Justification This species is considered Critically Endangered because it has an extremely small and fragmented population, which continues to decline. Only effective protection of Los Haitises National Park and captive breeding and release are likely to save this species from extinction.

Family/Sub-family Accipitridae

Species name author (Cory, 1883)

Taxonomic source(s) AOU checklist (1998 + supplements), Sibley and Monroe (1990, 1993), Stotz et al. (1996)

Identification 36-41 cm. Medium-sized, compact hawk. Adult has brown-grey upperparts, greyish barred underparts with reddish-brown wash, rufous thighs and black-and-white barred tail. White crescent-shaped wing panels or "windows" visible during flight are diagnostic. Male slightly smaller (330-350g) than female (360-420g). Male is greyer than female and has rufous carpal area (paler rufous in female). Female also paler below and more barred. Immature has buffy white underparts with grey and brown streaks, and less well marked tail. Similar spp. Red-tailed Hawk B. jamaicensis is larger and adults have reddish tail. Voice Shrill calls and squeals.

Population estimate

Population trend

Range estimate (breeding/resident)

Country endemic?

160 - 240

decreasing

210 km²

No

Range & population Buteo ridgwayi occurs in the Dominican Republic and formerly in Haiti, and has historically been reported from the adjacent Haitian islands of Gonâve, the Cayemite Islands (reportedly common in 1934 ⁶), Île-à-Vache (reportedly common in 1962⁶ but now apparently extinct¹), and the Dominican islands of Isla Beata and Alto Velo. There is a single record from the island of Culebra off Puerto Rico (to USA)⁵. It was formerly widespread, but has declined steeply and is now rare², with c.80-120 pairs estimated in 2006^10,11. In 2003, 93 individuals were recorded in Los Haitises National Park, north-east Dominican Republic⁹, including 37 pairs, 30 of which attempted nesting with eight successful pairs fledging 10 chicks⁹. In 2005, 19 fledglings were produced from 11 successful (out of 28) attempts^10,11, while in 2007 forty fledglings were produced from 22 successful nests¹⁴. There have been very few recent records outside Los Haitises National Park, north-eastern Dominican Republic³. It was also recorded in human-modified habitat on the Samaná Peninsula in 2003⁹. The species has been reported from Isla Beata and Valle Nuevo in 1981⁶; both sites have not been surveyed significantly since then and confirmation of its status at these two sites is a priority. The species is declining rapidly with an annual loss of c.5-10% of pairs recorded at a key study site, Los Limones, within Los Haitises National Park¹³. Furthermore, forest loss at the same site is estimated at 10-15%¹³ annually with no park infrastructure in place to prevent slash-and-burn agriculture.

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

Ecology: It occurs up to 2,000 m in a variety of undisturbed forest-types including rainforest, subtropical dry and moist forests, pine forest, limestone karst forest and marshland and is occasionally seen in secondary and agricultural habitats⁶. Prey consists primarily of lizards, snakes and frogs. Hawks will occasionally prey on small mammals (bats and rodents), centipedes and small birds. Nests have been found in the crowns of tall endemic trees, with Hispaniolan Royal Palms Roystonea hispaniolana particularly favoured^10,11,. Nest-building occurs in January-March and eggs laid in February-April⁶. It lays 2-3 eggs and pairs have successfully fledged three chicks, but more typically one or two. Males are known to participate in incubation. The home range of three adjacent breeding pairs was just c.60 ha⁶.

Threats Large-scale habitat loss through clearance for livestock farming, coffee and other crop plantations, and direct persecution have been major factors in this species's decline⁸. Even within Los Haitises National Park wood burning is widespread and areas are cleared for the cultivation of root crops. Virtually all primary forest within the park has now been destroyed, and the remaining secondary fragments are being cleared at a rapid rate¹². In 2005, of 28 monitored nests, four nests were destroyed by human activity during the nestling stage. A fifth nest was abandoned during incubation when two local men flushed the female off the nest during a rainstorm, and then attempted to kill the female with a slingshot. Human disturbance was also likely, but not confirmed, for another five failed nests¹⁰. Significant causes of natural mortality are poor weather (rain lasting over several days when nestlings are less than one week old), and botfly infestations, but overall natural mortality is not nearly as much of a threat as habitat loss and human persecution.

Conservation measures underway CITES Appendix II. Los Haitises National Park is an important, but very poorly protected site, supporting the majority of pairs in the Dominican Republic⁸. However, recent evidence states that the park has been mainly deforested¹². Intensive research of the species's breeding ecology and conservation genetics are part of an ongoing study initiated in 2005 and annual surveys are conducted to monitor the population within the Park (53 active nests monitored in 2007)^10,14. An ongoing publicity campaign was initiated by the Peregrine Fund in 2005 to raise awareness within local communities in the Dominican Republic¹⁰. Conservation staff working on this species have received training and financial support from the Peregrine Fund⁸, Sociedad Ornitológica de la Hispaniola, Wildlife Preservation Canada, York University, and the Smithsonian Institution. Ongoing DNA work is comparing the extent of genetic variation remaining in the current population with the historical population to determine if poor genetic diversity should be a concern for species recovery¹³. Work is ongoing to assess the feasibility of carrying out translocations with the aim of establishing another population¹³.

Conservation measures proposed Ensure the de facto protection of remaining habitat in Los Haitises National Park. Continue and expand education and awareness campaigns to reduce direct persecution. Survey remaining forest fragments adjacent to Los Haitises National Park, as well as historical sites that have not experienced significant habitat loss including Isla Beata and Valle Nuevo. Establish a captive population as a safeguard in the event that wild populations become extirpated. Assess potential sites for future relocation to establish additional populations within secure habitat.

References Collar et al. (1992). 1. T. Brooks in litt. (2000). 2. A. Keith in litt. (1999). 3. S. Latta in litt. (1998). 4. A. Lewis per R. S. R. Williams in litt. (1999). 5. Raffaele et al. (1998). 6. Wiley and Wiley (1981). 7. Thorstrom et al. (2003). 8. Thorstrom (2004). 9. Thorstrom et al. (2005). 10. Woolaver (2006). 11. Woolaver (2005). 12. J. L. Brocca in litt. (2007). 13. L. Woolaver in litt. (2007, 2008). 14. Woolaver (2007).

Further web sources of information

Alliance for Zero Extinction (AZE) species/site profile. This species has been identified as an AZE trigger due to its IUCN Red List status and limited range.

Fully detailed species account from the Threatened birds of the Americas: the BirdLife International Red Data Book (BirdLife International 1992). Please note, taxonomic treatment and IUCN Red List category may have changed since publication.

Recuento detallado de la especie tomado del libro Aves Amenazadas de las Americas, Libro Rojo de BirdLife International (BirdLife International 1992). Nota: la taxonomoía y la categoría de la Lista Roja de la UICN pudo haber cambiado desde esta publicación.

Text account compilers Phil Benstead (BirdLife International), Jeremy Bird (BirdLife International), Stuart Butchart (BirdLife International), Isabel Isherwood (BirdLife International), Andy Symes (BirdLife International), David Wege (BirdLife International)

Contributors Jorge Luis Brocca (Sociedad Ornitologica de la Hispaniola), Tom Brooks (Conservation International), Allan Keith, S. Latta, Robert Williams (Fundación Científica San Francisco), Lance Woolaver

IUCN Red List evaluators Jeremy Bird (BirdLife International), Stuart Butchart (BirdLife International), Andy Symes (BirdLife International)

Recommended citation BirdLife International (2009) Species factsheet: Buteo ridgwayi. 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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