| 2010 IUCN Red List Category (as evaluated by BirdLife International - the official Red List Authority for birds for IUCN): Vulnerable Justification This species has been uplisted to Vulnerable owing to recent data which indicates that it has a small population which is declining owing to the drainage and degradation of its highland wetland habitat.
Family/Sub-family Anatidae Species name author (Rüppell, 1845) Taxonomic source(s) Dowsett and Forbes-Watson (1993), Sibley and Monroe (1990, 1993) Synonyms Cyanochen cyanopterus Dowsett and Forbes-Watson (1993), Cyanochen cyanopterus Sibley and Monroe (1990, 1993), Cyanochen cyanopterus BirdLife International (2004), Cyanochen cyanopterus BirdLife International (2000) Taxonomic note Gender agreement of species name follows David and Gosselin (2002b).
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Population estimate | Population trend | Range estimate (breeding/resident) | Country endemic? | 5,000 - 15,000 | decreasing | 361,000 km2 | Yes |
Range & population Cyanochen cyanoptera is endemic to the highlands of Ethiopia, and although it remains locally common and widespread, with the total population probably lying in the range 5,000-15,000 individuals1,2,5, it is thought to be declining as suitable breeding habitats are lost6.
| Important Bird Areas Click here to view map showing IBAs where species is recorded and triggers any of the IBA criteria. | Ecology: Behaviour This species is mostly sedentary but demonstrates some small-scale seasonal altitudinal movements7,8. It breeds during the dry season months of March - June8 during which time it occurs in dispersed single pairs or small groups7. Little is known about breeding behaviour due to the species' nocturnal habits10. It moves to lower altitudes during the wet, non-breeding season8, where it sometimes congregates in relatively large, loose flocks of 50-100 individuals3,8. Important concentrations occur at Areket3 and on the Sululta plain area during the rains and post-rains period2,5. Habitat Breeding The species often breeds in open Afro-alpine moorland8. Non-breeding The species occurs on the banks of highland rivers and lakes with adjacent meadows of short grass7,9. It also inhabits the edges of highland lakes, marshes, bog pools, swamps and streams with abundant grassland surroundings. It is rarely found in overgrown areas and does not venture into deep water7,9. In the central parts of its range it occurs most commonly at altitudes of 2000-3000m in areas with waterlogged black cotton-soils (vertisols) 8. At the northern and southern extremities of its range it occurs at higher altitude where the substrate is granitic and the grasses coarser and longer8. Diet The species is primarily herbivorous, grazing on grasses, sedges and other herbaceous vegetation1,5,9. However it is also reported to take worms, insects, insect larvae, freshwater molluscs and even small reptiles7,8,9. Breeding Site The nest is built on the ground concealed amongst vegetation10.
| Threats It is not threatened by hunting (as, for religious reasons, it is not eaten)2. However, it is now almost certainly under pressure because of the rapidly expanding human population and resulting drainage and degradation of wetlands and grasslands, and increased levels of disturbance5. Agricultural intensification (privatisation) and droughts are also possible threats4,5.
| | Conservation measures underway Important breeding areas in the Bale Mountains National Park are protected.
| | Conservation measures proposed Regularly monitor the species at selected sites across its range to determine trends. Study movements using radio telemetry to discover additional important sites. Protect important breeding and non-breeding sites, in both strictly protected areas and in multiple use community led conservation units.
| References 1. Brown et al. (1982). 2. Callaghan and Green (1993). 3. Dodman et al. (1999). 4. T. Dodman in litt. (2000). 5. Scott and Rose (1996). 6. M. Wondafrash in litt. (2007). 7. del Hoyo et al. (1992).8. Kear (2005). 9. Johnsgard (1978). 10. Soothill and Whitehead (1978)
| Text account compilers Simon Mahood (BirdLife International), Andrew O'Brien (BirdLife International), Sue Shutes (BirdLife International) | Contributors Yilma Abebe (University of Washington), Trevor Bart, Tim Dodman (Wetlands International), David Stroud | IUCN Red List evaluators Stuart Butchart (BirdLife International), Simon Mahood (BirdLife International) |
| Recommended citation BirdLife International (2010) Species factsheet: Cyanochen cyanoptera. Downloaded from http://www.birdlife.org on 3/9/2010 | This information is based upon, and updates, the information published in BirdLife International (2000) Threatened birds of the world. Barcelona and Cambridge, UK: Lynx Edicions and BirdLife International, BirdLife International (2004) Threatened birds of the world 2004 CD-ROM and BirdLife International (2008) Threatened birds of the world 2008 CD-ROM. These sources provide the information for species accounts for the birds on the IUCN Red List. To provide new information to update this factsheet or to correct any errors, please email BirdLife To contribute to discussions on the evaluation of the IUCN Red List status of Globally Threatened Birds, please visit BirdLife's Globally Threatened Bird Forums |
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