Data Zone
Justification of Red List category
This species qualifies as Endangered because it has a very small population; suitable habitat is declining through clearance for agriculture and ongoing degradation whilst introduced predators are also reducing numbers.
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.
Melanospiza richardsoni is endemic to St Lucia in the Lesser Antilles, where it is most numerous in the mountains (Bond 1979, Keith 1997). Surveys in 1987 failed to find any large populations and noted that much apparently suitable habitat was unoccupied (Keith 1997), although due to its broad habitat tolerance its range is probably not severely fragmented (H. Temple in litt. 2007).
It exhibits considerable ecological flexibility, inhabiting rainforest, forest edge, secondary vegetation, plantations, shrubbery, semi-arid scrub and woodland, up to 800 m (Bond 1979, Trail and Baptista 1989, Keith 1997). However, it has a preference for dense undergrowth, which is naturally found in ravines within moist montane forest (Keith 1997). Birds feed primarily on the ground on seeds, fruit and insects (Keith 1997). Nesting has been recorded in April-June.
The clearing of undergrowth, particularly in timber plantations, renders areas completely unsuitable for this species and is probably the major threat (Keith 1997). Introduced mongooses and rats may also predate eggs, nestlings and adults (Keith 1997). Feral pigs degrade or destroy the forest undergrowth used by this species and are perceived to have increased in numbers and continue to increase (M. Morton in litt. 2016). Forest loss throughout this species's range is currently estimated at ~1.1% over a ten year period (Tracewski et al. 2016).
Conservation Actions Underway
It occurs in a number of forest reserves, such as La Sorcière and Edmond (Raffaele et al. 1998).
13-14 cm. Small, black or brown finch with heavy, black bill. Male entirely black with pink legs. Female brown above with contrasting grey crown and buffy below. Immature like female. Similar spp. Lesser Antillean Bullfinch Loxigilla noctis is larger, has smaller bill and lacks pink legs. Voice Rough tick-zwee-swisiwis-you with emphasis on second and last notes, slightly resembling Bananaquit Coereba flaveola. Hints Mainly terrestrial in leaf-litter of dense understorey. Bobs tail up and down.
Text account compilers
Wheatley, H., Everest, J.
Contributors
Dornelly, A., Haynes, P., Isherwood, I., Isidore, L., Mahood, S., Morton, M., Pople, R., Sharpe, C.J., Temple, H. & Wege, D.
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 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.