Data Zone
Justification of Red List category
This species is estimated to have small population, and is experiencing ongoing habitat degradation. It is therefore listed as Vulnerable.
Population justification
This species is described as locally common in appropriate habitat (Collar et al. 1992). Based on this, and taking the lower quartiles of density estimates of congeners, the Cocoa Thrush Turdus fumigatus and White-necked Thrush Turdus albicollis, of 1.1-17 individuals/sqkm (BirdLife Population Density Spreadsheet; Thiollay 1986), and assuming it inhabits 20% of the forest within its range (3,363 sqkm [Global Forest Watch 2021]), the population is estimated to fall in the band of 740-11,434 individuals. This is roughly equivalent to 493-7,622 mature individuals, rounded here to 490-7,630 mature individuals.
This species has two subspecies, and based on its distribution, it is likely to have multiple subpopulations. It is therefore plausible that the largest subpopulation contains <1,000 mature individuals.
Trend justification
The species has been extirpated from parts of its range. There are no data on population trends; however, this species is suspected to be declining in line with ongoing habitat loss and degradation. Data from Global Forest Watch (2021) showed that forest cover throughout the species's range declined by 4.6% over the last three generations (~11 years). Based on forest loss data between 2017-2020 (Global Forest Watch 2021), and projected forward over three generations, the species range is likely to decline by <2%. Therefore, declines are suspected to be slow to moderate in rate.
Turdus swalesi is endemic to Hispaniola (Haiti and the Dominican Republic). It can be locally fairly common, but is now mostly restricted to isolated habitat patches (S. Latta in litt. 1998). The nominate race occurs in the Massif de la Selle, Haiti, and Sierra de Baoruco, Dominican Republic. The race dodae occurs in the Sierra de Neiba and Cordillera Central, Dominican Republic. It was formerly common in La Visite National Park, Haiti, and appears still to occur at higher densities in the Massif de la Selle than elsewhere within its range (Dávalos and Brooks 2001).
It occurs mainly above 1,300 m in the dense understorey of moist montane broadleaf forest. It is occasionally found in pine forest, but only where there is a very well-developed broadleaf understorey (a habitat that is now extremely rare in the Dominican Republic) (S. Latta in litt. 1998). Breeding has been reported from May-July, and 2-3 eggs are laid (Clement and Hathway 2000). The nest is a bulky cup structure constructed principally of moss, and placed low in a shrub, bush or low tree (Raffaele et al. 1998, Clement and Hathway 2000). It mainly forages on the ground for earthworms, insects and fruit (Raffaele et al. 1998).
There has been massive habitat loss in Hispaniola, and remaining patches are severely threatened by ongoing deforestation for agriculture and timber. In the Dominican Republic, suitable habitat has generally disappeared except in the Sierra de Baoruco, remote portions of the Cordillera Central and very small patches in the Sierra de Neiba (S. Latta in litt. 1998, N. Klein in litt. 1999). Habitat loss has also accelerated within the Sierra de Baoruco as a result of commercial-scale agricultural development (S. Latta in litt. 2016). Suitable forest has disappeared from much of the species's range in Haiti, with La Visite National Park containing one of the last significant fragments.
Conservation Actions Underway
The species occurs in the Sierra de Baoruco and Armando Bermudez National Parks, Dominican Republic, and La Visite National Park, Haiti.
26 cm. Rather large, strikingly marked, dark forest thrush. Adult slaty-black upperparts and head with orange bill and eye-ring. White streaked throat, slaty upper breast, red lower breast and flanks surrounding white belly. Similar spp. Red-legged Thrush T. plumbeus is paler above, lacks red on underparts and has red legs. Voice Loud, fluty series of tu-re-oo and cho-ho-cho calls. Gurgling notes and loud wheury-wheury-wheury alarm call. Hints Best found when singing from relatively exposed perches in early morning.
Text account compilers
Everest, J., Hermes, C., Wheatley, H., Clark, J.
Contributors
Isherwood, I., Klein, N., Latta, S., Lloyd, J., Mahood, S., Pople, R., Sharpe, C.J., Wege, D. & Westrip, J.R.S.
Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Species factsheet: La Selle Thrush Turdus swalesi. Downloaded from
https://datazone.birdlife.org/species/factsheet/la-selle-thrush-turdus-swalesi on 23/11/2024.
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 23/11/2024.