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Justification of Red List category
The last confirmed sighting of this species was in 1929. However, there are unconfirmed records of the species within its presumed range, whilst sufficient analysis on recent sound recordings are yet to be conducted. As such, and in the absence of conclusive evidence for its disappearance, it is precautionarily assumed that a small population may persist, and the species is assessed as Critically Endangered.

Population justification

The last known record of this species was of a specimen collected in July 1929 through a 2-day tour of the island (Olson 1984, Gerbracht 2021 and references therein). Even during an expedition seven months prior to this record, the species was not encountered (Olson 1984). Further field work (both directly and indirectly) during 1931-1935, April and May 1962, July 1972, April 1977, February 1982 and April 2001 failed to find the species or collect any further specimens (Schwartz and Klinikowski 1963, Olson 1984, Steadman et al. 1997, Garrido and Wiley 2003, G. Kirwan in litt. 2022). Local tour guides and/or birdwatchers have additionally failed to confirm any sightings (M. Ryan in litt. 2022, P. Feldmann in litt. 2022). 

Unconfirmed reports are scarce. The species was reported in 1994 near the forest of Stone-fort Ghaut (with reasonable probability that it may have been the St Kitts Bullfinch due to its description by the observers suggesting the species displayed a distinct red crown; M. Ryan in litt. 2022) and in 2012 on the volcano trail of Mount Liamuiga (thought to have been a call of the Puerto Rican Bullfinch) (Gerbracht 2021 and references therein, Ryan 2021). In 2017, playback calls of the Puerto Rican Bullfinch were used in order to locate the species, albeit no response calls were recorded (L. Bonaparte in litt. 2022). More recently in 2021, a bird song was recorded in May and September through sound surveys conducted on the volcanic trail of Mount Liamuiga, where the source of the call was thought to have been perched high in the canopy (L. Bonaparte in litt. 2022). These sound recordings are undergoing further analysis.

The island is highly populated, and there are regular trips undertaken by birdwatchers up Mount Liamuiga (eBird 2022, P. Feldmann in litt. 2022), where the species is thought most likely to persist. It has been included in a list of ‘lost’ species, which should result in further efforts to resolve the current uncertainty in its continued occurrence on St Kitts (J. Mittermeier in litt. 2022). The possible 1994 sighting at Stone-fort Ghaut suggests more than one single subpopulation could be feasible (M. Ryan in litt. 2022).

The paucity of records, absence of specimens collected, lack of confirmation on unconfirmed sightings and sound surveys and of any photographic evidence suggests that the species may no longer persist on St Kitts. However, its possible survival cannot be ruled out due to the possibility that the species may be highly elusive and overlooked (Garrido and Wiley 2003, P. Feldmann in litt. 2022). While survey efforts (both past and present) remain inconclusive, access through Mount Liamuiga is still limited (and potentially dangerous) due to rough terrain (R. Browning in litt. 2022, M. Ryan in litt. 2022, P. Feldmann in litt. 2022), and explanations for its possible extirpation remain unanswered:
For example, predation by introduced Green Monkeys Chlorocebus sabaeus was first thought to have led to the possible disappearance of the species (Bond 1936, 1956). However, Raffaele (1977) noted that the St Kitts Bullfinch had co-existed with Green Monkeys since their introduction to St Kitts around the mid-1600s, possibly due to the bullfinch occurring at higher altitudes where monkeys were more uncommon. The island is also home to other introduced species such as rats, cats, and Small Indian Mongoose Herpestes auropunctatus, which may have impacted the species (Steadman et al. 1997, L. Bonaparte in litt. 2022). An alternative driver thought more plausible by Raffaele (1977) was that the species was first severely impacted by two major hurricanes that occurred in 1899. Particularly, Wunderle et al. (1992) noted that the species may have been unable to adapt to the post-hurricane aftermath, primarily due to inability to forage for food in the lowlands, with most montane fruit and seed crops having been destroyed. Further catastrophic hurricanes followed in 1924 and 1928 (Hurricane Hugo in 1928 was especially devastating, decimating almost all vegetation and thought to be one of the main contenders for the possible extirpation of the species; P. Feldmann in litt. 2022, M. Ryan in litt. 2022), which may have further compounded an already struggling population (M. Ryan in litt. 2022). In more recent years, although hurricane activity was lower during 1929-1989, the period from 1989 to 1998 saw a large number of devastating hurricanes and as such, although the species may have survived until the possible sighting in 1994, its survival afterwards is again questionable (M. Ryan in litt. 2022). Increased competition with the native Lesser Antillean Bullfinch Loxigilla noctis after the hurricanes may have also possibly impacted the St Kitts Bullfinch’s survival, potentially having led to greater habitat overlap (M. grandis is thought to occupy higher elevation forests), but their interactions are unstudied (Garrido and Wiley 2003). Alternatively, there is speculation that the species may have been adapted to drier, lowland areas and the expansion of agricultural activities across lowland St Kitts (mainly for sugar cane cultivation), particularly during European colonization across 3-4 centuries, may have pushed the species into suboptimal higher elevation, subsequently making the species more susceptible to other factors (Olson 1984, Steadman et al. 1997).

