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

Justification of Red List category
This species is classified as Endangered owing to ongoing habitat loss and fragmentation which is thought to be reducing its already very small range.

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

Trend justification
The species is suspected to be declining at a slow to moderate rate, owing to habitat loss and degradation.

Sheppardia aurantiithorax is endemic to Tanzania, where it is restricted to montane forest at 1,660-2,400 m in the Rubeho Mountains, the small Wota forest in the Wota Mountains, north-west of the Rubehos, the Ukaguru Mountains, and Mt Kiboriani (Beresford et al. 2004; Doggart et al. 2006; Fjeldså et al. 2010). There is also one record from 400 m altitude just north-east of the Uluguru Mountains, although this is thought to involve a rare case of straggling outside the breeding season (J. Fjeldså in litt. 2012). Though it was first mist-netted in 1989 it was only described in 2004 (J. Fjeldså in litt. 2007). It is considered fairly common within its narrow altitudinal range (J. Fjeldså in litt. 2007). Tracewski et al. (2016) estimated the maximum Area of Occupancy (calculated as the remaining tree area within the species’s range) to be c.200 km².

It inhabits the understorey of montane moist plateau forest between 1,660 m and 2,400 m (Fjeldså et al. 2010). It tolerates some habitat degradation (J. Fjeldså in litt. 2007).

Though its range includes one of the largest intact blocks of forest in the Eastern Arc Mountains, logging of large trees and clearance of forest for agriculture are still a threat and forest is very degraded and patchy in parts of its small range (N. Baker in litt. 2006, J. Fjeldså in litt. 2007, Burgess et al. 2007, Hall et al. 2009). Cannabis cultivation in this remote area occurs on a fairly large scale due to the remoteness of the location (N. Baker in litt. 2006).

Conservation Actions Underway
There are a number of forest reserves in the Rubeho mountains, Ukaguru mountains, Uluguru mountains, and covering the Wota forest. These reserves provide some protection, but management effectiveness is low (N. Burgess in litt. 2012).

Conservation Actions Proposed
Assess the extent and impact of logging and habitat degradation on populations. Improve management of the Forest Reserves where the species occurs.

Text account compilers
Wheatley, H., Symes, A., Mahood, S., Westrip, J.

Contributors
Fjeldså, J., Baker, N., Burgess, N.

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Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Species factsheet: Rubeho Akalat Sheppardia aurantiithorax. Downloaded from https://datazone.birdlife.org/species/factsheet/rubeho-akalat-sheppardia-aurantiithorax 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.