Justification This species has a very large range, and hence does not approach the thresholds for Vulnerable under the range size criterion (Extent of Occurrence <20,000 km2 combined with a declining or fluctuating range size, habitat extent/quality, or population size and a small number of locations or severe fragmentation). Despite the fact that the population trend appears to be decreasing, the decline is not believed to be sufficiently rapid to approach the thresholds for Vulnerable under the population trend criterion (>30% decline over ten years or three generations). The population size has not been quantified, but it is not believed to approach the thresholds for Vulnerable under the population size criterion (<10,000 mature individuals with a continuing decline estimated to be >10% in ten years or three generations, or with a specified population structure). For these reasons the species is evaluated as Least Concern.

Family/Sub-family Emberizidae

Species name author (Quoy & Gaimard, 1824)

Taxonomic source(s) SACC (2005 + updates), Sibley and Monroe (1990, 1993), Stotz et al. (1996)

Identification

Population estimate

Population trend

Range estimate (breeding/resident)

Country endemic?

unknown

unset

134,000 km²

No

Range & population This species occurs in south Chile (south Magellanes) and south Argentina (south Santa Cruz) to Tierra del Fuego, and on the Falkland Islands (S. Imberti in litt. 1999). Although the mainland population is localised and perhaps declining (Ridgely and Tudor 1989, Stotz et al. 1996), on the Falklands it is thriving with 7,000-14,000 breeding pairs estimated in 1983-1992 (Woods and Woods 1997).

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

Ecology: On the mainland, this species is found in southern temperate dry grasslands of Festuca gracillima and Stipa species, pastures, agricultural land, and around settlements up to 580 m elevation. In the upland (300-400 m) fields of Santa Cruz, it seems common during the breeding season (S. Imberti in litt. 1999). However, its distribution is poorly understood. This may be a function of its possible nomadism, which requires investigation (J. Mazar Barnett in litt. 1999), or simply because of poor observer coverage away from known, accessible sites. In the Falklands, it is found in grass-heath communities, dominated by Cortadeira pilosa (Ridgely and Tudor 1989, Stotz et al. 1996).

Threats The widespread practice of early spring grassland burning in the Falklands presumably destroys many nests, and introduced predators are probably reducing and limiting the population (Woods and Woods 1997). It is not adversely affected by intensive grazing on the Falklands but this is cited as a major reason for its probable decline on the mainland (Stotz et al. 1996).

References Ridgely and Tudor 1989, Stotz et al. 1996, Woods and Woods 1997

Text account compilers Stuart Butchart (BirdLife International), Jonathan Ekstrom (BirdLife International), Sally Fisher (BirdLife International), Matt Harding (BirdLife International)

IUCN Red List evaluators Jeremy Bird (BirdLife International), Stuart Butchart (BirdLife International)

Recommended citation BirdLife International (2009) Species factsheet: Melanodera melanodera. Downloaded from http://www.birdlife.org on 10/2/2010

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