Falco fasciinucha | SANBI Sensitive Species

Assessor: Melissa Whitecross

Other assessors

Sarah Schumann

Sensitive in 2010

Family

Falconidae

Reason for the sensitivity status

The estimated local population of less than 50 mature individuals and a global population of less than 1 000 individuals. Nest raiding for collection or falconry purposes is a threat to this species and the release of specific breeding and presence data would potentially have a disastrous effect on the South African birds.

This species is either similar to or belongs to a group containing sensitive species, and is extremely rare in the wild. The localities of wild populations need to be protected to avoid loss to exploitation, which, due to its rarity, could drive the species to extinction within a very short time.

Exploitation extent

Uncertain - No data exists yet showing that this species is exploited in the wild, however it has one or more relatives or look-alike species (found in South Africa or globally) that are known to be utilised. This species has a similar life form or other relevant traits to its exploited relative(s), making it highly likely that it would be exploited for the same purposes.

Justification and references

According to the IUCN Red List Assessment, this species is Vulnerable as its population is decreasing due to several threats of habitat loss, pollution, human disturbance, and invasive species (BirdLife International, 2020). It is known to be traded internationally (BirdLife International, 2020). A captive bred population of Taita Falcon's used for falconry in north America and Europe exists, however the extent of harvesting of wild individuals to supplement this population is unknown (Bell et al. 2014).

References:

Bell, D.A., Griffiths, C.S., Caballero, I.C., Hartley, R.R. and Lawson, R.H., 2014. Genetic Evidence for Global Dispersal in the Peregrine Falcon (Falco peregrinus) and Affinity with the Taita Falcon (Falco fasciinucha). Journal of Raptor Research, 48(1), pp.44-53.

BirdLife International. 2020. Falco fasciinucha. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2020: e.T22696523A174219122. https://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2020- 3.RLTS.T22696523A174219122.en

Van Wettere, A.J., Wünschmann, A., Latimer, K.S. and Redig, P.T., 2005. Adenovirus infection in taita falcons (Falco fasciinucha) and hybrid falcons (Falco rusticolus× Falco peregrinus). Journal of Avian Medicine and Surgery, 19(4), pp.280-285.

Population vulnerability

Population is vulnerable: size is <= 2500 mature individuals OR the number of known subpopulations is <= 5 OR range is <= 100km² OR species at risk of localised extinctions

Justification and references

The South African Taita Falcon population size is estimated at <40 individuals (Hartley 2000, Jenkins 2008) and has thus been listed as Critically Endangered for South Africa (Taylor et al. 2015).

References:

Hartley, R.R., 2000. Ecology of Taita Falco fasciinucha, Peregrine F. peregrinus and Lanner F. biarmicus falcons in Zimbabwe. Raptors at Risk. Berlin/Blaine: WWGBP/Hancock House, pp.87-105.

Jenkins, A.R., Allan, D.G., Botha, A., Harvey, A., Kemp, A.C., Monadjem, A., Rodrigues, L., Rushworth, D., Stephenson, A. and van Zyl, A.J., 2008. Preliminary survey of the Taita Falcon Falco fasciinucha in the Drakensberg escarpment region of Mpumalanga and Limpopo Provinces, South Africa. African Bird Club Bulletin, 15, pp.53-58.

Taylor MR, Peacock F, Wanless RM (eds). 2015. The 2015 Eskom Red Data book of birds of South Africa, Lesotho and Swaziland. Johannesburg: BirdLife South Africa.

Targeted demographics

Unknown.

Regeneration potential

This species has a slow population growth rate, or the growth rate varies depending on habitat, and there is a poor chance the wild populations will recover from exploitation OR a collector might feasibly harvest the entire extant population removing the chance of subsequent recruitment.

Justification and references

Breeding success in known nesting sites of this species is considered generally poor (Hartley 2000). This compounded with minimal suitable habitat for breeding to take place (Jenkins 2008) puts this species at high risk of population collapse should harvesting of eggs, chicks or individuals be carried out.

References:

Hartley, R.R., 2000. Ecology of Taita Falco fasciinucha, Peregrine F. peregrinus and Lanner F. biarmicus falcons in Zimbabwe. Raptors at Risk. Berlin/Blaine: WWGBP/Hancock House, pp.87-105.