Common name Scientific name Regional category Regional trend
Eurasian sparrowhawk Accipiter nisus LC Unknown
The species breeds in all North African countries except Egypt. The overall population size is suspected to be between 4,000 and 7,000 mature individuals in the region. The population trend is not known, but the population is not believed to be decreasing rapidly enough to approach the thresholds for a threatened category. Therefore, the species is evaluated as Least Concern.
Assessor(s): Rousselon, K., Azafzaf, H., Cherkaoui, I., Bergier, P., Buirzayqah, S., Riad, A., Haitham, O., Chokri, M., Etayeb, K., Saheb, M. & Monti, F.
Reviewer(s): Garrido López, J.R. & Qninba, A.
Contributor(s): Gyenge, P., Bakass, B. & BirdLife International Date: 2020–09–07
Golden eagle Aquila chrysaetos LC Stable
This is a widespread species in North Africa breeding from Morocco to Egypt. Although its population is small (3,300 mature individuals), it is not considered to be declining. Therefore, it is assessed as Least Concern.
Assessor(s): Garrido López, J.R., Rousselon, K., Irizi, A., Benmammar Hasnaoui, H., Buirzayqah, S., Riad, A., Haitham, O., Monchaux, G. & Hamdi, N.
Reviewer(s): Qninba, A. & Bautista, J.
Contributor(s): Gyenge, P., Bakass, B., BirdLife International, Fellous-Djardini, A. & Qninba, A. Date: 2020–09–07
Bonelli’s eagle Aquila fasciata LC Stable
This is a widespread species in North Africa, breeding from Morocco to Egypt. Although its population is small (1,900-3,200 mature individuals), it is not considered to be declining, and it does not approach the thresholds for listing in a threatened category. Therefore, it is assessed as Least Concern.
Assessor(s): Irizi, A., Benmammar Hasnaoui, H., Rousselon, K., Buirzayqah, S., Haitham, O., Monchaux, G. & Riad, A.
Reviewer(s): Qninba, A. & Garrido López, J.R.
Contributor(s): Gyenge, P., Bakass, B., BirdLife International, Ouni, R., Qninba, A. & Hamdi, N. Date: 2020–09–07
Long-legged buzzard Buteo rufinus LC Unknown
This species has a large range and a breeding population of 6,000–8,000 mature individuals throughout North Africa. The population trend is not known, but the population is not believed to be decreasing rapidly enough to approach the thresholds for a threatened category, even though the Moroccan population has decreased.
Assessor(s): Ouni, R., Irizi, A., Benmammar Hasnaoui, H., Monchaux, G., Hamdi, N., Haitham, O., Riad, A. & Buirzayqah, S.
Reviewer(s): Garrido López, J.R. & Qninba, A.
Contributor(s): Gyenge, P., Bakass, B., BirdLife International, Garrido López, J.R. & Qninba, A. Date: 2020–09–07
Black-winged kite Elanus caeruleus LC Increasing The North African population of the species is estimated to number 2,600–3,000 mature individuals. The population is re-ported to be increasing and its range is expanding in Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia and Egypt.
Therefore, the species is listed as Least Concern.
Assessor(s): Rousselon, K., Hamdi, N., Haitham, O., Buirzayqah, S., Irizi, A., Ouni, R., Monchaux, G., Riad, A. & Benmammar Hasnaoui, H.
Reviewer(s): Garrido López, J.R. & Qninba, A.
Contributor(s): Gyenge, P., Bakass, B. & BirdLife International Date: 2020–09–08
Booted eagle Hieraaetus pennatus LC Stable
With a population size of ca. 10,000 mature individuals or more, and no evidence of a population decline, the resident pop-ulation does not approach the thresholds of threatened categories under any criterion. Therefore, the species is listed as Least Concern.
Assessor(s): Cherkaoui, I., Azafzaf, H., Chokri, M.A., Benmammar Hasnaoui, H., Rousselon, K., Buirzayqah, S., Etayeb, K.
& Monti, F.
Reviewer(s): Garrido López, J.R. & Qninba, A.
