Steel-blue Whydah (Vidua hypocherina) - BirdLife species factsheet

Steel-blue Whydah Vidua hypocherina

Current view: Data table and detailed info

Taxonomy

Taxonomic note

Taxonomic source(s)
del Hoyo, J., Collar, N.J., Christie, D.A., Elliott, A., Fishpool, L.D.C., Boesman, P. and Kirwan, G.M. 2016. HBW and BirdLife International Illustrated Checklist of the Birds of the World. Volume 2: Passerines. Lynx Edicions and BirdLife International, Barcelona, Spain and Cambridge, UK.
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.

IUCN Red List criteria met and history

Red List criteria met

Critically Endangered	Endangered	Vulnerable
-	-	-

Red List history

Year	Category	Criteria
2016	Least Concern
2012	Least Concern
2009	Least Concern
2008	Least Concern
2004	Least Concern
2000	Lower Risk/Least Concern
1994	Lower Risk/Least Concern
1988	Lower Risk/Least Concern

Species attributes

Migratory status	not a migrant	Forest dependency	does not normally occur in forest
Land-mass type		Average mass	-

Distribution

	Estimate	Data quality
Extent of Occurrence breeding/resident (km²)	2,210,000	medium
Severely fragmented?	no	-

Population and trend

	Value	Data quality	Derivation	Year of estimate
Number of mature individuals	unknown	not applicable	not applicable	0
Population trend	stable		suspected	-
Generation length (years)	3.2	-	-	-

Population justification: The population size of this species has not been quantified, but it is described as uncommon.

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

Country/territory distribution

Country/Territory	Presence	Origin	Resident	Non-breeding
Ethiopia	extant	native	yes
Kenya	extant	native	yes
Somalia	extant	native	yes
South Sudan	extant	vagrant		yes
Sudan	extant	native	yes
Tanzania	extant	native	yes
Uganda	extant	native	yes

Important Bird and Biodiversity Areas (IBA)

Country/Territory	IBA Name
Ethiopia	Awash National Park
Ethiopia	Abijatta - Shalla Lakes National Park
Ethiopia	Nechisar National Park and surroundings
Ethiopia	Mago National Park
Ethiopia	Lower Wabi Shebelle river and Warder
Ethiopia	Liben plains and Negele woodlands
Ethiopia	Yabello Sanctuary
Ethiopia	Dawa - Wachile
Ethiopia	Lake Chew Bahir
Kenya	Tsavo East National Park
Kenya	Dida Galgalu desert
Kenya	Meru National Park
Kenya	Samburu and Buffalo Springs National Reserves
Kenya	Shaba National Reserve
Kenya	Amboseli National Park
Kenya	Lake Baringo
South Sudan	Kidepo
Somalia	Gacan Libaax
Somalia	Jowhar - Warshiikh
Somalia	Jasiira lagoon and Muqdisho islets
Somalia	Laag Dheere
Somalia	Far Waamo
Somalia	Laag Badaana
Tanzania	Lake Manyara
Tanzania	Ruaha National Park
Tanzania	Serengeti National Park
Tanzania	Tarangire National Park
Tanzania	Lake Natron and Engaruka basin
Tanzania	Usangu flats
Tanzania	Wembere steppe
Tanzania	Longido Game Controlled Area
Uganda	Kidepo Valley National Park
Tanzania	Lake Balangida Lelu

Habitats & altitude

Habitat (level 1)	Habitat (level 2)	Importance	Occurrence
Savanna	Dry	suitable	resident
Shrubland	Subtropical/Tropical Moist	major	resident
Altitude		Occasional altitudinal limits

Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2023) Species factsheet: Vidua hypocherina. Downloaded from http://datazone.birdlife.org/species/factsheet/steel-blue-whydah-vidua-hypocherina on 28/09/2023. Recommended citation for factsheets for more than one species: BirdLife International (2023) IUCN Red List for birds. Downloaded from http://datazone.birdlife.org on 28/09/2023.