Species

Justification
This species is listed as Near Threatened because it is thought to have a moderately small population. Both the range and population are thought to be in decline owing to the clearance and degradation of its habitat. Evidence that this species has a small population, in ongoing decline, might qualify it for uplisting to a higher threat category, however if the population is found to be larger than currently suspected it may be eligible for downlisting.

Taxonomic source(s)
Dowsett, R. J.; Forbes-Watson, A. D. 1993. Checklist of birds of the Afrotropical and Malagasy regions. Tauraco Press, Li
Sibley, C. G.; Monroe, B. L. 1990. Distribution and taxonomy of birds of the world. Yale University Press, New Haven, USA.

Distribution and population
Platysteira albifrons is endemic to (and locally common in) Angola, where it is found from the mouth of the Congo River in the Zaïre province south along the coastal plain to Benguela, and also from Cuanza Norte and Cuanza Sul Provinces (Dean 2000). It possibly occurs in Congo and southern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) (e.g. Kwango River; records from Ngombe Lutete unconfirmed) (Urban et al. 1997).

Population justification
The global population size has not been quantified, but the species is described as locally common and occurring sparsely within its large range.

Trend justification
This population is suspected to be in decline owing to ongoing habitat destruction (del Hoyo et al. 2006).

Ecology
It is found in dry thicket in woodland, gallery forest and at the edges of mangrove forest and is common in Croton thickets on the plateau in Quiçama National Park (Dean 2000). In a recent survey of central scarp forests it was only found in drier habitats above the main scarp and in the dry Adansonia-dominated forests and thickets on flatter areas below the scarp at c.250-300 m (Mills 2010). It feeds on small arthropods by foliage-gleaning (Urban et al. 1997). The species is monogamous and territorial, but nothing else is known of its breeding behaviour (Urban et al. 1997). Juveniles have been observed in November (Urban et al. 1997).


Threats
Mangrove forest around Luanda is being exploited for building timber by people in informal settlements (W. R. J. Dean in litt. 1999) and some forest areas in its range are being cleared for subsistence agriculture (Dean 2001).

Conservation actions underway
No targeted conservation action is known for this species.

Conservation actions proposed
Carry out surveys to obtain a total population estimate. Search for the species in Congo and DRC. Monitor population trends through regular surveys. Monitor rates of habitat loss and degradation across its range. Designate areas of important habitat as protected areas.

References
Urban, E. K.; Fry, C. H.; Keith, S. 1997. The birds of Africa vol. V. Academic Press, London.

Dean, W. R. J. 2000. The birds of Angola. British Ornithologists' Union, Tring, UK.

Dean, W. R. J. 2001. Angola. In: Fishpool, L.D.C.; Evans, M.I. (ed.), Important Bird Areas in Africa and associated islands: Priority sites for conservation, pp. 71-91. Pisces Publications and BirdLife International (BirdLife International Conservation Series No.11), Newbury and Cambridge, UK.

Mills, M. S. L. 2010. Angola's central scarp forests: patterns of bird diversity and conservation threats. Biodiversity and Conservation 19(7): 1883-1903.

Further web sources of information
View photos and videos, and hear sounds of this species from the Internet Bird Collection

Text account compilers
O'Brien, A., Pilgrim, J., Robertson, P., Symes, A., Taylor, J.

Contributors
Dean, R.

IUCN Red List evaluators
Butchart, S., Taylor, J.

Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2013) Species factsheet: Platysteira albifrons. Downloaded from http://www.birdlife.org on 22/05/2013. Recommended citation for factsheets for more than one species: BirdLife International (2013) IUCN Red List for birds. Downloaded from http://www.birdlife.org on 22/05/2013.

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

To contribute to discussions on the evaluation of the IUCN Red List status of Globally Threatened Birds, please visit BirdLife's Globally Threatened Bird Forums.

Additional resources for this species

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