Justification This species has a small range, within which it is generally rare. Its forest habitat is declining in both extent and quality, indicating that its presumably small population is probably declining too. It is therefore considered Vulnerable.

Family/Sub-family Sturnidae

Species name author (Richmond, 1897)

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

Identification 16-18 cm. Small starling of forest. Black head and breast. White underparts. Bright orange eye. Similar spp. Magpie Starling Speculipastor bicolor has obvious white wing-patches and occurs in much drier woodland. Voice Musical, whistled call, up and down scale. Short, high-pitched song. Hints Best seen in montane forest on Mt Kenya above Naro Moru and Embu, or in Kerita (Gatamaiyu), part of the Kikuyu Escarpment Forest, near Nairobi. It is gregarious except during the breeding season, when it nests in tree-cavities¹⁰.

Population estimate

Population trend

Range estimate (breeding/resident)

Country endemic?

2,500-9,999

decreasing

5,100 km²

No

Range & population Cinnyricinclus femoralis is found in a few montane forest localities in Kenya and northern Tanzania. It is generally scarce and local in forest on Mt Kenya¹⁰, but common in Kikuyu Escarpment Forest in the southern Aberdare Mountains (375 km²)², where flocks of up to 40 have been seen⁸. However, there have been few recent records from the Kikuyu Escarpment, possibly suggesting a decline in numbers³. It has also been recorded from the isolated Chyulu Hills (old records of flocks of up to 100 birds on fruiting trees⁷, but no recent records) and Taita Hills (recent records⁴), suggesting that it may make substantial movements between forests¹⁰. In Tanzania, it is found on Mt Kilimanjaro where it was considered quite common above 1,800 m, in 1977⁹, but there have been few recent records¹ and it was regarded in 1991 as probably rare⁵. It is also known from forests on Mt Meru, where it is scarce and may be only seasonal in occurrence⁹. Flocks of 20-25 were seen at 1,600 m in Kindoroko Forest Reserve in the North Pare Mountains in July 1993⁶.

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

Ecology: This little-known frugivore occurs in the canopy of highland forest, being present throughout the year in at least some locations (e.g. the Aberdares), albeit with seasonal fluctuations⁸.

Threats Forest loss and degradation are likely to pose a threat over most of its range. Illegal logging and agricultural encroachment have been major problems in Mt Kenya Forest and the Kikuyu Escarpment Forest². Encroachment for cultivation and cattle-grazing continues at Kikuyu, however encroachment of the forest edge at Mt Kenya has ceased, whilst cultivation of forest glades continues¹¹. Forest Reserves in the North Pare Mountains did not appear to be under any immediate threat in 1993, although there was some pit-sawing and encroachment by cattle⁶. As this species nests in holes in trees, it is probably sensitive to the cutting of mature trees.

Conservation measures underway Forest Reserves on Mt Kenya cover 1,995 km², including about 1,400 km² of forest and forest/bamboo/scrub mosaic². The Forest Department is able to exert very little control over the management of Kikuyu Escarpment Forest Reserve². Although there are National Parks on both Mt Kilimanjaro and Mt Kenya, they cover only higher altitudes and protect very little forest.

Conservation measures proposed Study its ecology, especially its nesting and breeding requirements³. Estimate its population size³. Once a baseline population estimate has been obtained, conduct regular surveys in order to monitor population trends. Monitor rates of forest clearance and degradation at known sites. Support existing forest-conservation programmes within its range, and initiate new schemes at other key sites³.

References Collar and Stuart (1985). 1. N. Baker in litt. (1999). 2. Bennun and Njoroge (1999). 3. Bennun in litt. (1999). 4. Brooks et al. (1998). 5. Cordeiro (1994). 6. Cordeiro and Kiure (1995). 7. Lewis and Pomeroy (1989). 8. Taylor and Taylor (1988). 9. Turner (1977). 10. Zimmerman et al. (1996). 11. K. Mwangi in litt. (2007).

Text account compilers Jonathan Ekstrom (BirdLife International), Mike Evans (BirdLife International), Sue Shutes (BirdLife International), Malcolm Starkey (BirdLife International), Joe Taylor (BirdLife International)

Contributors Neil Baker (Tanzania Bird Atlas Project), Leon Bennun (BirdLife International), Norbert Cordeiro (University of Illinois at Chicago), Kiragu Mwangi (BirdLife International)

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

Recommended citation BirdLife International (2009) Species factsheet: Cinnyricinclus femoralis. 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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