Elfin-woods Warbler (Dendroica angelae) - BirdLife species factsheet

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VU	Elfin-woods Warbler Dendroica angelae

2010 IUCN Red List Category (as evaluated by BirdLife International - the official Red List Authority for birds for IUCN): Vulnerable

Justification This species is listed as Vulnerable because it has a very small range and, were data to show that it is declining in population or range, it would be uplisted to Endangered.

Family/Sub-family Parulidae

Species name author Kepler & Parkes, 1972

Taxonomic source(s) AOU checklist (1998 + supplements), Sibley and Monroe (1990, 1993), Stotz et al. (1996)

Identification 12.5 cm. A black-and-white warbler. Similar spp. Wintering Black-and-white Warbler Mniotilta varia, but distinguished by lack of broad white crown-stripe, and behaviour˜D. angelae gleans from leaves and twigs whereas M. varia creeps along trunks and limbs of trees. Voice Song is series of short, rapid notes ending with slightly lower series of double notes. Contact call similar to first part of song. Seldom gives short, metallic chip. Hints Active, accompanies mixed flocks.

Population estimate	Population trend	Range estimate (breeding/resident)	Country endemic?
1,800	unknown	31 km²	Yes

Range & population Dendroica angelae was only discovered in 1971 and is endemic to Puerto Rico (to USA)³. It was formerly considered to occur at four disjunct localities: in the east, the Sierra de Luquillo (Caribbean National Forest) and the Sierra de Cayey (Carite State Forest) and, in the west, the Cordillera Central (Maricao and Toro Negro Commonwealth Forests), but its existence at some of these sites has been questioned and it is now thought to be restricted to two widely separated locations: the Sierra de Luquillo and Maricao State Forest^5,7. In optimal habitat it can be locally common, and although the population was previously thought to be no more than c.300 pairs², more accurate counts put the population at 1,830 individuals.

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

Ecology: Although it inhabits elfin or montane dwarf forest on ridges and summits, montane wet forest, and sometimes ranges to lower-elevation wet forest, it reaches its highest densities in Podocarpus dominated forest^1,4,7. Preferred areas have a dense canopy with vines, high subcanopy and sparse understorey^2,4. It shows a string preference for undisturbed forest, but has been recorded in secondary habitats and plantations¹. Breeding takes place in March-June, and the nest is built in aerial leaf-litter trapped in vegetation or vines, usually close to the trunk, or in a tree cavity^2,4,6.

Threats By the late 1940s, the natural vegetation of Puerto Rico had been reduced to c.6% of the island's land surface, but rapid regeneration of forest increased this figure to 31% in the early 1980s, a change which will probably benefit this species¹. However, Podocarpus dominated forest, which may be crucial to this species survival, makes up a tiny percentage of the total remaining forest and continues to destroyed by infrastructure projects, including touristic developments in protected areas⁸. Natural disasters will continue to be a threat while the species's population and range remain so small.

Conservation measures underway Both known areas are protected, and the species is probably secure as long as suitable habitat is maintained in these reserves¹.

Conservation measures proposed Ensure the complete protection of the two sites where it persists. Assess the current distribution (especially by surveying away from known sites) and population. Research factors limiting range and population, and attempt to determine why it disappeared from parts of its former range.

References 1. Cruz and Delannoy (1984). 2. Curson et al. (1994). 3. Raffaele (1983). 4. Raffaele et al. (1998). 5. Anadon-Irizarry (2006). 6. Rodriguez-Mojica (2004). 7. Delannoy (2006). 8. R. Rodriguez in litt. (2007).

Further web sources of information

Masters thesis

Text account compilers Isabel Isherwood (BirdLife International), Simon Mahood (BirdLife International), Rob Pople (BirdLife International - European Division), David Wege (BirdLife International)

Contributors Rafy Rodriguez

IUCN Red List evaluators Stuart Butchart (BirdLife International), Simon Mahood (BirdLife International)

Recommended citation BirdLife International (2010) Species factsheet: Dendroica angelae. Downloaded from http://www.birdlife.org on 30/7/2010

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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