Justification This species now has a highly fragmented distribution; the majority of breeding colonies are extremely small and isolated, and many are close to the minimum for long-term viability. Forest throughout its range is disappearing rapidly, leading to further fragmentation and rapid decline of remaining populations. It is therefore classified as Vulnerable. Its long-term future will depend on the continued existence and proper management of the forest reserves and other protected areas in which it occurs.

Family/Sub-family Picathartidae

Species name author (Temminck, 1825)

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

Identification Large, unusual bird with brightly coloured, naked head. Bright, chrome-yellow and black head is diagnostic. Neck and underparts gleaming white with dark, bluish-grey upperparts and tail. Voice Breathy shhhissss and other soft tok calls, but usually silent.

Population estimate

Population trend

Range estimate (breeding/resident)

Country endemic?

2,500-9,999

decreasing

391,000 km²

No

Range & population Picathartes gymnocephalus is known from Guinea (six sites; population probably declining¹⁶), Sierra Leone (seven sites; population stable or decreasing slowly¹⁶), Liberia (six sites; population probably declining¹⁶; most records in northern highlands⁴), Côte d'Ivoire (six sites; population likely to be declining¹⁶ as forest is being cleared and logged in areas which have not been surveyed²⁰), and Ghana (many records into the 1960s, then none confirmed⁹ until 2003¹², and now known from seven sites; population has probably rapidly declined in last 30 years¹⁶). It was thought to be extinct in Ghana until one was trapped at a protected forest (Subim Forest Reserve¹⁷) in the Brong-Ahafo Region in March 2003 and two nests were subsequently observed with the help of a local hunter, who confirmed the species's presence in nearby forest reserves¹². Follow-up surveys in the Subim and adjoining Ayum and Bonsam Bepo forest reserves located 13 active nests and two individuals¹⁷. Further investigations have since located seven major nesting areas within the high forest zone¹⁹. In Sierra Leone, numbers are estimated at c.1,400, with populations in forest reserves close to the minimum for long-term viability, and numbers apparently stable or declining very slowly^6,7. In Liberia, the minimum population is estimated at 1,000 pairs⁴. The global population in the Upper Guinea forest is almost certainly far fewer than 10,000 mature individuals, and this is supported by estimates for range states provided by various sources¹⁶.

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

Ecology: It is found in lowland primary and secondary forest, forest clearings, and gallery forest^2,6,7 mainly in rocky, hilly terrain (up to 800 m on Mt Nimba)^4,7 but has survived at highly degraded sites¹¹ and close to urban centres¹⁰, perhaps indicating a fairly high tolerance of disturbance¹⁶. The species is found in the proximity of flowing streams and rivers, where wet mud may be gathered for nest construction¹⁶. It is known from montane forests in Sierra Leone and Liberia¹⁶. It feeds mainly on invertebrates, usually singly and largely within one metre of the forest floor⁸. They frequently follow army ant columns⁷ to capture flushed prey¹⁶. They take beetles, termites, ants and grasshoppers, as well as earthworms, spiders and vertebrates such as frogs and lizards¹⁶. There is some evidence that vertebrates in the diet during the breeding season may be fed largely to nestlings⁶. It breeds in colonies of up to 40 pairs⁷ (although the majority consist of only 2-5, and many nests stand alone¹⁴), on rock-faces, cliffs, cave roofs and infrequently in large, fallen hollow trees^1,4,8; rocky sites are the most common, however. In lowland forest breeding follows rainfall and maybe be once or twice yearly as a result¹⁰. The species appears to be monogamous¹⁶. The nest is a cup-shaped mud construction in which dried leaves, fibres and twigs are embedded¹⁴. In Sierra Leone, egg-laying occurs from early June until late December¹⁴, and chicks occupy nests from August to January¹³. Clutch size is one or two and breeding success is low⁶. In Sierra Leone, the most common clutch size was found to be two, with incubation lasting for 17-23 days and the fledging period lasting for 23-29 days¹⁴. Nest mortality was caused by predation and infanticide by other adults, and breeding success was only 0.44 chicks fledged per pair. Natural nest predators probably include cobras Naja species, monitor lizards Varanus niloticus, forest sun squirrels Heliosciurus, raptors and colobine monkeys Procolobus species. The low breeding success of the populations studied in Sierra Leone suggest that they are in decline, that is unless adult survival exceeds 90% and the species is very long-lived¹⁴.

Threats It is threatened throughout its range primarily by commercial logging for timber. Most sites identified in Ghana are in productive forest reserves, where commercial logging takes place periodically¹⁹. In Ghana, the species is also threatened by bush-burning and conversion of degraded forests to plantations¹⁹. Many nesting areas in Ghana, especially those outside protected areas, have been destroyed through clearance for agriculture and bush-burning¹⁹. In this country it may also be threatened by mining for gold, manganese and bauxite⁵. In Sierra Leone, abandonment of colonies has been associated with habitat degradation⁶ and low breeding success at some sites is associated with human disturbance⁷. Small populations near urban centres in Sierra Leone are very seriously threatened by conversion to farmland¹⁰. Logging and other forms of forest clearance may threaten presently unknown sites for the species, particularly in the mountains of western Côte d'Ivoire and south-eastern Guinea²⁰. Nest-predation and competition from conspecifics (e.g. for limited nest-sites)⁶ are other factors. Some opportunistic trapping may occur²¹ (with noose traps and wire snares³), e.g. for zoo-collecting. In Sierra Leone, children have recently been observed taking eggs¹⁴.

