Justification
Although this species has been recently found to be not uncommon, it occurs within an extremely small range, where further destruction and fragmentation of its forest habitat may result in a deterioration in its status in future. However, the range is not yet severely fragmented or restricted to few locations. For these reasons, the species is currently classified as Near Threatened.
Taxonomic source(s)
Sibley, C. G.; Monroe, B. L. 1990. Distribution and taxonomy of birds of the world. Yale University Press, New Haven, USA.
Identification
12-13 cm. Small, dark flycatcher. Male predominantly dark slate-blue with blackish face and white supercilium before eye, meeting on forehead. Small white throat patch in some individuals, and flecking on chest. Black bill and legs. Female has olive-brown upperparts, tinged slaty. Buff eye-ring and supercilium before eye. Rusty-buff below, brighter on throat and chest with indistinct olive streaking. Similar spp. Male Shining Flycatcher Piezorhynchus alecto is larger, longer tailed and lacks white. Voice Undocumented.
Distribution and populationFicedula henrici is endemic to the small island of Damar (total area c.200 km
2) in the Banda Sea, eastern Nusa Tenggara,
Indonesia, where it is known from 14 specimens collected at three localities in late 1898. The island was recently visited by an ornithologist for the first time since its discovery, and the species was reported to be relatively common and widespread (Trainor 2002, Edwards 2008)
. Given approximately 150 km
2 of suitable habitat, extrapolation of density estimates gives an overall population estimate of 20,000-30,000 individuals (Trainor 2002)
.
Population justificationThe total population is estimated to lie within the band 20,000-49,9999 individuals, based on recent survey data estimating density and area of occupancy (C. Trainor
in litt. 2006).
Trend justificationA slow to moderate and on-going population decline is estimated to be taking place (C. Trainor in litt. 2006).
EcologyRecent observations indicate that this species is confined to lowland evergreen forest up to at least 400 m, where it frequents the understorey (Trainor 2002, 2007)
. Although it occasionally used gardens and groves, it is absent in highly modified habitats and apparently intolerant of forest conversion (Trainor 2007). It generally perches within 1 m of the ground while feeding, though will forage on the ground among rocks and leaf litter.
ThreatsAbout 70-80% of the island is still covered in semi-evergreen and dry tropical forest. Small-scale logging and clearance for subsistence agriculture occurs at low-levels but is expected to increase in future as human population levels rise (Trainor 2002)
. Volcanism and earthquakes represents a potential threat on the small island, given its location, and introduced rats may be predating on the native avifauna (Trainor 2007).
Conservation actions underwayNone is known, although a protected area has been proposed on the island.
Conservation actions proposedEvaluate the proposed protected area on Damar in terms of suitability for the protection of this flycatcher, and other threatened species, proposing an alternative area if necessary. Monitor changes in forest cover through remote sensing, in the absence of field visits.
References
BirdLife International. 2001. Threatened birds of Asia: the BirdLife International Red Data Book. BirdLife International, Cambridge, U.K.
Trainor, C. 2002. An expedition to Damar Island, south-west Maluku, Indonesia. Oriental Bird Club Bulletin 36: 18-23.
Trainor, C. R. 2007. Birds of Damar Island, Banda Sea, Indonesia. Bulletin of the British Ornithologists' Club 127(4): 300-320.
Edwards, K. 2008. Birds of Damar Island: an introduction to Indonesia's "forgotten islands". Nature Territory: 7.
Further web sources of information
Detailed species accounts from the Threatened birds of Asia: the BirdLife International Red Data Book (BirdLife International 2001).
Hear sounds for this species from xeno-canto, the community database of shared bird sounds from around the world.
View photos and videos, and hear sounds of this species from the Internet Bird Collection
Text account compilers
Benstead, P., Bird, J., Butchart, S., Davidson, P., Khwaja, N., Tobias, J.
Contributors
Trainor, C.
IUCN Red List evaluators
Butchart, S., Symes, A.
Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2013) Species factsheet: Ficedula henrici. Downloaded from
http://www.birdlife.org on 20/06/2013.
Recommended citation for factsheets for more than one species: BirdLife International (2013) IUCN Red List for birds. Downloaded from
http://www.birdlife.org on 20/06/2013.
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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