Nectarinia neergardi

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	NECTARINIIDAE

Scientific Name:

Nectarinia neergardi

Species Authority:

(Grant, 1908)

Common Name/s:

English	–	Neergaard's Sunbird
French	–	Souimanga de Neergaard

Assessment Information [top]

Red List Category & Criteria:

Near Threatened ver 3.1

Year Published:

2012

Assessor/s:

BirdLife International

Reviewer/s:

Butchart, S. & Taylor, J.

Contributor/s:

Parker, V.

Justification:
This species is listed as Near Threatened because it has a moderately small population, which may be in decline owing to the clearance of its native forest habitats. Confirmation of its population size and the severity of habitat loss may qualify the species for a higher threat category (Barnes 2000).

History:

2008	–	Near Threatened
2004	–	Near Threatened
1988	–	Near Threatened

Geographic Range [top]

Range Description:	Nectarinia neergardi occurs from just south of Richard's Bay in northern KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa, to Inhambane, southern Mozambique (Harrison et al. 1997). It is restricted to the coastal belt, but atlas data do not suggest any range retraction. In Mozambique, it has two widely separated populations; one south of Maputo and the other north of the Limpopo River (Cheke and Mann 2001).
Countries:	Native: Mozambique; South Africa Present - origin uncertain: Swaziland
Range Map:	Click here to open the map viewer and explore range.

Population [top]

Population:	The global population size has not been quantified, but the species is described as not uncommon (Cheke et al. 2001).
Population Trend:	Decreasing

Habitat and Ecology [top]

Habitat and Ecology:	This species is a sometimes common, but nomadic, species of woodland, especially dry, dense forest on sandy soil. It also inhabits coastal scrubland and has been recorded in isolated trees in clearings and villages (Cheke and Mann 2001). It is found only at low elevations and apparently avoids fragmented coastal forest (Clancey 1985). It consumes nectar, small insects and spiders (Cheke and Mann 2001). The nest, in which a clutch-size of two has been recorded, is suspended from a tree and made of cream-coloured fibrous material, feathers and down, and camouflaged with insect larvae and other debris. Observations suggest that breeding activity occurs in September-January and possibly July (Cheke and Mann 2001).
Systems:	Terrestrial

Habitat and Ecology:

This species is a sometimes common, but nomadic, species of woodland, especially dry, dense forest on sandy soil. It also inhabits coastal scrubland and has been recorded in isolated trees in clearings and villages (Cheke and Mann 2001). It is found only at low elevations and apparently avoids fragmented coastal forest (Clancey 1985). It consumes nectar, small insects and spiders (Cheke and Mann 2001). The nest, in which a clutch-size of two has been recorded, is suspended from a tree and made of cream-coloured fibrous material, feathers and down, and camouflaged with insect larvae and other debris. Observations suggest that breeding activity occurs in September-January and possibly July (Cheke and Mann 2001).

Systems:

Terrestrial

Threats [top]

Major Threat(s):	In southern Mozambique, the species's coastal forest habitat is highly threatened, particularly by commercial logging and afforestation with non-native tree species (Parker 1999).

Major Threat(s):

In southern Mozambique, the species's coastal forest habitat is highly threatened, particularly by commercial logging and afforestation with non-native tree species (Parker 1999).

Conservation Actions [top]

Conservation Actions:	Conservation Actions Underway A large proportion of its range in northern KwaZulu-Natal falls within nature reserves. Conservation Actions Proposed Carry out surveys to obtain a total population estimate. Monitor population trends through regular surveys. Monitor rates of logging and afforestation with exotic species across its range. Protect significant areas of suitable forest, in both strictly protected areas and community led multiple use areas.

Conservation Actions:

Conservation Actions Underway
A large proportion of its range in northern KwaZulu-Natal falls within nature reserves.

Conservation Actions Proposed
Carry out surveys to obtain a total population estimate. Monitor population trends through regular surveys. Monitor rates of logging and afforestation with exotic species across its range. Protect significant areas of suitable forest, in both strictly protected areas and community led multiple use areas.

Citation:	BirdLife International 2012. Nectarinia neergardi. In: IUCN 2012. IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2012.2. <www.iucnredlist.org>. Downloaded on 23 May 2013.
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