Justification This species is considered Endangered owing to its very small and severely fragmented population, which is presumably still declining in response to habitat loss, and persecution.

Family/Sub-family Accipitridae

Species name author Lawrence, 1860

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

Synonyms Accipiter gundlachii Collar et al. (1994), Accipiter gundlachii Collar and Andrew (1988)

Identification 43-51 cm. Medium-sized, stocky forest raptor. Adult, dark blue-grey upperparts with blackish cap, and barred rufous underparts. Immature, brown above, paler below, but with dark streaking. Rounded tail in flight. Similar spp. Sharp-shinned Hawk A. striatus is smaller and has squared tail in flight. Broad-winged Hawk Buteo platypterus is broader-winged and -tailed, and chunkier. Voice Loud kek-kek-kek ....

Population estimate

Population trend

Range estimate (breeding/resident)

Country endemic?

300 - 400

decreasing

12,700 km²

Yes

Range & population Accipiter gundlachi has never been common, but formerly occurred throughout Cuba. It is now very rare and local, with five main population centres known to remain. The total population was estimated at 150-200 pairs in 1994. There are three centres for the nominate race in west and central Cuba, but two of these held only three and 20 pairs respectively in 1994. There are two further areas important for the race wileyi in the east of the island, where the bulk of the population resides. Sightings around Pico Turquino are scarce, but a bird was seen on the north slopes of the Sierra Maestra in early 1999⁴.

Ecology: It is found up to 800 m in a variety of wooded habitats including humid, dry and pine forests¹. It preys mostly on birds, including poultry. The breeding season is February-May, with young fledging by June^1,2. The nest is generally placed close to the trunk of a high tree, but below the canopy.

Threats Habitat loss and disturbance as a result of logging and agricultural conversion, and human persecution (because it preys on poultry) are the chief causes of the decline.

Conservation measures underway CITES Appendix II. Populations occur within the Sierra Maestra and Sierra del Cristal National Parks. A community education program has been intiated, but is currently very small scale⁵.

Conservation measures proposed Survey Pinar del Río province and the Zapata swamp, and re-survey areas in eastern Cuba to determine current populations and assess trends³. Further define the species's ecological requirements³. Conduct education and public awareness campaigns to highlight the plight of the bird and discourage human persecution³.

References Collar et al. (1992). 1. Bierregaard (1994a). 2. A. Kirkconnell in litt. (1999). 3. A. Mitchell in litt. (1998). 4. Rompré et al. (2000). 5. A. Kirkconnell in litt. (2007).

Further web sources of information

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), Isabel Isherwood (BirdLife International), Simon Mahood (BirdLife International), David Wege (BirdLife International)

Contributors Arturo Kirkconnell (Museo Nacional de Historia Natural), Andy Mitchell

IUCN Red List evaluators Stuart Butchart (BirdLife International), Simon Mahood (BirdLife International)

Recommended citation BirdLife International (2009) Species factsheet: Accipiter gundlachi. 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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