Justification This species is classified as Vulnerable because it has undergone rapid population declines over three generations (20 years) owing largely to unsustainable hunting levels, as well as habitat degradation.

Family/Sub-family Otididae

Species name author (Jacquin, 1784)

Taxonomic source(s) AERC TAC (2003), Cramp and Simmons (1977-1994), Dowsett and Forbes-Watson (1993), Sibley and Monroe (1990, 1993)

Population estimate

Population trend

Range estimate (breeding/resident)

Country endemic?

49,000 - 62,000

decreasing

24,200,000 km²

No

Range & population Chlamydotis undulata occurs in a wide range across North Africa, the Middle East and western Asia, in three subspecies. Race fuertaventurae is confined to the Eastern Canary Islands, Spain. Race undulata occupies North African countries as follows: northernmost Mauritania, Western Sahara, Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia, Libya and Egypt west of the Nile with old records from Sudan. Race macqueenii extends from Egypt east of the Nile through Israel, Jordan, Lebanon, Saudi Arabia, Yemen, Oman, UAE, Bahrain, Qatar, Kuwait, Syria, Iraq, Iran, Afghanistan, Pakistan, India, Armenia, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan, Russian Federation and Mongolia to China, with unconfirmed reports from Azerbaijan and Turkey^1,5. The population of race fuertaventurae in the mid-1990s was estimated at 527 birds, with 18 on La Graciosa, 268 on Lanzarote and 241 on Fuerteventura, although an apparently independent assessment put the total population at 147-882 birds¹². More recent estimates place the population at 108-252 birds on Fuerteventura, 272-801 on Lanzarote and 3-10 on La Graciosa¹³, whilst another census estimated the population at around 1,000 birds on the all the islands¹⁴. The population of nominate undulata in the mid-1990s was estimated to be at least 9,800 individuals, of which over 50% were in Algeria, 30% in Morocco and 10% in Libya⁵. In recent discussions, however, a reliable estimate for the number of Houbara in North Africa has not been considered achievable (without huge confidence limits). Instead, it has been roughly estimated that the region holds around 30% of the total population, and that the decline in the past 20 years has been in the order of 25%⁶. The population of race macqueenii in the mid-1990s was estimated to be in the range 39,000-52,000, of which over 75% were in Kazakhstan and 15% in Uzbekistan⁵. In recent discussions, however, a reliable estimate for the number of Houbara in the Middle East and Central Asia has not been considered achievable (without huge confidence limits). Instead, the region has been broken into two, "West Asia"-Arabian Peninsula to Pakistan and Uzbekistan-with around 20% and "East Asia"-Kazakhstan to China)-with around 50% of the total population, and that the decline in the past 20 years has been in the order of 25% in "West Asia" and 40-50% in East Asia⁶. If 50% (30% North Africa + 20% West Asia) of the species has declined by 25%, and the remaining 50% by 40-50%, the global population has declined by c.35% over the last 20 years.

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

Ecology: All subspecies inhabit sandy and stony semi-desert and are specialised to existence in arid conditions where trees are absent and both shrub cover and herb layer are sparse^1,5,7,10. It is not known what habitat preferences exist within the spectrum of arid environments used by the species, but birds are stimulated to breed by grass growth where local rains have fallen, and therefore probably actively select more rather than less vegetated areas¹⁰. They feed on invertebrates, small vertebrates and green shoots, and typically lay 2-4 eggs in a scrape on the ground¹⁰. Eggs and young are vulnerable to ground predators, but breeding success is unquantified¹⁰. North African and Arabian populations may be sedentary or partially migratory, moving relatively short distances to find recent plant growth; populations from Turkmenistan east to China are migratory, and winter in large numbers in India, Pakistan, Iran and parts of the Middle East¹⁰.

Threats The principal threat is from hunting by Middle Easten falconers, largely but not exclusively on the species's wintering grounds, Habitat loss and degradation compound this problem^2,3,5,10. The race fuertaventurae is threatened by collisions with powerlines¹⁴, habitat degradation caused by tourist facilities, off-road vehicles, military exercises, overgrazing, sand extraction, powerlines and road development, and possibly also nest predation by introduced mammals and illegal hunting^7,8,9. Recent evidence suggests that the impact of military exercises and hunting have reduced considerably in recent years, but mortality from powerlines may be significant¹⁴.

Conservation measures underway For the race fuertaventurae: improved protection from poaching, reduction of grazing (agricultural decline) and habitat management within protected areas^7,8,9. For the race undulata: no specific measures directly conserving the species are known. For the race macqueenii: studies of the status, ecology and migration of the species in various parts of its range, notably Kazakhstan^2,3,4,6,11. Captive breeding schemes have been established which are intended in part as quarry substitutes for wild birds, and also for certain restocking initiatives in Arabia⁶.

Conservation measures proposed Produce a range-wide action and recovery plan, based on agreement under the Convention on Migratory Species. Monitor and reduce hunting pressure throughout range. Establish robust, workable systems for the sustainability of hunting throughout range. Create hunting preserves and other types of managed protected areas. Reduce grazing and other farming pressures^2,4,5,6. For the race fuertaventurae: Designate new and expand existing Special Protected Areas under European law. Increase wardening of key areas. Ensure safe powerline positions; Conduct rigorous census every five years. Continue conservation-related biological research. Undertake local awareness campaigns^7,8,9.

References 1. Collar (1979). 2. Combreau et al. (2001). 3. Combreau et al. (2002). 4. O. Combreau and M. Lawrence in litt. 2004. 5. Goriup (1997). 6. F. Launay pers. comm. (2004). 7. Martí and del Moral (2003). 8. Martín and Lorenzo (2001). 9. Martín, A. et al. (1997). 10. Snow and Perrins (1998). 11. Tourenq et al. (2004). 12. Carrascal & Alonso (2005). 13. Carrascal et al. (2006). 14. C. González and J. A. Lorenzo in litt. (2007).

Further web sources of information

Action Plan for Chlamydotis undulata fuertaventurae

Action Plan for Chlamydotis undulata undulata

Detailed species account from Birds in Europe: population estimates, trends and conservation status (BirdLife International 2004)

Fully detailed species accounts from the Threatened birds of Asia: the BirdLife International Red Data Book (BirdLife International 2001), together with new information collated since the publication of the Red Data Book

Spanish Ornithological Society's LIFE project

Text account compilers Phil Benstead (BirdLife International), Ian Burfield (BirdLife International - European Division), Stuart Butchart (BirdLife International), Nigel Collar (BirdLife International), James Gilroy (BirdLife International), Nic Peet (BirdLife International), Rob Pople (BirdLife International - European Division)

Contributors Cristina González (SEO/BirdLife), Ana Iñigo (Sociedad Española de Ornitología), Juan Antonio Lorenzo (SEO/BirdLife)

IUCN Red List evaluators Jeremy Bird (BirdLife International), Stuart Butchart (BirdLife International), Nigel Collar (BirdLife International), James Gilroy (BirdLife International)

Recommended citation BirdLife International (2009) Species factsheet: Chlamydotis undulata. 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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