Justification Although this species may have a restricted range, it is not believed to approach the thresholds for Vulnerable under the range size criterion (Extent of Occurrence <20,000 km2 combined with a declining or fluctuating range size, habitat extent/quality, or population size and a small number of locations or severe fragmentation). The population trend appears to be stable, and hence the species does not approach the thresholds for Vulnerable under the population trend criterion (>30% decline over ten years or three generations). The population size may be small, but it is not believed to approach the thresholds for Vulnerable under the population size criterion (<10,000 mature individuals with a continuing decline estimated to be >10% in ten years or three generations, or with a specified population structure). For these reasons the species is evaluated as Least Concern.

Family/Sub-family Sittidae

Species name author Sharpe, 1884

Taxonomic source(s) AERC TAC (2003), Cramp and Simmons (1977-1994), Sibley and Monroe (1990, 1993)

Identification

Population estimate

Population trend

Range estimate (breeding/resident)

Country endemic?

4,500 - 13,500

unset

-

No

Range & population This species is endemic to Corsica, France. It has a limited and fragmented breeding range which follows the distribution of Corsican pine Pinus nigra laricio in the central mountain chain. This stretches from Melaja to Ospédale forests (Tucker and Heath 1994). Small numbers are also found in the Castagniccia ridges and possibly in Cagna Fir forest (Thibault and Bonaccorsi 1999).

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

Ecology: Optimal habitat for this species is old stands of Corsican pine with abundant dead and rotting trunks for nest sites, at elevations of 1,000-1,500 m. Densities vary between 0.2-3.8 pairs/10 ha, and correlate with tree height, vegetation density and dead tree distribution (Thibault and Bonaccorsi 1999). Suboptimal habitats include forests, where Corsican pine is associated with cluster pine P. pinaster, balsam fir Abies alba or beech Fagus sylvatica, and younger, exploited stands of Corsican pine at elevations of 600-1,700 m (Thibault and Bonaccorsi 1999). It is generally sedentary except for some dispersal of immature and unmated birds to lower altitudes in winter. Dispersing birds may be found in holm oak Quercus ilex and sweet chestnut Castanea sativa forests, gardens and orchards (Thibault and Bonaccorsi 1999).

Threats Factors limiting local distribution and population are forest burning and a lack of nest sites as a result of the felling of older, dead or rotten trees in commercially managed forests and occasional avalanches. However, less than a third of Corsican pine is intensively managed and forest fires are uncommon at high altitudes (Tucker and Heath 1994).

References Tucker and Heath 1994, Thibault and Bonaccorsi 1999

Further web sources of information

Detailed species account from Birds in Europe: population estimates, trends and conservation status (BirdLife International 2004)

Text account compilers Stuart Butchart (BirdLife International), Jonathan Ekstrom (BirdLife International), Nic Peet (BirdLife International)

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

Recommended citation BirdLife International (2009) Species factsheet: Sitta whiteheadi. 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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