Morphological study for Accipitrid birds (Accipitridforms, Accipitridae) in Iraq; part two

Abstract

A part two of Accipitridae Family members that belong to three genera: Circus, Gyps, and Neophron were documented as morphometrics, distribution ranges, and conservation status were reviewed and comprehensively discussed. A total of 29 voucher specimens belong to six species which are conserved in the “Iraq Natural History Research Center and Museum INHM” as follow: Marsh Harrier Circus aeruginosus (Linnaeus, 1758), Hen Harrier Circus cyaneus (Linnaeus, 1766), Montagus Harrier Circus pygargus (Linnaeus, 1758), Pallid Harrier Circus macrourus (Gmelin, 1770), Egyptian vulture Neophron percnopterus (Linnaeus, 1758), and Griffon vulture Gyps fulfus (Hablitz, 1783). The results revealed significant criteria about near threatened NT species IUCN and Birdlife International listed as Pallid Harrier Circus macrourus, and Endangered (EN) species as Egyptian vulture Neophron percnopterus globally decreasing population trend.

Key words
Circus aeruginosus; Gyps fulfus; Montagus Harrier; Neophron; Pallid Harrier

INTRODUCTION

Accipitrid birds are birds that eat their food by hunting and killing other animals called carnivorous birds as vultures, eagles, hawks, and kites. They are different from Falconidae Family genetically, (Mindell et al. 2018, Chesser et al. 2012, Christidis & Boles 2008).

Previously, we reviewed part one of the Accipitridae Family that belongs to Order Accipitridforms in Iraq which included six species belonging to four genus as follows: Accipiter nisus (Linnaeus, 1758), Aquila rapax (Temminck, 1828), Aquila clanga (Pallas, 1811), Buteo rufinus (Cretzschmar, 1825), Buteo buteo (Linnaeus, 1758), and Circaetus gallicus (Gmelin, 1788), (Hadi et al. 2022).

The study aims to provide data on the distribution, spread, and conservation status of voucher museum specimens belonging to the Accipitridae Family (part two).

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Specimen’s collection

A total of 29 voucher specimens of Accipitrid birds of three genus: Circus, Gyps, and Neophron that belong to the Accipiteidae Family (part two) which collected from different regions of Iraq as: Sirsnik, Falluja road, Chorbachi farm, (north of Iraq); Agra Road, Himreen Mountains (west of Iraq); Baghdad, Rashidyiya, Khalis, Mohmodiya Road, Baguba Road, Tarmiya Road, Azizia Road, Kut near Hay, Teltawa and Abu- Ghariab (middle of Iraq); Diawania, Amara and Al- Chibayish Marsh (south of Iraq) deposited in the bird collection in (INHM) are review.

Methods

All birds were preserved (mummified) as voucher study specimens and tagged with a museum collection label with the accession number, common name, scientific name, and the location of collecting. Each species was measured and photographed as the specimens in part one (Hadi et al. 2022).

RESULTS

A total of three genera and six species that belong to one Family: Accipitridae (part two), were recorded in the collection of Order Accipitriforms in the “Iraq Natural History Research Center and Museum INHM” Table I. Measurements of one sample for each species are in Tables II and III.

Table I
Collection of Accipitridae Family Order Accipitriforms in the “Iraq Natural History Research Center and Museum INHM”, part two.

Family name	Genus name	Species name	Common name	Number of birds
Accipitridae	Circus	aeruginosus	Marsh Harrier	11
Accipitridae	Circus	pygargus	Montagus Harrier	5
Accipitridae	Circus	macrourus	Pallid Harrier	2
Accipitridae	Circus	cyaneus	Hen harrier	1
Accipitridae	Gyps	fulfus	Griffon vulture	5
Accipitridae	Neophron	percnopterus	Egyptian vulture	5

Table II
Measurements ± of collection species of Circus genus by millimeters.

Measurements	C. aeruginosus♂	C. pygargus ♀	C. macrourus♀	C. cyaneus♂
T.l.	435	440	513	515
W.	370	370	365	370
T.	226	226	250	255
B.	15	18	30	30
T.s	60	57	42	45

• T.l. =Total length, W= width, T=tail, B= beak, T.s=tarsus.

Table III
Measurements ± of collection two species of Accipitridae by millimeters.

