Principe choke

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Principe choke
Systematics
Order : Passerines (Passeriformes)
Subordination : Songbirds (passeri)
Family : Thrushes (Turdidae)
Subfamily : Turdinae
Genre : Real thrushes ( Turdus )
Type : Principe choke
Scientific name
Turdus xanthorhynchus
Salvadori , 1901

The Principe throttle ( Turdus xanthorhynchus ) is a rare Singvogelart from the family of reactors . It is on the island of Principe in the Gulf of Guinea endemic .

features

The Príncipe thrush has long been considered a subspecies of the São Tomé thrush ( Turdus olivaceofuscus ), but it has been recognized as a separate species since 2010. It reaches a size of 24 centimeters. The head below the eyes, the top and the tail are dull olive-brown. The top of the head is a little darker. The chin and neck are dark yellow-brown with whitish dashes. The yellow-brown faded chest shows a dark, coarse and uneven scale markings. The remaining underside is whitish with a dark yellow-brown wave pattern. The iris is brown to red. The light orange-yellowish under wing coverts contrast with the cream-colored arm wings. The large beak and legs are yellow. The sexes look the same. The young birds are similar to the adult birds. With them, the top is pitted light yellow-brown and the underside is spotted brown.

Way of life

The species is found from the lowlands to at altitudes of at least 800 meters. However, most of the individuals have been observed above 400 meters. The diet consists mainly of invertebrates and fruits. Comparisons with the São Tomé Thrush suggest that the breeding season occurs from late July to January, with a peak between October and December. The nest is a voluminous shell made of dry parts of the plant mixed with mud and covered with leaves, moss and twigs on the outside. The clutch usually consists of two eggs.

status

The Principe thrush was discovered by Leonardo Fea in 1901 . After the absence of sightings since the 1920s, the species was considered lost for a long time until it was rediscovered in the southwest of Príncipe in 1997. According to a survey in 2007, the population was estimated at 364 individuals. The ornithologists Martin Dallimer, Martim Ferreira Pinto Pinheiro de Melo, Nigel J. Collar and Peter J. Jones who took part in the expedition then considered this figure to be too high because the species does not inhabit all primary jungle areas and the data is probably due to the habits of the Thrushes, being close to people, are distorted. The number is currently estimated to be less than 250 adult birds. BirdLife International added the Principe Thrush to the 2011 Red List of Endangered Birds and classified it in the critically endangered category . There is evidence that deforestation has resulted in a dramatic decline in the species of Príncipes since human settlement in the 16th century. Deforestation remains a threat, but it is decreasing thanks to the protection of the primary forest. Since the Príncipe Thrush is very trusting, it is speculated that the species suffers from opportunistic hunting. However, a comparison of the survey data and interviews with the local population only provides indications that the Príncipe thrush is disappearing from the forest areas that are often visited by the locals. For a species confined to a small island, invasive animal species are also a threat.

literature

  • Peter Clement , Ren Hathway: Thrushes (Helm Identification Guides). (2nd edition) A & C Black, 2001, ISBN 978-0-691-08852-5 .
  • Josep del Hoyo et al .: Handbook of the Birds of the World. (HBW), Volume 10: Cuckoo-shrikes to thrushes. Lynx Edicions, Barcelona 2005, ISBN 84-87334-72-5 .
  • Martim Melo & Martin Dallimer (2008): The Status of a Rare and Recently Described Endemic Bird Species (the Príncipe Thrush Turdus [Olivaceofuscus] Xanthorhynchus) and a Search for an as yet Undescribed 'Owl' PDF, Online (with photos of the species)

Web links