Family/Sub-family Estrildidae

Species name author Chapin, 1928

Taxonomic source(s) Sibley and Monroe (1990, 1993)

Taxonomic note Estrilda astrild and E. nigriloris (Sibley and Monroe 1990, 1993) are retained as separate species contra Dowsett and Forbes Watson (1993) who include nigriloris as a subspecies of E. astrild.

Identification 11 cm. Small, dun coloured finch with pointed tail and red bill. General impression is of a Common Waxbill with a black line through the eye. At close range the fawn/grey plumage is finely barred on upperparts except the head and barring confined to the flanks and belly. Vent is black. Lozenge shaped black patch runs through the eye. Similar spp. Confusable only with Common waxbill which has a red, not black stripe through the eye. Voice Unknown in the wild. Captive birds uttered a nasal buzzy sound, not unlike Common Waxbill. Hints Range not clear but a search in grassy areas on the banks of the Lualaba River and adjacent grasslands on the eastern reaches of Lake Upemba in southern DRC might produce this very little known bird.

Population estimate

Population trend

Range estimate (breeding/resident)

Country endemic?

unknown

unset

28,500 km²

Yes

Range & population Estrilda nigriloris is restricted to an area judged less than 2,600 km² around the Lualaba River and Lake Upemba in the southern Democratic Republic of Congo, with no records since 1950. Taxonomic studies are needed to clarify its status¹ and, if it proves to be a good species, surveys are needed to determine its distribution, population and habitat requirements.

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

Ecology: Historical records were in grassy plains with tall grasses and bushes, where it occurred in small flocks.

Threats Unknown

Conservation measures underway Most of the population is probably within the Upemba National Park but it is not clear to what extent habitat here is protected².

Conservation measures proposed Clarify its taxonomic status. Survey to clarify distribution, population and habitat requirements.

References Collar and Stuart (1985). 1. Dowsett and Dowsett-Lemaire (1993). 2. Stattersfield et al. (1998).

Text account compilers Sue Shutes (BirdLife International), Andy Symes (BirdLife International)

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

Recommended citation BirdLife International (2009) Species factsheet: Estrilda nigriloris. 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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