Abstract
This report summarises the results of a review of the conservation status of the 36 species of birds of prey that are considered to breed in North Africa according to the IUCN Red List Categories and Criteria. It identifies those species that are threatened with extinction at the regional level to guide appropriate conservation actions for improving their status. Scope All birds of prey having current or historic breeding populations in North African countries (Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia, Libya and Egypt) Conservation status assessment The conservation status of species was assessed using the IUCN Red List Categories and Criteria 3.1 (IUCN Species Survival Commission, 2001). The assessments followed the guidelines for application of the Categories and Criteria at regional levels 4.0 (IUCN Species Survival Commission, 2003). They were compiled by a network of 34 regional experts, reviewed during a workshop held in Tunis (Tunisia) in February 2020 and followed up through correspondence until completion. North African birds of prey There are 46 species of birds of prey within the assessment region. Of these, 10 species were excluded from this study as their distribution in the region is marginal, wintering or passage. The conservation status of the remaining 36 species was assessed and analysed. There are no species endemic to North Africa, though there are two (5.5%) possibly near-endemic species (defined as having ≥70% of their global range in the region): the Pharaoh eagle-owl Bubo ascalaphus and the sooty falcon Falco concolor. All species are typically from the Palearctic, but there are five breeding species (13.9%) with an Afrotropical origin, all of which very rare.