Justification This species has been uplisted to Critically Endangered as it has a very small range on a single island, and recent information suggests that it is declining rapidly owing to the effects of the parasite Philornis downsi.

Family/Sub-family Emberizidae

Species name author Ridgway, 1890

Taxonomic source(s) SACC (2005 + updates), Sibley and Monroe (1990, 1993), Stotz et al. (1996)

Identification 12.5 cm. Chunky finch. Male has black head, greyish-brown upperparts, and whitish or yellowish underparts. Female has greyish-brown head. Similar spp. Differs from Large Tree-finch C. psittacula mainly in substantially smaller and less parrot-like bill, and from Small Tree-finch C. parvulus in larger bill. Voice Five-syllable series of tju notes or a dzi-dzi-dzi.

Population estimate

Population trend

Range estimate (breeding/resident)

Country endemic?

1,000-2,499

decreasing

23 km²

Yes

Range & population Camarhynchus pauper is endemic to Floreana Island in the Galápagos Islands, Ecuador, where it is common in the highlands, and uncommon to rare on the coast^3,6. Recent estimates put the total population at not more than 1,660 individuals, and it has recently begun declining rapidly owing to the effects of the introduced parasite Philornis downsi^9,10.

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

Ecology: It inhabits montane evergreen and tropical deciduous forest, and Scalesia-zone humid scrub⁵, mainly above 100 m ⁶. It feeds on insects, nectar, young buds and leaves, probing crevices in the bark of trees and searching under twigs and foliage¹.

Threats The most significant threat is from the introduced ectoparasite Philornis downsi, which occurs in finch nests on Floreana⁷, and likely reduces reproductive success in the species^9,10. In 2004-2008 nesting success was extremely low in all years (4-8 % of all nests producing fledglings) and parasite intensity from P.downsi was second highest of any bird species studied so far on the Galapagos archipelago⁹. It is thought to be at elevated risk from fly parasitism because its only extant habitat is adjacent to cleared agricultural land with fruiting trees which are favoured by the adult fly⁹. Floreana has a suite of introduced predators and herbivores including cattle, donkeys, pigs, cats, dogs and rats⁴, and suffers from extensive habitat destruction and degradation as a result of agriculture², habitat alteration by invasive plant species, and free-ranging domestic livestock⁶. Avian pox (Avipox virus) occurs on the island and infects a significant proportion of individuals. Predator marks from invasive rodents increased threefold between 2004-2008 and tourist visitation to favoured Scalesia habitat has increased more than tenfold since 2004⁹.

Conservation measures underway The Galápagos National Park was gazetted in 1959, and includes almost all the land area of the islands. Although the Park includes most of Floreana, it does not include the agricultural zone of the island, an area which was the prime habitat for the Medium Tree-finch. In 1979, the islands were declared a World Heritage Site⁴. In December 2006 the Galápagos National Park began the eradication of goats and donkeys on Floreana.

Conservation measures proposed Estimate the population size as a baseline to determine trends. Collect baseline information on its feeding and breeding biology⁶. Investigate methods to control or eradicate Philornis downsi. Extend the national park to incorporate the agricultural zone on Floreana. Continue and extend control measures against introduced species.

References 1. Castro and Phillips (1996). 2. Cruz and Cruz (1996). 3. Harris (1982). 4. Jackson (1985). 5. Stotz et al. (1996). 6. H. Vargas and F. Cruz in litt. (2000). 7. Wiedenfeld et al. (2007). 8. Grant et al. (2005). 9. S. Kleindorfer in litt. (2008). 10. O'Connor et al. in prep.

Text account compilers Isabel Isherwood (BirdLife International), Rachel McClellan (BirdLife International), Rob Pople (BirdLife International - European Division), Rob Pople (BirdLife International), Andy Symes (BirdLife International)

Contributors Francisco Cruz, Sonia Kleindorfer, Hernan Vargas (Charles Darwin Research Station), David Wiedenfeld (American Bird Conservancy)

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

Recommended citation BirdLife International (2009) Species factsheet: Camarhynchus pauper. Downloaded from http://www.birdlife.org on 9/2/2010

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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