Justification This species is listed as Near Threatened because it is suspected to be undergoing a moderately rapid population decline owing to the limited impact on the species of forest clearance in lowland areas. Any evidence to suggest a greater rate of decline might qualify the species for uplisting to a higher threat category.

Family/Sub-family Sylviidae

Species name author (Sharpe, 1877)

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

Identification 12-13 cm. Small, rufous, brown and black warbler. Black head and breast with chestnut belly and flanks. Brown upperparts, with darker wings and tail. Female drab brown with slightly paler throat. Voice Distinctive, three-note, piercing, insect-like whistle. Hints Creeps along forest floor, cocking tail.

Population estimate

Population trend

Range estimate (breeding/resident)

Country endemic?

unknown

unset

275,000 km²

No

Range & population Bathmocercus cerviniventris has a fragmented range from Guinea (one record from Sérédou but locally common on the Ziama Massif¹; also recorded from Pic de Fon and Mont Bero Forest Reserves¹⁰), Sierra Leone (the Nimini Hills, Kono district, also Sandaru and probably Kankordu, and the Kangari Hills⁵, but apparently highly local⁷), Liberia (from the coast to the northern highlands, being frequent on Mt Nimba)⁴, Côte d'Ivoire (Mt Nimba and Sipilou in the west, Taï National Park where its preferred habitat is rare³, Marahoué National Park², and Gagnoa and Lamto in the south), and Ghana (very few records). In Côte d'Ivoire, future surveys may well locate the species in Mt Peko National Park and mountains east of Mt Nimba⁶. In 1997, in Liberia, on the basis of survey density estimates, the population was calculated to be at least 60,000 pairs⁴; however, throughout much of its range it would appear to have an extremely local distribution.

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 dense secondary vegetation bordering small creeks and rivers in various forest types (primary and secondary forest, swamp forest, gallery forest, sub-montane forest) and, more rarely, lowland forest^3,4,8. On the Ziama Massif, Guinea, it occurs in humid, open sites near old clearings within mature forest¹. It forages near the ground, always in pairs, on invertebrates^1,9. A recently-fledged chick was observed in Sierra Leone during late June, suggesting laying in May⁹.

Threats Due to its specific habitat requirements the species is probably not at high risk from lowland commercial logging activities. However, such logging will affect adjoining habitat and may cause disturbance, as well as potentially damaging catchment areas and affecting habitat through run-off¹⁰.

Conservation measures underway No targeted conservation action is known for this species.

Conservation measures proposed Conduct surveys to obtain an up-to-date population estimate. Monitor population trends through regular surveys. Monitor deforestation and forest degradation across its range. Protect suitable habitat for the species.

References Collar and Stuart (1985). 1. Bützler (1996). 2. P. Christy per L. D. C. Fishpool verbally (1998). 3. Gartshore et al. (1995). 4. Gatter (1997). 5. Okoni-Williams (2001). 6. H. Rainey in litt. (1999). 7. P. Robertson in litt. (1998). 8. Urban et al. (1997). 9. del Hoyo et al. (2006). 10. H. Rainey in litt. (2007).

Text account compilers Andrew O'Brien (BirdLife International), Sue Shutes (BirdLife International), Malcolm Starkey (BirdLife International), Joe Taylor (BirdLife International)

Contributors Gary Allport (BirdLife International), Lincoln Fishpool (BirdLife International), F. Huettmann, Hugo Rainey (Wildlife Conservation Society), Pete Robertson (BirdLife International), Hazell Shokellu Thompson (BirdLife International)

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

Recommended citation BirdLife International (2009) Species factsheet: Bathmocercus cerviniventris. 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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