LC
Pied Harrier Circus melanoleucos



Taxonomy

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
2021 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 full migrant Forest dependency does not normally occur in forest
Land-mass type Average mass -
Range

Estimate Data quality
Extent of Occurrence (breeding/resident) 6,080,000 km2 medium
Extent of Occurrence (non-breeding) 16,700,000 km2 medium
Severely fragmented? no -
Population
Estimate Data quality Derivation Year of estimate
Population size unknown poor suspected 2009
Population trend decreasing - suspected -
Generation length 4.82 years - - -

Population justification: The global population is estimated to number > c.10,000 individuals (Ferguson-Lees and Christie 2001), while national population sizes have been estimated at c.10,000-100,000 breeding pairs and c.1,000-10,000 individuals on migration in China and c.10,000-100,000 breeding pairs and c.1,000-10,000 individuals on migration in Russia (Brazil 2009).

Trend justification: The population is suspected to be in decline owing to habitat destruction through drainage of wetlands and agricultural expansion (Ferguson-Lees and Christie 2001). The breeding population in the Primorsky Krai region of Russia declined significantly in the second part of the 20th century, but is now gradually recovering due to an increase in the area of fallow land (Shokhrin et al. 2020). Ganesh and Prashanth (2018) recorded a decline in the total number of overwintering harriers of various species (including C. melanoleucos) at roost sites in India during 1985-2015.


Country/territory distribution
Country/Territory Presence Origin Resident Breeding visitor Non-breeding visitor Passage migrant
Bangladesh extant native yes yes
Bhutan extant native yes yes
Brunei extant vagrant yes
Cambodia extant native yes yes
China (mainland) extant native yes yes yes
Hong Kong (China) extant native yes
India extant native yes yes yes
Indonesia extant native yes
Japan extant vagrant
Laos extant native yes yes
Malaysia extant native yes yes
Mongolia extant native yes yes
Myanmar extant native yes
Nepal extant native yes yes
North Korea extant native yes yes
Pakistan extant native yes yes
Philippines extant native yes
Russia extant native yes
Russia (Asian) extant native yes
Singapore extant native yes
South Korea extant native yes
Sri Lanka extant native yes
Taiwan, China extant native yes
Thailand extant native yes yes
Vietnam extant native yes

Important Bird and Biodiversity Areas (IBA)
Country/Territory IBA Name
Russia (Asian) Amur valley near Blagoveshensk
Russia (Asian) Argun' river
Russia (Asian) Arkhara lowlands

Habitats & altitude
Habitat (level 1) Habitat (level 2) Importance Occurrence
Artificial/Terrestrial Arable Land suitable resident
Grassland Temperate suitable resident
Shrubland Temperate suitable breeding
Wetlands (inland) Bogs, Marshes, Swamps, Fens, Peatlands suitable resident
Wetlands (inland) Permanent Freshwater Lakes (over 8ha) suitable breeding
Altitude 0 - 2100 m Occasional altitudinal limits (max) 3800 m

Threats & impact
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
Stresses
Ecosystem degradation, Ecosystem conversion
Natural system modifications Dams & water management/use - Abstraction of surface water (unknown use) Timing Scope Severity Impact
Ongoing Majority (50-90%) Slow, Significant Declines Medium Impact: 6
Stresses
Ecosystem degradation, Ecosystem conversion

Utilisation
Purpose Scale
Pets/display animals, horticulture international

Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Species factsheet: Pied Harrier Circus melanoleucos. Downloaded from https://datazone.birdlife.org/species/factsheet/pied-harrier-circus-melanoleucos on 22/12/2024.
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 22/12/2024.