• Summary
• Text account
• Data table and detailed info
• Distribution map
• Reference and further resources

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.

Red List criteria met

Critically Endangered	Endangered	Vulnerable
-	C2a(ii)	C2a(i,ii)

Red List history

Year	Category	Criteria
2022	Endangered	C2a(ii)
2016	Endangered	C2a(ii)
2013	Endangered	C2a(ii)
2012	Endangered	B1ab(i,ii,iii,v);C2a(i)
2008	Endangered	B1a+b(i,ii,iii,v); C2a(i)
2004	Endangered
2000	Endangered
1996	Endangered
1994	Endangered
1988	Threatened

Migratory status	not a migrant	Forest dependency	high
Land-mass type	continent	Average mass	-

	Estimate	Data quality
Extent of Occurrence (breeding/resident)	11,600 km2	medium
Severely fragmented?	no	-

	Estimate	Data quality	Derivation	Year of estimate
Population size	1000-2499 mature individuals	poor	estimated	2013
Population trend	decreasing	poor	inferred	2016-2026
Rate of change over the past 10 years/3 generations (longer of the two periods)	10-19%	-	-	-
Rate of change over the future 10 years/3 generations (longer of the two periods)	10-19%	-	-	-
Rate of change over the past & future 10 years/3 generations (longer of the two periods)	10-19%	-	-	-
Generation length	2.78 years	-	-	-
Number of subpopulations	1	-	-	-
Percentage of mature individuals in largest subpopulation	100%	-	-	-

Population justification: The population has previously been assumed to exceed 1,000 mature individuals and in 2005 the species was considered locally common (Mills 2010). However, at the only regularly monitored site in Kumbira forest, which is the most extensive site of suitable habitat, the species seems to have disappeared, with seven pairs found in 2005, and zero pairs found in 2010, despite longer and more thorough surveys (M. Mills in litt. 2013). This is due to rapid clearance of dense undergrowth for agriculture, which is likely a distribution-wide trend as the intensification of subsistence farming is occurring across the species' range, including Bango and Chongoroi (Dean 2000, M. Mills in litt. 2013). Therefore, the population is placed in the band for 1,000-2,499 mature individuals, which equals c.1,500-3,800 individuals in total. Its distribution is described as continuous along the Angolan Scarp (Mills 2010), so it is presumed to form one subpopulation; however, the ongoing habitat loss may have caused fragmentation so improved knowledge may change this.

Trend justification: Tree cover loss within the species' range is <10% over ten years; however, suitable habitat of dense undergrowth and vine tangles is being cleared rapidly for subsistence agriculture (M. Mills in litt. 2013). The species has been documented to occupy modified habitats and seems to be tolerant of fairly degraded vegetation (Ryan et al. 2004).
Surveys in Kumbira forest, the most extensive site of suitable habitat, have shown a clear decline with seven pairs found in 2005 and zero pairs found in 2010, despite longer and more thorough surveys (M. Mills in litt. 2013). This is likely to be a distribution-wide trend and therefore the population is inferred to be declining at a moderate rate, owing to the continued clearance and burning of its habitats for subsistence agriculture.

Country/Territory	Presence	Origin	Resident	Breeding visitor	Non-breeding visitor	Passage migrant
Angola	extant	native	yes

Country/Territory	IBA Name
Angola	Chongoroi

Habitat (level 1)	Habitat (level 2)	Importance	Occurrence
Forest	Subtropical/Tropical Dry	major	resident
Altitude	800 - 1030 m	Occasional altitudinal limits

Threat (level 1)	Threat (level 2)	Impact and Stresses
Agriculture & aquaculture	Annual & perennial non-timber crops - Small-holder farming	Timing		Scope		Severity		Impact
		Ongoing		Majority (50-90%)		Slow, Significant Declines		Medium Impact: 6
		Stresses Ecosystem degradation, Ecosystem conversion
Natural system modifications	Fire & fire suppression - Trend Unknown/Unrecorded	Timing		Scope		Severity		Impact
		Ongoing		Majority (50-90%)		Slow, Significant Declines		Medium Impact: 6
		Stresses Ecosystem degradation, Ecosystem conversion

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Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Species factsheet: Pulitzer's Longbill Macrosphenus pulitzeri. Downloaded from https://datazone.birdlife.org/species/factsheet/pulitzers-longbill-macrosphenus-pulitzeri 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.