Justification This species has an extremely 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 may be moderately small to large, 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 Heliornithidae

Species name author (Vieillot, 1817)

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

Population estimate

Population trend

Range estimate (breeding/resident)

Country endemic?

47,000 - 1,200,000

unset

12,100,000 km²

No

Ecology: Behaviour This species is largely sedentary^{1, 2}. It nests in solitary territorial pairs^{1, 2}, the timing of breeding corresponding to peaks in water-level¹. Habitat The species occurs in forest and wooded savanna along permanent streams¹ with thick growths of Syzygium guineese, along secluded reaches of thickly wooded rivers², on the edges of pools, lakes and dams with well-vegetated banks (particularly with reeds and overhanging branches)^{1, 2}, on the edges of dense papyrus beds far from the shore², in mangrove swamps^{1, 2}, creeks² and in flooded forest¹. It is rarely found away from shoreline vegetation and generally avoids stagnant or fast-flowing water². Diet Its diet consists predominantly of invertebrates such as adult and larval insects (e.g. Ephemeropta, Odonata, Coleoptera and Orthoptera), spiders, millipedes, crustaceans¹ (e.g. crabs, shrimps and prawns)², small snails, frogs, small fish¹, snakes³ and occasionally vegetation¹. Breeding site The nest is a flat, loose structure of reeds and twigs^{1, 2} placed 1-4 m high over water either on a mass of flood debris or fallen branches¹, on an overhanging tree limb or on a horizontal branch².

Threats The species is threatened by habitat degradation from increased river siltation, reduced river flow (due to commercial afforestation)³ and pesticide contamination (which leads to reductions in prey availability)⁴. Utilisation The species is hunted and traded at traditional medicine markets in Nigeria⁵.

References 1. del Hoyo et al. (1996). 2. Urban et al. (1986). 3. Hockey et al. (2005). 4. Brooks and Gardner (1980). 5. Nikolaus (2001).

Text account compilers Stuart Butchart (BirdLife International), Jonathan Ekstrom (BirdLife International), Lucy Malpas (BirdLife International)

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

Recommended citation BirdLife International (2009) Species factsheet: Podica senegalensis. 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.

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