Measurements	Gypsfulfus ♂	Neophronpercnopterus ♀
T.l.	970	640
W.	750	465
T.	315	244
B.	53	30
T.s	98	85

• T.l.=Total length, W= width, T=tail, B= beak, T.s=tarsus.

The current study revealed to conservation status of six species of The Accipitridae Family and their distribution in Iraq Figure 1.

Figure 1
Conservation status of six species of Accipitridae Family in Iraq. 1=Marsh Harrier, 2=Montagus Harrier, 3= Pallid Harrier, 4=Hen Harrier, 5=Griffon vulture, 6=Egyptian vulture.

DISCUSSION

The current study discussed the taxonomy, morphology, and conservation status in Iraq and Globally for six species of the Acciptridae Family as follows:

1- Marsh Harrier Circus aeruginosus (Linnaeus, 1758).

Synonyms according to GBIF, (2023)

=Circus rufus (Brisson)

=Falco aeruginosus (Linnaeus, 1758).

Morphology study

It is the largest Harrier at all, the male is hazel brown to dark brown and the edge of the feathers is light brown. The tail is dark gray with a brownish tinge. The feet are black, but the recesses and the major wing coverts are gray and slick, a clear gray in the male wing, which is a distinctive feature of male The color of the bird’s chest is reddish brown and interspersed with brown lines, The rest of the lower parts are tapered and the edge of the feathers brown. The tail is closer to brown, as is the wings. The rest of the lower parts are Hazel color. The iris is yellowish-brown, the bill is black with a gray base, the cere is yellow, and the feet are black. Figures 2 and 3, Measurements of one sample in Table II.

Figure 2
Ventral view of Circus sp.: a- C. aeruginosus, b- C. cyaneus, c- C. macrourus, d-C. pygargus.

Figure 3
Dorsal view of Circus sp.: a- C. aeruginosus, b- C. cyaneus, c- C. macrourus, d- C. peregrinus.

Species status in Iraq

Eleven voucher specimens of Circus aeruginosus were collected from south of Iraq from: 19 Kms south of Amara on Basra Road, 5 Kms from Al- Chibayish Marsh (Al Nassria province) and Al Diwaniya; From middle of Iraq: 1Km. Wshash Bridge, Abo- Ghreibe, in Baghdad province; From north of Iraq: Chorbachi farm in Erbil provience.

Mash Harrier is breeding resident, winter visitor and passage migrant (Allouse 1960, Scott & Carp 1982, Al-Dabbagh 1998, Nature Iraq KBA surveys database 2005 – 2009). It has been recorded in Bahr Al-Najaf Depression, Al-Najaf Al-Ashraf province (Mohammad et al. 2013). Also, Mohammad (2014) revealed to it with the vertebrate diversity in Al-Dalmaj Marsh, Al-Diwaniya Province, south of Iraq. Then, Al- Zubaidi et al. (2017) recorded it with the diversity in Huwaiza marsh, south of Iraq.

Al-Sheikhly & Al-Azawi (2019) recorded a large number of Marsh harriers over 93 in the Central Marshes in Thi-Qar province from February 2018 to March 2019. Salim et al. (2020) recorded it with the diversity of avian fauna of Al-Dalmaj Wetlands, south of Iraq. Recently, Al-Saraf & Al-Azawi (2024) revealed it in Al- Chibayish Marsh, south of Iraq, (Figure 1).

Conservation status

It is listed as Least Concern (LC) and increasing population trend by IUCN (2023) and Birdlife International (2023).

2- Montagus Harrier Circus pygargus (Linnaeus, 1758)

Synonyms according to GBIF, (2023)

=Circus ater (Vieillot, 1816)

=Falco pygargus (Linnaeus, 1758)

Morphology study

Male - All upper parts are gray, as are the neck and chest, while the abdomen is white with light chestnut lines interspersed. The axillae are white, striped with chestnut, and the underside of the wing is white, irregularly striped. The tail is like the back and there are some brown stripes in the white outer feathers of the tail. Female - Dark brown at the top and reddish feathers at the tips, the edges of the feathers on the top of the head and the back of the neck are light in color and white in the middle of the back. The eyes are surrounded by a white or hazel area and the ear-coverts are brown with reddish edges. The iris is yellowish in male and brown in female, the bill is black, the cere is yellow, and the feet are yellow. Figures 2 and 3, Measurements of one sample in Table II.

