Species

Taxonomic source(s)
Sibley, C. G.; Monroe, B. L. 1990. Distribution and taxonomy of birds of the world. Yale University Press, New Haven, USA.

Taxonomic note
Estrilda astrild and E. nigriloris (Sibley and Monroe 1990, 1993) are retained as separate species contra Dowsett and Forbes Watson (1993) who include nigriloris as a subspecies of E. astrild.

Identification
11 cm. Small, dun coloured finch with pointed tail and red bill. General impression is of a Common Waxbill with a black line through the eye. At close range the fawn/grey plumage is finely barred on upperparts except the head and barring confined to the flanks and belly. Vent is black. Lozenge shaped black patch runs through the eye. Similar spp. Confusable only with Common Waxbill which has a red, not black stripe through the eye. Voice Unknown in the wild. Captive birds uttered a nasal buzzy sound, not unlike Common Waxbill. Hints Range not clear, but a search in grassy areas on the banks of the Lualaba River, and adjacent grasslands on the eastern reaches of Lake Upemba in southern D.R.C., might produce this very poorly known bird.

Distribution and population
Estrilda nigriloris is restricted to an area judged less than 2,600 km² around the Lualaba River and Lake Upemba in the southern Democratic Republic of Congo, with no records since 1950. Taxonomic studies are needed to clarify its status (Dowsett and Dowsett-Lemaire 1993) and, if it proves to be a good species, surveys are needed to determine its distribution, population and habitat requirements.

Population justification
The global population size has not been quantified, but the species is described as rare and very little known (Clement 1999).

Trend justification
The population is suspected to be stable in the absence of evidence for any declines or substantial threats.

Ecology
Historical records were in grassy plains with tall grasses and bushes, where it occurred in small flocks.

Threats
Unknown.

Conservation actions underway
Most of the population is probably within the Upemba National Park, but it is not clear to what extent habitat here is protected (Stattersfield et al. 1998).

Conservation actions proposed
Clarify its taxonomic status. Survey to clarify distribution, population and habitat requirements.

References
Collar, N. J.; Stuart, S. N. 1985. Threatened birds of Africa and related islands: the ICBP/IUCN Red Data Book. International Council for Bird Preservation, and International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources, Cambridge, U.K.

Sibley, C. G.; Monroe, B. L. 1990. Distribution and taxonomy of birds of the world. Yale University Press, New Haven, USA.

Dowsett, R. J.; Forbes-Watson, A. D. 1993. Checklist of birds of the Afrotropical and Malagasy regions. Tauraco Press, Liège, Belgium.

Sibley, C. G.; Monroe, B. L. 1993. A supplement to 'Distribution and taxonomy of birds of the world'. Yale University Press, New Haven, USA.

Dowsett, R. J.; Dowsett-Lemaire, F. 1993. Comments on the taxonomy of some Afrotropical bird species. In: Dowsett, R.J.; Dowsett-Lemaire, F. (ed.), A contribution to the distribution and taxonomy of Afrotropical and Malagasy birds, pp. 323-389. Tauraco Press, Liège, Belgium.

Stattersfield, A. J.; Crosby, M. J.; Long, A. J.; Wege, D. C. 1998. Endemic bird areas of the world: priorities for bird conservation. BirdLife International, Cambridge, U.K.

Text account compilers
Khwaja, N., Shutes, S., Symes, A.

IUCN Red List evaluators
Butchart, S., Symes, A.

Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2013) Species factsheet: Estrilda nigriloris. Downloaded from http://www.birdlife.org on 21/05/2013. Recommended citation for factsheets for more than one species: BirdLife International (2013) IUCN Red List for birds. Downloaded from http://www.birdlife.org on 21/05/2013.

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

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