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

Justification of Red List category

This species is assessed as Near Threatened as it has a small range that is undergoing continued habitat degradation.

Population justification
While previous estimates placed the population size in the band 250-999 mature individuals, this was likely a large underestimate. It is one of the most abundant species in São Tomé, occurring across all main land-use types (de Lima et al. 2013; Soares et al. 2020). It has been suggested that the species may undergo fluctuations (Atkinson et al. 1991), although this could be due to the difficulty in detecting the species, since they are small and often use the canopy of tall trees (R.F. de Lima in litt. 2020). It is possible that the population numbers >10,000 mature individuals (R. F. de Lima in litt. 2020), but until evidence confirms this, it is precautionarily placed in the band 2,500-9,999 mature individuals.

Trend justification
It is thought to have undergone declines throughout the 20th Century, with the species described as common in the 1920s, uncommon in the 1970s and only locally common in 1990 (van Balen 2018), but there is now little evidence for continued declines. The species is partly tolerant of forest degradation, being most common at intermediate levels of anthropogenic disturbance, which makes it harder to assess overall population trends in light of ongoing forest degradation (Oyono et al. 2014). Therefore, the species is tentatively assessed here as stable.

Zosterops feae is confined to São Tomé, São Tomé e Príncipe. It is patchily common, being more frequently observed in secondary forest and shade plantation than in native forest (Soares et al. 2020). It is estimated to be restricted to an area of 816 km² (based on Soares et al. 2020). It was thought to have declined between 1970 and 1990 (Jones & Tye 2006), but there is little evidence for this decline continuing.

On São Tomé, it occurs over most of the island, but prefers secondary forest and shade plantation, and low to mid altitude forest, although it has been recorded up to 1,600 m (Soares et al. 2020). It is insectivorous, usually found in small groups, often in mixed-species parties, and almost nothing is known about its breeding ecology (Jones & Tye, 2006). 

Historically, large areas of primary forest were cleared for cocoa and coffee plantations. Now abandoned, these have created large areas of secondary forest. Infrastructure development arising from offshore oil exploitation, and population and economic expansion pose a current threat to the forest. This is in addition to the expansion and intensification of agricultural and tourism activities (Oyono et al. 2014). Several introduced mammals, such as Black Rat Rattus rattus, African Civet Civettictis civetta, feral cats Felis catus and Mona Monkey Cercopithecus mona are potential predators of adults and nests (Dutton 1994), however more research is needed to determine whether they are actually impacting the species. 

Conservation Actions Underway
This species is considered protected by law 11/1999, and a large part of its range falls within the São Tomé Obô Natural Park protected area. Hunting this species is forbidden. There are several ongoing projects supporting biodiversity conservation, protected area management, and sustainable forest management Sao Tomé and Príncipe. for example, the ECOFAC6 initiative 2018-2022 (BirdLife International 2019). 

Conservation Actions Proposed
Research its ecological requirements, particularly concerning breeding, feeding and habitat requirements. Carry out surveys to establish threats, population size and trends. Identify species-specific threats to produce conservation recommendations. Ensure the implementation of existing environmental laws. 

Text account compilers
Clark, J.

Contributors
Baillie, J., Deffontaines, J., Ekstrom, J., Gascoigne, A., Melo, M., Olmos, F., Peet, N., Shutes, S., Soares, F., Starkey, M., Symes, A., Taylor, J., Westrip, J.R.S. & de Lima, R.F.

---

Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Species factsheet: Sao Tome White-eye Zosterops feae. Downloaded from https://datazone.birdlife.org/species/factsheet/sao-tome-white-eye-zosterops-feae on 22/12/2024.
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 22/12/2024.