EN
Shelley's Crimsonwing Cryptospiza shelleyi



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(i) C2a(i)

Red List history
Year Category Criteria
2017 Endangered C2a(i)
2016 Vulnerable C2a(i)
2012 Vulnerable C2a(i)
2008 Vulnerable C2a(i)
2004 Vulnerable
2000 Vulnerable
1996 Vulnerable
1994 Vulnerable
1988 Near Threatened
Species attributes

Migratory status not a migrant Forest dependency medium
Land-mass type continent
Average mass 18 g
Range

Estimate Data quality
Extent of Occurrence (breeding/resident) 123,000 km2 medium
Number of locations 11-100 -
Severely fragmented? yes -
Population
Estimate Data quality Derivation Year of estimate
Population size 1000-2499 mature individuals poor suspected 2016
Population trend decreasing medium suspected 1998-2008
Generation length 2.5 years - - -
Number of subpopulations 2-100 - - -

Population justification: It is generally rare (Butynski et al. 1997), and reporting rates have been dropping (S. Cichon, M. McQuillan and E. Meyjes in litt. 2016). Its population size had previously been estimated to be in the range of 2,500-4,999 mature individuals, but given the decline in reporting rate and a lack of recent sightings this is now likely to be an overestimate (S. Cichon, M. McQuillan and E. Meyjes in litt. 2016). Therefore, the population size is precautionarily suspected to fall in the range of 1,000-2,500 mature individuals with no subpopulation containing >250 mature individuals.

Trend justification: The species's population is suspected to be declining in line with the clearance and degradation of forest within its range, although the likely rate of decline has not been estimated.


Country/territory distribution
Country/Territory Presence Origin Resident Breeding visitor Non-breeding visitor Passage migrant
Burundi extant native yes
Congo, The Democratic Republic of the extant native yes
Rwanda extant native yes
Uganda extant native yes

Important Bird and Biodiversity Areas (IBA)
Country/Territory IBA Name
Burundi Kibira National Park
Congo, The Democratic Republic of the Forests west of Lake Edward
Congo, The Democratic Republic of the Itombwe Mountains
Congo, The Democratic Republic of the Kahuzi-Biega National Park
Congo, The Democratic Republic of the Mount Kabobo
Congo, The Democratic Republic of the Virunga National Park
Rwanda Nyungwe National Park
Rwanda Volcans National Park
Uganda Bwindi Impenetrable National Park
Uganda Mgahinga Gorilla National Park
Uganda Ruwenzori (Rwenzori) Mountains National Park

Habitats & altitude
Habitat (level 1) Habitat (level 2) Importance Occurrence
Forest Subtropical/Tropical Moist Montane major resident
Altitude 1960 - 3400 m Occasional altitudinal limits 1550 - 3500 m

Threats & impact
Threat (level 1) Threat (level 2) Impact and Stresses
Agriculture & aquaculture Annual & perennial non-timber crops - Small-holder farming Timing Scope Severity Impact
Ongoing Majority (50-90%) Slow, Significant Declines Medium Impact: 6
Stresses
Ecosystem degradation, Ecosystem conversion
Agriculture & aquaculture Livestock farming & ranching - Small-holder grazing, ranching or farming Timing Scope Severity Impact
Ongoing Minority (<50%) Slow, Significant Declines Low Impact: 5
Stresses
Ecosystem degradation, Ecosystem conversion
Biological resource use Logging & wood harvesting - Unintentional effects: (subsistence/small scale) [harvest] Timing Scope Severity Impact
Ongoing Majority (50-90%) Slow, Significant Declines Medium Impact: 6
Stresses
Ecosystem degradation, Ecosystem conversion
Energy production & mining Mining & quarrying Timing Scope Severity Impact
Ongoing Minority (<50%) Negligible declines Low Impact: 4
Stresses
Ecosystem degradation, Ecosystem conversion

Utilisation
Purpose Scale
Pets/display animals, horticulture international

Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Species factsheet: Shelley's Crimsonwing Cryptospiza shelleyi. Downloaded from https://datazone.birdlife.org/species/factsheet/shelleys-crimsonwing-cryptospiza-shelleyi on 23/12/2024.
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 23/12/2024.