Taxon name
Scotocerca inquieta
(Cretzschmar, 1827)
Uploaded by
National Red List Database
Taxonomic information
Scientific name
Scotocerca inquieta
(Cretzschmar, 1827)
Assessed taxon level
Species
Higher level taxonomic groupings
Vertebrates
Birds
Species authority
(Cretzschmar, 1827)
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)
Does the assessment cover a marine EEZ area(s)?
Not_assigned
Conservation Status
Qualifying criteria (if given)
D1
Criteria system used
IUCN
(see Assessment details)
Assessment rationale/justification
The potentially very small resident population within the UAE means that the species triggers the threshold for listing as Endangered under Criterion D. However, there is the potential for rescue effect from outside the country and so a regional adjustment has been made. The species is therefore listed here as Vulnerable under Criterion D1.
Assessment details
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 a fairly common resident in the UAE. It occurs in mountains and wadis in the northern and eastern part of the country (Pedersen et al. 2017).
Is there a map available in assessment?
Yes
Habitat and systems
Ecological system type
Habitat
Habitat details as listed in assessment
This species inhabits rocky wadis and hillsides with acacia and other bushes. It prefers dry habitats. While it generally avoids human-modified environments, it is sometimes found in gardens and cultivations (Jennings 2010). The species forms family groups of up to eight birds and keeps in close contact when moving through the territory (Jennings 2010). There is no information available on its diet in the UAE, but it is reported to feed on invertebrates and sometimes seeds elsewhere. It is able to survive in dry environments, where water sources are absent most of the year (Jennings 2010). The breeding behaviour in the UAE is not well known; in Arabia the breeding period differs between regions, with the peak activity between January and September (Jennings 2010).
Threats and conservation measures listed
Threats listed in assessment
While Aspinall (1996) reports the species to be relatively common above 500m, and it could be assumed that these areas are less susceptible to development and disturbance (R. Sheldon;in litt.;2019), there is the potential threat of development of montane sites, and the possibility that overgrazing outside of Protected Areas may be having an impact on this species.
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
