Data Zone
Justification of Red List category
This species underwent rapid declines in western Europe, equivalent to c.46% in each decade since 1950; on its wintering grounds in South Africa, equivalent to c.25% in each decade since 1971; and possibly in parts of its Asian range. However, recent evidence indicates a stable or slightly positive population trend overall during the last three generations. Consequently it has been listed as Least Concern because it no longer approaches any of the thresholds for Vulnerable under the IUCN criteria.
Population justification
The European population is estimated at 32,900-42,600 pairs, which equates to 65,800-85,200 mature individuals (BirdLife International in prep.). Several thousand pairs breed outside this range, principally in central Asia. The population in China has been estimated at c.100-10,000 breeding pairs and c.50-1,000 individuals on migration (Brazil 2009). The population in Kazakhstan has been estimated at 5,000-10,000 pairs (Wassink & Oreel, cited in Orta & Kirwan 2020). The population in North Africa is estimated to be at least 2,500-3,000 breeding pairs (Garrido et al. in prep.). Global population estimates vary significantly, from 50,000-60,000 individuals (Pilard 2005, cited in Global Raptor Network 2021) to 120,000 individuals (Fishpool 1997, cited in Global Raptor Network 2021) and even 650,000-800,000 (Cade 1982). Wintering population estimates include a roost in Senegal of up to 28,000 individuals in January 2007 (Demey et al. 2012), and 88,976 in south Africa based on roost counts in 2006/2007 (Global Raptor Network 2021). The global population is therefore suspected to fall in the band 120,000-200,000 individuals, roughly equating to 80,000-134,000 mature individuals.
Trend justification
Although severe declines were recorded during the second half of the 20th century, the species appears to be stable or increasing slightly in many parts of its range (e.g. Iñigo and Barov 2010). The European population is estimated to have remained stable over the last three generations (11.37 years [Bird et al. 2020]), and to have increased since 1980 (BirdLife International in prep.).
This species breeds in Spain, Portugal, Gibraltar (to UK), France, Italy, Bosnia-Herzegovina, FYRO Macedonia, Albania, Greece, Turkey, Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia, Libya, Israel, Palestinian Authority Territories, Jordan, Iran, Iraq, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Georgia, Russia, Ukraine, Afghanistan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, China and Mongolia. Birds winter in southern Spain, southern Turkey, Malta and across much of Africa, particularly South Africa. The European population is estimated at 32,900-42,600 pairs (BirdLife International in prep.), with almost half of these in Spain. Several thousand pairs breed outside this range, principally in central Asia. Western Palearctic populations have undergone serious declines, although a few have begun to increase again. The western European population has declined by c.95% since 1950, and the species has disappeared from the Ural region of Russia and from northern Kazakhstan, as well as from the western and central parts of the Balkan Peninsula (Davygora 1998, B. Barov in litt. 2007). However, some populations in south-western and central Europe are stable or increasing (Iñigo and Barov 2010) and eastern breeding populations are also reported to be stable (Galushin 2009). Italy has seen a marked population increase and range expansion since 2000 (N. Baccetti in litt. 2010), and the population in Andalucía, Spain, increased from c.2,100 pairs in 1988 to c.4,800 in 2009 (J. R. Garrido in litt. 2011). In Kazakhstan, the species appears to be stable or increasing slightly, perhaps in association with the abandonment of villages and livestock stations in the 1990s (J. Kamp in litt. 2010). Coordinated counts of the South African wintering population recorded 117,000 birds in 2005/2006 (van Zyl 2007, A. van Zyl in litt. 2007) and 98,000 birds in 2006/2007 (A. van Zyl in litt. 2007), but it is not clear whether this represents a genuine reduction in numbers or whether the missing birds were wintering elsewhere, most likely in East Africa (A. van Zyl in litt. 2007). An enormous roost discovered in January 2007 in Senegal contained over 28,600 individuals (most likely European/North African breeders).
