Buteo solitarius

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:

Buteo solitarius

Species Authority:

Peale, 1848

Common Name/s:

English	–	Hawaiian Hawk
Spanish	–	Busardo Hawaiano

Assessment Information [top]

Red List Category & Criteria:

Near Threatened ver 3.1

Year Published:

2012

Assessor/s:

BirdLife International

Reviewer/s:

Butchart, S. & Symes, A.

Contributor/s:

Gorresen, M., Klavitter, J., Nelson, J. & Pratt, T.

Justification:
This species is classified as Near Threatened because it has a very small population and a small range, for which there is currently no evidence of a decline. If the population was found to be declining, it would warrant uplisting to a higher threat category.

History:

2008	–	Near Threatened
2004	–	Near Threatened

Geographic Range [top]

Range Description:	Buteo solitarius breeds on Hawai`i in the Hawaiian Islands (USA), with vagrants recorded on Maui, O'ahu and Kaua'i. The population is thought to be fairly stable (J. Nelson in litt. 2007), and estimates range from 1,457 (Klavitter et al. 2003) and 1,600 (1,120 adults) to 2,700 birds (Hall et al 1997, Griffin et al. 1998). The lack of information on historical numbers makes an assessment of this species difficult, and the underlying trend may be of gradual decline as nesting habitat disappears (J. Klavitter in litt. 1999). The rapid occupation of abandoned breeding territories suggests that the species may now be at or near the carrying capacity of remaining habitat (J. Nelson in litt. 2007).
Countries:	Native: United States (Hawaiian Is.); United States (Hawaiian Is.)
Range Map:	Click here to open the map viewer and explore range.

Population [top]

Population:	Using a mean density of 0.004 birds/ha observed in 1993, and an estimate of 400,000 ha of suitable habitat on Hawai`i, an estimate of 1,600 birds, including 1,120 adults (560 pairs), was calculated by Hall et al. (1997). A similar estimate of 1,457 individuals was obtained from surveys in 1998-1999. The breeding population calculated by Hall et al. (1997) is rounded to 1,100 mature individuals.
Population Trend:	Stable

Population:

Using a mean density of 0.004 birds/ha observed in 1993, and an estimate of 400,000 ha of suitable habitat on Hawai`i, an estimate of 1,600 birds, including 1,120 adults (560 pairs), was calculated by Hall et al. (1997). A similar estimate of 1,457 individuals was obtained from surveys in 1998-1999. The breeding population calculated by Hall et al. (1997) is rounded to 1,100 mature individuals.

Population Trend:

Stable

Habitat and Ecology [top]

Habitat and Ecology:	It occurs in a broad range of habitats up to 2,700 m, from lowland agricultural areas to all types of forest (Thiollay 1994, Hall et al 1997). However, most successful nesting is restricted to native `ohi`a trees Metrosideros polymorpha (which are slow growing and generally in decline) (J. Klavitter in litt. 1999). It benefits from some anthropogenic changes, for example, it feeds on introduced game-birds, passerines and rodents, and uses edge habitat around sugar-cane fields and orchards for hunting (Hall et al 1997, J. Klavitter in litt. 1999). The species reproduces at a slow rate, and there are observations that incubation lasts for 38 days, nestlings fledge after 59-63 days, and parents care for fledglings for an average of 30.2 weeks (Griffin et al. 1998). Parents feed nestlings with mostly mammalian and avian prey.
Systems:	Terrestrial

Habitat and Ecology:

It occurs in a broad range of habitats up to 2,700 m, from lowland agricultural areas to all types of forest (Thiollay 1994, Hall et al 1997). However, most successful nesting is restricted to native `ohi`a trees Metrosideros polymorpha (which are slow growing and generally in decline) (J. Klavitter in litt. 1999). It benefits from some anthropogenic changes, for example, it feeds on introduced game-birds, passerines and rodents, and uses edge habitat around sugar-cane fields and orchards for hunting (Hall et al 1997, J. Klavitter in litt. 1999). The species reproduces at a slow rate, and there are observations that incubation lasts for 38 days, nestlings fledge after 59-63 days, and parents care for fledglings for an average of 30.2 weeks (Griffin et al. 1998). Parents feed nestlings with mostly mammalian and avian prey.

Systems:

Terrestrial

Threats [top]

Major Threat(s):	Continuing threats include forest clearance for agricultural and other developments, logging, the actions of introduced ungulates that degrade native forests and inhibit their regeneration, repeated nest disturbance, and perhaps road-kills (Scott et al. 1986, Thiollay 1994, J. Klavitter in litt. 1999). Nesting habitat in particular has been reduced, with recruitment of M. polymorpha restricted by competition from exotic plants in some areas (M. Gorresen in litt. 2007). The species is threatened by the conversion of land used for pasture and sugar-cane to eucalyptus plantations, and residential development in extensive areas of subdivided land, mainly in Puna District (T. Pratt in litt. 2007). It formerly suffered extensively from shooting and may come into conflict with future efforts to reintroduce the Critically Endangered Hawaiian Crow Corvus hawaiiensis, which it preys upon.

Major Threat(s):

Continuing threats include forest clearance for agricultural and other developments, logging, the actions of introduced ungulates that degrade native forests and inhibit their regeneration, repeated nest disturbance, and perhaps road-kills (Scott et al. 1986, Thiollay 1994, J. Klavitter in litt. 1999). Nesting habitat in particular has been reduced, with recruitment of M. polymorpha restricted by competition from exotic plants in some areas (M. Gorresen in litt. 2007). The species is threatened by the conversion of land used for pasture and sugar-cane to eucalyptus plantations, and residential development in extensive areas of subdivided land, mainly in Puna District (T. Pratt in litt. 2007). It formerly suffered extensively from shooting and may come into conflict with future efforts to reintroduce the Critically Endangered Hawaiian Crow Corvus hawaiiensis, which it preys upon.

Conservation Actions [top]

Conservation Actions:	Conservation Actions Underway CITES Appendix II. Following surveys in 1998-1999, an island-wide survey for the species was carried out in 2007 (M. Gorresen in litt. 2007). A plan for the monitoring of the species's population is being developed (T. Pratt in litt. 2007). Ungulates are locally excluded from regenerating habitat (M. Gorresen in litt. 2007). Conservation Actions Proposed Protect habitat remnants from logging and clearance. Continue with long-term population monitoring. Continue to exclude introduced ungulates from regenerating habitat. Protect nests from disturbance.

Conservation Actions:

Conservation Actions Underway
CITES Appendix II. Following surveys in 1998-1999, an island-wide survey for the species was carried out in 2007 (M. Gorresen in litt. 2007). A plan for the monitoring of the species's population is being developed (T. Pratt in litt. 2007). Ungulates are locally excluded from regenerating habitat (M. Gorresen in litt. 2007).

Conservation Actions Proposed
Protect habitat remnants from logging and clearance. Continue with long-term population monitoring. Continue to exclude introduced ungulates from regenerating habitat. Protect nests from disturbance.

Citation:	BirdLife International 2012. Buteo solitarius. In: IUCN 2012. IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2012.2. <www.iucnredlist.org>. Downloaded on 25 May 2013.
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