Accipiter gundlachi

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:

Accipiter gundlachi

Species Authority:

Lawrence, 1860

Common Name/s:

English	–	Gundlach's Hawk
Spanish	–	Gavilán Cubano

Assessment Information [top]

Red List Category & Criteria:

Endangered C2a(i) ver 3.1

Year Assessed:

2008

Assessor/s:

BirdLife International

Reviewer/s:

Mahood, S., Butchart, S.

Contributor/s:

Kirkconnell, A., Mitchell, A.

Justification:
This species is considered Endangered owing to its very small and severely fragmented population, which is presumably still declining in response to habitat loss, and persecution.

History:

2004	–	Endangered
2000	–	Endangered
1996	–	Endangered
1994	–	Endangered

Geographic Range [top]

Range Description:	Accipiter gundlachi has never been common, but formerly occurred throughout Cuba. It is now very rare and local, with five main population centres known to remain. The total population was estimated at 150-200 pairs in 1994. There are three centres for the nominate race in west and central Cuba, but two of these held only three and 20 pairs respectively in 1994. There are two further areas important for the race wileyi in the east of the island, where the bulk of the population resides. Sightings around Pico Turquino are scarce, but a bird was seen on the north slopes of the Sierra Maestra in early 1999⁴.
Countries:	Native: Cuba
Range Map:	Click here to open the map viewer and explore range.

Population [top]

Population:	Bierregaard (1994a)
Population Trend:	Decreasing

Habitat and Ecology [top]

Habitat and Ecology:	It is found up to 800 m in a variety of wooded habitats including humid, dry and pine forests¹. It preys mostly on birds, including poultry. The breeding season is February-May, with young fledging by June^1,2. The nest is generally placed close to the trunk of a high tree, but below the canopy.
Systems:	Terrestrial

Threats [top]

Major Threat(s):	Habitat loss and disturbance as a result of logging and agricultural conversion, and human persecution (because it preys on poultry) are the chief causes of the decline.

Major Threat(s):

Habitat loss and disturbance as a result of logging and agricultural conversion, and human persecution (because it preys on poultry) are the chief causes of the decline.

Conservation Actions [top]

Conservation Actions:	Conservation Actions Underway CITES Appendix II. Populations occur within the Sierra Maestra and Sierra del Cristal National Parks. A community education program has been intiated, but is currently very small scale⁵. Conservation Actions Proposed Survey Pinar del Río province and the Zapata swamp, and re-survey areas in eastern Cuba to determine current populations and assess trends³. Further define the species's ecological requirements³. Conduct education and public awareness campaigns to highlight the plight of the bird and discourage human persecution³.

Conservation Actions:

Conservation Actions Underway
CITES Appendix II. Populations occur within the Sierra Maestra and Sierra del Cristal National Parks. A community education program has been intiated, but is currently very small scale⁵.

Conservation Actions Proposed
Survey Pinar del Río province and the Zapata swamp, and re-survey areas in eastern Cuba to determine current populations and assess trends³. Further define the species's ecological requirements³. Conduct education and public awareness campaigns to highlight the plight of the bird and discourage human persecution³.

Citation:	BirdLife International 2008. Accipiter gundlachi. In: IUCN 2011. IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2011.2. <www.iucnredlist.org>. Downloaded on 09 February 2012.
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