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). The population trend appears to be stable, and hence the species does not approach the thresholds for Vulnerable under the population trend criterion (>30% decline over ten years or three generations). The population size may be moderately small to large, 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
The population is estimated to number in the tens of thousands. The European population is estimated at 7,700-15,300 mature individuals (BirdLife International in prep.), however this is likely to be an underestimate due to difficulties with identification and the species's secretive nature. Europe forms approximately 75-94% of the global range (BirdLife International 2004), so a very preliminary estimate of the global population size is 8,190-20,400 mature individuals, although further validation of this estimate is needed. Large numbers of migratory birds have been recorded passing over Eilat, Israel - between 32,878 and 60,390 individuals were counted each year during autumn migration surveys from 1990-1999 (average = 45,333) (Alon et al. 2004), suggesting that the global population may be much higher. Pending validation, the population size is precautionarily placed in the band 10,000-19,999 mature individuals.
Trend justification
The population is suspected to be stable in the absence of evidence for any declines or substantial threats. In Europe the population is stable (BirdLife International 2021).
This species breeds predominantly in south-east Europe, including the Balkan Peninsula, east Ukraine, south-west Russia, west Kazakhstan, The Caucasus, Turkey, Iraq and Iran. There is a small, isolated population in the Pannonian Basin (Danko and Hrtan 2012). It overwinters mainly in the east Sahel zone of sub-Saharan Africa. Within the Balkan Peninsula, the species's breeding range appears to have expanded to the north and west since the 1980s (Keller et al. 2020). This is mirrored by expansion of its breeding range in European Russia since the turn of the century (Keller et al. 2020).
Behaviour The species is a migrant, likely wintering in sub-Saharan Africa (del Hoyo et al. 1994; Ferguson-Lees and Christie 2001; Yang et al. 2021). Birds leave their breeding grounds in September, returning in April and May. It is usually solitary, but may hunt in pairs, and travels in flocks on migration which become especially large at certain bottlenecks (del Hoyo et al. 1994; Snow and Perrins 1998). It is sometimes active at twilight, and frequently migrates at night using flapping flight (del Hoyo et al. 1994; Ferguson-Lees and Christie 2001). Habitat Inhabits deciduous forests, often near water, including plantations, orchards and vineyards, and usually ranges up to 1,000 m (del Hoyo et al. 1994). Habitat use at non-breeding grounds is little known, but thornscrub is suspected to be favoured over tropical forest (Ferguson-Lees and Christie 2001) Diet Lizards and large insects (the latter especially in Africa) make up the majority of its diet (del Hoyo et al. 1994). Also hunts small birds including sparrows, finches and swallows (Gorman 1998). Breeding site It nests in tree branches, preferring clumps of deciduous trees amidst grasslands, plains and cultivated areas (del Hoyo et al. 1994; Gorman 1998). Management information Deciduous forests in riparian zones appear to be the optimal habitat for this species (del Hoyo et al. 1994).
It is highly vulnerable to the impacts of potential wind energy development (Strix 2012). This species is considered undesirable for falconry in Georgia, and many are killed after being captured by falconers who are attempting to catch other, more desirable species (Van Maanen et al. 2001; Orta and Marks 2014). Following the Chernobyl nuclear accident in 1986, the proportion of juvenile birds migrating over Eilat, Israel decreased, leading researchers to suggest that radioactive contamination may have resulted in a decrease in reproductive success (Yosef and Fornasari 2004).
Conservation actions underway
Accipiter brevipes is listed on CITES Appendix II, CMS Appendix II, Raptors MoU Category 3, and Bern Convention Appendix II. Two European countries currently have breeding population monitoring schemes in place for this species (representing 14% of the countries in its European breeding range) (Derlink et al. 2018).
Conservation actions proposed
Estimates of population size for this species are poor due to difficulties with identification and its secretive nature. Further research throughout its range would allow a more accurate estimate to be made. This species is currently poorly represented in European monitoring schemes - further monitoring throughout would allow for identification of trends in population status.
Text account compilers
Haskell, L.
Contributors
Ashpole, J, Butchart, S., Ekstrom, J. & Khwaja, N.
Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Species factsheet: Levant Sparrowhawk Accipiter brevipes. Downloaded from
https://datazone.birdlife.org/species/factsheet/levant-sparrowhawk-accipiter-brevipes on 22/11/2024.
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 22/11/2024.