Justification This species qualifies as Endangered because it probably has a very small population which is suspected to be declining. Its very low numbers and small range imply negative factors whose impact on the species may be continuing.

Family/Sub-family Ploceidae

Species name author Elgood, 1958

Taxonomic source(s) Dowsett and Forbes-Watson (1993), Sibley and Monroe (1990, 1993)

Identification 20 cm. Large, black-and-red weaver. Adult male has scarlet head, neck, throat and breast. Black mask extends to behind eye and onto throat. Red on breast extends onto belly. Remainder of plumage black. Adult female has red confined to crown and nape with thin, red breast-band. Voice Described as chup ee wurr followed by wheeze. Hints Usually seen in pairs, sometimes in groups of up to five birds, often associating with Red-headed Malimbe M. rubricollis.

Population estimate

Population trend

Range estimate (breeding/resident)

Country endemic?

1,400 - 4,400

decreasing

13,200 km²

Yes

Range & population Malimbus ibadanensis was known only from a small area circumscribed by Ibadan, Ife, Iperu and Ilaro in south-western Nigeria². In December 2006, the species was discovered in Ifon Forest Reserve, where six sight records were obtained during a 10-day survey¹¹. Foraging pairs were seen on two separate occasions and lone males were recorded twice¹¹. Records of this species from Kakum National Park, Ghana, in February 2002, September 2004 and February 2005 are yet to be confirmed^8,9,10. Between the 1970s and early 1990s there were very few records¹. It was not seen from 1980 until November 1987², when only four birds were recorded in 10 days of intensive searching at Ibadan. Records in the late 1990s were all from the grounds of the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA) near Ibadan, as searches were concentrated in this area³. Nine birds (two pairs and five females) were seen there between October 1998 and April 1999 (plus one female at Akanran, 15 km east of Ibadan)³. Transect surveys were conducted in 1999-2002 at a total of 52 forest patches in south-west Nigeria^6,7, and on the basis of the results the population was estimated at 2,469 individuals (95%CI: 1,401-4,365) in 112 km² of remaining forest⁶. This can be considered a reasonable maximum estimate of the world population since the survey covered almost all remaining forest fragments within the species's historical range⁶. It was found at only 19 of the 52 sites surveyed^6,7 and the results suggest that the species's range in south-west Nigeria has declined by c.66% compared with its range in the 1950s-1970s⁶.

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

Ecology: It inhabits forest patches, forest edge, secondary woodland, and possibly even highly degraded farmland and gardens. The species's abundance in forest patches decreases with increasing isolation, although it seems to be unaffected by the area of forest fragments and can persist in patches as small as 0.2 km^{2 6}. The forest reserve at IITA is 30 year old regrowth forest in various stages of maturity⁵. Moniya, where the species was recorded during recent surveys, is a disused cocoa farm with some regrowth, subjectively similar to secondary forest⁵. All sightings of the species in Ifon Forest Reserve in December 2006 were at the edge of secondary forest along logging tracks¹¹. Habitat type or degradation does not appear to explain in any way the distribution of this species⁵. Birds have usually been observed 5-15 m up in trees, especially oil-palms. It appears to have an extended breeding season, with nesting recorded in February, May, June, July, September, October and December. Notably the species is normally seen in association with several other Malimbe and weaver species⁵.

Threats Widespread forest clearance for subsistence agriculture is cited as a possible cause of the species's decline since the 1970s, and human pressure on forests within its range is ongoing⁷. Forest is currently being fragmented and degraded by poorly regulated and indiscriminate logging (primarily for fuelwood¹²), and for subsistence farming of cassava and yam, plantain and cocoa plantations, and the large-scale illegal cultivation of Cannabis sativa¹¹. The species's sensitivity to the isolation of forest patches may be due to low dispersal distances or small home ranges compared to its congeners, and would suggest that it has experienced large declines in range and abundance due to deforestation⁶. There may be other factors that negatively influence the species's abundance. Despite its use of secondary habitats, it is possible that these are suboptimal or that some specific environmental constraint is operating. Competition with other malimbe and weaver species is a possibility⁵. Such species, preferring secondary habitats, may have increased in modern times due to habitat modification. As a result, competition with these weavers sharing a similar niche may be at least partly responsible for the current rarity of the species⁵. Increased nest destruction by children and during fuelwood collection¹² has also been suggested as a causal factor in the species's decline⁵.

Conservation measures underway 200 ha of regrowth forest habitat is protected at the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture, near Ibadan³. However its habitat requirements are either poorly understood or of little relevance to this species's conservation. Most of the forest patches within the species's current range are community-owned forests and their preservation is dependent upon local communities⁶. A PhD project on malimbe species in Nigeria from 1999 to 2002 collected important survey data for the species⁷.

Conservation measures proposed Conduct further population surveys to monitor trends throughout the species's known range⁴. Monitor the clearance and degradation of forest within the species's range. Identify habitat requirements for feeding and breeding¹. Assess the determinants of breeding success, particularly the possible competition with other weaver species⁵. Conduct taxonomic studies into the relationship of the species within the Black-throated Malimbe M. cassini complex. Protect all existing forest patches within and close to its known range⁶. Increase the number and extent of forest patches within and around the species's range⁶. Conduct surveys for the species in additional forest blocks in western Nigeria such as Omo Forest (2,328 km²), most of which remains unsurveyed^6,11. Provide incentives for the protection of community-owned forests⁶.

References 1. Ash (1991). 2. Elgood et al. (1994). 3. P. Hall in litt. (1999). 4. S. Manu in litt. (1999). 5. Manu (2001). 6. Manu et al. (2005). 7. Peach (2005). 8. R. Cruse in litt. (2005). 9. R. Thomas in litt. (2005). 10. L. Fishpool in litt. (2005). 11. A.U. Ezealor in litt. (2007). 12. W. Cresswell in litt. (2007).

Further web sources of information

Alliance for Zero Extinction (AZE) species/site profile. This species has been identified as an AZE trigger due to its IUCN Red List status and limited range.

Text account compilers Phil Benstead (BirdLife International), Jonathan Ekstrom (BirdLife International), Sue Shutes (BirdLife International), Joe Taylor (BirdLife International)

Contributors A. Ajagbe, Will Cresswell (University of St. Andrews), Richard Cruse, Augustine U. Ezealor, Lincoln Fishpool (BirdLife International), Philip Hall (Pro Natura International), Shiiwua Manu (Nigerian Conservation Foundation), Richard Thomas

IUCN Red List evaluators Stuart Butchart (BirdLife International), Joe Taylor (BirdLife International)

Recommended citation BirdLife International (2009) Species factsheet: Malimbus ibadanensis. 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.

To provide new information to update this factsheet or to correct any errors, please email BirdLife

To contribute to discussions on the evaluation of the IUCN Red List status of Globally Threatened Birds, please visit BirdLife's Globally Threatened Bird Forums