Milvus milvus

Taxonomy

Assessment Information

Geographic Range

Population

Habitat and Ecology

Threats

Conservation Actions

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Taxonomy [top]

Kingdom	Phylum	Class	Order	Family
ANIMALIA	CHORDATA	AVES	FALCONIFORMES	ACCIPITRIDAE

Scientific Name:

Milvus milvus

Species Authority:

(Linnaeus, 1758)

Common Name/s:

English	–	Red Kite
French	–	Milan royal
Spanish	–	Milano Real

Assessment Information [top]

Red List Category & Criteria:

Near Threatened ver 3.1

Year Assessed:

2009

Assessor/s:

BirdLife International

Reviewer/s:

Butchart, S., Barov, B., Bird, J., Burfield, I.

Contributor/s:

Mammen, U., Cross, A., Lindell, L., Keller, V., Newberry, P., Ignacio, A., Carter, I., Vinuela, J., Lindström, Å., Madroño, A., Aebischer, A., Cardiel, I., Tourret, P., Mionnet, A., Seyer, H.

Justification:
This species is listed as Near Threatened because it is experiencing a moderately rapid population decline, owing mostly to poisoning from pesticides and persecution, and changes in land-use amongst other threats. Despite the current rapid declines in southern Europe, if population increases in northern range states are sustained the species may qualify for downlisting in the future.

History:

2008	–	Near Threatened
2005	–	Near Threatened
2004	–	Least Concern

Geographic Range [top]

Range Description:	Milvus milvus is endemic to the Western Palearctic, with the European population of 19,000-23,000 pairs encompassing 95% of its global breeding range^1,17. It breeds from Spain and Portugal east through central Europe to Ukraine, north to southern Sweden, Latvia and the UK (890 pairs²⁰), and south to southern Italy. Populations winter within the western breeding range, and formerly in isolated patches south and east to eastern Turkey. Its status as a breeding and wintering species in North Africa is now uncertain. The three largest populations (in Germany, France and Spain, which together hold more than 75% of the global population) all declined during 1990-2000, and overall the species declined by almost 20% over that period¹. Eastern German populations declined by 25-30% between 1991 and 1997, but have remained stable since then^3,4, whereas in the federal state Saxony-Anhalt the decline continued until 2006¹⁷. The populations of the northern foothills of the Harz Mountains (the most densely populated part of its range) suffering an estimated 50% decline from 1991-2001⁵. In Spain, the species showed an overall decline in breeding population of 46% for the period 1994 to 2004, and surveys of wintering birds in 2004 suggest a decline of around 50% since 1994¹³; trends that have apparently continued in recent years²⁸. In France, breeding populations have decreased in the northeast, and in the north and east Massif Central, but seem to be stable in southwest and central France and Corsica^7,21. Detailed monitoring has not been carried out, but comparing counts from 1980 and 2000 suggests a decline of up to 80% in some areas, during which time the species's range in France decreased by 15%^7,8. Following surveys in 2000-2002, the breeding population in France has been estimated at 3,000-3,900 pairs²¹. A survey in January 2007 indicated that the wintering population in France numbered nearly 6,000 individuals, with most in the Pyrenees²¹. The Balearic Islands population declined from 41-47 breeding pairs in 1993 to just 10 in 2003⁶. However, conservation actions have since enabled the population to recover, to 38 breeding pairs in 2007¹⁴. Populations elsewhere are stable or increasing. In Switzerland, populations increased during the 1990s, and have now stabilised¹². The population in Belgium was estimated at 100-120 breeding pairs in 2005, following an increase from 1-2 irregular pairs in 1967¹⁵. In Sweden the species has increased from 30-50 pairs in the 1970s to 1,200 breeding pairs in 2003^9,10. The rate of increase in Sweden has been recorded as 7.1% annually during 1982-2006 or 13% annually during 1998-2006, depending on the survey method used¹⁶; and a rough calculation suggests that Sweden could support 5,000-10,000 pairs once the species has reached carrying capacity²⁴. Since an extreme low during the 20th Century the UK population has increased in recent decades and was estimated to number 1,350 breeding pairs in 2008²⁵. This population is still increasing rapidly and a long-term estimate for future carrying capacity is in the order of 10,000 pairs²⁴. Overall, the species population has declined in recent years owing to rapid declines in Iberia for resident breeding birds, and migrants that winter in Spain. Previously the majority of the global population wintered in Spain, but increasingly birds are remaining on their northern European breeding grounds. Those populations that winter outside of Spain are generally increasing. Therefore, while serious declines are expected to continue in southern Europe and therefore in the global population as a whole, as northern populations increase, it is anticipated that their growth will eventually outweigh declines in Iberia.
Countries:	Native: Albania; Andorra; Austria; Azerbaijan; Belarus; Belgium; Bosnia and Herzegovina; Bulgaria; Croatia; Czech Republic; Denmark; France; Georgia; Germany; Gibraltar; Hungary; Iran, Islamic Republic of; Italy; Latvia; Liechtenstein; Lithuania; Luxembourg; Macedonia, the former Yugoslav Republic of; Moldova; Montenegro; Morocco; Netherlands; Poland; Portugal; Romania; Russian Federation; Serbia; Slovakia; Slovenia; Spain; Sweden; Switzerland; Turkey; Turkmenistan; Ukraine; United Kingdom Possibly extinct: Algeria; Egypt; Greece; Tunisia Vagrant: Armenia; Bangladesh; Cyprus; Estonia; Finland; Iceland; India; Iraq; Ireland; Israel; Jordan; Lebanon; Libyan Arab Jamahiriya; Malta; Mauritania; Nepal; Norway; Sudan; Syrian Arab Republic Present - origin uncertain: San Marino
Range Map:	Click here to open the map viewer and explore range.

