Justification This species has declined rapidly and now has an extremely small population, confined to a single area. There is a continuing decline in numbers and hence it qualifies as Critically Endangered.

Family/Sub-family Accipitridae

Species name author (Cassin, 1847)

Taxonomic source(s) Stotz et al. (1996)

Taxonomic note Chondrohierax uncinatus (Sibley and Monroe 1990, 1993) has been split into C. uncinatus and C. wilsonii following Stotz et al. (1996), contra AOU (1998). Although AOU (1998), along with most other authorities, treat wilsonii as a subspecies of uncinatus, there has recently been a trend towards its recognition as a species (Raffaele et al. 1998, Ferguson-Lees and Christie 2005). Initial enquiry by the BirdLife Taxonomic Working Group suggests that all major sources are incomplete in their presentation of the characters that distinguish wilsonii from uncinatus such that the degree of differentiation is nowhere clear. Pending an urgent full study, it is felt that, on the basis of current understanding, and given the extremely precarious conservation status of wilsonii, the better present course is to maintain wilsonii as a separate species.

Identification 38-43 cm. Stocky kite with massive yellow bill. Male dark grey above, whitish barred grey and rufous below, grey tail with three black bars and pale tip. Female brown above, coarsely barred rufous below. Immature black above, white below extending onto hindneck. In all plumages distinctive oval wing shape and barred underwings. Similar spp. Broad-winged Hawk Buteo platypterus has shorter tail and unbarred underwings. Voice Undocumented.

Population estimate

Population trend

Range estimate (breeding/resident)

Country endemic?

50-249

decreasing

3,900 km²

Yes

Range & population Chondrohierax wilsonii was formerly fairly widespread on Cuba, but is now confined to a tiny area in the east of the island between Moa and Baracoa, and possibly other parts of Holguín and Guantánamo provinces^3,4. It is Cuba's rarest raptor and is apparently on the verge of extinction^2,4.

Ecology: It is now confined to montane gallery forest², where it feeds chiefly on tree snails Polymita and slugs in the understorey⁴. Historically, it inhabited xerophytic vegetation and montane forest².

Threats The decline is mainly attributed to habitat destruction and alteration caused by logging and agricultural conversion. Farmers persecute the species because they (mistakenly) believe that it preys on poultry^2,4. Harvesting has apparently reduced numbers of tree snails, and thereby food availability^2,4.

Conservation measures underway CITES Appendix II. None is known.

Conservation measures proposed Survey to assess distribution and population³. Effectively protect remaining habitat². Protect tree snails². Conduct public awareness and education campaigns to help prevent persecution of the species². Protect the species under Cuban law³.

References 1. AOU (1998). 2. Gálvez-Aguilera and Berovides-Alvarez (1997). 3. A. Mitchell in litt. (1998). 4. Raffaele et al. (1998).

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.

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 Andy Mitchell

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

Recommended citation BirdLife International (2009) Species factsheet: Chondrohierax wilsonii. 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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