Justification This species is classified as Endangered since it has an extremely small population and a very small range, within which habitat continues to be lost and degraded.

Family/Sub-family Accipitridae

Species name author Verreaux, 1862

Taxonomic source(s) Simmons (2000)

Taxonomic note Circus maillardi (Sibley and Monroe 1990, 1993) has been split into C. maillardi and C. macrosceles following Simmons (2000).

Identification 54 cm. Large harrier. Male has mainly black head and dark back, contrasting with light grey primaries/secondaries, unbarred tail, and white rump, belly, and underwings. Female and immature dark brown, with barred tail. Whitish rump at all ages. Voice Grating kiay kioo near breeding site, kai pi-pi-pi-pi-pi by male during display flights. Hints Search in forested habitat.

Population estimate

Population trend

Range estimate (breeding/resident)

Country endemic?

200 - 340

increasing

1,500 km²

Yes

Range & population Circus maillardi is confined to Réunion (to France). Current population estimates range from less than 100 pairs to 125-130¹ or 130-170 pairs⁶. A population of around 130 pairs probably equates to a total population close to or exceeding 500 individuals¹⁰. The range appears to have been stable from the late 1970s to the present¹, and numbers are at least stable¹⁰ and probably increasing as a consequence of protection^3,7,10. Most suitable habitat is occupied, albeit with varying densities⁷.

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

Ecology: When breeding, it largely occupies indigenous and degraded forests^2,4,6 - although rarely tall, dense forest - mostly between 300 and 700 m. It forages in most habitats, but particularly in wooded and forested habitats (65%), as well as cultivated (sugarcane) fields and pastures (20%) and open grasslands and savannas (15%)¹. Its original diet was probably entirely birds and insects, but now c.50% consists of introduced mammals such as rats, mice and Tenrec Tenrec ecaudatus⁴. Its fecundity is poor for a member of the Circus genus and is probably related to the lack of natural predators and low benefits of dispersion⁴.

Threats Poaching⁶ and persecution (it is believed to be a predator of chickens)⁵ continue, despite protective legislation. Increasing urbanisation, road construction and tourism bring disturbance further into the breeding habitat. Below 1,300 m, cultivation and urbanisation have eliminated native forest from all but the steepest of slopes. Cyclones, heavy rains and fires degrade remaining habitat¹ that is already increasingly degraded by exotic plants⁸. Other possible threats include agricultural pesticide use, silvicultural management of some forests, and human hunting pressure on some prey species (e.g. larger birds)¹.

Conservation measures underway CITES Appendix II. It has been protected since 1966, with protection strengthened in 1974, leading to an increase in numbers³. Ongoing public awareness campaigns and conservation action aim to stop poaching and to rescue and release poached birds⁶.

Conservation measures proposed Monitor its population trends. Continue research to ascertain the effects of forest clearance and aid conservation plans. Continue developing public awareness campaigns to stop poaching and persecution. Protect remaining habitat⁶.

References 1. Bretagnolle et al. (2000). 2. V. Bretagnolle in litt. (1999). 3. Cheke (1987c). 4. Clouet (1978). 5. Jakubek et al. (1997). 6. M. Le Corre in litt. (1999). 7. M. Le Corre in litt. (2000). 8. Macdonald et al. (1991). 9. Simmons (2000). 10. V. Bretagnolle in litt. (2007).

Text account compilers Jonathan Ekstrom (BirdLife International), John Pilgrim (BirdLife International), Alison Stattersfield (BirdLife International), Joe Taylor (BirdLife International)

Contributors Vincent Bretagnolle (Centre d'Etudes Biologiques de Chizé), Matthieu Le Corre (Centre d'Etudes Biologiques de Chizé), Roger Safford (BirdLife International)

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

Recommended citation BirdLife International (2009) Species factsheet: Circus maillardi. Downloaded from http://www.birdlife.org on 10/2/2010

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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