Justification Although its high tolerance of degraded habitats suggests that this species is unaffected by the impact of introduced herbivores on forested areas, it is listed as Vulnerable because it has a very small range and is thus susceptible to chance catastrophes.

Family/Sub-family Emberizidae

Species name author (Gould, 1843)

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

Identification 12 cm. Dark, slender-billed and chunky finch. Male black. Female blackish-brown above, indistinctly streaked olive-brown. Sometimes extensively buffy forehead, lores and eyebrow. Buffish wing-bars. Buff underparts streaked black, paler on belly. Immature as female, but with yellow bill. Voice Prolonged and buzzy song, rising at the end, and often preceded by piercing, metallic note. Calls include burry and rough djrr, and whistled tyew.

Population estimate

Population trend

Range estimate (breeding/resident)

Country endemic?

10,000-19,999

stable

25 km²

Yes

Range & population Pinaroloxias inornata is endemic to Cocos Island, c.500 km from Costa Rica, where it is the most common landbird². It is abundant in the lowlands and sparser at higher altitude.

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

Ecology: It occupies every available habitat on the island, including Hibiscus thickets along coasts, woodland, open country and closed-canopy forest^1,3,4, and is common in disturbed vegetation². It is a generalist³, but individual birds usually specialise in one or a few of the various foraging techniques employed by the species as a whole⁴. Nesting occurs throughout the year, but is mostly concentrated in January-May⁴.

Threats Rats and cats are potential predators, and grazing by feral deer, pigs and goats degrades natural habitats on the island. There is also low-level disturbance from increasing tourism. However, none of these appears to have adverse affects.

Conservation measures underway Cocos Island is a national park.

Conservation measures proposed Assess the size of the population. Study the impact of introduced mammals, and factors that may affect the species's abundance.

References 1. Sherry (1985). 2. Slud (1967). 3. Smith and Sweatman (1976). 4. Stiles and Skutch (1989).

Text account compilers Isabel Isherwood (BirdLife International), Simon Mahood (BirdLife International), Rob Pople (BirdLife International)

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

Recommended citation BirdLife International (2009) Species factsheet: Pinaroloxias inornata. 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.

To provide new information to update this factsheet or to correct any errors, please email BirdLife

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