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 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 Muscicapidae

Species name author Hartlaub, 1855

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

Taxonomic note Stiphrornis erythrothorax (Sibley and Monroe 1990, 1993) was previously split into S. erythrothorax, S. sanghensis, S. gabonensis and S. xanthogaster following Beresford and Cracraft (1999), but this treatment is no longer accepted following a review by the BirdLife Taxonomic Working Group. This is because the plumage differences are relatively slight and while DNA data suggests fairly substantial isolation of these taxa, the sampling was from one locality each, fairly distant from the next. Moreover, vocal analysis was inconclusive as to the degree of difference between sanghensis and other taxa. Finally, it is not clear whether there is intergradation or parapatry where the taxa meet; there is mention of apparent intergradation in Cameroon. Collar (2005) took the view that it is premature to regard these taxa as four different species, a view followed by the BirdLife Taxonomic Working Group, at least for the present.

Population estimate

Population trend

Range estimate (breeding/resident)

Country endemic?

unknown

unset

2,490,000 km²

No

Range & population Subspecies S. e. sanghensis is currently only known from the Dzanga-Sangha Rainforest Reserve (3,359 km2) in the Sangha-Mbaèré Prefecture in south-western Central African Republic, where it is common on both sides of the Sangha River. Its range may prove to extend into eastern Cameroon, northern Congo and north-western Democratic Republic of Congo (Beresford and Cracraft 1999). It was only collected in 1996 and 1998, and further studies are required to confirm its conservation requirements and distribution.

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

Ecology: This species inhabits the lower strata of primary forest, mature secondary forest and riparian forest.

Threats This species is threatened by ongoing habitat destruction and predation by introduced species.

References Beresford and Cracraft 1999

Text account compilers Helen Temple (BirdLife International)

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

Recommended citation BirdLife International (2009) Species factsheet: Stiphrornis erythrothorax. 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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