Data Zone
Taxonomic note
Buteo oreophilus and B. trizonatus (del Hoyo and Collar 2014) were previously lumped as B. oreophilus following Sibley and Monroe (1990, 1993).
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 |
|---|---|---|
| - | - | D1 |
| Year | Category | Criteria |
|---|---|---|
| 2022 | Near Threatened | A3c+4c; D1 |
| 2016 | Near Threatened | A2c+3c+4c |
| 2014 | Near Threatened | A2c+3c+4c |
| 2012 | Not Recognised | |
| 2008 | Not Recognised | |
| 2004 | Not Recognised | |
| 2000 | Not Recognised | |
| 1994 | Not Recognised | |
| 1988 | Not Recognised |
| Migratory status | not a migrant | Forest dependency | high |
| Land-mass type | Average mass | - |
| Estimate | Data quality | |
|---|---|---|
| Extent of Occurrence (breeding/resident) | 2,280,000 km2 | medium |
| Severely fragmented? | no | - |
| Estimate | Data quality | Derivation | Year of estimate | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Population size | 670-6700 mature individuals | poor | suspected | 2009 |
| Population trend | decreasing | - | suspected | 2016-2037 |
| Rate of change over the past 10 years/3 generations (longer of the two periods) | 10-19% | - | - | - |
| Rate of change over the future 10 years/3 generations (longer of the two periods) | 20-29% | - | - | - |
| Rate of change over the past & future 10 years/3 generations (longer of the two periods) | 20-29% | - | - | - |
| Generation length | 7.05 years | - | - | - |
Population justification: The population size has not been quantified. The species ranges from uncommon to moderately common within its range (Kemp et al. 2021). It is provisionally suspected to number 1,000-10,000 individuals, roughly equating to 670-6,700 mature individuals, but this value requires confirmation.
Trend justification: The population is suspected to be declining moderately rapidly owing to the ongoing destruction and degradation of montane forests and has reportedly declined in Tanzania (N. Cordeiro in litt. 2013, S. Thomsett in litt. 2013). The species is highly forest dependent and is suspected to be declining at the same rate as forest loss; which has averaged c.15% over the last three generations (21.15 years; Global Forest Watch 2022, using Hansen et al. [2013] data and methods disclosed therein). Tree cover loss seems to have been accelerating in more recent years to a rate equivalent to 22% over three generations (Global Forest Watch 2022, using Hansen et al. [2013] data and methods disclosed therein). Consequently, the population decline may likewise be accelerating and the rate of decline over the next three generations is therefore suspected to be 20-29%.
| Country/Territory | Presence | Origin | Resident | Breeding visitor | Non-breeding visitor | Passage migrant |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Burundi | extant | native | yes | |||
| Congo, The Democratic Republic of the | extant | native | yes | |||
| Ethiopia | extant | native | yes | |||
| Kenya | extant | native | yes | |||
| Malawi | extant | native | yes | |||
| Rwanda | extant | native | yes | |||
| South Sudan | extant | native | yes | |||
| Tanzania | extant | native | yes | |||
| Uganda | extant | native | yes |
| Habitat (level 1) | Habitat (level 2) | Importance | Occurrence |
|---|---|---|---|
| Forest | Subtropical/Tropical Moist Montane | major | resident |
| Grassland | Subtropical/Tropical High Altitude | marginal | resident |
| Altitude | 2000 - 3800 m | Occasional altitudinal limits | 1200 - 4500 m |
| Threat (level 1) | Threat (level 2) | Impact and Stresses | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Agriculture & aquaculture | Annual & perennial non-timber crops - Small-holder 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 | Majority (50-90%) | Slow, Significant Declines | Medium Impact: 6 | ||||||
|
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| Biological resource use | Logging & wood harvesting - Unintentional effects: (subsistence/small scale) [harvest] | Timing | Scope | Severity | Impact | ||||
| Ongoing | Majority (50-90%) | Slow, Significant Declines | Medium Impact: 6 | ||||||
|
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| Invasive and other problematic species, genes & diseases | Problematic native species/diseases - Buteo augur | 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 - Buteo buteo | Timing | Scope | Severity | Impact | ||||
| Ongoing | Minority (<50%) | Negligible declines | Low Impact: 4 | ||||||
|
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| Purpose | Scale |
|---|---|
| Pets/display animals, horticulture | international |
Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2025) Species factsheet: Mountain Buzzard Buteo oreophilus. Downloaded from
https://datazone.birdlife.org/species/factsheet/mountain-buzzard-buteo-oreophilus on 23/01/2025.
Recommended citation for factsheets for more than one species: BirdLife International (2025) IUCN Red List for birds. Downloaded from
https://datazone.birdlife.org/species/search on 23/01/2025.