Ecology and Conservation of Barbary Falcon in the Canary Islands

Goal: The Barbary falcon is considered by some authors as a full species (Falco pelegrinoides) while for others it is closely related to the peregrine falcon (F. peregrinus) and therefore, it should be considered as a subspecies (F. p. pelegrinoides). Irrespective of its taxonomic status, the Barbary falcons have marked phenotypic differences, such as its small size, paler coloration, and rufous nape patches, which allow distinguishing them easily from any other peregrine subspecies.
Basic knowledge on the biology and ecology of the Barbary falcon is still scarce throughout its distribution range (from the Canary Islands to South Asia through inland North Africa). However, during the last decades, we have conducted several studies addressing density, breeding biology, habitat selection and conservation on the Canarian populations. Thanks to these studies, mainly not funded, we currently know that populations are sedentary and occupy all kinds of habitats from the coast to up 2,000 m of altitude, being breeding density highly depend on the availability of high cliffs and low vegetated areas.
In the Canary Islands, Barbary falcon populations have been naturally increasing in the last few decades, raising from seven known pairs in the Eastern islands in the 1987-1988 period to up to 180 in the entire archipelago in 2018. The reasons for this important population size increase are unknown, but it must be related in some degree with the current legal protections and the higher prey availability (especially feral pigeons). Although of this, not all are good news as this raptor still faces several human-related threats. In addition to collisions with man-made structures, the species is directly persecuted by hunters and pigeon-fanciers as they prey on game or domestic species and if that was not enough, the growing popularity of falconry has brought together the genetic introgression of escaped falconer’s birds with the native falcons and therefore playing some role in genetic shaping as seems to indicate our field studies.
During the last years, we have conducted several field studies to evaluate the taxonomic identity, the population status, the habitat selection, habitat use and feeding habits of these falcons in the Canary Islands. In this sense, we have also started a color ringing program in order to obtain data on population dynamics (e.g. juvenile dispersal, natal philopatry, territory fidelity, adult turn-over, and survival rate).
Consequently, our goals are to continue gathering basic information on these insular populations to promote future studies as well as to help in the assessment of its conservation status and needs.

• Lab:
• Beneharo Rodríguez's Lab