POPULATION SIZE AOO EOO TREND
1,000-2,000 mat. ind. - 641,006 km2
NORTH AFRICA REGIONAL ASSESSMENT: ENDANGERED (EN) C2a(ii)
The Eurasian hobby is an uncommon local migrant, breeding in forests in the northern half of Morocco, most like-ly with a continuous distribution into northern Algeria and across to western Tunisia. The resident population has been estimated at 1,000–2,000 mature individuals in a single subpopulation, but further validation of this estimate is needed. Ongoing population decline is inferred from the observed degradation of open wooded areas, its main suitable habitat, and the small number of sightings in recent road censuses in Morocco. For these reasons the species is listed as Endangered under criterion C2a(ii).
DISTRIBUTION
This uncommon local migrant breeds in forests in the northern half of Morocco up to 2,000 m asl (Thévenot et al., 2003), most likely with a continuous distribution in forests through northern Algeria (Isenmann and Moali, 2000;
Sahnoune, 2016; Fellous, 2017) to western Tunisia (Isenmann et al., 2005). It bred in Libya in 1923, but there have been no breeding observations since then (Isenmann et al., 2016). The entire breeding population in Europe and North Africa winters in the Sahel zone and in eastern and southern Africa, passing through all the North African countries on the way (Isenmann and Moali, 2000; Thévenot et al., 2003; Isenmann et al., 2005, 2016; Clark and Davies, 2018).
EN
© Karim Rousselon
POPULATION
In the late 20th century, the breeding population was estimated at between 500 and 1,000 breeding pairs in Mo-rocco (Thévenot et al., 2003), with 50 breeding pairs in Tunisia at the beginning of the 21st century (Isenmann et al., 2005), although further validation of this estimate is needed. Recent road surveys (2015–2017) during raptor breeding seasons throughout Morocco suggest the species could actually be at a low density in Morocco, with only one individual seen in 500 km (A. Onrubia, pers. obs., 2015–17). Therefore the figure of 500–1,000 pairs may now be an overestimate. There are no data from Algeria.
Considering the unknown breeding population in Algeria, the North African population may be estimated at no less than 500–1,000 breeding pairs (1,000–2,000 mature individuals). Ongoing population decline is inferred to be occurring in the species' range, given the observed degradation of open wooded areas, its main suitable habitat, and sightings in recent road censuses in Morocco.
HABITATS AND ECOLOGY
Most individuals of the species are migratory. European and North African birds mainly winter south of Sahara (Clark and Davies, 2018). Autumnal migration occurs from late July to November, peaking in late September and early October. Spring migrants are sighted in mid-February, and passage lasts until early June, with the majority appearing between mid-April and early May (Isenmann and Moali, 2000; Thévenot et al., 2003; Isenmann et al., 2005, 2016; Strandberg et al., 2009). The species migrates along broad fronts and usually does not concentrate at narrow sea crossings as do many other migratory raptors (Snow and Perrins, 1998; Strandberg et al., 2009;
Orta et al., 2020c). Birds are usually seen singly, in pairs or family groups, even on migration, with larger groups being rare except at rich winter feeding sites and wintering communal roosts, where it usually joins other small fal-cons (Ferguson-Lees and Christie, 2001; Clark and Davies, 2018). Individuals hunt mainly birds and flying insects, but also bats, small mammals and reptiles, and they are often more active at dawn and dusk (Clark and Davies, 2018). They also kleptoparasitise other small raptors by stealing their prey (Clark and Davies, 2018).
Eurasian hobbies breed in open wooded areas, using corvid nests (and also other raptors' nests, del Hoyo et al., 1994), so they do not nest until summer when corvid nests are available, and this also coincides with more passerine fledglings being available to feed their chicks (Clark and Davies, 2018). They breed in oak woods and pine forests in North Africa (Thévenot et al., 2003; Isenmann et al., 2005) and avoid completely deforested areas (del Hoyo et al., 1994). The clutch typically consists of three eggs (Orta et al., 2020c). In winter the species may be found in a wide variety of habitats, including woodlands, savannas, grasslands, wetlands, agricultural areas, town parks and mountain grasslands (Clark and Davies, 2018). Although it does not have strict habitat requirements, it is very sensitive to human disturbance.
THREATS
The clearing of old forest patches has caused local declines (Orta et al., 2020c). Agricultur-al intensification threatens Eurasian hobbies through the clear-felling of nesting trees and the reduction in prey such as insects and farmland birds (Sergio et al., 2001).
Pesticide use against locusts has been reported as a potential threat in wintering grounds (Sergio et al., 2001), and so this could be an additional threat within this re-gion too. However, pesticide poisoning has likely had only minor impacts, as has egg collecting, which tends to be a local issue (Ferguson-Lees and Christie, 2001).
© IUCN
Distribution range of the Eurasian hobby, Falco subbuteo - Linnaeus, 1758 in North Africa. Source: The IUCN Red List of the breeding birds of prey of North Africa.
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Shooting is a significant cause of mortality during migration over Mediterranean islands (Sergio et al., 2001) and probably also in North African countries, as is the case with other raptors (Brochet et al., 2016; Elhalawani, 2016).
Persecution of corvids may deplete the availability of nesting sites locally and can also lead to unintentional killing (Sergio et al. 2001). A growing threat is human disturbance associated with silvicultural and hunting activities during the breeding season (Sergio et al., 2001). The species is also highly vulnerable to the effects of wind energy developments (STRIX, 2012), so the increasing number of massive wind energy projects in North Morocco could be a huge threat to the migrant population through the Strait of Gibraltar.
CONSERVATION
Conservation actions in place: CMS Appendix II, CITES Appendix II.
Conservation and research actions needed: Appropriate agricultural policies should be promoted, includ-ing preservation of trees for nestinclud-ing, control of pesticides to maintain insect populations throughout the bird’s range, maintenance of stubble fields and hedges, and direct drilling to preserve farmland birds that Eurasian hobbies feed on. Woodlands should also be managed appropriately, avoiding the complete removal of all trees.
The provision of artificial nests can also help this species when there is a lack of natural nests of other species for it to use. Policies should also look to control hunting along migration routes. Additionally, suitable impact assessments should be conducted for wind energy developments, especially in the southern part of the Strait of Gibraltar. Surveys and monitoring of the population should be conducted to determine, protect and manage potential breeding sites and key dispersal areas, including migration corridors in the western and eastern flyways.
Other key research should investigate this species’ migration strategies and ranging behaviour by deploying GPS loggers. In addition, as this species is migratory, work should not only focus on North Africa; wintering areas and their ecological requirements and threats should be identified to protect them; and further research is needed to determine any additional potential threats to the species in North Africa and its wintering grounds. More broadly, work is needed to increase awareness of biodiversity conservation.
Assessor(s): Cherkaoui, I., Rousselon, K., Onrubia, A., Radi, M. & Fellous-Djardini, A.
Reviewer(s): Garrido López, J.R. & Qninba, A.
Contributor(s): Gyenge, P., Bakass, B. & BirdLife International Date: 2020–09–08