Copyright © 2026 Authors retain the copyright of this article. This article is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.

@article{196010,
        author = {Praveen Joshi},
        title = {Species Richness of Accipitriformes and Falconiformes in The Yavatmal Vicinity, Maharashtra},
        journal = {International Journal of Innovative Research in Technology},
        year = {2026},
        volume = {12},
        number = {no},
        pages = {313-316},
        issn = {2349-6002},
        url = {https://ijirt.org/article?manuscript=196010},
        abstract = {Raptors are apex predators and reliable indicators of ecosystem health. The present long-term study documents the species richness, conservation status, and distribution of raptors belonging to the orders Accipitriformes and Falconiformes in the Yavatmal vicinity of eastern Maharashtra, Central India. Field investigations were carried out over a 15-year period (2009–2024) covering eight talukas—Yavatmal, Kalamb, Ralegaon, Babhulgaon, Ghatanji, Darwha, Digras, and Arni. Regular morning surveys were conducted across diverse habitats including agricultural landscapes, reservoirs, scrublands, forest patches, and riverine ecosystems. A total of 30 raptor species were recorded, comprising 24 species of Accipitriformes (family Accipitridae and Pandionidae) and 6 species of Falconiformes (family Falconidae), including the subspecies Falco peregrinus peregrinator (Shaheen Falcon). The assemblage included both resident and migratory species, with notable winter migrants such as Amur Falcon, Pallid Harrier, Montagu’s Harrier, Eurasian Marsh Harrier, Greater Spotted Eagle, and Osprey. IUCN Red List assessment revealed the presence of threatened species, including the Critically Endangered Indian Vulture (Gyps indicus), Endangered Egyptian Vulture (Neophron percnopterus), and Vulnerable Greater Spotted Eagle (Clanga clanga), emphasizing the conservation significance of the region. Species richness and habitat utilization patterns highlight Yavatmal as an ecologically important landscape for raptors in Central India. The study provides baseline data essential for long-term monitoring, conservation planning, and habitat management of raptors in the Deccan biogeographic zone.},
        keywords = {Raptor diversity; Accipitriformes; Falconiformes; Species richness; Migratory raptors; Yavatmal district.},
        month = {March},
        }