Progne modesta

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	HIRUNDINIDAE

Scientific Name:

Progne modesta

Species Authority:

Gould, 1837

Common Name/s:

English

–

Galapagos Martin, Galápagos Martin

Taxonomic Notes:

Progne modesta (Sibley and Monroe 1990, 1993) has been split into P. modesta, P. murphyi and P. elegans following SACC (2005).

Assessment Information [top]

Red List Category & Criteria:

Endangered C2a(i) ver 3.1

Year Published:

2012

Assessor/s:

BirdLife International

Reviewer/s:

Butchart, S. & Symes, A.

Contributor/s:

de Vries, T., Grant , P., Tye, A., Wiedenfeld, D. & Young, G.

Justification:
The population size, structure and trends of this species are very poorly known. Total numbers are certainly very low and probably declining, and there may well be movement of birds between populations on different islands. It is unlikely that the total population exceeds 500 birds, with fewer than 250 mature individuals in each subpopulation, and is in decline. The species has therefore been uplisted to Endangered. Dedicated surveys are needed urgently, and may reveal that the species warrants uplisting to Critically Endangered on the basis of an even smaller population.

History:

2008	–	Vulnerable
2005	–	Vulnerable
2004	–	Not Recognized
2000	–	Not Recognized
1994	–	Not Recognized
1988	–	Not Recognized

Geographic Range [top]

Range Description:	Progne modesta occurs on the central and southern islands of the Galápagos Archipelago, Ecuador (on Fernandina, Isabela, Santiago, Pinzón, Daphne, Baltra and Seymour, Santa Cruz, Santa Fé, San Cristóbal, Española (no breeding recorded) and Floreana) (Turner and Rose 1989, Castro and Phillips 1996). It has been described as uncommon (Turner and Rose 1989), and the population is likely to number fewer than 1,000 individuals, and may be lower than 600 individuals (D. Wiedenfield in litt. 2004, A. Tye in litt. 2005). No more than 50 birds have been recorded at any one site (A. Tye in litt. 2005). The population is likely to have undergone a decline over the last 200 years (D. Wiedenfield in litt. 2004, A. Tye in litt. 2005), and this trend appears to continue, but current population trends are unconfirmed.
Countries:	Native: Ecuador (Galápagos); Ecuador (Galápagos)
Range Map:	Click here to open the map viewer and explore range.

Population [top]

Population:	D. Wiedenfield (in litt. 2004) considers the population likely to number fewer than 1,000 individuals, and possibly even fewer than 200. A. Tye (in litt. 2005) estimates the population to number c.600 individuals. Wiedenfield and Jiménez-Uzcátegui (2008) consider it likely to number much fewer than 500 individuals. It is placed in the band 250-999 mature individuals here, equating to 375-1,499 individuals in total, rounded here to 350-1,500 individuals.
Population Trend:	Decreasing

Population:

D. Wiedenfield (in litt. 2004) considers the population likely to number fewer than 1,000 individuals, and possibly even fewer than 200. A. Tye (in litt. 2005) estimates the population to number c.600 individuals. Wiedenfield and Jiménez-Uzcátegui (2008) consider it likely to number much fewer than 500 individuals. It is placed in the band 250-999 mature individuals here, equating to 375-1,499 individuals in total, rounded here to 350-1,500 individuals.

Population Trend:

Decreasing

Habitat and Ecology [top]

Habitat and Ecology:	It frequents forested areas, mountain tops (up to 970 m), shore and coastal lagoons with mangroves, and feeds around houses on Isabela (Turner and Rose 1989). However, recent information suggests that it is more restricted, with pairs or small groups seen around the highest peaks, but only occasionally in the lowlands (at sites with special characteristics, such as sheer sea cliffs) (A. Tye in litt. 2005). It nests between August and March, laying two or three white eggs in holes and crevices (Castro and Phillips 1996) lined with feathers (Harris 1982). It feeds on insects caught in flight (Turner and Rose 1989, Castro and Phillips 1996). It is not known to migrate (Turner and Rose 1989).
Systems:	Terrestrial

Habitat and Ecology:

It frequents forested areas, mountain tops (up to 970 m), shore and coastal lagoons with mangroves, and feeds around houses on Isabela (Turner and Rose 1989). However, recent information suggests that it is more restricted, with pairs or small groups seen around the highest peaks, but only occasionally in the lowlands (at sites with special characteristics, such as sheer sea cliffs) (A. Tye in litt. 2005). It nests between August and March, laying two or three white eggs in holes and crevices (Castro and Phillips 1996) lined with feathers (Harris 1982). It feeds on insects caught in flight (Turner and Rose 1989, Castro and Phillips 1996). It is not known to migrate (Turner and Rose 1989).

Systems:

Terrestrial

Threats [top]

Major Threat(s):	Little is known about the threats to this species. Past declines are likely to be due to introduced diseases and parasites, especially the parasitic botfly Philornis downsi, which occurs on all known breeding islands (Wiedenfeld et al. 2007), and introduced nest predators (e.g. rats Rattus) (D. Wiedenfield in litt. 2004, A. Tye in litt. 2005).

Major Threat(s):

Little is known about the threats to this species. Past declines are likely to be due to introduced diseases and parasites, especially the parasitic botfly Philornis downsi, which occurs on all known breeding islands (Wiedenfeld et al. 2007), and introduced nest predators (e.g. rats Rattus) (D. Wiedenfield in litt. 2004, A. Tye in litt. 2005).

Conservation Actions [top]

Conservation Actions:	Conservation Actions Underway None is known. Conservation Actions Proposed Urgently carry out surveys for this species throughout its range, visiting all known or suspected strongholds, to develop accurate population estimates. Establish monitoring program to determine population trends. Carry out research to determine the reasons for its small population and any declines. Carry out actions to reduce any threats to this species (e.g. control of nest predators).

Conservation Actions:

Conservation Actions Underway
None is known.

Conservation Actions Proposed
Urgently carry out surveys for this species throughout its range, visiting all known or suspected strongholds, to develop accurate population estimates. Establish monitoring program to determine population trends. Carry out research to determine the reasons for its small population and any declines. Carry out actions to reduce any threats to this species (e.g. control of nest predators).

Citation:	BirdLife International 2012. Progne modesta. In: IUCN 2012. IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2012.2. <www.iucnredlist.org>. Downloaded on 26 May 2013.
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