Contributor(s): Gyenge, P., Bakass, B., Garrido López, J.R., BirdLife International & Qninba, A. Date: 2020–09–08
Black kite Milvus migrans LC Unknown
This species occurs over a large range, with a breeding population estimated at 4,500 breeding pairs or 9,000 mature indi-viduals. The population trend is not known, but the population is not believed to be decreasing rapidly enough to approach the thresholds for a threatened category. For these reasons the species is evaluated as Least Concern.
The subspecies Milvus migrans ssp. aegyptius has a very small population (150 mature individuals in one subpopulation) in Egypt which is considered to be gradually declining due to habitat degradation for agriculture and development. If in the future this population is treated as a separate species, it would likely qualify to be listed as regionally threatened in category Critically Endangered (CR) under criterion C2a(ii).
Assessor(s): Benmammar Hasnaoui, H., Riad, A., Irizi, A., Ouni, R., Monchaux, G., Hamdi, N., Haitham, O. & Buirzayqah, S.
Reviewer(s): Garrido López, J.R. & Qninba, A.
Contributor(s): Gyenge, P., Bakass, B., BirdLife International, Garrido López, J.R. & Qninba, A. Date: 2020–05–17
Lanner falcon Falco biarmicus LC Unknown
This species has a resident population estimated at 5,000–6,000 mature individuals. The population sizes in Libya and Egypt are thought to be declining because of poaching and illegal trade, but the populations in Morocco and Tunisia are thought to be stable or increasing, so the overall trend is unknown. Therefore, it does not warrant listing as threatened under any criterion and is listed as Least Concern. However, further research should be conducted to detect any change in the popu-lation trend. The species may undergo significant declines in the near future as a result of poaching, and could be uplisted;
therefore, a reassessment of its risk of extinction is recommended in 5 years.
Assessor(s): Buirzayqah, S., Riad, A., Haitham, O., Benmammar Hasnaoui, H., Irizi, A., Hamdi, N., Ouni, R., Rousselon, K.
& Monchaux, G.
Reviewer(s): Garrido López, J.R. & Qninba, A.
Contributor(s): Gyenge, P., Bakass, B. & BirdLife International Date: 2020–05–22
Lesser kestrel Falco naumanni LC Increasing
This species has a resident population estimated at 5,000–6,000 mature individuals which is not declining and is even in-creasing in urban areas, and not facing major threats. For these reasons the species is evaluated as Least Concern.
Assessor(s): Cherkaoui, I., Saheb, M., Essetti, I., Fellous-Djardini, A., Benmammar Hasnaoui, H., Cuzin, F., Radi, M., Onrubia, A., Noaman, M. & Garrido López, J.R.
Reviewer(s): Barrios, V. & Qninba, A.
Contributor(s): Gyenge, P., Bakass, B., BirdLife International, Cuzin, F. & Qninba, A. Date: 2020–09–08
Common name Scientific name Regional category Regional trend
87
Peregrine falcon Falco peregrinus LC Stable
This species has a resident population estimated at 4,580–5,800 mature individuals. The population trend is tentatively assumed to be stable overall, but there is evidence for localised declines, e.g. in Libya. The species is evaluated as Least Concern, but given the increasing pressure from threats, trapping in particular, in the future the species may be assessed as declining and so it would warrant being uplisted. Further research will be required to detect any such changes in the population trend.
Assessor(s): Rousselon, K., Hamdi, N., Haitham, O., Buirzayqah, S., Irizi, A., Ouni, R., Monchaux, G., Riad, A. & Benmammar Hasnaoui, H.
Reviewer(s): Garrido López, J.R. & Qninba, A.
Contributor(s): Gyenge, P., Bakass, B. & BirdLife International Date: 2020–09–08
Common kestrel Falco tinnunculus LC Unknown
The resident population does not approach the thresholds for Vulnerable under criteria B, C or D because it has an extremely large range and is suspected to have a large breeding population. The population trend is not known, but the population is not believed to be decreasing rapidly to approach the thresholds for Vulnerable under criterion A. For these reasons the species is evaluated as Least Concern, but further research should be conducted to ascertain its actual breeding numbers and trend.
Assessor(s): Hamdi, N., Monchaux, G., Ouni, R., Haitham, O., Riad, A., Irizi, A., Benmammar Hasnaoui, H. & Buirzayqah, S.
Reviewer(s): Garrido López, J.R. & Qninba, A.