It is usually a colonial breeder, often in the vicinity of human settlements. It forages in steppe-like habitats, natural and managed grasslands, and non-intensive cultivation. It is mainly migratory, with most breeders overwintering in sub-Saharan Africa, although some travel to parts of north-west Africa, southern Europe and southern Asia. Migrants leave their breeding grounds in September and return between February and April (del Hoyo et al. 1994). It migrates in flocks of varying sizes, usually tens to low hundreds, often with other falcons such as F. tinnunculus, F. vespertinus and F. amurensis (Ferguson-Lees and Christie 2001). Large numbers, sometimes up to thousands, gather at roosts on migration (del Hoyo et al. 1994). They cross water bodies readily on a broad front, flying high enough to be barely detectable; they fly lower over land (often c.20-30 m), particularly on northward migration (Brown et al. 1982, Ferguson-Lees and Christie 2001).
The main cause of its decline in the second half of the 20th century was habitat loss and degradation in its Western Palearctic breeding grounds, primarily a result of agricultural intensification, but also afforestation of low-productive farmland with wood plantations, land abandonment and urbanisation (Iñigo & Barov 2010). The use of pesticides caused drastic reduction in prey, poisoning and reduced breeding success (during the period of DDT use) (Orta & Kirwan 2020). In South Africa, key grasslands have been lost to agricultural intensification, afforestation and intensive pasture management (Pepler 2000). The neglect or restoration of old buildings has resulted in the loss of nest-sites (Davygora 1998, J.-P. Biber in litt. 1999). At La Crau in southern France, where such nest sites are rare, a population increase in the 1990s may be linked to the progressive selection of ground nests in stone piles, reducing interspecific and intraspecific competition (Prugnolle et al. 2003). Survival of juveniles overwintering in the Sahel region is strongly correlated with rainfall (Mihoub et al. 2010), therefore an increased frequency of draught conditions brought about by climate change is likely to affect the species. High levels of chick mortality recorded during unusually hot weather (particularly in nest boxes) may also be a cause of concern given projected levels of global warming (Orta & Kirwan 2020). Collision with power cables or wind turbines may pose an additional threat (pressures and threats data reported by EU Member States under Article 12 of the Birds Directive for the period 2013-2018; Pescador et al. 2019). Lesser Kestrels may be trapped in North Africa to use as lures to attract target species, however this is not thought to be a significant threat (Garrido et al. in prep.). In some areas, nests may be deliberately destroyed due to sanitary concerns or the noise produced by the birds (Iñigo & Barov 2010).
Conservation Actions Underway
CITES Appendix II, CMS Appendix I and II, Raptors MOU Category 2, EU Birds Directive Annex I. Research and management of the species, its sites and habitats have been carried out in France, Spain, Portugal, Gibraltar, Italy, Greece, Bulgaria, Turkey, Israel, Jordan and South Africa. A European action plan has been published (Iñigo & Barov 2010). Systematic breeding schemes are in place in at least 5 European countries (Derlink et al. 2018). Since the 1980s, several successful protection measures have been introduced, including the control of refurbishing buildings which are used by colonies, installation of artificial nests, and in some areas breeding and release programmes (Orta & Kirwan 2020). Tilling the soil around the base of wind turbines with a high collision rate has been shown to be an effective mitigation measure in Spain (Pescador et al. 2019). Public awareness and education activities have been carried out in several countries covered by the European Action Plan (Iñigo & Barov 2010).
29-32 cm. Small falcon. Male has grey head, uniform rusty upperparts, buff underparts with black spots. Grey band from carpal to tertials and black flight feathers. Grey tail with black subterminal band. Female and immature rusty with black barring and streaking and paler underparts. Similar spp. Common Kestrel F. tinnunculus is larger. Male lacks grey band on wing and has black spotting on upperparts and moustachial stripe. Voice Kye-kye but weaker and hoarser than F. tinnunculus.
Text account compilers
Haskell, L.
Contributors
Baccetti, N., Biber, J., Garrido, J., Kamp, J., van Zyl, A., Benstead, P., Ashpole, J, Starkey, M., Peet, N., Harding, M., Khwaja, N., Capper, D., Pilgrim, J., Taylor, J. & Symes, A.
Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Species factsheet: Lesser Kestrel Falco naumanni. Downloaded from
https://datazone.birdlife.org/species/factsheet/lesser-kestrel-falco-naumanni on 24/12/2024.
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 24/12/2024.