EN
Saint Lucia Black Finch Melanospiza richardsoni



Taxonomy

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.

IUCN Red List criteria met and history
Red List criteria met
Critically Endangered Endangered Vulnerable
- C2a(ii) C2a(i,ii); D1

Red List history
Year Category Criteria
2020 Endangered C2a(ii)
2016 Endangered C2a(ii)
2012 Endangered C2a(ii)
2008 Endangered C2a(ii)
2004 Endangered
2000 Endangered
1994 Lower Risk/Near Threatened
1988 Threatened
Species attributes

Migratory status not a migrant Forest dependency medium
Land-mass type continent
Average mass 21 g
Range

Estimate Data quality
Extent of Occurrence (breeding/resident) 380 km2 medium
Number of locations 11-100 -
Severely fragmented? no -
Population
Estimate Data quality Derivation Year of estimate
Population size 250-999 mature individuals medium estimated 2000
Population trend decreasing poor inferred 2014-2024
Rate of change over the past 10 years/3 generations (longer of the two periods) 1-9% - - -
Rate of change over the future 10 years/3 generations (longer of the two periods) 1-9% - - -
Rate of change over the past & future 10 years/3 generations (longer of the two periods) 1-9% - - -
Generation length 3.04 years - - -
Number of subpopulations 1 - - -
Percentage of mature individuals in largest subpopulation 100% - - -

Population justification: The population is estimated to number 250-999 mature individuals based on an assessment of known records, descriptions of abundance and range size. This is consistent with recorded population density estimates for close relatives with a similar body size, and the fact that only a proportion of the estimated Extent of Occurrence is likely to be occupied. This estimate is equivalent to 375-1,499 individuals in total, rounded here to 350-1,500 individuals.

Trend justification: There are no new data on population trends, but the species can be tentatively assumed to be undergoing an ongoing decline due to the combined impacts of habitat loss and degradation, as well as predation by introduced species (Keith 1997, M. Morton in litt. 2016). Further assessments are required to confirm this trend.


Country/territory distribution
Country/Territory Presence Origin Resident Breeding visitor Non-breeding visitor Passage migrant
St Lucia extant native yes

Important Bird and Biodiversity Areas (IBA)
Country/Territory IBA Name
St Lucia Castries and Dennery Waterworks Reserve and Marquis
St Lucia Iyanola and Grande Anses, Esperance and Fond D'ors
St Lucia Mandelé Protected Landscape
St Lucia Pitons (Qualibou and Canaries)
St Lucia Point Sables

Habitats & altitude
Habitat (level 1) Habitat (level 2) Importance Occurrence
Artificial/Terrestrial Plantations suitable resident
Forest Subtropical/Tropical Dry major resident
Forest Subtropical/Tropical Moist Lowland major resident
Shrubland Subtropical/Tropical Dry suitable resident
Altitude 0 - 800 m Occasional altitudinal limits  

Threats & impact
Threat (level 1) Threat (level 2) Impact and Stresses
Agriculture & aquaculture Wood & pulp plantations - Scale Unknown/Unrecorded Timing Scope Severity Impact
Ongoing Majority (50-90%) Slow, Significant Declines Medium Impact: 6
Stresses
Ecosystem degradation, Ecosystem conversion
Invasive and other problematic species, genes & diseases Invasive non-native/alien species/diseases - Herpestes javanicus Timing Scope Severity Impact
Ongoing Majority (50-90%) Unknown Unknown
Stresses
Reduced reproductive success
Invasive and other problematic species, genes & diseases Invasive non-native/alien species/diseases - Named species Timing Scope Severity Impact
Ongoing Majority (50-90%) Unknown Unknown
Stresses
Reduced reproductive success
Invasive and other problematic species, genes & diseases Invasive non-native/alien species/diseases - Sus scrofa Timing Scope Severity Impact
Ongoing Unknown Unknown Unknown
Stresses
Ecosystem degradation

Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Species factsheet: Saint Lucia Black Finch Melanospiza richardsoni. Downloaded from https://datazone.birdlife.org/species/factsheet/saint-lucia-black-finch-melanospiza-richardsoni on 06/12/2024.
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 06/12/2024.