Contributor(s): Gyenge, P., Bakass, B., Garrido López, J.R., BirdLife International & Qninba, A. Date: 2020–05–10
Northern long-eared owl Asio otus LC Unknown
It is a widespread species in non-desert Morocco, Algeria and eastern Tunisia, breeding also locally in Libya and Egypt, where it is a recent breeder. The population size and trend are not known but it is likely to number more than 1,000 breeding pairs (>2,000 mature individuals) and not to be declining. Therefore, it is not believed to approach the thresholds for a threat-ened category, because of its wide range where it is common and its recent colonisation in Egypt. The species is evaluated as Least Concern.
Assessor(s): Buirzayqah, S., Haitham, O., Irizi, A., Monchaux, G., Ouni, R., Riad, A., Benmammar Hasnaoui, H. & Hamdi, N.
Reviewer(s): Garrido López, J.R. & Qninba, A.
Contributor(s): Gyenge, P., Bakass, B. & BirdLife International Date: 2020–09–08
Little owl Athene noctua LC Unknown
This species is a fairly common resident of all countries in North Africa up to 2,600 m elevation, from the coast to the sand deserts and along the Nile Valley and Delta and the north of Egypt. The population size of this widespread species is not known, but it is large and is not believed to be decreasing. Therefore, it is evaluated as Least Concern.
Assessor(s): Monchaux, G., Buirzayqah, S., Haitham, O., Hamdi, N., Irizi, A., Ouni, R. & Riad, A. Reviewer(s): Garrido López, J.R. & Qninba, A.
Contributor(s): Gyenge, P., Bakass, B., BirdLife International & Qninba, A.
Date: 2020–09–08
Pharaoh eagle-owl Bubo ascalaphus LC Unknown
The species is widespread in the region and the population size is estimated to be at least 10,000 mature individuals. The population trend is not known for this species, but it is not thought to warrant listing as threatened under any criterion.
Therefore, it is evaluated as Least Concern.
Assessor(s): Irizi, A., Hamdi, N., Monchaux, G., Ouni, R., Haitham, O., Riad, A. & Buirzayqah, S. Reviewer(s): Garrido López, J.R. & Qninba, A.
Contributor(s): Gyenge, P., Bakass, B., BirdLife International, Qninba, A. & Rousselon, K.
Date: 2020–09–08
Common name Scientific name Regional category Regional trend
Common scops-owl Otus scops LC Unknown
This species breeds in forests in the northern Maghreb (Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia and north-western Libya) south to the Sahara desert, and also in oases, up to 2,500 m. The population size is not known; however, the population is not considered to be facing declines or major threats.
Assessor(s): Cuzin, F., Essetti, I., Fellous-Djardini, A., Noaman, M., Onrubia, A., Radi, M. & Saheb, M. Reviewer(s): Garrido López, J.R. & Qninba, A.
Contributor(s): Gyenge, P., Bakass, B. & BirdLife International Date: 2020–09–09
Tawny owl Strix aluco LC Unknown
The population size and trend are not known, but it is not uncommon, is not believed to be decreasing, nor is it facing any major threats. For these reasons the species is evaluated as Least Concern.
Assessor(s): Radi, M., Benmammar Hasnaoui, H., Cuzin, F., Essetti, I., Fellous-Djardini, A., Noaman, M., Onrubia, A. & Saheb, M.
Reviewer(s): Garrido López, J.R. & Qninba, A.
Contributor(s): Gyenge, P., Bakass, B. & BirdLife International Date: 2020–09–09
Barn owl Tyto alba LC Unknown
This species is a fairly common resident in North Africa up to 2,000 m, from the coast to the sand deserts, where it is less abundant, and along the Nile River in Egypt, including suburban environments. The population size is not known; however, the population is not considered to be facing declines or major threats.
Assessor(s): Saheb, M., Cuzin, F., Essetti, I., Fellous-Djardini, A., Noaman, M., Onrubia, A. & Radi, M. Reviewer(s): Garrido López, J.R. & Qninba, A.
