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 small, 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 Ciconiidae

Species name author (Shaw, 1800)

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

Population estimate

Population trend

Range estimate (breeding/resident)

Country endemic?

1,000 - 25,000

unset

12,700,000 km²

No

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

Ecology: Behaviour There is no evidence that this species undertakes any regular long-distance migration², although it is not altogether sedentary¹ as some populations make local nomadic movements to optimum foraging habitats¹ during periods of drought or when large rivers are in flood². Breeding starts late in the rains or in the dry season¹, timed so that the young fledge at the height of the dry season when prey is concentrated and easier to obtain². The species nests in solitary pairs and usually remains solitary when not breeding^{1, 2}, although it may occur in small family parties or in groups of up to 12 individuals¹. Habitat It inhabits extensive fresh, brackish or alkaline wetlands^{1, 3, 4} in open, semi-arid areas² and savanna⁴, with relatively high abundances of fish³ and with large trees nearby for nesting and roosting² (although it avoids deeply forested areas)^{1, 2}. Suitable habitats include shallow freshwater marshes^{1, 2}, wet grasslands¹, the margins of large or small rivers^{1, 2}, lake shores^{1, 2, 4}, pans⁴ and flood-plains^{2, 4}. Diet Its diet consists predominantly of fish 15-30 cm long² up to 500 g in weight, as well as crabs, shrimps, frogs, reptiles, small mammals, young birds, molluscs and insects¹ (e.g. large water beetles, termite alates)⁴. Breeding site The nest is a large flat platform of sticks¹ placed up to 20-30 m² in a tree near water isolated from other trees and sources of disturbance¹. It may also nest on cliffs^{1, 2} and in the abandoned nests of other bird species².

Threats The species is vulnerable to disturbance and to wetland degradation (e.g. pesticide contamination) and conversion to agriculture¹.

References 1. del Hoyo et al. (1992). 2. Hancock et al. (1992). 3. Brown et al. (1982). 4. Hockey et al. (2005).

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: Ephippiorhynchus 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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