Justification This striking forest bird qualifies as Endangered because its very small range is severely fragmentated and the habitat and population are continuing to decline as a consequence of rampant habitat loss and degradation.

Family/Sub-family Monarchidae

Species name author Mees, 1973

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

Identification 15.5 cm. Strikingly patterned flycatcher. Greyish-black upperparts, darkest on wings and tail, with white outer-tail feathers. Black mask, forehead and throat, rest of underparts white. Similar spp. Spectacled Monarch M. trivirgatus is very similar but has rufous on face and throat, and some black on base of outer-tail feathers. Voice Upwardly inflected whistle and buzzing notes. Also a quiet, warbling chatter interspersed with 3-4 upwardly inflected whistles.

Population estimate

Population trend

Range estimate (breeding/resident)

Country endemic?

2,500-9,999

decreasing

700 km²

Yes

Range & population Monarcha sacerdotum is endemic to the western half of Flores, Nusa Tenggara, Indonesia, where it appears to be extremely local and largely uncommon, with very tentative density estimates of 2.3 (±0.8) birds per hectare in suitable habitat, made during fieldwork in 1993. At one site it was apparently amongst the commonest birds in 1998, suggesting locally dense populations. Within the last decade there are records from Puarlolo Telkom ('frequent'), Paku ('uncommon'), Cereng ('frequent'), Golo Bilas ('rare') and Bari¹. This last site is a northward range extension and increases the area of suitable forest habitat within its range by c.200 km². Remaining areas of forest within its range appear to be under considerable pressure and the species is thought to be in decline as a result.

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

Ecology: It inhabits primary semi-evergreen rainforest from 350 m to 1,000 m, and also occurs in moist deciduous monsoon forest. It has been recorded in old secondary and partially degraded forest, indicating some tolerance of degradation, although the vast majority of records derive from primary forest, implying that it may not adapt well to modified habitats. There appears to be some mutual exclusion between this species and the closely related M. trivirgatus, presumably as a result of ecological overlap.

Threats Forest loss and fragmentation (chiefly as a result of shifting cultivation, dry season burn-off and road-building) is already extensive on Flores, and has presumably resulted in a substantial decline in numbers and contraction of range. No semi-evergreen forest below 1,000 m is included within gazetted protected areas and the large tract of lowland moist deciduous forest at Golo Bilas through to Bari-Rego (also important for the threatened Wallace's Hanging Parrot Loriculus flosculus and Flores Crow Corvus florensis) is currently being cleared for firewood and construction materials.

Conservation measures underway Two recent surveys have targeted this species and other threatened birds on Flores. One key site, Tanjung Kerita Mese, is proposed for establishment as a protected area.

Conservation measures proposed Conduct further surveys to clarify its status and habitat use, with a view to formulating an appropriate conservation strategy and proposing effective protected areas. Support the rapid establishment of Tanjung Kerita Mese proposed protected area, along with an additional stretch of forest at Golo Bilas. Initiate awareness campaigns to solicit the support of local people in protecting forests.

References BirdLife International (2001). 1. C. Trainor in litt. (2007).

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), Joe Tobias (BirdLife International)

Contributors Stuart Butchart (BirdLife International), John Pilgrim (BirdLife International), Colin Trainor (BirdLife International Asia Division)

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

Recommended citation BirdLife International (2009) Species factsheet: Monarcha sacerdotum. Downloaded from http://www.birdlife.org on 9/2/2010

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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