Falco naumanni -- Fleischer, 1818 ANIMALIA -- CHORDATA -- AVES -- -- Common names: Lesser ; Cernícalo Primilla; Faucon crécerellette European Red List Assessment European Red List Status LC -- Least Concern, (IUCN version 3.1) Assessment Information Year published: 2015 Date assessed: 2015-03-31 Assessor(s): BirdLife International Reviewer(s): Symes, A. Compiler(s): Ashpole, J., Burfield, I., Ieronymidou, C., Pople, R., Wheatley, H. & Wright, L. Assessment Rationale European regional assessment: Least Concern (LC) EU27 regional assessment: Least Concern (LC)

In Europe this has an extremely large range, and hence does not approach the thresholds for Vulnerable under the range size criterion (Extent of Occurrence 10% in ten years or three generations, or with a specified population structure). The population trend appears to be increasing, and hence the species does not approach the thresholds for Vulnerable under the population trend criterion (30% decline over ten years or three generations). For these reasons the species is evaluated as Least Concern in Europe.

Within the EU27 this species has a very large range, and hence does not approach the thresholds for Vulnerable under the range size criterion (Extent of Occurrence 10% in ten years or three generations, or with a specified population structure). The population trend appears to be increasing, and hence the species does not approach the thresholds for Vulnerable under the population trend criterion (30% decline over ten years or three generations). For these reasons the species is evaluated as Least Concern in the EU27. Occurrence Countries/Territories of Occurrence Native: Albania; Armenia; Austria; Azerbaijan; Bosnia and Herzegovina; Bulgaria; Croatia; Cyprus; Czech Republic; France; Georgia; Greece; Italy; Macedonia, the former Yugoslav Republic of; Malta; Moldova; Montenegro; Portugal; Romania; Russian Federation; Serbia; Slovakia; Slovenia; Spain; Turkey; Ukraine; Gibraltar (to UK) Vagrant: Belgium; Denmark; Germany; Ireland, Rep. of; Liechtenstein; Sweden; United Kingdom Population The European population is estimated at 30,500-38,000 pairs, which equates to 61,000-76,100 mature individuals. The population in the EU27 is estimated at 25,700-29,300 pairs, which equates to 51,500-58,600 mature individuals. For details of national estimates, see Supplementary PDF. Trend In Europe and the EU27 the population size is estimated to be increasing. For details of national estimates, see Supplementary PDF. Habitats and Ecology It is usually a colonial breeder, often in the vicinity of human settlements. It forages in steppe-like habitats, natural and managed grasslands, and non-intensive cultivation. It is mainly migratory, with most breeders overwintering in sub-Saharan Africa, although some travel to parts of north-west Africa, southern Europe and southern Asia. Migrants leave their breeding grounds in September and return between February and April (Orta and Kirwan 2015). It migrates in flocks of varying sizes, usually tens to low hundreds, often with other such as F. tinnunculus, F. vespertinus and F. amurensis (Ferguson-Lees and Christie 2001). Large numbers, sometimes up to thousands, gather at roosts on migration (Orta and Kirwan 2015). They cross water bodies readily on a broad front, flying high enough to be barely detectable; they fly lower over land (often c. 20–30 m), particularly on northward migration (Brown et al. 1982, Ferguson-Lees and Christie 2001). It breeds colonially and egg-laying occurs mainly in May, nesting mainly in human constructions, such as large old buildings, houses, walls and ruins, in towns or on the outskirts but also uses natural sites, for example rock faces, clay banks and quarries, and occasionally old corvid nests. The nest is placed in a hollow or below eaves, and it has also taken readily to artificial nesting boxes in some areas. Clutches are normally three to six eggs. It feeds mostly on aerial and terrestrial . It is a trans-Saharan migrant although some winter in southern Europe and northern Africa (Orta and Kirwan 2015). Habitats & Altitude Habitat (level 1 - level 2) Importance Occurrence Artificial/Terrestrial - Arable Land suitable breeding Artificial/Terrestrial - Arable Land suitable non-breeding Artificial/Terrestrial - Pastureland suitable breeding Artificial/Terrestrial - Urban Areas suitable breeding Grassland - Temperate major breeding Rocky areas (eg. inland cliffs, mountain peaks) major breeding Altitude 0-2600 m Occasional altitudinal limits Threats The main cause of its decline was habitat loss and degradation in its western Palearctic breeding grounds, primarily a result of agricultural intensification, but also afforestation and urbanisation. The use of pesticides may cause direct mortality, but is probably more important in reducing prey populations. The neglect or restoration of old buildings has resulted in the loss of nest-sites (Davygora 1998, J.-P. Biber in litt. 1999). At La Crau in southern France, where such nest sites are rare, a population increase in the 1990s may be linked to the progressive selection of ground nests in stone piles, reducing interspecific and intraspecific competition (Prugnolle et al. 2003). Threats & Impacts Threat (level 1) Threat (level 2) Impact and Stresses Agriculture & Agro-industry Timing Scope Severity Impact aquaculture farming Ongoing Majority (50-90%) Slow, Significant Medium Impact Declines Stresses Ecosystem conversion Agriculture & Wood & pulp Timing Scope Severity Impact aquaculture plantations (scale Ongoing Minority (<50%) Slow, Significant Low Impact unknown/ Declines unrecorded) Stresses Ecosystem conversion Biological resource Hunting & trapping Timing Scope Severity Impact use terrestrial Ongoing Minority (<50%) No decline Low Impact (intentional use - species is the target) Stresses

