Justification This species occupies a large range, within which it occurs at low density and faces a number of threats. It qualifies as Vulnerable owing to its small population which has declined rapidly.

Family/Sub-family Accipitridae

Species name author Verreaux & Des Murs, 1862

Taxonomic source(s) Clark (1999)

Taxonomic note Circaetus gallicus (including beaudouini) and C. pectoralis (Sibley and Monroe 1990, 1993) were previously lumped into C. gallicus following Dowsett and Forbes-Watson (1993). Following a review by the BirdLife Taxonomic Working Group all three are now considered distinct species based on evidence provided by Clark (1999) and Kemp (1994).

Identification 60-66 cm. Large snake-eagle. Grey-brown above with a barred white belly. Three to four tail bands. Plain grey legs and cere. Sexes similar. Juveniles are all dark brown above and below with some white streaking on the head, and barring on the flanks. Similar spp very similar to Short-toed Snake-eagle which occurs within the range in winter. That species is slightly larger with proportionately longer wings. Adult Beadouin's has plain underwing coverts whereas Short-toed typically has dark barring.

Population estimate

Population trend

Range estimate (breeding/resident)

Country endemic?

2,500-9,999

decreasing

2,310,000 km²

No

Range & population Circaetus beaudouini occupies a relatively narrow band of sub-Saharan Africa, from Senegal, Gambia and south Mauritania in the west to southern Sudan in the east and south to Guinea, Côte d'Ivoire, Burkina Faso, Nigeria, Cameroon, and Central African Republic. Recorded from Uganda, but its status is uncertain in Kenya¹. Occurs at low density within its range, so its global population is not thought to exceed 10,000 individuals. It is known to have decreased by over 86-93% over the last 30-35 years based on comparative roadside counts conducted across its range between Senegal and Niger². This equates to declines in the region of 30-50% over a ten year or three generation time period.

Ecology: It inhabits dry savannah but favours more open areas of grassland and even cultivated areas. It is a seasonal migrant moving between the Sudan zone (and northern Guinea zone) in the dry season and the Sahel (and northern Sudan) zone in the rainy season. Thinly distributed and territorial. Generally solitary.

Threats West African raptors have declined owing to a number of threats associated with a three-fold increase in the human population within the region over the past 30 years². Habitat destruction has resulted from agricultural intensification, overgrazing, woodcutting² and major developments³, such as urbanisation. Woodcutting for fuelwood, timber and charcoal has caused conversion of woodland into shrubland². Agricultural intensification has led to aerial and ground spraying of insecticides to control insect outbreaks². More specifically, the species is threatened by the spread of cotton fields and the associated use of organochlorine insecticides³. Insect swarms were previously an important source of food for raptors directly, or their prey. Livestock are virtually ubiquitous, especially in the Sahel where overgrazing is a major cause of desertification². In addition, hunting has exacerbated the decline.

Conservation measures underway The species occurs in a number of protected areas across the region which are of increasing importance for it and other large raptors in West Africa. They currently cover just 0.85% of Mali, Niger, Burkina Faso and Benin.

Conservation measures proposed Conduct further coordinated surveys to establish population estimates and global trends for the species. Establish protection for remaining habitat where grazing and wood-cutting can be kept to a minimum. Investigate potential threats to this species across its range, in particular, the impact of trade on birds in West Africa. Confirm whether it occurs in Kenya.

References Ferguson-Lees and Christie (2001). 1. S. Thomsett in litt. (2006). 2. Thiollay (2006). 3. G. Rondeau in litt. (2007).

Text account compilers Jeremy Bird (BirdLife International), Stuart Butchart (BirdLife International), Joe Taylor (BirdLife International)

Contributors Clive Barlow, Francoise Dowsett-Lemaire, Sebastien Hogberg, Paul K. Ndang'ang'a (BirdLife International - Africa), Guy Rondeau (Africa Nature International), Jean-Marc Thiollay, Simon Thomsett (The Peregrine Fund)

IUCN Red List evaluators Stuart Butchart (BirdLife International), Joe Taylor (BirdLife International)

Recommended citation BirdLife International (2009) Species factsheet: Circaetus beaudouini. Downloaded from http://www.birdlife.org on 9/2/2010

This information is based upon, and updates, the information published in BirdLife International (2000) Threatened birds of the world. Barcelona and Cambridge, UK: Lynx Edicions and BirdLife International, BirdLife International (2004) Threatened birds of the world 2004 CD-ROM and BirdLife International (2008) Threatened birds of the world 2008 CD-ROM. These sources provide the information for species accounts for the birds on the IUCN Red List.

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