Justification This species qualifies as Vulnerable because it has a very small population, which is dependent on ongoing intensive management measures to mitigate the impact of threats such as poisoning, electrocution and insufficient food availability.

Family/Sub-family Accipitridae

Species name author Brehm, 1861

Taxonomic source(s) AERC TAC (2003), Sibley and Monroe (1990, 1993)

Identification 75-84 cm. Large, dark eagle. Generally dark brownish-black with prominent white "shoulders" on forewing and scapulars. Pale golden-cream nape and pale grey basal area on uppertail. Juvenile red-brown fading to pale buff with dark flight feathers and white fringes to coverts. In soaring and gliding flight wings held flat. Similar spp. Adult Golden Eagle A. chrysaetos lacks white "shoulders" and is less dark overall. Immature has large white wing flashes and white base to tail. Wings held in a flattened "V" shape. Voice Repeated barking owk.

Population estimate

Population trend

Range estimate (breeding/resident)

Country endemic?

300 - 400

increasing

117,000 km²

No

Range & population Aquila adalberti breeds in Spain in the Sierras of Guadarrama and Gredos, the plains of the Tajo and Tiétar rivers, the central hills of Extremadura, Montes de Toledo, the Alcudia valley, Sierra Morena and the Guadalquivir marshes, with occasional nesting in Salamanca and Málaga. In the 1960s, only 30 pairs remained, but recovery began in the early 1980s at a rate of five new breeding pairs per year up to 1994. After 1994, the population again started to decline from 148 pairs to 131 pairs in 1998¹, and breeding success in important areas such as the Guadalquivir marshes declined dramatically in the late 1990s¹. However, this is thought to represent a brief levelling out of a positive trend, and the population is now believed to number around 200 breeding pairs^5,8. The estimated population size has increased annually in Spain since 2000, and the species has recently recolonised Portugal (two pairs). Some of these increases can be attributed to more thorough searches within its range (notably in Andalucía), which is currently split into three subpopulations with relatively little interchange⁶.

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

Ecology: It occurs in alluvial plains and dunes in the Guadalquivir marshes, plains and hills in central Spain, and high mountain slopes in the Sistema Central, where there is an absence of irrigated farmland. The abundance and distribution of rabbits, its favoured prey, influence population density, range and reproductive performance. Indeed, its evolutionary dependence on rabbits has been suggested as permanently limiting its abundance and distribution¹⁰. Data from Doñana national park in Spain show that the most important variables explaining nest site selection are height of tree and distance from human activity². Many recently-colonised territories are in marginal areas, and several of the occupying pairs include at least one subadult bird^6,12,14.

Threats Habitat fragmentation has occurred as a result of deforestation for agriculture and timber, having negative impacts on nest site preferences in particular. Suitable habitat in breeding and dispersal areas has also declined as a consequence of urban development and land-use changes (e.g. new irrigation schemes in Huelva)⁹. Mortality from intentional poisoning has risen sharply, particularly in hunting reserves where game is commercially exploited. Between 1990-1999, 57 birds died from poisoning and this is thought to be the primary cause of declines in the late 1990s¹. Juveniles are frequently killed through electrocution by powerlines, with an increase in mortality due to this in the last few years⁷. Rabbit populations have declined as a result of viral haemorrhagic disease, and this is believed to have reduced breeding success¹⁴. In addition, changes in the management of hunting estates to favour larger quarry species, such as deer and boar, rather than rabbits and partridges, has further reduced prey availability⁹. Human activities in the vicinity of active nests can disturb incubating adults and reduce hatching success^11,14. The ingestion of lead shot embedded in the flesh of prey items may be a problem in certain areas^3,6. Recent modelling suggests no subpopulations are currently at risk of extinction, provided the current level of active management is maintained⁷.

Conservation measures underway CITES Appendix I and II. CMS Appendix I and II. It is legally protected in Spain, with 62% of the breeding population occurring in 20 protected areas. Since 1987, national and regional governments have been implementing a coordinated conservation plan for the species. A European action plan was published in 1996 (and an update is planned) and a national plan is being implemented. From 1991-1999, 14,370 dangerous electric towers were modified, considerably reducing deaths from electrocution⁷. A supplementary feeding programme has been established to mitigate the effects of rabbit decreases, and has significantly increased breeding success⁷. Nest monitoring has reduced disturbance and improved reproductive success. Work is ongoing to raise awareness and support on private land where the species breeds (over 70% of the territories), including improving habitat management¹³, and nearly 50% of breeding pairs are covered by such projects⁷. Numerous young birds have been released as part of a reintroduction project in Cádiz⁴, but no breeding pairs have yet become established in the province, and levels of mortality appear to be significant⁹.

Conservation measures proposed Continue with actions to reduce mortality, particularly from poisoning and electrocution⁶. Survey the breeding population annually. Approve regional recovery plans⁶. Maintain an adequate area of legally protected habitat (e.g. within the Natura 2000 network⁶). Protect and manage breeding sites and key dispersal areas. Continue the successful nest monitoring and supplementary feeding programmes⁶. Promote the recovery of the rabbit population⁶. Modify dangerous powerlines. Avoid the construction of wind farms in key areas for the species⁹. Increase coordination between private landowners, NGOs and government^6,9.

References González (1996b). 1. J. Criado in litt. (1999). 2. Bisson et al. (2002). 3. Pain et al. (2005). 4. M. Pandolfi in litt. (2003). 5. Grupo de Trabajo Nacional del Águila Imperial Ibérica (unpubl. data). 6. González and Oria (2004). 7. L. M. González in litt. (2005). 8. A. Madroño in litt. (2005). 9. B. Sánchez in litt. (2007). 10. Ferrer and Negro (2004). 11. González et al. (2006a). 12. González et al. (2006b). 13. García (2007). 14. Margalida et al. (2007).

Further web sources of information

Action Plan

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

Text account compilers Phil Benstead (BirdLife International), David Capper (BirdLife International), Jonathan Ekstrom (BirdLife International), Matt Harding (BirdLife International), Nic Peet (BirdLife International), Rob Pople (BirdLife International - European Division)

Contributors Juan Criado (Sociedad Española de Ornitología), Luis Mariano González (Ministerio de Medio Ambiente), Ana Iñigo (Sociedad Española de Ornitología), Alberto Madroño (Sociedad Española de Ornitología), Debbie Pain (Royal Society for the Protection of Birds), Massimo Pandolfi (University of Urbino, Italy), Beatriz Sánchez (Sociedad Española de Ornitología)

IUCN Red List evaluators Ian Burfield (BirdLife International - European Division), Stuart Butchart (BirdLife International), Rob Pople (BirdLife International - European Division)

Recommended citation BirdLife International (2009) Species factsheet: Aquila adalberti. 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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