Justification This species is listed as Vulnerable because it is undergoing a rapid and continuing population decline as a result of extensive forest loss at low to mid-altitudes within its range.

Family/Sub-family Campephagidae

Species name author Ripley, 1952

Taxonomic source(s) Sibley and Monroe (1990, 1993)

Identification 25 cm. Canopy-dwelling, black-and-white passerine. Male has black head and upper breast, forming dark hood. Dark grey back and rump, black wings with white wing-patch across greater coverts and tertials. Black tail with white tips to outer tail feathers. Dark grey breast and belly, white undertail-coverts. Dark bill, iris and legs. Female similar to male although head grey (lacks black hood) and underparts paler. Similar spp. Barred Cuckoo-shrike C. striata larger and lacks white in wing. Voice Loud, sharp whistles tseeuu, sometimes running together to form jangled phrase. Hints Joins mixed feeding flocks. Tends to stay in the canopy.

Population estimate

Population trend

Range estimate (breeding/resident)

Country endemic?

10,000-19,999

decreasing

23,500 km²

Yes

Range & population Coracina ostenta is endemic to the Western Visayas in the Philippines, where it is known from Panay, Negros and Guimaras. Formerly widespread on Negros, it is now restricted to seven known localities, although it is still locally common. It appears much scarcer on Panay, where there are recent records from just three localities in the west. It is presumed extinct on Guimaras, where it has not been recorded for over a century. Given that Panay and Negros are largely deforested in the lowlands, it is inferred that it occupies a small, fragmented range.

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

Ecology: It inhabits lowland and mid-montane forest, usually below 1,100 m, but very occasionally up to 2,150 m. It also occurs at lower densities in secondary forest. It frequents the upper storey of large trees. Significant populations are unlikely to persist in montane forest.

Threats Chronic deforestation led to its extinction on Guimaras. An estimated 4% of Negros and 8% of Panay remained forested in 1988. Habitat degradation, particularly selective logging of large trees, continues to pose a serious threat to remaining fragments throughout its limited range. The main drivers behind deforestation have been agriculutral conversion, wood pulp plantations, oil palm plantations, commercial logging and urban encroachment.

Conservation measures underway It occurs in Mt Canlaon Natural Park (Negros) and the North Negros Forest Reserve, which only receives nominal protection. It also occurs in the proposed Central Panay Mountains National Park, which reportedly contains the largest block of remaining forest in the Western Visayas, and Mt Talinis/Twin Lakes (Negros), which both benefit from conservation funding.

Conservation measures proposed Conduct further surveys, particularly on Panay, to identify further key populations. Gazette the proposed Central Panay Mountains National Park and propose further key sites on Negros and Panay for urgent establishment as formal protected areas. Promote more effective protection measures for the North Negros Forest Reserve. Encourage careful reforestation activities around remaining forests.

References Collar et al. (1999).

Further web sources of information

Fully detailed species accounts from the Threatened birds of Asia: the BirdLife International Red Data Book (BirdLife International 2001), together with new information collated since the publication of the Red Data Book

Text account compilers Phil Benstead (BirdLife International), Jeremy Bird (BirdLife International), Pete Davidson (BirdLife International), James Lowen (BirdLife International), Nic Peet (BirdLife International), John Pilgrim (BirdLife International)

IUCN Red List evaluators Jeremy Bird (BirdLife International), Stuart Butchart (BirdLife International), Nigel Collar (BirdLife International), Mike Crosby (BirdLife International)

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