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Taita Falcon Falco fasciinucha

IUCN Red List Criteria

Near Threatened (criteria nearly met) C2a(ii);D1 

IUCN Red List history

Year Category
2012 Near Threatened
2008 Near Threatened
2004 Near Threatened
2000 Lower Risk/Near Threatened
1996 Vulnerable
1994 Vulnerable
1988 Near Threatened

Species attributes

Migratory status not a migrant Forest dependency Low
Land mass type continent
 Average mass -

Distribution

  Estimate Data quality
Extent of Occurrence breeding/resident (km2) 38,800 medium
Number of locations -
Fragmentation -

Population & trend

  Estimate Data quality Derivation Year of estimate
No. of mature individuals 1000 poor Estimated 2001
Population trend Stable -
Number of subpopulations - - -
Largest subpopulation - - -
Generation length (yrs) 6.2 - - -
Population justification: There are probably more than 1,000 mature individuals, roughly equating to 1,500 individuals in total.
Trend justification: The population is suspected to be stable overall, in the absence of evidence for widespread declines or substantial threats. Apparent declines have been noted in some range states, such as Zimbabwe (N. Deacon per A. Jenkins in litt. 2012), although these are difficult to interpret given the species's erratic occupancy of breeding territories, thus regular and systematic monitoring is required.

Country/Territory distribution

Country/Territory Occurrence status Extinct Breeding Non-breeding Passage
Botswana Native No      
Ethiopia Native No      
Kenya Native No      
Malawi Native No      
Mozambique Native No      
South Africa Native No      
South Sudan Native No      
Sudan Native No      
Tanzania Native No      
Uganda Native No      
Zambia Native No      
Zimbabwe Native No      

Important Bird Areas where this species has triggered the IBA criteria

Country/Territory IBA Name IBA link
Kenya Ol Donyo Sabache site factsheet
Kenya Taita Hills Forests site factsheet
Malawi Nkhotakota Wildlife Reserve site factsheet
Mozambique Chimanimani Mountains (Mozambique) site factsheet
Tanzania Ngorongoro Conservation Area site factsheet
Tanzania West Usambara Mountains site factsheet
Zambia Mosi-Oa-Tunya National Park and Batoka Gorge site factsheet
Zambia Wonder Gorge site factsheet
Zimbabwe Batoka Gorge site factsheet
Zimbabwe Chimanimani Mountains (Zimbabwe) site factsheet
Zimbabwe Chizarira National Park site factsheet
Zimbabwe Haroni - Rusitu junction and Botanical Reserves site factsheet
Zimbabwe Nyanga mountains site factsheet

Habitats & altitude

Habitat (level 1) Habitat (level 2) Importance Occurrence
Artificial/Terrestrial Arable Land suitable non-breeding
Artificial/Terrestrial Pastureland suitable non-breeding
Forest Subtropical/Tropical Dry suitable resident
Rocky areas (eg. inland cliffs, mountain peaks) major resident
Savanna Dry suitable resident
Shrubland Subtropical/Tropical Dry suitable resident
Altitude 600 - 3800 m Occasional altitudinal limits  

Threats & impact

Threat (level 1) Threat (level 2) Impact and Stresses
Human intrusions & disturbance Recreational activities Timing Scope Severity Impact
Ongoing Minority (<50%) Slow, Significant Decline Low Impact: 5
Stresses
Species disturbance
Natural system modifications Dams & water management/use / Large dams Timing Scope Severity Impact
Future Minority (<50%) Slow, Significant Decline Low Impact: 3
Stresses
Ecosystem degradation, Ecosystem conversion
Invasive non-native/alien species/diseases Problematic native species/diseases Timing Scope Severity Impact
Ongoing Minority (<50%) Slow, Significant Decline Low Impact: 5
Stresses
Competition, Reduced reproductive success
Invasive non-native/alien species/diseases Problematic native species/diseases / Lanner Falcon (Falco biarmicus) Timing Scope Severity Impact
Ongoing Majority (50-90%) Negligible declines Low Impact: 5
Stresses
None
Invasive non-native/alien species/diseases Problematic native species/diseases / Peregrine Falcon (Falco peregrinus) Timing Scope Severity Impact
Ongoing Majority (50-90%) Negligible declines Low Impact: 5
Stresses
None
Invasive non-native/alien species/diseases Problematic native species/diseases / Spotted Eagle-owl (Bubo africanus) Timing Scope Severity Impact
Ongoing Minority (<50%) Negligible declines Low Impact: 4
Stresses
None
Pollution Agricultural & forestry effluents / Herbicides and pesticides Timing Scope Severity Impact
Ongoing Minority (<50%) Slow, Significant Decline Low Impact: 5
Stresses
Reduced reproductive success, Species mortality

Utilisation

Purpose Primary form used Life stage used Source Scale Level Timing
Pets Whole Adults and juveniles Wild International Trivial Recent

Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2013) Species factsheet: Falco fasciinucha. Downloaded from http://www.birdlife.org on 22/05/2013. Recommended citation for factsheets for more than one species: BirdLife International (2013) IUCN Red List for birds. Downloaded from http://www.birdlife.org on 22/05/2013.

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.

To provide new information to update this factsheet or to correct any errors, please email BirdLife

To contribute to discussions on the evaluation of the IUCN Red List status of Globally Threatened Birds, please visit BirdLife's Globally Threatened Bird Forums.

Key facts
Current IUCN Red List category Near Threatened
Family Falconidae (Falcons and caracaras)
Species name author Reichenow & Neumann, 1895
Population size 1000 mature individuals
Population trend Stable
Distribution size (breeding/resident) 38,800 km2
Country endemic? No
Links to further information
- Summary information on this species
- Climate change species distributions