Apalis chariessa

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	PASSERIFORMES	CISTICOLIDAE

Scientific Name:

Apalis chariessa

Species Authority:

Reichenow, 1879

Common Name/s:

English	–	White-winged Apalis
French	–	Apalis à ailes blanches

Assessment Information [top]

Red List Category & Criteria:

Vulnerable B1ab(i,ii,iii,iv,v) ver 3.1

Year Published:

2012

Assessor/s:

BirdLife International

Reviewer/s:

Butchart, S. & Taylor, J.

Contributor/s:

Bennun, L., Dinesen, L., Dowsett-Lemaire, F., Dowsett, R., Dyer, M. & Parker, V.

Justification:
This species has a small and severely fragmented range, within parts of which there is a continuing decline in the extent and quality of its forest habitat and, by inference, its population too. It is therefore considered Vulnerable.

History:

2008	–	Vulnerable
2004	–	Vulnerable
2000	–	Vulnerable
1996	–	Vulnerable
1994	–	Vulnerable

Geographic Range [top]

Range Description:	Apalis chariessa has a disjunct range in Kenya (possibly extinct), Tanzania, Malawi and Mozambique. In Kenya, the nominate subspecies is known only from the lower Tana river, but has not been seen since 1961 (Butynski 1994, L. Bennun in litt 1999, Oyugi and Amutete 1999). In Tanzania, subspecies macphersoni is found in the Uluguru and Udzungwa Mountains, where a density of 17 pairs/km² was recorded at one site, otherwise being uncommon to relatively common at other sites (Svendsen and Hansen 1995, Butynski 2003). The Udzungwas hold the largest population of the species, occurring at nine localities, with a best guess of 'a couple of thousand' individuals (Dinesen et al. 2001). This race also occurs in a small area of forest on Mt Chiperone in Mozambique (Benson 1950), as well as at nine main sites in south-eastern Malawi (500-1,550 m), where the total population was c.100 pairs in 1983 (Dowsett-Lemaire 1989), but has certainly declined since then (F. Dowsett-Lemaire and R. J. Dowsett in litt. 1999, 2000). At Mt Namuli, the species is restricted to strips of riparian forest on the lower slopes (F. Dowsett-Lemaire in litt. 2008). It is very rare on Mt Mulanje, with two records on the southern slopes at 1,000 m and 1,300 m in 2006 (F. Dowsett-Lemaire in litt. 2008).
Countries:	Native: Malawi; Mozambique; Tanzania, United Republic of Possibly extinct: Kenya
Range Map:	Click here to open the map viewer and explore range.

Population [top]

Population:	Forests in the Udzungwas contain the largest population of the species, with a best guess of 'a couple of thousand individuals'. In Malawi, the population is thought to be around 100 individuals or more (L. Dinesen in litt. 2007), in Mozambique the species only occupies a small area of forest, and in Kenya it may be extinct. In light of this information, the species is placed in the range band for 2,500-9,999 individuals. This equates to 1,667-6,666 mature individuals, rounded here to 1,500-7,000 mature individuals.
Population Trend:	Decreasing

Population:

Forests in the Udzungwas contain the largest population of the species, with a best guess of 'a couple of thousand individuals'. In Malawi, the population is thought to be around 100 individuals or more (L. Dinesen in litt. 2007), in Mozambique the species only occupies a small area of forest, and in Kenya it may be extinct. In light of this information, the species is placed in the range band for 2,500-9,999 individuals. This equates to 1,667-6,666 mature individuals, rounded here to 1,500-7,000 mature individuals.

Population Trend:

Decreasing

Habitat and Ecology [top]

Habitat and Ecology:	This is a leaf- and twig-gleaning insectivore of the forest canopy and edge. It is most frequent in tall, wet, luxuriant forest, generally below 1,600 m (Svendsen and Hansen 1995), but up to 2,000 m (Dinesen et al. 1993). It inhabits forest dominated by Albizia and Newtonia spp., being most abundant on the edges of forest or in riparian strips, and avoiding substantial blocks of primary forest (F. Dowsett-Lemaire in litt. 2008). It is often seen feeding in Albizia trees, and has been observed to forage almost exclusively in the canopy up to 35 m above the ground, but on a few occasions, has been seen down to 3-4 m in light gaps (Dinesen et al. 1993).
Systems:	Terrestrial

Habitat and Ecology:

This is a leaf- and twig-gleaning insectivore of the forest canopy and edge. It is most frequent in tall, wet, luxuriant forest, generally below 1,600 m (Svendsen and Hansen 1995), but up to 2,000 m (Dinesen et al. 1993). It inhabits forest dominated by Albizia and Newtonia spp., being most abundant on the edges of forest or in riparian strips, and avoiding substantial blocks of primary forest (F. Dowsett-Lemaire in litt. 2008). It is often seen feeding in Albizia trees, and has been observed to forage almost exclusively in the canopy up to 35 m above the ground, but on a few occasions, has been seen down to 3-4 m in light gaps (Dinesen et al. 1993).