Conservation measures underway CITES Appendix I. Following the rediscovery of the species in Ghana by museum collectors from the U.S.A. in March 2003^12,17, the Ghana Wildlife Society has begun to determine the status of the species in the country^17,18,19 and efforts are underway to protect the species in the reserves where it has been located¹². Some important nesting sites have been identified, and monitoring of the population and breeding activity at an active nesting area in Adansi South district is being carried out¹⁹. A Picathartes working group has recently been formed, to promote research and conservation action⁹. An international action plan for the species was published in 2004, following an international stakeholder workshop, with the aim to stabalise or increase its populations at its strongholds in all range states within five years¹⁶. A one-year programme to initiate population monitoring, recruitment of wardens and awareness-raising activities have been carried out in the Western Area Peninsula Forest, Sierra Leone²¹. Picathartes are protected (on paper) by national law in some states (e.g. Ghana, Sierra Leone, Cameroon)¹⁰, but enforcement is minimal^14,15. Although a high proportion of the populations in Sierra Leone, Guinea and Cote d'Ivoire occur in nominally protected areas, the populations of Ghana and Liberia occur almost wholly in unprotected habitat¹⁶. An ongoing conservation programme is working towards the upgrading of Gola Forest to a national park²¹. A memorandum of understanding has been signed by the Liberian government to significantly increase the size of the country's protected area system¹⁶. The species is protected by local religious beliefs in some areas⁸.

Conservation measures proposed Undertake surveys to estimate population sizes^5,16 and distribution¹⁶ particularly in mountains of western Cote d'Ivoire, which may have many small colonies in remaining unlogged forest reserves²⁰. In Ghana, census the area where the species was rediscovered in 2003 to assess the viability of the population¹² and survey areas where it is formerly known from⁵. Conduct long-term monitoring of breeding success at strongholds and study the factors that affect this^6,16. Improve breeding success at selected strongholds by mitigating against limiting factors¹⁶. Monitor and assess the impact of human-related activities on the species and its sites¹⁶. Assess the legal status of human activities threatening sites and enforce the law where appropriate¹⁶. Develop and implement management plans for the species's strongholds¹⁶. Determine the area around the species's sites required to ensure survival and lobby for legal protection¹⁶. Employ wardens at key sites¹⁶. Incorporate the species's international action plan into national conservation strategies¹⁶. Protect large breeding colonies, where feasible, through agreements/collaboration with local people⁹. Conduct genetic studies using samples from different subpopulations to assess effective population size and degree of inbreeding. Raise awareness of the species amongst all stakeholders, especially local communities¹⁶. Expand the potential for ecotourism based around this charismatic species¹⁰, taking care to minimise disturbance at the most easily accessible sites¹¹. Develop sustainable income-generating activities near strongholds¹⁶.

References Collar and Stuart (1985). 1. Atkinson et al. (1996b). 2. L. D. C. Fishpool in litt. (1999). 3. R. Fotso per M. Gartshore in litt. (1999). 4. Gatter (1997). 5. Holbech (1996). 6. Thompson (1997). 7. Thompson (1998). 8. Thompson and Fotso (1995). 9. H. S. Thompson in litt. (1999). 10. Thompson and Fotso (2000). 11. Salewski et al. (2000). 12. Marks et al. (2004). 13. Thompson (2004a). 14. Thompson (2004b). 15. R. Fotso and E. Owusu per Thompson (2004b). 16. Thompson et al. (2004). 17. Anon. (2006). 18. R. Dowsett in litt. (2005). 19. A. Asamoah in litt. (2007). 20. H. Rainey in litt. (2007). 21. H. Thompson in litt. (2007).

Further web sources of information

International Action Plan

Text account compilers Jonathan Ekstrom (BirdLife International), Sue Shutes (BirdLife International), Joe Taylor (BirdLife International)

Contributors Augustus Asamoah, Nick Borrow (Massey University), Robert J. Dowsett, Lincoln Fishpool (BirdLife International), Roger Fotso (Cameroon Biodiversity Conservation Society), Mary E Gartshore, Hugo Rainey (Wildlife Conservation Society), Hazell Shokellu Thompson (BirdLife International), Ralph Tiedemann (University of Potsdam)

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

Recommended citation BirdLife International (2009) Species factsheet: Picathartes gymnocephalus. 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.

To provide new information to update this factsheet or to correct any errors, please email BirdLife

To contribute to discussions on the evaluation of the IUCN Red List status of Globally Threatened Birds, please visit BirdLife's Globally Threatened Bird Forums