IUCN Red List Criteria
| Critically Endangered |
|
| Endangered |
B1ab(i,ii,iii,iv,v) |
| Vulnerable |
A2c+3c+4c;B1ab(i,ii,iii,iv,v) |
IUCN Red List history
| Year |
Category |
| 2012 |
Endangered |
| 2008 |
Endangered |
| 2004 |
Endangered |
| 2000 |
Endangered |
| 1996 |
Vulnerable |
| 1994 |
Vulnerable |
| 1988 |
Threatened |
Species attributes
| Migratory status |
not a migrant |
Forest dependency |
Medium |
| Land mass type |
continent
|
Average mass |
- |
Distribution
| |
Estimate |
Data quality |
| Extent of Occurrence breeding/resident (km2) |
4,600 |
medium |
| Number of locations |
16 |
- |
| Fragmentation |
|
- |
Population & trend
| |
Estimate |
Data quality |
Derivation |
Year of estimate |
| No. of mature individuals |
1500-7000 |
medium |
Suspected |
2005 |
| Population trend |
Decreasing |
medium |
|
- |
| Number of subpopulations |
2-100 |
- |
- |
- |
| Largest subpopulation |
251-1000 |
- |
- |
- |
| Generation length (yrs) |
6.5 |
- |
- |
- |
|
Population justification: The world population was thought to be in the range of c.2,500-5,000 mature individuals, however in 2005 the species was discovered on Mt Mabu in Mozambique, where the population is conservatively suspected to number c.2000 individuals, and there are other areas of this country that could hold the species. Thus on the basis that further exploration is required before a reliable estimate of the total population can be made, the population is placed in the range bracket for 2,500-9,999 individuals. This equates to 1,667-6,666 mature individuals, rounded here to 1,500-7,000 mature individuals. |
|
Trend justification: The population is suspected to be declining very rapidly in Malawi in line with the extensive clearance and degradation of highland forests there, and to a lesser degree in Mozambique, with a substantial proportion of the known population occurring on Mt Mabu where there is currently relatively low pressure on the forest. Overall, the rate of decline over 20 years (three generations) is suspected to have been rapid. Further substantial populations may occur in intact forests in unsurveyed areas of Mozambique (Spottiswoode et al. 2008), which, if found to be the case, would have a bearing on the overall proportion of the population that is decreasing and thus the overall rate of decline. |
Country/Territory distribution
| Country/Territory |
Occurrence status |
Extinct |
Breeding |
Non-breeding |
Passage |
| Malawi |
Native |
No |
|
|
|
| Mozambique |
Native |
No |
|
|
|
Important Bird Areas where this species has triggered the IBA criteria
| Country/Territory |
IBA Name |
IBA link |
| Malawi |
Liwonde Hills Forest Reserve |
 |
| Malawi |
Mangochi Mountain Forest Reserve |
|
| Malawi |
Mount Mulanje Forest Reserve |
|
| Malawi |
Namizimu Forest Reserve |
|
| Malawi |
Soche Mountain Forest Reserve |
|
| Malawi |
Thyolo Mountain Forest Reserve |
|
| Mozambique |
Mount Chiperone |
|
| Mozambique |
Mount Namuli |
|
| Mozambique |
Njesi plateau |
|
Habitats & altitude
| Habitat (level 1) |
Habitat (level 2) |
Importance |
Occurrence |
| Forest |
Subtropical/Tropical Dry |
suitable |
resident |
| Forest |
Subtropical/Tropical Moist Lowland |
suitable |
resident |
| Forest |
Subtropical/Tropical Moist Montane |
suitable |
resident |
| Savanna |
Dry |
suitable |
resident |
|
Altitude
|
700 - 1700 m
|
Occasional altitudinal limits
|
720 - 1900 m
|
Threats & impact
| Threat (level 1) |
Threat (level 2) |
Impact and Stresses |
| Residential & commercial development |
Housing & urban areas |
Timing |
Scope |
Severity |
Impact |
| Ongoing |
Minority (<50%) |
Slow, Significant Decline |
Low Impact: 5 |
| Stresses |
|---|
| Ecosystem degradation, Ecosystem conversion |
|
| Agriculture & Aquaculture |
Annual & perennial non-timber crops / Agro-industry farming |
Timing |
Scope |
Severity |
Impact |
| Past, Likely to Return |
Minority (<50%) |
Slow, Significant Decline |
Past Impact |
| Stresses |
|---|
| Ecosystem degradation, Ecosystem conversion |
|
| Agriculture & Aquaculture |
Annual & perennial non-timber crops / Small-holder farming |
Timing |
Scope |
Severity |
Impact |
| Ongoing |
Majority (50-90%) |
Rapid Declines |
Medium Impact: |
| Stresses |
|---|
| Ecosystem degradation, Ecosystem conversion |
|
| Transportation & service corridors |
Roads & railroads |
Timing |
Scope |
Severity |
Impact |
| Future |
Minority (<50%) |
Slow, Significant Decline |
Low Impact: 3 |
| Stresses |
|---|
| Ecosystem degradation, Ecosystem conversion |
|
| Biological resource use |
Fishing & harvesting aquatic resources / Unintentional effects: (subsistence/small scale) |
Timing |
Scope |
Severity |
Impact |
| Ongoing |
Majority (50-90%) |
Slow, Significant Decline |
Medium Impact: |
| Stresses |
|---|
| Ecosystem degradation, Ecosystem conversion |
|
| Human intrusions & disturbance |
Work & other activities |
Timing |
Scope |
Severity |
Impact |
| Ongoing |
Minority (<50%) |
Slow, Significant Decline |
Low Impact: 5 |
| Stresses |
|---|
| Ecosystem degradation, Ecosystem conversion |
|
| Natural system modifications |
Fire & fire suppression / Trend Unknown/Unrecorded |
Timing |
Scope |
Severity |
Impact |
| Past, Likely to Return |
Minority (<50%) |
Slow, Significant Decline |
Past Impact |
| Stresses |
|---|
| Ecosystem degradation, Ecosystem conversion |
|
Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2013) Species factsheet: Alethe choloensis. Downloaded from
http://www.birdlife.org on 24/05/2013.
Recommended citation for factsheets for more than one species: BirdLife International (2013) IUCN Red List for birds. Downloaded from
http://www.birdlife.org on 24/05/2013.
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.
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