Population [top]

Population:	A review of available data in 2009 concluded the population numbers 21,000-25,500 pairs (Aebischer in press).
Population Trend:	Decreasing

Habitat and Ecology [top]

Habitat and Ecology:	The species breeds in broadleaf woodlands and forests, mixed with farmland, pasture and heathland, to 2,500 m in Morocco¹⁹. In winter it also occupies wasteland, scrub and wetlands. Formerly an urban scavenger, it still visits the edges of towns and cities. It takes a wide range of food, but feeds mainly on carrion and small to medium-sized mammals and birds. Reptiles, amphibians and invertebrates are less important prey¹⁹.
Systems:	Terrestrial

Habitat and Ecology:

The species breeds in broadleaf woodlands and forests, mixed with farmland, pasture and heathland, to 2,500 m in Morocco¹⁹. In winter it also occupies wasteland, scrub and wetlands. Formerly an urban scavenger, it still visits the edges of towns and cities. It takes a wide range of food, but feeds mainly on carrion and small to medium-sized mammals and birds. Reptiles, amphibians and invertebrates are less important prey¹⁹.

Systems:

Terrestrial

Threats [top]

Major Threat(s):	The most pertinent threat to this species is illegal direct poisoning and indirect poisoning from pesticides and rodent bait, particularly in the wintering ranges in France and Spain, where it is driving rapid population declines²⁶; there is a strong correlation between rapid declines and those populations that winter in Spain²⁹. The Spanish government released more than 1,500 tons of rodenticide-treated baits over about 500,000 ha to fight against a common vole plague in agricultural lands between August 2007 and April 2008; records of red kites dying by secondary poisoning in treated areas resulted²⁸. In France, populations have disappeared at the same rate as conversion from grasslands to cereal crops²⁷. Other less significant threats include electrocution and collision with powerlines²⁷ and wind-turbines²⁷, hunting and trapping²⁷, road-kills, deforestation, egg-collection (on a local scale) and possibly competition with the generally more successful Black Kite M. migrans^2,14,17,22. Another factor implicated in the declines in France and Spain is a decrease in the number of rubbish dumps^21,22.

Major Threat(s):

The most pertinent threat to this species is illegal direct poisoning and indirect poisoning from pesticides and rodent bait, particularly in the wintering ranges in France and Spain, where it is driving rapid population declines²⁶; there is a strong correlation between rapid declines and those populations that winter in Spain²⁹. The Spanish government released more than 1,500 tons of rodenticide-treated baits over about 500,000 ha to fight against a common vole plague in agricultural lands between August 2007 and April 2008; records of red kites dying by secondary poisoning in treated areas resulted²⁸. In France, populations have disappeared at the same rate as conversion from grasslands to cereal crops²⁷. Other less significant threats include electrocution and collision with powerlines²⁷ and wind-turbines²⁷, hunting and trapping²⁷, road-kills, deforestation, egg-collection (on a local scale) and possibly competition with the generally more successful Black Kite M. migrans^2,14,17,22. Another factor implicated in the declines in France and Spain is a decrease in the number of rubbish dumps^21,22.

Conservation Actions [top]

Conservation Actions:	Conservation Actions Underway The species is the focus of close monitoring and targeted conservation actions across most of its range, including reintroduction to parts of the UK since 1989^18,20. In 2007, for the first time, three young birds in France were fitted with satellite transmitters, although only one provided regular information²¹. In 2005, the species was listed as a priority for developing an EU species action plan; this plan is expected to be developed in 2009²³. Conservation Actions Proposed Continue to monitor population trends and breeding productivity. Continue to manage reintroduction projects. Regulate the use of pesticides, especially in France and Spain. Reduce persecution through law enforcement, prosecutions and awareness campaigns. Carry out further studies into the impact of changing land-use practices. Lobby for changes in EU and national agricultural policies. Increase the area of suitable woodland and forest with protected status. Work with land-owners to protect habitat and prevent persecution.

Conservation Actions:

Conservation Actions Underway
The species is the focus of close monitoring and targeted conservation actions across most of its range, including reintroduction to parts of the UK since 1989^18,20. In 2007, for the first time, three young birds in France were fitted with satellite transmitters, although only one provided regular information²¹. In 2005, the species was listed as a priority for developing an EU species action plan; this plan is expected to be developed in 2009²³.

Conservation Actions Proposed
Continue to monitor population trends and breeding productivity. Continue to manage reintroduction projects. Regulate the use of pesticides, especially in France and Spain. Reduce persecution through law enforcement, prosecutions and awareness campaigns. Carry out further studies into the impact of changing land-use practices. Lobby for changes in EU and national agricultural policies. Increase the area of suitable woodland and forest with protected status. Work with land-owners to protect habitat and prevent persecution.

Citation:	BirdLife International 2009. Milvus milvus. In: IUCN 2011. IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2011.2. <www.iucnredlist.org>. Downloaded on 10 February 2012.
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