Species status in Iraq

Five voucher specimens of Circus pygargus were collected from Falluja desert (west of Iraq), 9 Km. From Khalis and Baghdad middle of Iraq.

Montagus Harrier is a passage migrant (Allouse 1960, Moore & Boswell 1956/1957, Scott & Carp 1982, Nature Iraq database 2005 – 2009).

Mohammad & Al-Zubaidi (2014) recorded it in the Gaara Depression, Iraqi Western Desert. And it was recoded by Fazaa et al. (2017) in Central Marsh south of Iraq. While, Al-Sheikhly & Al-Azawi (2019) recorded two Montagu’s harriers in the Central Marshes in Thi-Qar province in September and November 2018. In addition of, Salim et al. (2020) recorded it with the diversity of Avian fauna of Al-Dalmaj Wetlands, south of Iraq, (Figure 1).

Conservation status

It is listed as Least Concern (LC) and decreasing population trend by IUCN (2023) and Birdlife International (2023).

3- Pallid Harrier Circus macrourus (Gmelin, 1770)

Synonyms according to GBIF, (2023)

=Accipiter macrourus (S. G. Gmelin, 1771)

Morphology study

The male is similar to the male of the previous type Circus pygargus, but with more dark color. The middle of the sacrum is gray, but its sides and the upper tail coverts are white - gray areas. The sides of the head and the front of the chest are very white (they are not gray as in Hen Harrier or gray menu as in Montagus Harrier). The rest of the portions are the bottom is white, as is the Hen Harrier, and not streaked, as in the Montagus Harrier.

There is no black mark on the backs as on Montagus, gray stripes.

The feral tail feathers are wider than that of the hens, and are not streaked

as in Montagus. The iris is yellow in the adult, brown in the juvenile. The bill is black, and the cere is yellow; also, the foot is yellow. Figures 2 and 3, Measurements of one sample in Table II.

Species status in Iraq

Two voucher specimens of Circus macrourus were collected from Baghdad and Teltawa middle of Iraq. Pallid Harriers a winter visitors and passage migrant (Allouse 1960, Moore & Boswell 1956/1957, Al-Dabbagh 1998, Nature Iraq KBA database 2005 – 2009).

Many researchers recorded this harrier like: Cumming (1918), Ticehurst et al. (1922), Scott & Carp (1982), Mohammad & Al-Zubaidi (2014) and Fazaa et al. (2017). While, Al-Sheikhly & Al-Azawi (2019) recorded three Pallid harriers over Al-Baghdadiyah Lake in Central Marshes in Thi-Qar province. Recently, Salim et al. (2020) recorded it with the diversity of Avian fauna of Al-Dalmaj Wetlands, south of Iraq, (Figure 1).

Conservation status

It is listed as Near Threatened (NT) and decreasing in population trend by IUCN (2023) and Birdlife International (2023).

4-Hen Harrier Circus cyaneus (Linnaeus, 1766)

Synonyms according to GBIF, (2023)

=Falco cyaneus ( Linnaeus, 1766)

Morphology study

Male - a bluish-gray on top, with a clear white luster on the sacrum surface (an important sign), and the edges of the feathers in the nape are brown.

The tail feathers are black and the rest of the wing feathers are gray at the end, and there is no black mark in the recesses.

The neck and front of the chest are gray, and the rest of the undersides are white. The iris is yellow in the adult bird and brown in the juvenile. The bill is black, with a bluish-yellow foot. Figures 2 and 3, Measurements of one sample in Table II.

Species status in Iraq

One voucher specimen of Circus cyaneus was collected from 9 km from Khalis Middle of Iraq.

Hen Harrier is a winter visitor (Allouse 1960, Al-Dabbagh 1998, Nature Iraq KBA surveys database 2005 – 2009).

Many researchers recorded this Hen harriers like: Scott & Carp (1982), Abed (2007), Salim et al. (2009), and Mohammad & Al-Zubaidi (2014) in Ga’ara Depression. While, Al-Sheikhly & Al-Azawi (2019) recorded three Hen harriers over the Central Marshes in Thi-Qar province during 2018-2019. Recently, Salim et al. (2020) recorded it with the diversity of avian fauna in Al-Dalmaj Wetlands, south of Iraq.

