Tawny Eagle  (Aquila rapax)

Regional Status

Global Status

IUCN Data (Global)

IUCN 2024. IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2024-1 (www)

Assessment year: 2022

Assessment Citation

Westrip, J.R.S., Fellous-Djardini, A., Cuzin, F., Saheb, M., Bergier, P., Benmammar Hasnaoui, H., Radi, M., Noaman, M., Essetti, I., Onrubia, A. & Riad, A. 2022. Aquila rapax (Mediterranean assessment). The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2022: e.T22696033A208745904. https://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2022-1.RLTS.T22696033A208745904.en. Accessed on 21 December 2024.

Geographic range:

The Tawny Eagle is a widespread raptor occurring over large areas of Sub-Saharan Africa, with isolated subpopulations in North Africa. The original breeding range of the species in this region included Morocco, northern Algeria and Tunisia. The species bred throughout Morocco, from the Tangier Peninsula to the Sahara through Souss and the western Middle Atlas, until the first half of the 20^th century (Thévenot et al. 2003, F. Cuzin pers. obs.). Since then, there have been only a small number of breeding records in Souss in 1980, 1981, 1990 and 1992 (Thévenot et al. 2003). The latest sightings are confined to a region ranging from northern Agadir to Tan Tan, in lowland areas, hills and low mountains (less than 1,200 m.) (F. Cuzin pers. obs.). The last nine mentions of the species (out of 29 received) approved by the CHM (Morocco Rare Birds Approval Committee) are from 2006, at the Oued Massa estuary and in the Tan Tan region (north Moroccan Sahara). Since then, all the reported observations of this species have been refused: each time a photograph revealed it to be a Spanish Imperial Eagle, and confusion between the two species is easy because of the similarities, at least at juvenile age (F. Cuzin pers. obs.). The last known nests were in Argan trees in open areas of the Souss, western High Atlas and Anti-Atlas in 1992 (Thévenot et al. 2003). In the Souss area, the species was extirpated due to a rapid destruction of the Argan forest (Bergier 1987, Cherkaoui et al. 2009).

In Algeria, the species was common but the last known breeding was recorded in 1990 (Isenmann and Moali, 2000). However, there are a few recent observations in north Algeria in 2018, and the species might still be breeding in some isolated places, including Monts des Ksour in Parc Culturel de l’Atlas Saharien, where it has been sighted a few times, and recently in the Oum El Bouari (north-east Algeria) with pictures taken by Harzallah in 2018, published in a magazine (per A. Fellous-Djardini and M. Saheb). In Tunisia, the population was apparently extirpated during the first half of 20^th century and there have not been records since 1988 (Isenmann et al. 2005, eBird 2020).

Habitats:

Behaviour: The species is resident and occurs in discrete populations. It is sedentary, although individuals are nomadic and will occasionally wander long distances, especially juveniles (F. Cuzin pers. obs.). It breeds in forested areas in North Africa.

Habitat: It occupies dry open habitats from sea level to 1,200 m in North Africa (F. Cuzin pers. obs.). In Morocco, the species occurs (or occurred) in lowland areas, hills and low mountains of Argan forests and steppe vegetation in semi-desert areas (Thévenot et al. 2003), while in Algeria it occured in lowland forest (Isenmann and Moali 2000). It avoids dense forest, true deserts and high mountains (Clark and Davies 2018). In Algeria, individuals have been observed in an oasis areas, close to a village with palm trees, cultivated Atlas mastic tree (Pistacia atlantica), relictual forests of Juniperus phoenicea and cliffs in the surroundings (A. Fellous-Djardini pers. obs.).

Diet: The species has a wide prey base from insects to large mammals and birds. It also regularly consumes carrion and robs other raptors’ prey (Ferguson-Lees and Christie 2001, Clark and Davies 2018).

Breeding Site: Nesting occurs on a large stick nest on top of tall isolated trees. The breeding season in Africa spans between February/March and August in the North (Ferguson-Lees and Christie 2001, Thévenot et al. 2003).

