Justification This species has been uplisted to Critically Endangered because its Extent of Occurrence is now estimated to be <100 km², it is confined to a single location and its range size is decreasing, remaining habitat is rapidly being degraded, and the number of mature individuals is decreasing (the total population is now believed to number fewer than 250 mature individuals). A potentially skewed sex ratio may mean the effective population size is even smaller, and there is a very real possibility that the species will become extinct in the next two to three years.

Family/Sub-family Alaudidae

Species name author Erard, 1975

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

Identification 14 cm. Small, large-headed, short-tailed lark. Pale buff stripe down centre of crown. Upperparts look "scaled". Short and thin tail. Similar spp. Singing Lark Mirafra cantillans is longer-tailed, with rusty wing-patches in flight. Voice Song is short: 3-5 melodious, clipped whistles, given in high display-flight. Hints Runs very rapidly on ground to avoid danger.

Population estimate

Population trend

Range estimate (breeding/resident)

Country endemic?

50-249

decreasing

52 km²

Yes

Range & population Heteromirafra sidamoensis was for some time known only from two specimens collected at adjacent sites near Negele in the former Sidamo province (now Guji Zone), southern Ethiopia, in May 1968 and April 1974. Since 1994 there have been subsequent sightings of small numbers (<10 on each occasion) in the Negele area. Analysis of these locations on satellite images and recent fieldwork suggests that the species is restricted to a very specific habitat (tall-grass prairie) in the calcareous plateau east and south of Negele⁴. Between 1973 and 2002 the area of tall-grass prairie decreased by about 30%, and in 2003 much of it was being rapidly encroached by agriculture and shrubs (Acacia drepanolobium and others) that are probably favoured by excessive grazing pressure and the suppression of seasonal fires⁴. Remaining grassland is being heavily degraded by overgrazing¹². By 2007-2008 it appeared to be restricted to a single grassland patch 30-36 km² in area, and the global population was estimated at just 90-256 mature individuals, with the effective population size perhaps even smaller owing to a potentially skewed sex ratio caused by predation of females on the nest¹². Without urgent and concerted intervention global extinction is likely within the next few years¹².

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

Ecology: All reliable records appear to fall within or near grassland areas⁴. Recent sightings have been in grassland with a few scattered Acacia bushes². A possible sighting in 1971 in dense Acacia woodland seems doubtful⁴. It has been found to avoid woody vegetation, very short grass and bare ground (all symptomatic of degraded rangelands), and to favour a grass sward of intermediate height (5-15 cm)¹². It has never been recorded from croplands¹².

Threats The Negele plateau is being degraded by human activities, leading to loss of grassland habitat and encroachment of bush, mainly Acacia drepanolobium^5,6. Shrub encroachment has probably been exacerbated by the fire suppression that has been enforced in the area since the 1980s¹⁰. Refugees from drought-stricken and tribal conflict areas are augmenting the dense local human population, and nomadic pastoralism is giving way to permanent cultivation, which is the principal threat to the species⁶. A watering point has been developed in the core of the species's range, leading to concentrations of livestock and consequent disturbance, overgrazing and trampling⁶. Remaining grassland had become even more degraded between the 2007 and 2008 surveys, leaving no real cover for the species, and potentially leading to high predation of females on the nest, reducing breeding success to zero and further lowering the effective population size¹³. The operation of a military training area (near the Bogol Manya crossroads) was previously listed as a potential threat³, but this had been abandoned by July 2005⁸.

Conservation measures underway Fieldwork took place in 2007-2008 to investigate the species's status¹¹. No other conservation action is known from the area at present.

Conservation measures proposed Conduct further surveys (during the breeding season, when birds are likely to be singing and hence most conspicuous) throughout the Negele Plateau to establish its range and population, and determine whether there is a significantly biased sex ratio. Investigate the causes of bush encroachment in the area¹⁰. Urgently determine the most appropriate means to safeguard areas of suitable habitat from further degradation and disturbance. Identify key areas where livestock and disturbance can be kept to a minimum and the natural fire regime is maintained. Raise awareness of the local communities and authorities of this important endemic taxon.

References Collar and Stuart (1985). 1. EWNHS (1996). 2. Robertson (1995). 3. I. Sinclair in litt. (1999). 4. L. Borghesio in litt. (2005). 5. Coppock (1994). 6. M. Wondafrash in litt. (2005). 7. C. Spottiswoode in litt. (2006). 8. L. Fishpool in litt. (2006). 9. Roberts (2005). 10. L. Borghesio in litt. (2007). 11. M. Wondafrash in litt. (2007). 12. Spottiswoode et al. in press. 13. N. J. Collar in litt. (2009).

Text account compilers Jeremy Bird (BirdLife International), Stuart Butchart (BirdLife International), Jonathan Ekstrom (BirdLife International), Sue Shutes (BirdLife International), H. Stark, Malcolm Starkey (BirdLife International), Andy Symes (BirdLife International), Graeme A. Taylor (Department of Conservation), Joe Taylor (BirdLife International)

Contributors Luca Borghesio (University of Illinois at Chicago), Nigel Collar (BirdLife International), Lincoln Fishpool (BirdLife International), Kiragu Mwangi (BirdLife International), Paul K. Ndang'ang'a (BirdLife International - Africa), Ian Sinclair, Claire Spottiswoode (University of Cambridge), Mengistu Wondafrash (EWNHS)

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

Recommended citation BirdLife International (2009) Species factsheet: Heteromirafra sidamoensis. 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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