Tracking range and abundance trends of the poorly known Letter-winged Kite Elanus scriptus

The Letter-winged Kite (Elanus scriptus), a raptor endemic to the arid interior of Australia, is the only nocturnal member of the Accipitridae family and remains one of the country’s least studied birds. Currently listed as Near Threatened in the IUCN RedList but Least Concern in Australian federal legislation, its population status and distribution are poorly understood, with anecdotal evidence indicating an ongoing decline. However, no comprehensive, range-wide assessment of population trends has been conducted, creating a significant knowledge shortfall that may hinder timely conservation action. In this study, we leveraged citizen science datasets on Australian birds to compile what is, to our knowledge, the first comprehensive occurrence database for the Letter-winged Kite. We integrated historical and contemporary records with current ecological understanding to establish a baseline assessment of the species’ population trends and distribution. Utilising three potential hypotheses around decline, our analysis suggests that, while the species remains relatively stable within its core range, irruptive events into peripheral areas are occurring with decreasing frequency, scale and abundance. We argue that the Letter-winged Kite exemplifies the need for a more precautionary approach to species’ conservation listings. Despite data deficiencies, existing evidence supports elevating the species’ conservation status to Vulnerable based on its small, contiguous population and consistent signs of decline suggestive of an ongoing range contraction. We believe this designation is both warranted and necessary to ensure appropriate conservation attention is directed towards the species, until such time that more robust data can confirm or refute the extent of its decline.