Monticola erythronotus

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	MUSCICAPIDAE

Scientific Name:

Monticola erythronotus

Species Authority:

(Lavauden, 1929)

Common Name/s:

English

–

Amber Mountain Rock-thrush

Taxonomic Notes:

Monticola sharpei (Sibley and Monroe 1990, 1993) has been split into M. sharpei and M. erythronotus following Goodman and Weigt (2002) and (Collar 2005) on the basis of multiple morphological characters (reduced blackish terminal tail-band and longer tail, male with reddish-brown back, no blue on breast, female with brighter upperparts and tail, no white streaking on breast) in spite of an absence of genetic distinctiveness (Outlaw et al. 2007). However, M. sharpei and M. bensoni (Sibley and Monroe 1990, 1993) have been lumped into M. sharpei on the basis of evidence in Goodman and Weigt (2002) and Outlaw et al. (2007), plus a review of recordings of vocalisations by the BirdLife Taxonomic Working Group.

Assessment Information [top]

Red List Category & Criteria:

Endangered B1ab(iii,v) ver 3.1

Year Published:

2012

Assessor/s:

BirdLife International

Reviewer/s:

Butchart, S. & Taylor, J.

Contributor/s:

Hawkins, F. & Rabenandrasana, M.

Justification:
This species is listed as Endangered because it has a very small extent of occurrence and its forest habitat is declining in both area and quality. The population is small and suspected to be declining, albeit slowly. The validity of this taxon is doubtful and it may not be recognised as a species in the future.

History:

2008	–	Endangered
2004	–	Endangered
2000	–	Not Recognized
1994	–	Not Recognized
1988	–	Not Recognized

Geographic Range [top]

Range Description:	Monticola erythronotus is restricted to a single mountain, the Amber Mountain massif in northern Madagascar, and it probably has an extent of occurrence of less than 400 km². The total population is estimated to number less than 5,000 individuals, which occur in a single block of forest on the upper slopes of one mountain, and may be declining, although so far there has been relatively low levels of habitat loss (F. Hawkins in litt. 2003).
Countries:	Native: Madagascar
Range Map:	Click here to open the map viewer and explore range.

Population [top]

Population:	The total population is estimated to number fewer than 5,000 individuals (F. Hawkins in litt. 2003), roughly equivalent to 3,300 mature individuals.
Population Trend:	Decreasing

Habitat and Ecology [top]

Habitat and Ecology:	The species's ecology is poorly known. It inhabits mid-altitude and montane humid, evergreen forest from 800-1,300 m, and forages inconspicuously in the understorey and on the ground. The species nests in tree hollows or in crevices under overhangs (Morris and Hawkins 1998).
Systems:	Terrestrial

Threats [top]

Major Threat(s):	Presently, there are few threats to the species. Habitat destruction through commercial logging and clearance for subsistence agriculture are widespread threats in Madagascar and may ultimately threaten this species. The clearance of forest on Amber Mountain has so far been limited (F. Hawkins in litt. 2003).

Major Threat(s):

Presently, there are few threats to the species. Habitat destruction through commercial logging and clearance for subsistence agriculture are widespread threats in Madagascar and may ultimately threaten this species. The clearance of forest on Amber Mountain has so far been limited (F. Hawkins in litt. 2003).

Conservation Actions [top]

Conservation Actions:	Conservation Actions Underway No species specific action is known to have been taken. Conservation Actions Proposed Identify the species's ecological requirements. Conduct a survey and extrapolate data for all rainforest on Amber Mountain to assess the species's population size (M. Rabenandrasana in litt. 2007). Once a baseline population estimate has been obtained, continue to monitor its numbers. Protect the species's habitat on Amber Mountain.

Conservation Actions:

Conservation Actions Underway
No species specific action is known to have been taken.

Conservation Actions Proposed
Identify the species's ecological requirements. Conduct a survey and extrapolate data for all rainforest on Amber Mountain to assess the species's population size (M. Rabenandrasana in litt. 2007). Once a baseline population estimate has been obtained, continue to monitor its numbers. Protect the species's habitat on Amber Mountain.

Citation:	BirdLife International 2012. Monticola erythronotus. In: IUCN 2012. IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2012.2. <www.iucnredlist.org>. Downloaded on 25 May 2013.
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