Fuerteventura Stonechat (Saxicola dacotiae) | Text

Fuerteventura Stonechat Saxicola dacotiae

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Justification

Justification of Red List category

This species has a small population size that is endemic to the island of Fuerteventura, occupying a very small range and undergoing a slow level of decline, hence it is assessed as Near Threatened.

Population justification
The European breeding population is estimated at 13,300–15,500 mature individuals, which roughly equates to 20,000-23,000 individuals altogether (BirdLife International 2021).

Trend justification

Due to ongoing threats, including destruction of habitat by infrastructural planning, excessive grazing, and invasive species, the species is suspected of undergoing a population reduction. The exact rate is however difficult to determine.

Distribution and population

This species is endemic to the Canary Islands, Spain, where it breeds only on Fuerteventura (with occasional records from southern Lanzarote) (Martín and Lorenzo 2001). The subspecies murielae formerly occurred on the islands of Alegranza (where it was fairly common) and Montaña Clara, but there it went extinct in the first half of the 20th century due to a combination of natural factors and predation by introduced mammals (Bibby and Hill 1987, Martín and Lorenzo 2001, Illera et al. 2006).

Ecology

It is found on rocky hillsides and "barranco" (ravine) habitats with shrubby vegetation cover (Illera 2001), typically of aulaga Launaea arborescens, saltwort Salsola vermiculata and box-thorn Lycium intricatum. These habitats support a high abundance of invertebrates, and provide suitable nesting sites and perches from which the species can forage for arthropods (Illera 2001). It also occurs on the edge of vegetated "malpaíses" (lava flows), dry and flowing watercourses, cultivated areas and gardens (Martín and Lorenzo 2001, Seoane et al. 2010). Individuals appear to show strong site fidelity, potentially as a consequence of low spatial variance in the habitat characteristics determining reproductive success (Illera and Díaz 2008).

The breeding season is typically from mid-February to late March but is linked to the timing and extent of winter rains so can be as early as January (Illera and Díaz 2006, J. C. Illera in litt. 2016). The nest is a firm cup of plant stems and roots, incorporating much Salsola and lined with goat hair and occasionally feathers (Illera and Seoane 2012). Generally placed on the (usually sloping) ground among stones and rocks, in cactus thickets, under shrubs (e.g. L. intricatum) or bushy grass clumps, or low down (below 0·5 m) in a wall or side of barranco and often sheltered by an overhanging stone or bush. Clutch size can be two to five but is usually three-four eggs (Illera and Díaz 2006). It feeds on invertebrates, including caterpillars, ants, ichneumon flies, flies, centipedes, beetles and spiders (Nicolai and Grimm 2009).

The species is sedentary although there have been reports of birds possibly dispersing to other islands in the past (Collar 2005), e.g. the bird may have been seen in Lanzarote (Martín and Lorenzo 2001), although this may be confusion with the Common Stonechat (Saxicola torquatus rubicola) (Illera and Seoane 2012).

Threats

Increases in infrastructural development, such as tourist and residential centres, road building, industrial plants, mineral operations and golf courses, are destroying the habitat of this species (particularly on the Jandía peninsula in the south of Fuerteventura) (Illera 2001, 2004). Additional threats include excessive and increasing livestock grazing (Illera 2001, A. Iñigo in litt. 2011), including cattle and extensively-ranched, semi-feral "coastal" goats (which accelerates desertification and reduces vegetation cover and food availability (Illera 2001, Illera and Díaz 2006)), nest predation by feral cats Felis catus (Illera and Diaz 2006, Medina and Nogales 2009) and other introduced mammals, such as rats Rattus spp., North African Hedgehogs Erinaceus algirus and Barbary Ground Squirrels Atlantoxerus getulus potentially despoiling nests (Illera 2004, Illera and Díaz 2006, Collar 2020). High fidelity to particular sites may exacerbate the problem of the destruction and degradation of optimal habitats (Illera and Díaz 2008).

Conservation actions

Conservation Actions Underway
Bern Convention Appendix II. EU Birds Directive Annex I. An action plan was produced in 1999 (Illera 1999) and partially updated in 2002 (Illera 2001). Various studies of the species's habitat usage (Illera 2001, Illera et al. 2006), breeding biology (Illera and Díaz 2006) and dispersal (Illera and Díaz 2008) have been undertaken since 1998. It is fully protected under Spanish law, but lacks a Conservation Plan (J. A. Lorenzo in litt. 2016). It is listed as Endangered on the Spanish Red Data Book of Birds (SEO/BirdLife 2021).

Conservation Actions Proposed
Develop, approve and implement a national Conservation Plan for the species (Illera 2004). Conduct a complete population census and remap the species's distribution (Illera 1999, 2004, J. C. Illera in litt. 2020). Develop a monitoring programme (Illera 1999, 2004, Garcia-del-Ray 2015). Identify and protect key areas of optimal habitat for the species, and reduce the number of "coastal goats" in these areas (Illera 1999, 2001, 2004). Raise awareness of the species among the resident and tourist populations, particularly the threat from off-road driving and introduced mammals (Illera 1999, 2004). Attempt to control predators at key sites where their impact on breeding success is particularly severe (Illera 2004).

Identification

12 cm. Restricted-range chat. Males have a black head with a short, narrow white supercilium and throat - the latter continues on around the ear-coverts to form a narrow half-collar. Rump dark, remainder of upperparts brown, broadly streaked with black. Orange-buff patch on upper breast, remaining underparts dull white. Female paler, greyer and features more diffused and blurred.

Acknowledgements

Text account compilers
Fernando, E., McGonigle, K.

Contributors
Arcos, J.M., Ashpole, J, Capper, D., Derhé, M., Garcia-del-Ray, E., Grice, H., Illera, J.C., Iñigo, A., Khwaja, N., Lorenzo, J.A., Martin, R., Nicolai, B., O'Brien, A., Oro, D., Piggott, A., Pople, R., Rutherford, C.A., Staneva, A., Taylor, J. & Westrip, J.R.S.

Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Species factsheet: Fuerteventura Stonechat Saxicola dacotiae. Downloaded from https://datazone.birdlife.org/species/factsheet/fuerteventura-stonechat-saxicola-dacotiae on 23/12/2024.
Recommended citation for factsheets for more than one species: BirdLife International (2024) IUCN Red List for birds. Downloaded from https://datazone.birdlife.org/species/search on 23/12/2024.