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NRLD - 330539 | Neophron percnopterus

Assessment ID
330539
Taxon name
Neophron percnopterus
(Linnaeus, 1758)
Uploaded by
National Red List Database
Taxonomic information
Scientific name
Neophron percnopterus
(Linnaeus, 1758)
Assessed taxon level
Species
Higher level taxonomic groupings
Vertebrates
Birds
Kingdom
Animalia
Phylum
chordata
Class
aves
Order
accipitriformes
Family
accipitridae
Genus
Neophron
Species
percnopterus
Species authority
(Linnaeus, 1758)
Location and scope
Specific locality or subnational name or regional name
United Arab Emirates (the)
Scope (of the Assessment)
National
Countries included within the scope of the assessment
United Arab Emirates (the)
Country ISO code(s)
ARE
Does the assessment cover a marine EEZ area(s)?
Not_assigned
Conservation Status
Assessed as
Critically Endangered
Abbreviated status
CR
Qualifying criteria (if given)
A4a; C1+2a(i,ii); D
Criteria system used
IUCN

(see Assessment details)

Assessment rationale/justification
This species is observed to be in rapid decline in UAE, and the size of the resident population is now tiny within the country. The population size is so small, and the rate of decline so rapid that the species warrants a listing of Critically Endangered under criteria A4a; C1+2a(i,ii); D.
Assessment details
Year assessed
2019
Assessors/contributors/reviewers listed
UAE National Red List Workshop
Criteria system used
IUCN
Reference for methods given
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.
Further information
Endemism (according to assessment)
Endemic to region
Not assigned
Taxon distribution as listed in assessment
This species is resident in the UAE, where it occurs on Jebel Hafeet near Al Ain. Breeding has only been confirmed for this population in May 2017 (Pedersen et al. 2017), although this is unlikely to truly represent a very recent colonisation of the country as it has been considered resident in the UAE for some time (e.g. see Richardson 1990). A small part of the breeding population of Eurasia passes through the UAE on migration to the wintering sites in Africa (Jennings 2010). These migrant individuals occur throughout the country, away from Jebel Hafeet (Pedersen et al. 2017).
Is there a map available in assessment?
Yes
Habitat and systems
Ecological system type
Terrestrial
Not_assigned
Freshwater
Not_assigned
Marine
Not_assigned
Habitat
Habitat details as listed in assessment
This species occurs in a variety of habitats, but is most often found near mountain cliffs, isolated jebels and wadis (Jennings 2010, Aspinall and Porter 2011). It also frequents human sites with high food availability, such as village refuse dumps, markets, abattoirs, animal farms and fishing ports (Jennings 2010, Aspinall and Porter 2011). The population at Jebel Hafeet regularly visits the lion enclosure at the Al Ain Zoo to feed (Jennings 2010). It feeds on any animal remains, for which it competes with corvids, other raptors, dogs and cats. As it is unable to tear apart large carcasses, it mostly relies on leftovers of larger vultures. Near the coast, it almost entirely scavenges on fish (Jennings 2010). The species depends on water sources and often visits pools, dams, camel troughs or leaking pipes (Jennings 2010). The species is usually solitary, but will congregate at feeding and roosting sites<a style=""mso-comment-reference:A_1;mso-comment-date: 20120227T1623""> (Ceballos and Donázar 1990</a>). The breeding season lasts from January to August, (Jennings 2010). The species nests in shady sites on cliffs, like crevices or ledges with an overhang, or in small caves(Sarà and Di Vittorio 2003, Jennings 2010). Nests are constructed from twigs and rubbish items like paper, rages, faeces, fur, skin and bones, and are lined with goat hair and wool. They may be used for several years (Jennings 2010). Clutches contain one to two eggs (Jennings 2010).
Threats and conservation measures listed
Threats listed in assessment
Aspinall (1996) says that there are no threats known to this species within UAE, while Symes et al. (2015) specifies only nest predation by White-tailed Mongoose Ichneumia albicauda;as a threat across the breeding population in the whole Arabian Peninsula. As for Lappet-faced Vulture Torgos tracheliotos, though, the species faces a large range of threats across its global range, and within UAE monitoring of other potential threats should occur. In particular persecution, and any potential impacts from poisoning (either due to diclofenac and other Non-Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs[NSAIDs; see Botha et al. 2017] or as a byproduct of poisoning feral dogs/wolves [see Symes et al. 2015]).
History
It is assessed that in 1996, the national Red List status of this species would have been the same as in this assessment.
Publication
Burfield, I.J., Westrip, J., Sheldon, R.D., Hermes, C., Wheatley, H., Smith, D., Harding, K.A. Allen, D.J. and Alshamsi, O. 2021. UAE National Red List of Birds. Ministry of Climate Change and Environment, Dubai, United Arab Emirates