Cyanochen cyanoptera

Taxonomy

Assessment Information

Geographic Range

Population

Habitat and Ecology

Threats

Conservation Actions

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Taxonomy [top]

Kingdom	Phylum	Class	Order	Family
ANIMALIA	CHORDATA	AVES	ANSERIFORMES	ANATIDAE

Scientific Name:

Cyanochen cyanoptera

Species Authority:

(Rüppell, 1845)

Common Name/s:

English	–	Blue-winged Goose
French	–	Ouette à ailes bleues
Spanish	–	Ganso Aliazul

Assessment Information [top]

Red List Category & Criteria:

Vulnerable C2a(ii) ver 3.1

Year Assessed:

2008

Assessor/s:

BirdLife International

Reviewer/s:

Mahood, S., Butchart, S.

Contributor/s:

Stroud, D., Abebe, Y., Bart, T., Dodman, T.

Justification:
This species has been uplisted to Vulnerable owing to recent data which indicates that it has a small population which is declining owing to the drainage and degradation of its highland wetland habitat.

History:

2006	–	Near Threatened
2004	–	Near Threatened

Geographic Range [top]

Range Description:	Cyanochen cyanoptera is endemic to the highlands of Ethiopia, and although it remains locally common and widespread, with the total population probably lying in the range 5,000-15,000 individuals^1,2,5, it is thought to be declining as suitable breeding habitats are lost⁶.
Countries:	Native: Ethiopia
Range Map:	Click here to open the map viewer and explore range.

Population [top]

Population:	Brown et al. (1982); Callaghan and Green (1993).
Population Trend:	Decreasing

Habitat and Ecology [top]

Habitat and Ecology:	Behaviour This species is mostly sedentary but demonstrates some small-scale seasonal altitudinal movements^7,8. It breeds during the dry season months of March - June⁸ during which time it occurs in dispersed single pairs or small groups⁷. Little is known about breeding behaviour due to the species' nocturnal habits¹⁰. It moves to lower altitudes during the wet, non-breeding season⁸, where it sometimes congregates in relatively large, loose flocks of 50-100 individuals^3,8. Important concentrations occur at Areket³ and on the Sululta plain area during the rains and post-rains period^2,5. Habitat Breeding The species often breeds in open Afro-alpine moorland⁸. Non-breeding The species occurs on the banks of highland rivers and lakes with adjacent meadows of short grass^7,9. It also inhabits the edges of highland lakes, marshes, bog pools, swamps and streams with abundant grassland surroundings. It is rarely found in overgrown areas and does not venture into deep water^7,9. In the central parts of its range it occurs most commonly at altitudes of 2000-3000m in areas with waterlogged black cotton-soils (vertisols)⁸. At the northern and southern extremities of its range it occurs at higher altitude where the substrate is granitic and the grasses coarser and longer⁸. Diet The species is primarily herbivorous, grazing on grasses, sedges and other herbaceous vegetation^1,5,9. However it is also reported to take worms, insects, insect larvae, freshwater molluscs and even small reptiles^7,8,9. Breeding Site The nest is built on the ground concealed amongst vegetation¹⁰.
Systems:	Terrestrial; Freshwater

Habitat and Ecology:

Behaviour This species is mostly sedentary but demonstrates some small-scale seasonal altitudinal movements^7,8. It breeds during the dry season months of March - June⁸ during which time it occurs in dispersed single pairs or small groups⁷. Little is known about breeding behaviour due to the species' nocturnal habits¹⁰. It moves to lower altitudes during the wet, non-breeding season⁸, where it sometimes congregates in relatively large, loose flocks of 50-100 individuals^3,8. Important concentrations occur at Areket³ and on the Sululta plain area during the rains and post-rains period^2,5. Habitat Breeding The species often breeds in open Afro-alpine moorland⁸. Non-breeding The species occurs on the banks of highland rivers and lakes with adjacent meadows of short grass^7,9. It also inhabits the edges of highland lakes, marshes, bog pools, swamps and streams with abundant grassland surroundings. It is rarely found in overgrown areas and does not venture into deep water^7,9. In the central parts of its range it occurs most commonly at altitudes of 2000-3000m in areas with waterlogged black cotton-soils (vertisols)⁸. At the northern and southern extremities of its range it occurs at higher altitude where the substrate is granitic and the grasses coarser and longer⁸. Diet The species is primarily herbivorous, grazing on grasses, sedges and other herbaceous vegetation^1,5,9. However it is also reported to take worms, insects, insect larvae, freshwater molluscs and even small reptiles^7,8,9. Breeding Site The nest is built on the ground concealed amongst vegetation¹⁰.

Systems:

Terrestrial; Freshwater

Threats [top]

Major Threat(s):	It is not threatened by hunting (as, for religious reasons, it is not eaten)². However, it is now almost certainly under pressure because of the rapidly expanding human population and resulting drainage and degradation of wetlands and grasslands, and increased levels of disturbance⁵. Agricultural intensification (privatisation) and droughts are also possible threats^4,5.

Major Threat(s):

It is not threatened by hunting (as, for religious reasons, it is not eaten)². However, it is now almost certainly under pressure because of the rapidly expanding human population and resulting drainage and degradation of wetlands and grasslands, and increased levels of disturbance⁵. Agricultural intensification (privatisation) and droughts are also possible threats^4,5.

Conservation Actions [top]

Conservation Actions:	Conservation Actions Underway Important breeding areas in the Bale Mountains National Park are protected. Conservation Actions Proposed Regularly monitor the species at selected sites across its range to determine trends. Study movements using radio telemetry to discover additional important sites. Protect important breeding and non-breeding sites, in both strictly protected areas and in multiple use community led conservation units.

Conservation Actions:

Conservation Actions Underway
Important breeding areas in the Bale Mountains National Park are protected.

Conservation Actions Proposed
Regularly monitor the species at selected sites across its range to determine trends. Study movements using radio telemetry to discover additional important sites. Protect important breeding and non-breeding sites, in both strictly protected areas and in multiple use community led conservation units.

Citation:	BirdLife International 2008. Cyanochen cyanoptera. In: IUCN 2011. IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2011.2. <www.iucnredlist.org>. Downloaded on 09 February 2012.
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