect ecosystem effects, Ecosystem degradation

Utilisation
Purpose Scale
Pets/display animals, horticulture international

Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Species factsheet: Karoo Bustard Heterotetrax vigorsii. Downloaded from https://datazone.birdlife.org/species/factsheet/karoo-bustard-heterotetrax-vigorsii on 08/12/2024.
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 08/12/2024.