Circus macrourus -- (Gmelin, 1770) ANIMALIA -- CHORDATA -- AVES -- -- Common names: Pallid ; Aguilucho Papialbo; Busard pâle; Pale Harrier European Red List Assessment European Red List Status NT -- Near Threatened, (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: Near Threatened (NT) EU27 regional assessment: Endangered (EN°)

In Europe this raptor has a moderately small population (approaching the threshold for classification as Vulnerable), with an unknown trend, and it is therefore classified as Near Threatened (D1).

Within the EU27 the population is tiny (meeting the threshold for classification as Critically Endangered), but it is apparently increasing and spreading, and the final category is therefore adjusted down one category to Endangered (EN° D). Occurrence Countries/Territories of Occurrence Native: Albania; Armenia; Austria; Azerbaijan; Belarus; Bulgaria; Croatia; Cyprus; Czech Republic; Georgia; Greece; Hungary; Italy; Macedonia, the former Yugoslav Republic of; Malta; Moldova; Montenegro; Romania; Russian Federation; Serbia; Slovakia; Slovenia; Turkey; Ukraine Vagrant: Belgium; Denmark; Estonia; Finland; France; Germany; Iceland; Latvia; Liechtenstein; Luxembourg; Netherlands; Norway; Spain; Canary Is. (to ES); Sweden; Switzerland; United Kingdom; Gibraltar (to UK) Population The European population is estimated at 300-1,100 breeding females, which equates to 600-2,300 mature individuals. The population in the EU27 is estimated at 1-12 breeding females, which equates to 2-24 mature individuals. For details of national estimates, see Supplementary PDF. Trend In Europe and the EU27 the population size trend is unknown, although the reported trend for Finland indicates a large increase in the 2000s. For details of national estimates, see Supplementary PDF. Habitats and Ecology This species breeds in uncultivated grasslands. It evidently avoids very dry open sites and selects wetter areas for nesting, preferably with sparse shrubs and weeds (Tucker and Heath 1994). It will nest above 1,000 m in the Caucasus (Hagemeijer and Blair 1997). The species returns to its breeding grounds in March and April and nests in loose colonies. The nest consists of a pile of grass placed on the ground and protected by vegetation. Clutch size can be from three to six eggs but usually four or five (Orta and Christie 2015). fly at c. 1.9 m above the ground when hunting (Snow and Perrins 1998, Orta and Christie 2015). The principal prey is small rodents (mostly voles and mice), lizards, and small birds, especially fledglings but it is also quite capable of taking larks and other passerines, in flight as well as on the ground (Tucker and Heath 1994). The species is migratory, with most birds wintering in sub-Saharan Africa or south-east Asia. They leave their breeding grounds between August and November and return in March and April (Orta and Christie 2015). Birds migrate on a broad front, with only minor concentrations at bottleneck sites (Ferguson-Lees and Christie 2001, Orta and Christie 2015). Although birds are most often seen singly, females and juveniles can form parties of 10–15 on migration (Snow and Perrins 1998, Ferguson-Lees and Christie 2001). Habitats & Altitude Habitat (level 1 - level 2) Importance Occurrence Forest - Boreal suitable breeding Grassland - Subtropical/Tropical Dry suitable breeding Grassland - Temperate major breeding Wetlands (inland) - Bogs, Marshes, Swamps, Fens, Peatlands suitable breeding Altitude 1000-4000 m Occasional altitudinal limits Threats In its breeding range it is primarily threatened by the destruction and degradation of steppe grasslands through conversion to arable agriculture, burning of vegetation, intensive grazing of wet pastures and the clearance of shrubs and tall weeds (Galushin et al. 2003, E. Bragin in litt. 2007). Fires are started by farmers, arsonists and dry thunderstorms (E. Bragin in litt. 2007). 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; Ecosystem degradation Agriculture & Small-holder Timing Scope Severity Impact aquaculture farming Ongoing Majority (50-90%) Slow, Significant Medium Impact Declines Stresses Ecosystem conversion; Ecosystem degradation Agriculture & Small-holder Timing Scope Severity Impact aquaculture grazing, ranching or Ongoing Majority (50-90%) Slow, Significant Medium Impact farming Declines Stresses Ecosystem conversion; Ecosystem degradation Natural system Increase in fire Timing Scope Severity Impact modifications frequency/intensity Ongoing Majority (50-90%) Slow, Significant Medium Impact Declines Stresses Ecosystem conversion; Ecosystem degradation Pollution Herbicides and Timing Scope Severity Impact pesticides Ongoing Minority (<50%) Slow, Significant Low Impact Declines Stresses Ecosystem degradation Conservation Conservation Actions Underway It is listed in Appendix II of CITES, Annex II of the Bonn and Bern Conventions and Annex I of the EU Birds Directive. It is also listed in the Red Data Books of Belarus, Ukraine, Russia and Turkey (Galushin et al. 2003, Kiliç and Eken 2004). It occurs in five state nature reserves in Russia (Galushin et al. 2003). An International Action Plan for the species was produced in 2003 (Galushin et al. 2003).

Conservation Actions Proposed Encourage conservation of wetlands and ponds in typical steppe grassland and semi-desert. Support moderate grazing and conservation of grasslands. Develop survey methodology (including GIS) and carry out surveys, primarily in the core breeding range and, secondarily, to establish its northern and southern range limits as well as to search for new nesting places outside core breeding grounds. Carry out research into diet and foraging range size, and their role in the movement of populations. Lobby for enactment and enforcement of legislation in the recovering agricultural economy in the breeding range. Encourage full legal protection and education in countries on migration routes (Galushin et al. 2003). Bibliography Ferguson-Lees, J.; Christie, D. A. 2001. Raptors of the world. Christopher Helm, London. Galushin, V.; Clarke, R.; Davygora, A. 2003. International Action Plan for the Pallid Harrier (Circus macrourus). Hagemeijer, W.J.M. & Blair, M.J. (1997) The EBCC Atlas of European Breeding Birds: Their Distribution and Abundance. T & A D Poyser, London. Kiliç, D. T.; Eken, G. 2004. Türkiye'nin önemli kus alanlari: 2004 Güncellemesi (Turkish IBAs). Doga Dernegi, Ankara. Orta, J. & Christie, D.A. (2013). Pallid Harrier (Circus macrourus). In: del Hoyo, J., Elliott, A., Sargatal, J., Christie, D.A. & de Juana, E. (eds.) (2013). Handbook of the Birds of the World Alive. Lynx Edicions, Barcelona. (retrieved from http://www.hbw.com/node/53031 on 20 January 2015). Snow, D. W.; Perrins, C. M. 1998. The Birds of the Western Palearctic vol. 1: Non-Passerines. Oxford University Press, Oxford. Orta, J. & Christie, D.A. (2015). Pallid Harrier (Circus macrourus). In: del Hoyo, J., Elliott, A., Sargatal, J., Christie, D.A. & de Juana, E. (eds.) (2015). Handbook of the Birds of the World Alive. Lynx Edicions, Barcelona. (retrieved from http://www.hbw.com/node/53031 on 24 April 2015). Map (see overleaf)