Contributor(s): Gyenge, P., Bakass, B. & BirdLife International Date: 2020–09–09
Common name Scientific name Regional category Regional trend
89
MARGINAL SPECIES NOT APPLICABLE (NA)
Common name Scientific name Regional category Regional trend
Eurasian buzzard Buteo buteo NA
Rare local Eurasian migrant and winter visitor (Isenmann and Moali, 2000; Isenmann et al., 2005, 2016; Clark and Davies, 2017; OSME, 2019). It used to be widespread in Morocco during winter (Thévenot et al., 2003) but the number of migrant birds has declined from several hundred in the 1980s to a few dozen currently due to climate change; the same might be happening throughout North Africa (Martín et al., 2014).
Hen harrier Circus cyaneus NA
Rare winter visitor from Eurasia to the Mediterranean coast of North Africa, which is the southern edge of its wintering range (Clark and Davies, 2017). Scarce winter visitor in Morocco down to the Saharan coast (Thévenot et al., 2003; Bergier et al., 2017), Algeria (Isenmann and Moali, 2000), Tunisia (Isenmann et al., 2005) and Libya (Isenmann et al., 2016). It also occurs inland and along the River Nile in Egypt (Clark and Davies, 2017).
Lesser spotted eagle Clanga pomarina NA
This species breeds in central and eastern Europe and Iran, wintering in Africa (Bosch and Meyburg, 2012) with marginal breeding in Algeria (Isenmann and Moali, 2000). The breeding population migrates over Israel and Egypt in spring and au-tumn (Krumenacker, 2013; BirdLife International, 2016), and over the Strait of Gibraltar and Italy to pass through Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia and Libya (Isenmann and Moali, 2000; Isenmann et al., 2005; Onrubia et al., 2011; Bosch and Meyburg, 2012;
Isenmann et al., 2016).
White-tailed eagle Haliaeetus albicilla NA
This species breeds and winters in Asia, northern and eastern Europe and south-eastwards to the eastern side of the Per-sian Gulf (BirdLife International, 2016), with marginal breeding in Algeria until the last quarter of the 20th century (1–2 pairs in 1975, Isenmann and Moali, 2000), Egypt in 19th century (Goodman and Meininger, 1989) and maybe Tunisia (Heim de Balsac and Mayard, 1962). It is now a very rare winter vagrant in Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia and Egypt (Goodman and Meininger, 1989; Thévenot et al., 2003; Isenmann and Moali, 2000; Isenmann et al., 2005; Clark and Davies, 2018).
European honey-buzzard Pernis apivorus NA
Recorded on both migrations throughout North Africa (Goodman and Meininger, 1989; Isenmann and Moali, 2000; Thévenot et al., 2003; Isenmann et al., 2005, 2016; Bergier et al., 2017; OSME, 2019).
Saker falcon Falco cherrug NA
A species recorded on both migrations and a scarce winter visitor throughout North Africa (Goodman and Meininger, 1989;
Isenmann and Moali, 2000; Thévenot et al., 2003; Isenmann et al., 2005, 2016; Bergier et al., 2017; OSME, 2019).
Merlin Falco columbarius NA
Holarctic species exceptionally breeding locally in Algeria in the 19th century (Isenmann and Moali, 2000). Currently it is a rare to uncommon winter visitor to coastal northern Africa, recorded in Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia and along the River Nile in Egypt;
vagrant in Libya (Isenmann and Moali, 2000; Thévenot et al., 2003; Isenmann et al., 2005, 2016; Clark and Davies, 2017).
Red-footed falcon Falco vespertinus NA
Palaearctic migrant recorded on both passages from Morocco to Egypt, wintering in eastern and southern Africa, with a loop migration which brings the birds further west in spring and east in autumn (Goodman and Meininger, 1989; Isenmann and Moali, 2000; Thévenot et al., 2003; Isenmann et al., 2005; Bergier et al., 2015; Isenmann et al., 2016; Clark and Davies, 2017).
Short-eared owl Asio flammeus NA
This is a species recorded on both migrations and a scarce winter visitor throughout North Africa (Goodman and Meininger, 1989; Isenmann and Moali, 2000; Thévenot et al., 2003; Isenmann et al., 2005, 2016; Bergier et al., 2017; OSME, 2019).
Eurasian eagle owl Bubo bubo NA
This Eurasian species (BirdLife International, 2017) has some unconfirmed marginal records in Morocco (Thévenot et al., 2003; Ramirez and Onrubia, 2016) and Algeria (Isenmann and Moali, 2000).