Known as the Witkruisvleivalk in Afrikaans, mmankgodi-wa-dihlaba in Sesotho and umamhlangenomnyama in isiZulu, the Black Harrier is categorised as “near-endemic”, meaning that the majority of its population occurs within South Africa, and it has the unfortunate distinction of being by far the most threatened near-endemic raptor in our country.  

With a core range in the Western Cape province, the Black Harrier is also migratory and highly nomadic within South Africa: you could be lucky enough encounter this Endangered bird anywhere from Langebaan to Lesotho, depending on the season.  

With fewer than 800 adult birds remaining on Earth, and a conservation status of Endangered, this bird is in serious danger of extinction without the implementation of some key interventions. The main threats faced by this species include loss of its favoured breeding habitats, within the Fynbos, Karoo and Grassland biomes. Additional significant threats also include collisions with power lines and wind turbines, a reminder that even renewable energy infrastructure still poses a threat to biodiversity. Ironically, climate change is also predicted to contribute to this species’ decline, as warming climates force them out of habitats and into limited fragements of coastal strandveld and renosterveld. 

The conservation of this magnificent raptor has been overseen for several years by the partners on the Black Harrier Task Force, whose research and conservation efforts have contributed substantially to our understanding of the threats facing Black Harriers and the mitigation measures required to protect this charismatic species. Ecological research on the species has been led by Dr Rob Simmons of Birds and Bats Unlimited, while the Overberg Renosterveld Trust has made remarkable strides towards securing important tracts of endangered Renosterveld Fynbos habitats in which some of the highest densities of breeding harriers are found. We will be working throughout 2026 with the Overberg Renosterveld Trust and other partners to raise awareness about this bird and the existential threats they face. 

https://www.birdlife.org.za/bird-of-the-year-2026// Artwork by Marné Volschenk