Noronha elaenia

Noronha elaenia
Noronha elaenia at Fernando de Noronha, Brazil
Conservation status
Vulnerable  (IUCN 3.1) [1]
Scientific classification
Domain:	Eukaryota
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Aves
Order:	Passeriformes
Family:	Tyrannidae
Genus:	Elaenia
Species:	E. ridleyana
Binomial name
Elaenia ridleyana Sharpe, 1888

The Noronha elaenia (Elaenia ridleyana) is a Vulnerable species of bird in subfamily Elaeniinae of family Tyrannidae, the tyrant flycatchers. It is endemic to the Fernando de Noronha archipelago off the coast of Brazil. ^{[1] [2]}

Taxonomy and systematics

In the mid twentieth century several authors suggested that the Noronha elaenia should be treated as a subspecies of the large elaenia (E. spectabilis) or the lesser elaenia (E. chiriquensis). Those suggestions did not gain wide acceptance and by the 1990s had been shown to be wrong. The three species' vocalizations are significantly different. ^{[3] [4]}

Description

The Noronha elaenia is about 17 cm (6.7 in) long. It is large elaenia with a small crest. The sexes have the same plumage. Adults have a mostly olive-brown head with a minimal or no white stripe in the middle of the crest. Their upperparts are dark grayish olive. Their wings are dusky with white tips on the coverts that show as three wing bars. Their tail is dusky. Their throat is grayish, their breast dark olive-gray, and their belly and undertail coverts yellow. Both sexes have a dark brown iris, a black bill with a dull pinkish base to the mandible, and black legs and feet. ^{[4] [5]}

Distribution and habitat

The Noronha elaenia is found only on Fernando de Noronha and Rata islands in the Fernando de Noronha Archipelago, in the Atlantic off Pernambuco state. It inhabits scrublands, dry woodland and other open forest, and thickets and gardens near human habitations. ^{[4] [5]}

Behavior

Movement

The Noronha elaenia is a year-round inhabitat on the islands. ^[4]

Feeding

The Noronha elaenia feeds on insects and small fruits, especially those of Ficus noronhae . Its foraging behavior is not known but is assumed to be similar to that of other Elaenia members; for example see here. ^[4]

Breeding

The Noronha elaenia breeds between June and August. Its nest is a cup made from fibers of plants in the gourd family Cucurbitaceae and some thin twigs, lined with plant down, and often placed on a bare tree branch. The clutch size appears to be one or two eggs. The incubation period, time to fledging, and details of parental care are not known. ^[4]

Songs and calls Listen to the Noronha elaenia on xeno-canto

Vocalization

The Noronha elaenia's calls vary; one is a "high, descending 'tUuuw' in series with 1.5 sec intervals". ^[5]

Status

The IUCN has assessed the Noronha elaenia as Vulnerable. ^[1] The total area of the two islands it inhabits is about 38 km² (15 sq mi) of which only about 18 km² (6.9 sq mi) has suitable habitat. ^{[1] [4]} Its estimated population of 500 mature individuals is believed to be stable. "All large trees have been cut and all remaining vegetation is secondary. There are proposals to further develop tourism and this would cause yet greater damage to its habitat. It may suffer predation from introduced mammals such as rats and cats...Fire may pose a credible threat, and an introduced vine is reported to threaten remaining preferred habitat." It is the least common of the three land birds resident on the archipelago. "Nevertheless, its future should be secure so long as sufficient forest cover survives." ^[4]

References

1. BirdLife International (2016). "Noronha Elaenia Elaenia ridleyana". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species . 2016: e.T22699268A93722423. doi: 10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-3.RLTS.T22699268A93722423.en . Retrieved 27 September 2024.
2. Gill, Frank; Donsker, David; Rasmussen, Pamela, eds. (August 2024). "Tyrant flycatchers". IOC World Bird List. v 14.2. Retrieved 19 August 2024.
3. Remsen, J. V., Jr., J. I. Areta, E. Bonaccorso, S. Claramunt, G. Del-Rio, A. Jaramillo, D. F. Lane, M. B. Robbins, F. G. Stiles, and K. J. Zimmer. Version 27 July 2024. A classification of the bird species of South America. American Ornithological Society. https://www.museum.lsu.edu/~Remsen/SACCBaseline.htm retrieved July 28, 2024
4. Hosner, P. (2020). Noronha Elaenia (Elaenia ridleyana), version 1.0. In Birds of the World (J. del Hoyo, A. Elliott, J. Sargatal, D. A. Christie, and E. de Juana, Editors). Cornell Lab of Ornithology, Ithaca, NY, USA. https://doi.org/10.2173/bow.norela1.01 retrieved September 28, 2024
5. van Perlo, Ber (2009). A Field Guide to the Birds of Brazil. New York: Oxford University Press. pp. 292–293. ISBN   978-0-19-530155-7.

External links

• Species factsheet - BirdLife International