European regional assessment: Endangered (EN)
EU28 regional assessment: Endangered (EN)

In Europe, this species has an extremely large range (its extent of occurrence (EOO) is much larger than 20,000 km² and its area of occupancy (AOO) is much larger than 2,000 km²), and hence it does not approach the thresholds for Vulnerable under the range size criteria (criteria B and D2). The probability of extinction has not been calculated for this species, therefore criterion E cannot be applied. The population trend appears to be decreasing at a rapid rate which meets the thresholds for Vulnerable under the population size reduction criterion (criterion A). The population size is small, and, combined with the rapid decline, also meets the thresholds for Endangered (EN) under the population size criterion C. It is therefore assessed as such in Europe. There is not considered to be significant potential for rescue from outside the region, and therefore the final category remains unchanged.

In the EU28, this species has a very large range (its extent of occurrence (EOO) is much larger than 20,000 km² and its area of occupancy (AOO) is much larger than 2,000 km²), and hence it does not approach the thresholds for Vulnerable under the range size criteria (criteria B and D2). The probability of extinction has not been calculated for this species, therefore criterion E cannot be applied. The population trend appears to be decreasing at a rapid rate which meets the thresholds for Vulnerable under the population size reduction criterion (criterion A). The population size is very small, and, combined with the continuing decline, also meets the thresholds for Endangered (EN) under the population size criterion C. It is therefore assessed as such in the EU28. There is not considered to be significant potential for rescue from outside the region, and therefore the final category remains unchanged.

The species breeds mainly in central and south-east Europe, which holds only a tiny proportion of its global breeding population. In Europe, this species breeds mainly in Ukraine and Hungary, and also notably in Austria, Slovakia and Russia.

The European breeding population is estimated at 430-630 pairs, which equates to 860-1,300 mature individuals. The breeding population in the EU28 is estimated at 210-310 pairs, which equates to 430-620 mature individuals. For details of national estimates, see the Supplementary Information.

It is physically adapted to hunting close to the ground in open terrain, combining rapid acceleration with high manoeuvrability, thus specialising on mid-sized diurnal terrestrial rodents of open grassy landscapes such as steppes and arid montane areas; in some areas, particularly near water, it switches to birds as key prey, and has recently substituted domestic pigeons (Columba livia) for rodents in parts of Europe. It uses copses or cliffs for nest sites (sometimes even the ground), occupying the old nests of other birds. Clutch size varies from two to six, with means from 3.2-3.9 in different circumstances. Breeding success varies with year (especially in areas where rodents cycle) (Baumgart 1991, Snow and Perrins 1998). The species usually occurs singly or in pairs (Ferguson-Lees and Christie 2001). Birds are sedentary, part-migratory or fully migratory, largely depending on the extent to which the food supply in breeding areas disappears in winter (Baumgart 1991, Snow and Perrins 1998). Migrating central European adults travel as far as the Mediterranean. Juveniles are mainly migratory with central and eastern European birds wandering from the Balkans to Turkmenistan, Egypt and north-west India (Hagemeijer and Blair 1997). Migrating birds generally leave their breeding grounds in September and October, returning between February and May (del Hoyo et al. 1994).

Although the generation length for both EU and Europe regional assessments were calculated using the same methodology, new information arriving after the EU assessments were undertaken gave rise to an update in the generation lengths. This new information was then used for the Europe level assessments giving rise to a difference between the generation lengths used for the EU and Europe regions.

In Europe, this species has suffered mainly from the loss and degradation of steppes and dry grasslands through agricultural intensification, plantation establishment and declines in sheep pastoralism, causing a decline in key prey species; offtake for falconry is a serious problem, which has caused local extinctions (Baumgart 1991, 1994, K. Ruskov in litt. 2007). In eastern Hungary, landscape reversion following the abandonment of agriculture could have a negative influence, as most prey species require short swards that are maintained by agricultural practices (S. Nagy in litt. 2007). Elsewhere, declines are mainly attributable to offtake for falconry, although persecution, pesticide use and agrochemical deployment play a lesser part (Baumgart 1991, Riddle and Remple 1994, Barton 2000, Eastham et al. 2000, Fox 2002, Haines 2002, ERWDA 2003). Hybridisation with escaped or released hybrid falcons could influence the genetic integrity of wild populations (S. Nagy in litt. 2007, Nittinger et al. 2007).

Conservation Actions Underway
This is a protected and Red-listed species in many range states, particularly in the western parts of its range (Baumgart 1991, 1994). It is listed on CMS Appendix I and II (as of November 2011, and excluding the Mongolian population) and CITES Appendix II, and in 2002 CITES imposed a trade ban on U.A.E., strongly affecting the unregulated market there (Fox 2002). It occurs in a number of protected areas across its range. Intensive wardening and management has produced a steadily rising population in Hungary (Baumgart 1994). Controls of illegal trade were implemented in various countries in western range in the 1990s (Baumgart 1994). Captive breeding has developed strongly in some countries as a means of substituting farmed for wild-caught birds (Riddle and Remple 1994, N. Fox in litt. 2002). New research programmes in many parts of the range have begun to establish baseline data on distribution, population, ecology and threats. As a product of the resolution resulting from CMS COP10 in November 2011, a Saker Falcon Task Force was established and met for the first time in March 2012 in Abu Dhabi (U.A.E.). The task force has the objective of involving range states, partners and interested parties in the development of a coordinated Global Action Plan for the species's conservation, including a management and monitoring framework. Conservation efforts in Europe have resulted in positive population trends (A. Dixon in litt. 2012).

Conservation Actions Proposed
Maintain or implement programmes of population and habitat management throughout the range. Maintain or improve systems of wardening and customs control (including DNA sampling to check provenance of traded birds). Continue key biological research (Baumgart 1991, 1994). Enforce CITES regulations. Improve exportation standards including meeting IATA transportation specifications. Improve import regulations, staff capacity and practices (quarantine facilities). Monitor markets to quantify falcon trade. Develop existing microchipping schemes to help monitor and regulate trade and quantify its effects. Increase awareness of health and conservation issues among falconers. Continue studying, monitoring and censusing the species throughout its range. Maintain ecologically and socially sustainable grazing systems to ensure long-term survival of key prey species. Bring greater protection (against conversion, degradation and pollution) to key breeding environments (Baumgart 1991, Bailey et al. 2001, Fox 2002, ERWDA 2003).