Conservation status

It is listed as Least Concern (LC) and decreasing population trend by IUCN (2023) and Birdlife International (2023).

5- Griffon vulture Gyps fulfus(Hablitz, 1783)

Synonyms according to GBIF, (2023)

=Vultur fulvus Hablizl, (1783)

Morphology study

A large-sized eagle whose head and neck are covered with short feathers, honey-colored, while the rest of the feathers are hazelnut on the top and reddish brown from the bottom. The iris is brown, the beak is gray, and the foot is gray. Figure 4, measurements of one sample in Table III.

Figure 4
Dorsal view of Griffon vulture Gyps fulfus .

Species status in Iraq

Five voucher specimens of Gyps fulfus were collected from regions in the middle of Iraq: Baghdad, Diyala, and Kut Road. And from 20 Kms from new bridge of Ana (west of Iraq).

Griffon vulture is a resident, winter visitor (Allouse 1960, Nature Iraq KBA surveys database 2005 – 2009).

Al-Zubaidi et al. (2014) revealed to Gyps fulves with the Biodiversity of Safeen Mountain- Erbil, Kurdistan, northern of Iraq. While, Al-Sheikhly & Al-Azawi (2019) recorded it on the arid plains to the west of Shatrah at the northwestern part of the Central Marshes in Thi-Qar province. Recently, Salim et al. (2020) recorded it with the diversity of avian fauna of Al-Dalmaj Wetlands, south of Iraq, (Figure 1).

Conservation status

It is listed as Least Concern (LC) and increasing population trend by IUCN (2023) and Birdlife International (2023).

6- Egyptian vulture Neophron percnopterus (Linnaeus, 1758)

Synonyms according to GBIF, (2023)

=Vultur perenopterus (Linnaeus, 1758)

= Vultur spec (Linnaeus, 1758)

Morphology study

It is a type of the smallest eagle, and it is easy to diagnose when flying with its white and black wings and white tail, as for the rest of the feathers, it is white in the adult bird. The beginnings of the wings are black. The iris is brown to orange, the beak is gray, and the foot is gray-yellow. Figure 5, measurements of one sample in Table III

Figure 5
Dorsal view of Egyptian vulture Neophron percnopterus.

Species status in Iraq

Five voucher specimens of Neophron percnopterus were collected from Baghdad (middle) and 18 km. From Sinjar north of Iraq.

Egyptian vulture is a resident, breeding summer visitor, passage migrant (Allouse 1960, Nature Iraq KBA surveys database 2005 - 2009). It has been recorded in Bahr Al-Najaf Depression, Al-Najaf Al-Ashraf province (Mohammad et al. 2013). Also, Lahony et al. (2013) recorded this vulture in the Hawraman Mountain, lowest zone, Kurdistan Province north east of Iraq. Mohammad (2014) revealed to it with the vertebrate diversity in Al-Dalmaj Marsh, Al-Diwaniya Province, south of Iraq.

Buechley et al. (2018) and Karyakin et al. (2018) revealed that recent satellite tracking showed that tagged Egyptian vultures are probably migrating through the northern edge of the Mesopotamian marshes. Recently, Salim et al. (2020) recorded it with the diversity of avian fauna of Al-Dalmaj Wetlands, south of Iraq, (Figure 1).

Conservation status

It is listed as Endangered (EN) decreasing population trend by IUCN (2023) and Birdlife International (2023).

CONCLUSION

The current study is cataloging the voucher specimens of all species belonging to the Accipitrida Family (part two) deposited in the bird collection of the Iraq Natural History Research Center and Museum, University of Baghdad (INHM); A total of three genera and six species that belong to one family Accipitridae, Order Accipitriforms; about 29 voucher specimens which are deposited in the INHM. The current study revealed the presence and conservation state of 6 species distributed in all of Iraq; the Egyptian vulture Neophron percnopterus is listed as Endangered (EN) decreasing population trend by IUCN. Circus macrourus is listed as Near Threatened (NT) and decreasing in population trend by IUCN. The rest of species were listed as Least Concern as: Circus aeruginosus (LC), Circus pygargus (LC), Circus cyaneus (LC) and Gyps fulfus (LC).

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Publication Dates

• Publication in this collection
  07 Oct 2024
• Date of issue
  2024

History

• Received
  09 Mar 2024
• Accepted
  15 June 2024