VU
White-breasted Guineafowl Agelastes meleagrides



Taxonomy

Taxonomic source(s)
del Hoyo, J., Collar, N.J., Christie, D.A., Elliott, A. and Fishpool, L.D.C. 2014. HBW and BirdLife International Illustrated Checklist of the Birds of the World. Volume 1: Non-passerines. Lynx Edicions BirdLife International, Barcelona, Spain and Cambridge, UK.

IUCN Red List criteria met and history
Red List criteria met
Critically Endangered Endangered Vulnerable
- - A3cd+4cd

Red List history
Year Category Criteria
2021 Vulnerable A3cd+4cd
2016 Vulnerable A2cd+3cd+4cd
2012 Vulnerable A2cd+3cd+4cd
2008 Vulnerable A2c,d; A3c,d; A4c,d
2004 Vulnerable
2000 Vulnerable
1996 Vulnerable
1994 Vulnerable
1988 Threatened
Species attributes

Migratory status not a migrant Forest dependency high
Land-mass type continent
Average mass 815 g
Range

Estimate Data quality
Extent of Occurrence (breeding/resident) 197,000 km2 medium
Severely fragmented? no -
Population
Estimate Data quality Derivation Year of estimate
Population size 39000-93000 mature individuals medium estimated 2007
Population trend decreasing poor inferred 2016-2036
Rate of change over the past 10 years/3 generations (longer of the two periods) 20-29% - - -
Rate of change over the future 10 years/3 generations (longer of the two periods) 30-49% - - -
Rate of change over the past & future 10 years/3 generations (longer of the two periods) 30-49% - - -
Generation length 6.7 years - - -

Population justification: In 1995, the world population was estimated at 85,000-115,000 individuals (Gartshore et al. 1995). Surveys carried out by Waltert et al. (2010) estimated a population of 42,400-119,800 individuals at the species's stronghold in the Taï region of Côte d'Ivoire. Previous estimates in other parts of its range include c.5,700-8,700 in Sierra Leone (Allport et al. 1989), over 10,000 in Liberia (Gatter 1997), and c.1,000 in Ghana (Allport 1991). Combining these figures produces a population estimate of c.59,100-139,500 individuals, roughly equivalent to 39,000-93,000 mature individuals. Owing to the age of some estimates, and the levels of reported poaching and habitat degradation that has since occurred (H. Rainey in litt. 2007; Waltert et al. 2010), it is likely that the population falls at the lower end of the estimate.

Trend justification: The species is inferred to be declining owing to the destruction of habitat through logging and forest clearance for agriculture (H. Rainey in litt. 2007; Global Forest Watch 2021). Where it still occurs in large numbers, it suffers high mortality from poaching (Freeman et al. 2019). Increased hunting in logged areas may prevent recovery at some sites (Allport et al. 1989; Holbech 1996).


Country/territory distribution
Country/Territory Presence Origin Resident Breeding visitor Non-breeding visitor Passage migrant
Côte d'Ivoire extant native yes
Ghana extant native yes
Liberia extant native yes
Sierra Leone extant native yes

Important Bird and Biodiversity Areas (IBA)
Country/Territory IBA Name
Côte d'Ivoire Mabi Forest reserve
Côte d'Ivoire Marahoue National Park
Côte d'Ivoire Parc National de Taï et Réserve de faune du N'Zo
Ghana Ankasa Resource Reserve - Nini-Sushien National Park
Ghana Boin Tano Forest Reserve
Ghana Kakum National Park - Assin Attandaso Resource Reserve
Ghana Tano-Anwia Forest Reserve
Ghana Tano-Ehuro Forest Reserve
Liberia Cestos - Senkwen
Liberia Grebo
Liberia Lofa-Gola-Mano Complex
Liberia Nimba mountains
Liberia Sapo
Liberia Zwedru
Sierra Leone Gola Forests

Habitats & altitude
Habitat (level 1) Habitat (level 2) Importance Occurrence
Artificial/Terrestrial Subtropical/Tropical Heavily Degraded Former Forest suitable resident
Forest Subtropical/Tropical Dry suitable resident
Forest Subtropical/Tropical Moist Lowland major resident
Altitude   Occasional altitudinal limits  

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
Biological resource use Hunting & trapping terrestrial animals - Intentional use (species is the target) Timing Scope Severity Impact
Ongoing Majority (50-90%) Slow, Significant Declines Medium Impact: 6
Stresses
Species mortality
Biological resource use Logging & wood harvesting - Unintentional effects: (large scale) [harvest] 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 Problematic native species/diseases Timing Scope Severity Impact
Ongoing Minority (<50%) Slow, Significant Declines Low Impact: 5
Stresses
Competition

Utilisation
Purpose Scale
Food - human subsistence, national
Pets/display animals, horticulture international

Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Species factsheet: White-breasted Guineafowl Agelastes meleagrides. Downloaded from https://datazone.birdlife.org/species/factsheet/white-breasted-guineafowl-agelastes-meleagrides on 22/11/2024.
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 22/11/2024.