Sooty Falcon (Falco concolor) in the northern Saudi Arabian Red Sea: population assessment and conservation

Abstract This study investigates the phenology, abundance, distribution, and breeding success of the Sooty Falcon in the northern Saudi Arabian Red Sea, focusing on the Al Wajh Bank and An Numan Island. Over four years (2021–2024), surveys identified an average of 58 pairs breeding in critical nesting habitats and population trends, revealing that these areas host 3–4% of the global population and 11.6% of the Arabian Peninsula population. Sooty Falcons predominantly nested in rocky outcrops, with Quman Island accounting for nearly half of the breeding pairs in the Al Wajh Bank. Breeding success varied across years and locations, with overall productivity ranging from 1.34 to 1.80 fledglings per nest. Human disturbance, invasive predators, and climate change were identified as potential threats, with localized declines linked to predator presence. Despite stable trends in some islands, overall population numbers dropped by up to 25% in 2024. Conservation recommendations include habitat protection, biosecurity measures, and invasive species eradication. This baseline assessment contributes to global conservation efforts, highlighting the urgent need for additional monitoring and mitigation to protect this vulnerable species in a rapidly changing environment.