Data Zone
Justification of Red List category
This species has a very large range, and hence does not approach the thresholds for Vulnerable under the range size criterion (Extent of Occurrence <20,000 km2 combined with a declining or fluctuating range size, habitat extent/quality, or population size and a small number of locations or severe fragmentation). Despite the fact that the population trend appears to be decreasing, the decline is not believed to be sufficiently rapid to approach the thresholds for Vulnerable under the population trend criterion (>30% decline over ten years or three generations). The population size has not been quantified, but it is not believed to approach the thresholds for Vulnerable under the population size criterion (<10,000 mature individuals with a continuing decline estimated to be >10% in ten years or three generations, or with a specified population structure). For these reasons the species is evaluated as Least Concern.
Population justification
The global population size has not been quantified, but the species is described as uncommon (Cheke et al. 2001), although can be locally common (B. Phalan in litt. 2022).
Trend justification
This species is suspected to be declining owing to habitat loss and fragmentation. Tree cover loss within the range is currently estimated at around 29% across ten years (Global Forest Watch 2021, using Hansen et al. [2013] data and methods disclosed therein). However, the species can tolerate a range of forest habitats, including plantations and farmland, and therefore population declines are suspected to be less than proportional to the loss of tree cover.
This species occurs in Sierra Leone, south-eastern Guinea, Liberia, Côte d'Ivoire, Ghana, and western Togo.
This species occurs in lowland forest, rarely observed above 800 m (Pérez et al. 1994). It occupies the canopy of primary and secondary forests, and along tracks and clearings within them, and can also be found in swamp forests, within plantations (coffee, cocoa, and oil palm), as well as open areas between plantations (Cheke and Mann 2010). It is also found in farmbush with remaining trees, agroforestry farms, and edge habitats (B. Phalan in litt. 2022). It feeds predominantly in very tall trees (Dowsett-Lemaire and Dowsett 2011).
The main threat to this species is habitat loss and fragmentation. Tree cover loss within the range is currently estimated at around 29% across ten years (Global Forest Watch 2021, using Hansen et al. [2013] data and methods disclosed therein), and although the species can tolerate a range of forest habitats, including plantations, this is suspected to be causing population declines. The species has been assessed as being sensitive with low adaptability, and may be vulnerable to climate change in the future (Carr 2015), and is already experiencing altered distributions in some areas due to habitat disturbance (Pérez et al. 1994).
Conservation Actions Underway
The species occurs in a number of protected areas.
Conservation Actions Proposed
Conduct surveys to determine a robust population size. Monitor any effects of habitat loss and fragmentation on distributional shifts.
Text account compilers
Rotton, H.
Contributors
Butchart, S., Derhé, M., Ekstrom, J. & Phalan, B.
Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Species factsheet: Yellow-chinned Sunbird Anthreptes rectirostris. Downloaded from
https://datazone.birdlife.org/species/factsheet/yellow-chinned-sunbird-anthreptes-rectirostris 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.