Biological resource Hunting & trapping Timing Scope Severity Impact use terrestrial animals Ongoing Minority (<50%) Negligible declines Low Impact (persecution/ control) Stresses

Climate change & Droughts Timing Scope Severity Impact severe weather Ongoing Whole (>90%) Slow, Significant Medium Impact Declines Stresses

Climate change & Storms & flooding Timing Scope Severity Impact severe weather Ongoing Minority (<50%) Negligible declines Low Impact Stresses Species mortality Threats & Impacts Threat (level 1) Threat (level 2) Impact and Stresses Pollution Herbicides and Timing Scope Severity Impact pesticides Ongoing Majority (50-90%) Slow, Significant Medium Impact Declines Stresses Indirect ecosystem effects Residential & Commercial & Timing Scope Severity Impact commercial industrial areas Ongoing Minority (<50%) Slow, Significant Low Impact development Declines Stresses Ecosystem conversion Residential & Housing & urban Timing Scope Severity Impact commercial areas Ongoing Minority (<50%) Slow, Significant Low Impact development Declines Stresses Ecosystem conversion Conservation Conservation Actions Underway CITES Appendix II, CMS Appendix I and II. Research and management of the species, its sites and habitats have been carried out in France, Spain, Portugal, Gibraltar, Italy, Greece, Bulgaria, Turkey, Israel, Jordan and South Africa. A European action plan has been published.

Conservation Actions Proposed Encourage surveys and monitoring. Research limiting factors and habitat management. Promote national action plans. Promote appropriate agricultural policies, control of pesticides and zoned forestry. Construct artificial nests. Protect colonies. Encourage legal protection. Bibliography Biber, J.-P. 1996. International action plan for the Lesser Kestrel Falco naumanni. In: Heredia, B.; Rose, L. and Painter, M. (ed.), Globally threatened birds in Europe: action plans, pp. 191-203. Council of Europe, and BirdLife International, Strasbourg. Brown, L.H., Urban, E.K. and Newman, K. 1982. The birds of Africa vol I. Academic Press, London. Davygora, A.V. 1998. Factors limiting area and numbers of lesser kestrel Falco naumanni in the South Ural steppes. 5th World Conference on Birds of Prey and Owls, Johannesburg, South Africa. Ferguson-Lees, J. and Christie, D.A. 2001. Raptors of the world. Christopher Helm, London. Orta, J. and Kirwan, G.M. 2015. Lesser Kestrel (Falco naumanni). In: del Hoyo, J., Elliott, A., Sargatal, J., Christie, D.A. and de Juana, E. (eds.) 2015. Handbook of the Birds of the World Alive. Lynx Edicions, Barcelona. (retrieved from http://www.hbw.com/node/53212 on 16 March 2015). Prugnolle, F., Pilard, P., Brun, L.U.C. and Tavecchia, G. 2003. First-year and adult survival of the endangered Lesser Kestrel Falco naumanni in southern France. Study 50: 68-72. Map (see overleaf)