Justification This species has a small, fragmented and declining range and population, and consequently qualifies as Vulnerable. It has declined massively since the nineteenth century, but the rate of decline has slowed with its increasing rarity.

Family/Sub-family Hirundinidae

Species name author (Gosse, 1847)

Taxonomic source(s) AOU checklist (1998 + supplements), Sibley and Monroe (1990, 1993), Stotz et al. (1996)

Synonyms Kalochelidon euchrysea Stotz et al. (1996)

Identification 12 cm. Iridescent, bronzy green-and-white swallow. Upperparts (including ear-coverts, malar area and chin) shining bronzy-green (most bronze on mantle), with darker, dusky bronzy-green primaries and tail. White underparts. Female sometimes lightly mottled grey-brown below. Juvenile less glossy and more mottled below with dusky grey sides of head. Voice Soft, two-note tchee weet. Hints Often flies low over the ground, darting after insects.

Population estimate

Population trend

Range estimate (breeding/resident)

Country endemic?

2,500-9,999

decreasing

8,200 km²

No

Range & population Tachycineta euchrysea is very rare and local in Jamaica, where it is known from Cockpit Country and across the central highlands to the Blue Mountains and surrounding areas^1,9. The race sclateri is locally common in Haiti and the Dominican Republic, especially in the Cordillera Central, Sierra de Baoruco^3,11 and Massif de la Selle². The Jamaican population was common in the late 19th century, but there are very few recent records and both populations have declined dramatically^4,5,9.

Important Bird Areas Click here to view map showing IBAs where species is recorded and triggers any of the IBA criteria.

Ecology: It nests in montane humid and pine forests, at elevations of 800-2,000 m on Hispaniola, but (primarily in winter) to sea-level on Jamaica. It has been found in good secondary forest on Jamaica, and sometimes feeds over cane-fields and open country^1,7,10. Nests are built in old woodpecker and other holes in dead pines, and have been recorded in caves⁸, boulders in an old bauxite mine⁶ and in the eaves of buildings¹². It flies in singles or small groups, feeding on small insects^7,8.

Threats Shifting agriculture has caused severe forest loss and fragmentation on Hispaniola^9,10. Reasons for declines in Jamaica are unknown⁹, but habitat loss has been implicated. Competition for nest-sites with introduced European Starlings Sturnus vulgaris has been suggested as a possible mechanism^5,11 but this is unlikely, as starlings only occur at lower elevations¹.

Conservation measures underway It is legally protected in Jamaica¹¹. Remaining forest in Cockpit Country is mostly protected, and habitat in the Blue and John Crow Mountains is a national park¹. These reserves are not managed and habitat protection is inadequate¹⁰, but funding is actively being sought for the effective conservation of Cockpit Country¹. Montane forest is poorly represented in the Dominican Republic's protected-areas system¹⁰, but 15 new areas have been recently proposed, including six in montane forest. In Haiti, it occurs in both La Visite and Macaya National Parks¹³.

Conservation measures proposed Survey to identify breeding sites throughout its range¹. Officially designate the proposed protected areas in the Dominican Republic¹¹. Consider the provision of nest-boxes¹¹. Design and implement management plans for key reserves.

References 1. BirdLife Jamaica in litt. (1998). 2. Dávalos and Brooks (2001). 3. Dod (1992). 4. Downer (1982). 5. King (1981). 6. G. M. Kirwan in litt. (1998). 7. Osburn (1858). 8. Osburn (1869). 9. Raffaele et al. (1998). 10. Stattersfield et al. (1998). 11. Turner and Rose (1989). 12. Wetmore and Lincoln (1933). 13. Woods and Ottenwalder (1986).

Text account compilers David Capper (BirdLife International), Simon Mahood (BirdLife International), Rob Pople (BirdLife International), David Wege (BirdLife International)

Contributors G. M. Kirwan

IUCN Red List evaluators Stuart Butchart (BirdLife International), Simon Mahood (BirdLife International)

Recommended citation BirdLife International (2009) Species factsheet: Tachycineta euchrysea. Downloaded from http://www.birdlife.org on 9/2/2010

This information is based upon, and updates, the information published in BirdLife International (2000) Threatened birds of the world. Barcelona and Cambridge, UK: Lynx Edicions and BirdLife International, BirdLife International (2004) Threatened birds of the world 2004 CD-ROM and BirdLife International (2008) Threatened birds of the world 2008 CD-ROM. These sources provide the information for species accounts for the birds on the IUCN Red List.

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