Systems:

Terrestrial

Threats [top]

Major Threat(s):	The lower Tana river forests are threatened by encroachment for agriculture and unsustainable tree-felling for poles and canoes (L. Bennun in litt 1999). Its population in south-eastern Malawi is under severe threat, with forest clearance continuing at all sites, there will soon be very little habitat remaining (F. Dowsett-Lemaire in litt. 1997) outside some small patches on private tea-estates (F. Dowsett-Lemaire and R. J. Dowsett in litt. 1999, 2000). Forest on Mt Chiperone is untouched at present, but clearance for small-scale agriculture and logging is likely to occur in the near future (V. Parker in litt. 1998). In the Udzungwas, several forest fragments are under increasing pressure, although the species's survival is not immediately threatened in this area (L. Dinesen in litt. 2007). No protection measures are planned for the habitat occupied by the species on Mt Namuli, and it is expected to disappear from the area (F. Dowsett-Lemaire in litt. 2008).

Major Threat(s):

The lower Tana river forests are threatened by encroachment for agriculture and unsustainable tree-felling for poles and canoes (L. Bennun in litt 1999). Its population in south-eastern Malawi is under severe threat, with forest clearance continuing at all sites, there will soon be very little habitat remaining (F. Dowsett-Lemaire in litt. 1997) outside some small patches on private tea-estates (F. Dowsett-Lemaire and R. J. Dowsett in litt. 1999, 2000). Forest on Mt Chiperone is untouched at present, but clearance for small-scale agriculture and logging is likely to occur in the near future (V. Parker in litt. 1998). In the Udzungwas, several forest fragments are under increasing pressure, although the species's survival is not immediately threatened in this area (L. Dinesen in litt. 2007). No protection measures are planned for the habitat occupied by the species on Mt Namuli, and it is expected to disappear from the area (F. Dowsett-Lemaire in litt. 2008).

Conservation Actions [top]

Conservation Actions:	Conservation Actions Underway In Tanzania, conservation action in the Uluguru Mountains is aiming to assist local initiatives and increase the involvement of local communities in forest management (Buckley and Matilya 1998). The Udzungwa Mountains National Park is supported by a community forestry programme. Several other parts of its range in the Udzungwas are protected in forest reserves, and participatory forest management activities are supported at several sites, although pressure on some forest patches continues to increase (L. Dinesen in litt. 2007). In Kenya, some lower Tana river forests, where this species may still occur, are part of a major conservation programme. Conservation Actions Proposed Initiate a campaign in Malawi of land reform and conservation of water resources through the maintenance of remaining forest reserves (M. Dyer in litt. 1999, F. Dowsett-Lemaire and R. J. Dowsett in litt. 1999, 2000). Survey the lower Tana river forests to clarify whether it still occurs there. Assess its status on Mt Chiperone (V. Parker in litt. 1998). Conduct further surveys on Mt Namuli to determine the exact location of the main population there (F. Dowsett-Lemaire in litt. 2008). Establish a programme to monitor its population and habitat on a regular basis in Tanzanian and Malawian forests.

Conservation Actions:

Conservation Actions Underway
In Tanzania, conservation action in the Uluguru Mountains is aiming to assist local initiatives and increase the involvement of local communities in forest management (Buckley and Matilya 1998). The Udzungwa Mountains National Park is supported by a community forestry programme. Several other parts of its range in the Udzungwas are protected in forest reserves, and participatory forest management activities are supported at several sites, although pressure on some forest patches continues to increase (L. Dinesen in litt. 2007). In Kenya, some lower Tana river forests, where this species may still occur, are part of a major conservation programme.

Conservation Actions Proposed
Initiate a campaign in Malawi of land reform and conservation of water resources through the maintenance of remaining forest reserves (M. Dyer in litt. 1999, F. Dowsett-Lemaire and R. J. Dowsett in litt. 1999, 2000). Survey the lower Tana river forests to clarify whether it still occurs there. Assess its status on Mt Chiperone (V. Parker in litt. 1998). Conduct further surveys on Mt Namuli to determine the exact location of the main population there (F. Dowsett-Lemaire in litt. 2008). Establish a programme to monitor its population and habitat on a regular basis in Tanzanian and Malawian forests.

Citation:	BirdLife International 2012. Apalis chariessa. In: IUCN 2012. IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2012.2. <www.iucnredlist.org>. Downloaded on 24 May 2013.
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