Data Zone
Justification of Red List category
This species has a highly restricted range on just one mountain, experiencing continued habitat degradation through agricultural activities. The effect of this habitat thinning on the species is unclear. It is therefore listed as Near Threatened.
Population justification
Based on mist netting surveys, the global population size has been estimated at c.10,000 mature individuals (Borghesio and Ndang’ang’a 2001).
Trend justification
The population trend is difficult to determine because of uncertainty over the impacts of habitat modification on population sizes.
This species is restricted to Mt. Kulal, northern Kenya.
Zosterops kulalensis is found only in a very small area of forest and bushland on Mount Kulal in northern Kenya (BirdLife International 2000). Bush habitat is very important during the breeding season, and in the forest, population densities were significantly higher in glades than closed-canopy areas (Borghesio and Laiolo 2004). The species has been observed foraging alone and in groups of up to 50 individuals, and they may congregate on single, large fruiting trees (Borghesio and Laiolo 2004). The diet of this species is mainly insectivorous in the wet season, and frugivorous in the dry season (Borghesio and Laiolo 2004).
The species may be threatened to some extent by habitat destruction and fragmentation (Borghesio and Ndang’ang’a 2001). Overgrazing by cattle and goats can destroy the shrub layer and prevent plant regeneration. Bush habitat is particularly important to this species during the breeding period, and it is also subject to increasing loss and degradation from the intensification of land use through burning, clearance, and grazing (Borghesio and Laiolo 2004). Grazing of domestic animals inside the forest and the removal of bush habitat to create new pastures could be detrimental to the species, and due to draughts and an increasing human population, livestock presence has increased on Mount Kulal (Borghesio and Laiolo 2004). However, thinning of the forest may be beneficial for this species to some degree (Borghesio and Ndang’ang’a 2001), so the effects of these potential threats are not fully known.
Conservation Actions Underway
None are known.
Conservation Actions Proposed
Conduct new surveys to ascertain more recent population size and trend estimates. Research to what extent Kulal White-eye can adjust its behaviour in response to human impact on its habitat. Determine what levels of forest exploitation are sustainable with respect to the species's ecology.
Text account compilers
Clark, J.
Contributors
Butchart, S., Ekstrom, J. & Pilgrim, J.
Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Species factsheet: Kulal White-eye Zosterops kulalensis. Downloaded from
https://datazone.birdlife.org/species/factsheet/kulal-white-eye-zosterops-kulalensis on 22/12/2024.
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 22/12/2024.