Justification This species is classified as Critically Endangered because it has an extremely small known population, in areas where habitat loss is continuing rapidly. It is currently known from seven sites within a small range, but these are severely fragmented.

Family/Sub-family Accipitridae

Species name author (Swann, 1922)

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

Taxonomic note Leptodon cayanensis and L. forbesi (Sibley and Monroe 1990, 1993) are currently retained as separate species contra SACC (2005) who include forbesi as a subspecies of L. cayanensis, pending the outcome of investigation by SACC.

Identification 50 cm. Large, mostly bicoloured kite. Overall white head (pearl grey crown and sides of head hard to notice in the field). Blackish above with white feather tips on the mantle, scapullars, secondaries, and inner primaries. White below. White underwing-coverts and white leading edge of the wings are both very noticeable in the field and diagnostic. Tail ashy-white with black subterminal band and whitish tip. Some birds present two black bands in the undertail. Similar spp. Very similar to more widely distributed Grey-headed Kite L. cayanensis from which differs on white head and leading edge to wings and white underwing coverts. Light-morph, juvenile Grey-headeds are browner above and have black crowns (grey in intermediate stages of first pre-basic moult), and feathers in the upperside have dark tips. In White-necked Hawk Leucopternis lacernulatus primaries reach tail tip on perched birds. They soar in a strong dihedral and show a dark band on the trailing edge to the wings. Mantled Hawk Leucopternis polionotus have shorter tails almost completely white, and broader, more pointed wings show a noticeable white trailing edge. Ubiquitous Short-tailed Hawk Buteo brachyurus have pointed wings and multi-banded tail pattern. Wings reach tail tip in perched birds, and the sides of the head are slate-coloured. Voice A series of short kua-kua-kua-kua calls (approx. 4 per sec)

Population estimate

Population trend

Range estimate (breeding/resident)

Country endemic?

50-249

decreasing

40 km²

Yes

Range & population Leptodon forbesi occurs in Pernambuco (one specimen taken in 1880⁵ and recent records from Água Azul, Barreiros and Trapiche^8,9,10) and Alagoas (recent records from São Miguel dos Campos, Serra Grande and Murici^6,9,), north-east Brazil. It was recorded from all six sites surveyed in 2007, with a total estimate of 21 pairs logged⁹. However, as survey effort focused on a small fraction of all forest fragments the global population can conservatively be estimated at c.50 pairs⁹. The extent of habitat loss indicates that there must have been significant declines in both numbers and range. Forest cover has been reduced to less than 1% of its former distribution within this species's range. The largest remaining forest fragments in Pernambuco and Alagoas are 45 km² and 30 km² respectively, suggesting the species is in a precarious position.

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

Ecology: It apparently inhabits humid forest at elevations up to c.600 m, but there are no data on its feeding or breeding ecology^1,3,6.

Threats There has been massive deforestation in coastal Alagoas and Pernambuco, with most suitable habitat cleared or threatened. The two key sites in Alagoas are both under severe threat, with forest at Murici covering 70 km² in the 1970s, but less than 30 km² in 1999². Indiscriminate small-scale logging was still occurring at the site in 1992, and the area is further threatened by fires spreading from adjacent sugarcane plantations. Some forest persists at São Miguel dos Campos but it is still under pressure from logging and hunting⁹. The current condition of forest at Água Azul is unknown.

Conservation measures underway CITES Appendix II. A large area in Murici, Alagoas, is currently legally protected by the Brazilian government⁹. Surveys were conducted in Alagoas and Pernambuco states in 2007⁹. Local NGOs such as the IPMA (Instituto para a Preservação da Mata Atlântica) are working to create reserves in many privately-owned forest fragments in Alagoas and Pernambuco⁹.

Conservation measures proposed Urgently survey all forest patches larger than 10 ha in Pernambuco and Alagoas. Designate Murici as a biological reserve and ensure its de facto protection. Protect any remaining forest at São Miguel dos Campos. Conduct field and museum studies to clarify its taxonomic status including DNA analysis. Conduct prospective surveys in forest fragments in Paraíba and Sergipe states as the species may also occur there.

References 1. Bierregard (1994). 2. J. M. Goerck in litt. (1999, 2000). 3. Parker et al. (1996). 4. Sibley and Monroe (1990). 5. Swann (1922). 6. Teixeira et al. (1987). 7. Wege and Long (1995). 8. E. O. Willis in litt. (1999). 9. F. V. Dénes and L. F. Silveira in litt. (2007). 10. Pereira et al. (2006).

Text account compilers Phil Benstead (BirdLife International), Jeremy Bird (BirdLife International), Stuart Butchart (BirdLife International), David Capper (BirdLife International), Andy Symes (BirdLife International)

Contributors Francisco Voeroes Dénes (University of São Paulo), Pedro Develey (SAVE Brasil), J. M. Goerck (SAVE Brasil), Luís Fábio Silveira (University of São Paulo), Bret Whitney (Louisiana State University), E. O. Willis

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

Recommended citation BirdLife International (2009) Species factsheet: Leptodon forbesi. 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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