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

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.

Red List criteria met

Critically Endangered	Endangered	Vulnerable
B1ab(i,ii,iii,iv,v); C2a(i)	B1ab(i,ii,iii,iv,v)+2ab(i,ii,iii,iv,v); C2a(i); D	B1ab(i,ii,iii,iv,v)+2ab(i,ii,iii,iv,v); C2a(i); D1+2

Red List history

Year	Category	Criteria
2021	Critically Endangered	B1ab(i,ii,iii,iv,v); C2a(i)
2018	Critically Endangered	B2ab(iii,iv,v)
2016	Critically Endangered	B2ab(iii,iv,v)
2015	Critically Endangered	B2ab(iii,v)
2012	Critically Endangered	B2ab(iii,v)
2011	Critically Endangered	B2a+b(i,ii,iii,v)
2010	Critically Endangered	B2a+b(i,ii,iii,v)
2009	Critically Endangered	B2a+b(i,ii,iii,v)
2008	Critically Endangered
2004	Critically Endangered
2000	Critically Endangered
1996	Critically Endangered
1994	Critically Endangered
1988	Not Recognised

Migratory status	not a migrant	Forest dependency	high
Land-mass type	continent	Average mass	-

	Estimate	Data quality
Extent of Occurrence (breeding/resident)	13 km2	medium
Area of Occupancy (breeding/resident)	16 km2	good
Number of locations	3	-
Severely fragmented?	yes	-

	Estimate	Data quality	Derivation	Year of estimate
Population size	50-249 mature individuals	good	estimated	2017
Population trend	decreasing	medium	inferred	-
Generation length	2.6 years	-	-	-
Number of subpopulations	3	-	-	-
Percentage of mature individuals in largest subpopulation	1-89%	-	-	-

Population justification:

Analysis of data from distance point counts carried out in 2001 suggests that the total population numbered 310-654 individuals (Borghesio et al. 2010), roughly equating to 210-430 mature individuals. Surveys conducted using the same technique from 2009 to 2015 suggested that a severe decline had taken place, and that the population may then have been only 100-150 individuals (BirdLife International 2010, Borghesio et al. 2014, L. Borghesio in litt. 2012), but it was considered that further study and analyses were required to confirm the population trend and population size. In 2017, a study found the global population to be <200 individuals (Borghesio et al. unpublished data, as reported in Wagura 2018; Wagura et al. 2019). A total population of c.200 individuals would roughly equate to 130 mature individuals. The population size is therefore placed here in the band of 50-249 mature individuals.

Fewer than 30 individuals are believed to persist in the subpopulation at Ngangao (Wagura et al. 2018). Assuming the global population is 200 individuals, that leaves c.170 individuals divided between Vuria and Msidunyi. If each subpopulation was the same size, c.85 would remain in each fragment, which equates roughly to c.50 mature individuals. As the global population is estimated to be less than 200 total individuals, it is estimated that each subpopulation contains <50 mature individuals.

Trend justification: Most of the original forest in the Taita Hills has been cleared for cultivation or reforested with non-native, timber-tree species. Surveys in 2009-2010 strongly suggested that the species had undergone a severe decline of up to 80% since 2001 (Githiru and Borghesio 2010, BirdLife International 2010, L. Borghesio in litt. 2012). Habitat loss and degradation are believed to be ongoing (L. Lens in litt. 2019; Global Forest Watch 2020).

Country/Territory	Presence	Origin	Resident	Breeding visitor	Non-breeding visitor	Passage migrant
Kenya	extant	native	yes

Country/Territory	IBA Name
Kenya	Taita Hills Forests

Habitat (level 1)	Habitat (level 2)	Importance	Occurrence
Forest	Subtropical/Tropical Moist Montane	major	resident
Altitude	1400 - 2200 m	Occasional altitudinal limits

Threat (level 1)	Threat (level 2)	Impact and Stresses
Agriculture & aquaculture	Annual & perennial non-timber crops - Small-holder farming	Timing		Scope		Severity		Impact
		Ongoing		Whole (>90%)		Slow, Significant Declines		Medium Impact: 7
		Stresses Ecosystem degradation, Ecosystem conversion
Agriculture & aquaculture	Wood & pulp plantations - Scale Unknown/Unrecorded	Timing		Scope		Severity		Impact
		Ongoing		Whole (>90%)		Slow, Significant Declines		Medium Impact: 7
		Stresses Ecosystem degradation, Ecosystem conversion
Climate change & severe weather	Habitat shifting & alteration	Timing		Scope		Severity		Impact
		Future		Whole (>90%)		Unknown		Unknown
		Stresses Indirect ecosystem effects, Ecosystem degradation
Invasive and other problematic species, genes & diseases	Problematic native species/diseases - Apalis thoracica	Timing		Scope		Severity		Impact
		Ongoing		Unknown		Unknown		Unknown
		Stresses Hybridisation

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Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Species factsheet: Taita Apalis Apalis fuscigularis. Downloaded from https://datazone.birdlife.org/species/factsheet/taita-apalis-apalis-fuscigularis 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.