Justification This species is classified as Vulnerable because it has a very small range and population. If conservation action to rehabilitate native ecosystems allows substantial increases in both the range and population of this species, it may eventually be downlisted to Near Threatened.

Family/Sub-family Campephagidae

Species name author (Hartlaub, 1865)

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

Identification 22 cm. Unobtrusive and secretive arboreal bird. Male grey above and white below. Female very different, having rich rufous underparts and brownish upperparts. Voice Most often located by melodic trill or harsher tschrek.

Population estimate

Population trend

Range estimate (breeding/resident)

Country endemic?

600 - 700

increasing

120 km²

Yes

Range & population Coracina typica is endemic to Mauritius, occurring at Macchabé, Brise Fer, Black River Peak and the southern scarp from Bel Ombre to Combo⁵. In 1993, the total population was c.260 pairs, with about one third at Macchabé-Brise Fer. Highest densities (25 territories/km²) were estimated on Macchabé Ridge, and on the plateau 1 km east of Brise Fer Peak⁴. Currently there are probably c.300-350 pairs². Since 1975, the population has increased by expansion into lowland areas in the Black River Gorges and Combo (areas contiguous with the previous range), and by an increase in density in traditional areas^2,4.

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

Ecology: It inhabits the forest canopy and appears to be strictly territorial throughout the year¹. It is mostly found in native, moist, upland, tropical evergreen forest above 460 m^1,5, but also in adjacent areas of degraded or altered forest. Its distribution within forest seems to be linked to food availability⁴. Its diet consists mainly of large, arboreal arthropods and geckos⁵.

Threats Habitat loss and degradation, through invasion by exotics and poor regeneration of native plants, has caused this species to decline since human colonisation³, and will remain a long-term threat⁸. There is circumstantial evidence that organochlorine pesticide-use in the 1950s and 1960s caused a population decline, from which it is now recovering⁶. Introduced predators and, to a lesser extent, cyclones take a heavy toll on nests. The introduced Common Mynah Acridotheres tristis eats similar food to C. typica, and may compete¹.

Conservation measures underway The Black River National Park covers most of its range. It has responded well to rehabilitation of native ecosystems in Conservation Management Areas, which has included exclusion of introduced animals and replacement of exotic plants with native species^2,7.

Conservation measures proposed Conduct a full population census and calculate densities in relation to habitat-types². Continue rehabilitation of native forests and development of Conservation Management Areas^2,8. Start translocating pairs to the Bambous Mountains²: an apparently suitable area, too isolated for natural recolonisation^4,6. Eventually, translocate individuals to Mauritian islets, after rehabilitation of islet ecosystems and trial translocations of captive-reared birds over the next few years^2,7.

References 1. Cheke (1987b). 2. C. Jones in litt. (2000). 3. Lorence and Sussman (1986). 4. Safford (1997a). 5. Safford and Beaumont (1996). 6. Safford and Jones (1997). 7. Safford and Jones (1998). 8. R. Safford in litt. (1999).

Text account compilers Jonathan Ekstrom (BirdLife International), Rachel McClellan (BirdLife International), John Pilgrim (BirdLife International), Sue Shutes (BirdLife International), Joe Taylor (BirdLife International), Ben Warren (BirdLife International)

Contributors Carl Jones (Mauritian Wildlife Foundation), Roger Safford (BirdLife International)

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

Recommended citation BirdLife International (2009) Species factsheet: Coracina typica. 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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