Bird of the Year 2026

Introducing the Black Harrier: Bird of the Year 2026

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. 

Explore our exciting series of four lesson plans designed for the Intermediate Phase (Grades 4–6), centred on South Africa’s very own Black Harrier (Circus maurus). All four lesson plans are free to download, ready-to-use, and designed for Grades 4–6. They combine subject learning with conservation awareness to inspire the next generation of bird protectors.

Stay tuned to this web page, as BirdLife South Africa will create awareness about the Black Harrier through the production of educational materials, such as posters, infographics, and learning resources for schools that will be free to download on this web page; articles in African Birdlife magazine; social media posts; and presentations to interested groups. Black Harrier merchandise, such as T-shirts and pin badges, will also be on sale through BirdLife South Africa’s Shop for the Birds! from January 2026.

We would like to share our gratitude with our Bird of the Year sponsor, the Hans Hoheisen Charitable Trust, for once again making this initiative possible through the funds they generously donate towards BirdLife South Africa and the conservation of birds and biodiversity.

We would also like to thank our partners Overberg Renosterveld Trust and Bird and Bats Unlimited for the invaluable knowledge and insights they have shared with us, ensuring that our information on the Black Harrier remains accurate and up to date.