Justification This species qualifies as Near Threatened because the population size becomes moderately small during the periods between explosions in the rat population. There appears to be inadequate knowledge on key sites and habitat use by the core population, which may be sensitive to other threats when rat numbers are low.

Family/Sub-family Accipitridae

Species name author Gould, 1842

Taxonomic source(s) Christidis and Boles (1994), Sibley and Monroe (1990, 1993)

Identification Small, pale kite, similar to Black-shouldered Kite Elanus caeruleus. Black spot in front of eye. Underparts white. Upperwing coverts and alula coverts black. Primaries dark grey. Tail white with central feathers tinged grey. Rest of upperparts pale grey. Underwing white to greyish white with black bar from axillaries to base of primaries. Iris red; bill black; cere horn-coloured; legs pink or whitish¹.

Population estimate

Population trend

Range estimate (breeding/resident)

Country endemic?

1,000 - 10,000

fluctuating

728,000 km²

Yes

Range & population Elanus scriptus occurs in the eastern arid zone of Australia but occasionally irrupts to all parts of the continent. The species is usually confined to the Coopers Creek drainage system³, whilst its wider distribution is thought to be centred on the Barkly Tablelands in the eastern Northern Territory and river systems in south-western Queensland, north-eastern South Australia and north-western New South Wales². Population cycles appear to be linked to those of the principal prey, the plague rat Rattus villossimus, which has population explosions following high rainfall⁴. In years when rats are numerous the species can breed rapidly and be abundant. When rat populations crash following the onset of drought, birds are forced into areas that are outside their normal range and eventually most perish⁴. These explosions in population and range rarely last for more than a year, after which the species's distribution again contracts². Little is known about the intervening lean times when the species is rarely seen and the population may fall near to 1,000 individuals. Despite such fluctuations the species is regarded as secure².

Important Bird Areas Click here to view map showing IBAs where species is recorded and triggers any of the IBA criteria.

Ecology: This is a largely nocturnal species², hunting at night, and tending to rest in coolabah trees Eucalyptus coolabah during the day⁴. It inhabits open or sparsely wooded country, usually in flocks, but also seen as pairs and singles¹. They roost, nest and sometimes hunt in groups, and often form large noisy breeding colonies of up to a hundred individuals⁴. They nest in the cooler months when the rats often reach their peak, with nesting peaking in July. The nest is an open platform of sticks from herbage and shrubs. They lay clutches of 2-7 eggs and the incubation period is thought to be 31 days. The age at fledging is five weeks. During a rat plague, pairs will produce several clutches in succession until the rat populations crash, and parents spend little or no time on post-fledging care. During this time the population may increase by ten fold very rapidly. Parents may abandon their chicks when the local rat population crashes⁴. Rat populations are thought to be fairly secure, even in extremely dry years, and there is reportedly always a core population of rats present⁵. Plaguing house mice Mus domesticus are also an important food resource, and the species feeds on a variety of invertebrates⁶.

Threats There are no known major threats, although intensification of cattle grazing may eventually affect rat numbers and hence the species's populations. Cats are known to predate nests, and may take significant numbers of nestlings, but this is yet to be confirmed by careful study⁴.

Conservation measures underway No targeted conservation actions are known for this species.

Conservation measures proposed Monitor population fluctuations through regular surveys and analysis of ad-hoc sightings. Conduct research into the impact of cattle grazing on rat numbers. Study the impact of nest predation by cats. Consider control of cats at core breeding sites. Identify and protect sites used by the core population.

References Marchant and Higgins (1993). 1. Johnstone and Storr (1998). 2. Garnett (Ed) (1993). 3. Olsen (1998). 4. Olsen (1995). 5. D. Akers in litt. (2007). 6. M. Mathieson in litt. (2007).

Text account compilers Stephen Garnett (Birds Australia), Joe Taylor (BirdLife International)

Contributors David Akers (Environmental Protection Agency, Queensland Gov.), Michael Mathieson (Environmental Protection Agency, Queensland Gov.)

IUCN Red List evaluators Stuart Butchart (BirdLife International), Guy Dutson (Birds Australia), Stephen Garnett (Charles Darwin University), Joe Taylor (BirdLife International)

Recommended citation BirdLife International (2009) Species factsheet: Elanus scriptus. 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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