Based on the uncertainty over its disappearance and given the difficulty in accessing the species’ presumed primary habitat, it is tentatively assumed that the species may persist on Mount Liamuiga, but that the current population must be tiny to have evaded detection. There are precautionarily estimated to be 1-49 mature individuals.

Trend justification
The species is thought to have been common around the 1890s, although restricted to the higher elevation forests of the island (Gerbracht 2021 and references therein). Predation by introduced species (such as monkeys and mongoose), competition with native species (such as the Lesser Antillean Bullfinch), increases in agricultural practices through European colonization, and the occurrence of large hurricanes (two in 1899, one in 1924 and one in 1928) are all candidates for the apparent decline of this species and paucity of records since the start of the 20^th century (BirdsCaribbean 2021, Gerbracht 2021 and references therein, Ryan 2021, L. Bonaparte in litt. 2022). However, given the possible persistence of this species based on unconfirmed records, the current population trend remains unknown.

The species is known only from St Christopher, Saint Kitts and Nevis. There is uncertainty over its persistence.

The species is thought to be restricted to the upper, higher elevation forests of St Kitts (Gerbracht 2021), although there is speculation that the species may have been adapted to drier, lowland areas, but was pushed to suboptimal higher elevations due to expansion of agricultural activities across the lowlands (Olson 1984, Steadman et al. 1997). It likely utilises a diet favouring fruits and seeds, similar to the Puerto Rican Bullfinch (Gerbracht 2021).

Predation by introduced species (Green Monkeys Chlorocebus sabaeus, Small Indian Mongoose Herpestes auropunctatus, House Rats Rattus rattus and cats Felis catus), competition with native species (Lesser Antillean Bullfinch Loxigilla noctis), increases in agricultural practices through European colonization, and the occurrence of major hurricanes are all presumed to have contributed to the decline of this species (BirdsCaribbean 2021, Gerbracht 2021 and references therein, Ryan 2021, L. Bonaparte in litt. 2022, M. Ryan in litt. 2022, P. Feldmann in litt. 2022). However, the exact impact or timing of any of these threats remains unknown.

Conservation Actions Undertaken
Local birders continue to conduct both passive acoustic monitoring and playback surveys (using unknown calls from 2021) on a monthly basis (L. Bonaparte in litt. 2022).

Conservation Actions Proposed
Intensively search the area surrounding Mount Liamuiga. Amplify the use of automated recordings in order to confirm or deny the species' presence. Analyse sound recordings from Mount Liamuiga (Gerbracht 2021, L. Bonaparte in litt. 2022).

Text account compilers
Fernando, E.

Contributors
Bonaparte, L., Browning, R., Feldmann, P., Kirwan, G.M., Mittermeier, J., Ryan, M. & Wunderle, J.

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Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2025) Species factsheet: Saint Kitts Bullfinch Melopyrrha grandis. Downloaded from https://datazone.birdlife.org/species/factsheet/saint-kitts-bullfinch-melopyrrha-grandis on 03/01/2025.
Recommended citation for factsheets for more than one species: BirdLife International (2025) IUCN Red List for birds. Downloaded from https://datazone.birdlife.org/species/search on 03/01/2025.