Population:

Thévenot et al. (2003) and El Agbani and Qninba (2011) estimated a few dozen breeding pairs in Morocco, but Bergier et al. (2017) and F. Cuzin (pers. comm.) suggested that the species could be extinct except maybe in the Atlantic Sahara. Due to the lack of recent breeding observations it can be assumed that the species is nearly extinct in the country (with less than 10 breeding pairs) (per F. Cuzin). In Algeria, there are very few observations of the species, though some of them are quite recent, from 2017 and 2018 (Fellous-Djardini 2017, MaghrebOrnitho 2018). Although there is no monitoring data for this species, it is inferred that the country might host up to 10 breeding pairs (A. Fellous-Djardini pers. obs.). Therefore, the overall population size for North Africa is thought to be a maximum of 20 breeding pairs or 40 mature individuals (F. Cuzin, A. Fellous-Djardini, P. Bergier pers. obs.).

Threats:

The species' population plummeted in North Africa during the 20^th century because of general poaching, hunting and especially unintended poisoning (that was originally targeted at livestock predators such as jackals, wolves, feral dogs or leopards), although today this threat seems less important in Morocco (Garrido et al. 2014, Garrido 2019, Cuzin 2019). Its scavenging behaviour makes it vulnerable to farmers that use poisons for predator control (F. Cuzin pers. comm.). The increase and spread of human population has also produced habitat destruction and disturbance (Bergier 1987, Stuart and Collar 1988, Garrido et al. 2005, Vernon et al. 2005, Cherkaoui et al. 2009, Fellous Djardini 2017, BirdLife International 2018, Tellería et al.2019), especially of forests because of the use of wood as fuel for cooking and heating and the logging of large trees to increase agricultural areas for crops and livestock. Destruction and disturbance due to intense human use of forests threatens especially raptors nesting in trees like the Tawny Eagle and leads to the abandonment of the breeding territories, especially in Morocco where its habitat in the Lower Plains has been greatly altered, particularly due to the considerable extension of intensive crops, often in greenhouses (F. Cuzin pers. comm.). Other anthropogenic threats are from the fragmentation of habitats due to urban development expansion, increase of road networks (Algeria), dams and power lines (which could also prevent recolonization in areas where it has disappeared) (A. Fellous-Djardini, F. Cuzin pers. comm.). Food availability seems not to be an issue for the species in North Africa as prey are still present in large parts of the region.

Conservation measures:

Conservation Actions Underway 
Bern Convention Appendix II. CITES Appendix II. CMS Appendix II. In Morocco, the species is included in the preparation of a strategy for the conservation of birds of prey. An initiative to identify dangerous power lines and action plans to their correction has also started in Morocco with the collaboration of governmental bodies and NGOs (Godino et al. 2016, Martin Martin et al. 2019).

Conservation Actions Proposed 
In Algeria the continued presence of the species should be confirmed. In Morocco, continue to analyse the images sent to the Comité d'homologation in case the species is observed again in the country. The former breeding area in the country is however well covered by ornithologists who visit the region searching for this species. Systematic monitoring of species of the species should be increased as should the restoration and protection of its habitat. The suitability of a reintroduction programme in Morocco should also be assessed.

Rationale:

Mediterranean regional assessment: Critically Endangered (CR)

Within the Mediterranean region, this species only occurs within the North African part of the region. In North Africa, the Tawny Eagle has a small and declining population smaller than 40 estimated mature individuals in one subpopulation. There is no evidence of immigration from other breeding subpopulations. Furthermore, the species is also threatened in sub-Saharan countries. For these reasons the species is listed as Critically Endangered under criteria C2a(i,ii); D. Part of the population within the region is right on the edge of the hotspot region. However, the inclusion/removal of the tiny number of individuals that may be just outside of the region is thought to have a negligible impact on the final assessment. Thus this assessment matches that of Garrido et al. (2021).

Trade use:

The species is neither traded nor used.