Saffron-cowled Blackbird (Xanthopsar flavus)

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VU	Saffron-cowled Blackbird Xanthopsar flavus

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

Justification This species has a small, fragmented and rapidly declining population owing to a plethora of direct and indirect threats. It is consequently listed as Vulnerable.

Family/Sub-family Icteridae

Species name author (Gmelin, 1788)

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

Synonyms Agelaius flavus Sibley and Monroe (1990, 1993)

Identification 18 cm. Striking, black-and-yellow marshbird. Male has bright golden-yellow head, lesser wing-coverts, rump and underparts. Black nape, upperparts, tail, and loral line. Slender black bill. Female has olive-brown crown and upperparts, streaked dusky. Dusky brown eye-stripe and auriculars. Yellow rump, lesser wing-coverts, eyebrow and underparts. Similar spp. Yellow-rumped Marshbird Pseudoleistes guirahuro and Brown-and-yellow Marshbird P. virescens are larger with uniformly brown head and breast. Voice Explosive and high-pitched song consisting of a short trill. Harsh tchep call. Hints Forages in flocks, often associating with Black-and-white Monjita Heteroxolmis dominicana,as well as Yellow-rumped Marshbird and Brown-and-yellow Marshbird.

Population estimate	Population trend	Range estimate (breeding/resident)	Country endemic?
2,500-9,999	decreasing	75,700 km²	No

Range & population Xanthopsar flavus has contracted its range in south Brazil (Santa Catarina and Rio Grande do Sul), east Paraguay^1,3,6, Uruguay⁸ and north-east Argentina (now only recorded with certainty from Buenos Aires province after a re-appraisal of specimens¹⁴). There are now only local centers of abundance, but it was probably never abundant in Argentina⁵. Breeding is often colonial, and only a small number of breeding sites have been discovered¹². In Paraguay, the population in the Aguapey and Tacuary watersheds in Itapúa and Misiones is estimated as c.1,500 birds, and the overall Paraguayan population as 2,000-3,000 individuals¹¹. Surveys of known and suitable sites in 2006 located this species at just two sites, suggesting further recent declines in Paraguay¹⁵. In Argentina, there are disjunct populations totaling 500-1,000 individuals in north-east Corrientes (possibly continuous with populations in west Rio Grande do Sul) and south-east Entre Ríos⁴. In Uruguay, the main strongholds are in wetlands of the south and west, particularly at Bañados del Este¹⁶. It has disappeared from a number of historical sites in recent years, but has also been found in some new areas, including Salto and Durazno¹⁶.

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

Ecology: In Entre Ríos, it occurs in agricultural land, breeding mainly in dry or upland terrain, with nests built in native herbaceous plants or introduced weeds^2,4,13. In Corrientes and Paraguay, however, breeding only occurs in dense marsh vegetation, characterised by Eryngium, although feeding has been observed in rice-fields and grazed areas²,4,13. It may undertake irregular dispersive movements and can be highly mobile in the non-breeding season⁴. Breeding is generally colonial, although solitary nests have been found in Entre Ríos¹³ as well as in Brazil and Uruguay⁸. In Entre Ríos, breeding sites often fall within colonies of White-browed Blackbirds Leistes superciliaris. Breeding begins in September in Paraguay² with eggs laid through to December, whilst in Uruguay and Argentina breeding has been reported in October-December^8,13. In Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil, breeding is from December-January⁹.

Threats It has declined owing to a number of human impacts on grasslands, including stock-raising, cultivation, pesticides, burning, pine and eucalypt plantations, drainage and settlement⁷. In strongholds at Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil and Bañados del Este, Uruguay, the greatest threats are the damming of marshy valleys for irrigation^9,16, and high rates of nest failure owing to trampling by cattle¹². It is trapped for the pet trade. Brood-parasitism by the Shiny Cowbird Molothrus bonariensis can be significant⁸, particularly if populations are reduced by habitat loss⁴. In Paraguay, whole colonies have been destroyed by fire². Conversion of marshes and seasonal inundated grasslands into rice fields is an increasing threat in southern Paraguay. Already six of the 11 IBAs supporting this species are affected through rice cultivation. A recent analysis carried out in the breeding range of the species in southern Paraguay revealed that almost 70% of the suitable breeding habitat is cover by rice fields¹⁵

Conservation measures underway CITES Appendix I. CMS Appendix I. It is protected by law in Brazil, Uruguay and Paraguay, and occurs in at least one protected area in Brazil, two in Uruguay, and two in Paraguay. Since birds are highly mobile, it is difficult to designate sufficiently large reserves to provide adequate protection⁴. An experimental reintroduction of seven birds from trade in Buenos Aires met with some success¹⁰. A CMS Memorandum of Understanding targeting this and other southern South America grassland species has been recently approved by Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay and Uruguay.

Conservation measures proposed Survey to assess range and numbers in Brazil. Monitor populations in Paraguay and Argentina. Research rates of nest failure due to trampling and brood-parasitism. Develop an action plan considering the creation of a reserve network and awareness campaigns. Fence and protect traditional colony sites, where locally appropriate⁴. Enforce legislation on burning in Paraguay. Legislate for and enforce restrictions on trade.

References Collar et al. (1992). 1. Clay et al. (1998). 2. R. P. Clay in litt. (1999, 2000). 3. Ericson and Amarilla (1997). 4. Fraga et al. (1998). 5. R. Fraga in litt. (2000). 6. Hayes (1995). 7. Pearman and Abadie (1995). 8. Azpiroz (2000). 9. Dias and Maurício (2002). 10. Fraga (1999). 11. Clay et al. (2003). 12. Fonseca et al. (2004). 13. Fraga (2005). 14. R. Fraga in prep. (2007). 15. A. Lesterhuis & H. del Castillo in litt. (2007). 16. A. Azpiroz in litt. (2007).

Further web sources of information

Fully detailed species account from the Threatened birds of the Americas: the BirdLife International Red Data Book (BirdLife International 1992). Please note, taxonomic treatment and IUCN Red List category may have changed since publication.

Recuento detallado de la especie tomado del libro Aves Amenazadas de las Americas, Libro Rojo de BirdLife International (BirdLife International 1992). Nota: la taxonomoía y la categoría de la Lista Roja de la UICN pudo haber cambiado desde esta publicación.

Text account compilers James Gilroy (BirdLife International), Rob Pople (BirdLife International - European Division)

Contributors Adrián B. Azpiroz (University of Missouri-St. Louis), Rob P Clay (BirdLife International), Hugo del Castillo (Guyra Paraguay), Rosendo Fraga (Aves Argentinas/AOP), Arne Lesterhuis (Guyra Paraguay)

IUCN Red List evaluators Stuart Butchart (BirdLife International), David Capper (BirdLife International), James Gilroy (BirdLife International), Rob Pople (BirdLife International - European Division)

Recommended citation BirdLife International (2010) Species factsheet: Xanthopsar flavus. 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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