Bubo africanus | UAE National Red List of Birds

Taxa
Bubo africanus | (Temminck, 1821)
Publication
UAE National Red List of Birds
Location
Countries in Assessment
United Arab Emirates
Country ISO code(s)
ARE
Does the assessment cover a marine EEZ area(s)?
Off
Scope (Assessment)
National
Taxon
Taxonomic Group
Vertebrates
Taxonomic Group Level 2
Birds
Assessed taxon level
Species
Taxonomic Notes
Bubo africanus and B. cinerascens (del Hoyo and Collar 2014) were previously lumped as B. africanus following Sibley and Monroe (1990, 1993).
Taxon distribution as listed in assessment
This species is a rare, inconspicuous resident of the Hajar Mountains in northern UAE. It was first recorded in November 2017 and by May 2018, ten territories had been confirmed (Pedersen et al. 2017). Further records include a juvenile donated to the Dubai Zoo in 2003, which was caught in the Dibba Mountains in Fujairah Emirate (R. Khan per Pedersen et al. 2017) and an undated photograph of an adult in the Hatta Mountains in Dubai Emirate (K. Al Dhaheri per Pedersen et al. 2017).
Habitats and Ecology
Ecological system type
Terrestrial system
No
Freshwater system
No
Marine system
No
Habitat
Habitat details as listed in assessment
There is no information available about the species's ecology and habitat requirements in the UAE; the following information comes from elsewhere in Arabia and Africa, but likely also applies to the population in the UAE. The species inhabits well-vegetated, wooded wadis and is often found near human sites (Jennings 2010). It feeds mainly on invertebrates like beetles, mantids and grasshoppers, but likely takes also small birds, small mammals, reptiles, amphibians, molluscs and crustaceans, which are captured by pouncing from perches or searching on the ground (Jennings 2010). The species is entirely nocturnal; during the day it retreats to rocks, bushes and palm trees (Jennings 2010). Pairs remain together for life (Jennings 2010). The breeding period lasts from March to June or July (Jennings 2010). Nests are placed in scrapes on the ground, in crevices in rocks or cliffs, or in holes in a tree or building (Jennings 2010). Clutches contain two to four eggs (Jennings 2010).
Is there a map available in assessment?
Yes
Assessed status
Asessment status in full
Endangered
Assessment status abreviation
EN
Assessment status criteria
D
Assessment rationale/justification
This species has a very small resident population, which would qualify it for listing as Critically Endangered. However, on one hand, the species has probably colonised the country from Oman (although it is tentatively suspected that the species was in the country prior to 1996), and there remains large potential of immigration into the UAE across the border. On the other hand, the species has only recently been discovered in the UAE, which suggests that it is highly restricted in the country. It has been tentatively decided, though, to regionally adjust the species's category, dropping it down one category. It is therefore classified here as Endangered in the UAE.
About the assessment
Assessment year
2019
Assessors/contributors/reviewers listed
UAE National Red List Workshop
Affliation of assessor(s)/contributors/reviewers listed on assessment
Government
IGO
Assessor affiliation specific
Government|IGO
Criteria system
Criteria system specifics
IUCN v3.1 + Regional Guidelines v4.0
Criteria system used
IUCN
Criteria Citation
IUCN. 2012. IUCN Red List Categories and Criteria: Version 3.1, Second edition. IUCN, Gland, Switzerland and Cambridge, UK. iv + 32pp pp. And IUCN. 2012. Guidelines for Application of IUCN Red List Criteria at Regional and National Levels: Version 4.0. Gland, Switzerland and Cambridge, UK: IUCN. iii + 41pp.
Endemism
Endemic to region
Not_assigned
Endemism Notes
Is an endemic?: Not_assigned
Conservation
Threats listed in assessment
Given how recently the species has been discovered in UAE it is difficult to assess the threats to this species, although given that one was captured and donated to the Dubai Zoo in 2003 (R. Khan;per;Pedersen;et al. 2017);this could represent a very minor threat. Otherwise threats may be similar as for B. ascalaphus, namely persecution to discourage nesting near human habitation (Aspinall 1996), and collisions with vehicles and powerlines (Aspinall 1996). However, further work is required to get a better view of the species's threats within UAE.
Conservation Measures

Conservation measures:
Conservation measures notes:
Required conservation measures:

Further information
History
It is assessed that in 1996, the national Red List status of this species would have been the same as in this assessment.
Scientific Name Kingdom Phylum Class Order Family Genus
Bubo africanus Animalia Chordata Aves Strigiformes Strigidae Bubo