Falco pelegrinoides

The Barbary Falcon is classified as Endangered (EN) due to its small and declining population (less than 250 mature individuals). The rate of decline in the number of breeding individuals is estimated to exceed 20% over 2 generations (12.8 years). In the previous edition of the Red Book (2002), it was classified as Near Threatened (NT). The change in the status of the species reflects the decline of the population as well as the improvement in the quality of the data and differences in the assessment methods. According to some taxonomic sources, the Barbary Falcon should be considered a subspecies of the Peregrine, and not a separate species. However, Barbary and Peregrine Falcons have significantly different ecologies in Israel and thus their conservation status is best represented by separating the subspecies.

Habitats	Desert Cliffs
Presence In Israel	Resident
Nesting In Israel	Breeder
Migration Types	Resident
Zoography Zones	Saharo-Arabian, Sudano-Zambezian
Landscape Formations	Cliffs
Vegetation Densities	Low
Nest Locations	Cliffs
Diet Types	Vertebrate
Foraging Grounds	Aerial
Body Sizes	Medium (500 - 1000g)
Threat Factors	Human Settlements in Gorges, Hiking & Climbing, Direct Persecution

The Barbary Falcon is a medium- to large-sized falcon, the smallest in the “large falcons” group. Treated here as a separate species, although by some specialists (including Birdlife International) considered a subspecies of the Peregrine Falcon. Its back and upperparts are bluish-grey, and it has a brown crown and reddish nape, a sandy colored belly and breast, with delicate spotting. It feeds mostly on birds it catches in flight, including swifts and swallows, but also pigeons, sandgrouse, sand partridges, larks and others.

The Barbary Falcon is a resident breeding species in the desert region: the Judean Desert (north up to Nahal Kidron area), the Negev Highlands, the Eastern Negev, the Arava and the Eilat Mountains. In winter, it can also be seen in the Western Negev, in Jerusalem and in the Tel-Aviv Metropolitan area. Approximately 100 pairs nested in Israel in the 1980s, when its range was more extensive, including in eastern Samaria and the western Negev Highlands (Shirihai 1996). During the last decade Barbary Falcons have not been observed breeding in Eastern Samaria, in the western Negev Highlands, nor in the northern and western parts of the Judean Desert (most of the pairs in the Judean Desert are now concentrated along the Fault Escarpment). The current population is estimated at 50 to 60 pairs.

In Eastern Samaria and in western parts of the Judean Desert, the Barbary Falcon was adversely affected by human presence, such as grazing on cliffs, and settlement of herders and their herds in caves and in the steep wadis. It is not clear why it receded in the western Negev Highlands. It was probably also adversely affected by trapping and collection for falconry, with juveniles that wander outside Israel’s borders being the main victims, but there is very little information regarding this.

No specific conservation measures have been taken for this species to date.

The Barbary Falcon is classified as endangered (EN); its population is very small and restricted to relatively undisturbed cliffs in the Judean Desert and the Eastern Negev. During the past two decades, the population has receded from the northern and western parts of its range. A study to investigate the threat factors endangering the species should be conducted and a conservation program be formulated based on the results.

The dispersal and land-use patterns of Barbary falcons, as well as the factors threatening them, are not sufficiently understood. A study should be conducted to gather information on these topics.

The Barbary Falcon breeds from mid-February to July, in cliff alcoves, usually in canyons and on the Fault Escarpment along the Judean Desert. It lays 2-5 eggs, usually in an unlined nest, and occasionally in abandoned nests of crows or other raptors. Incubation lasts 28-30 days and the young fledge from the nest at the age of 33-39 days.

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• Shirihai, H., 1996. The Birds of Israel. Academic Press, London.
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• Species page at Birdlife International