Rediscovery of the Black-fronted Francolin in Southern Ethiopia

In May 2012 and in May 2013 we searched for the Black-fronted Francolin Pternistis (castaneicollis) atrifrons in the Mega area in southern Ethiopia. Since most of the scarcely published records date back about seven decades, our objectives were (1) to confirm its presence at the type locality, (2) to explore other potentially suitable areas, (3) to collect information on morphology and field characteristics, behaviour

and habitat, (4) to conclude on its taxonomic position, and (5) to make a preliminary assessment of threats to the birds and their habitat. We recorded at least 12 different Black-fronted Francolin individuals on five sites around the town of Mega (04°03′28″ N 38°19′16″ E). The birds inhabited semi-open woodland between 1,480 and 2,223 m asl, where the original juniper forest has almost vanished because of heavy utilisation pressure, primarily by the expansion of agriculture, grazing and harvesting of firewood and timber. A typical external feature of the males is a clearly visible bald yellow patch behind the eye. While no other P. castaneicollis subspecies seems to have this spot, other francolin species have. Additionally, our molecular and bioacoustic data support the separate taxonomic status of atrifrons. Taking together all characters, assigning species status for the Black-fronted Francolin is justified. Based on our survey, we estimate the current population to be very small, rendering the Black-fronted Francolin the most endangered galliform bird of Africa. Also, we assume its range to be much smaller and more fragmented than previously thought, making the local populations crucially endangered.

Download the full article VERTEBRATE ZOOLOGY 64(2) 261-271

Avifauna of Ethiopia: Some unsolved taxonomic questions

Ethiopian Boubou (Laniarius aethiopicus)

Numerous taxonomic questions of birdlife in the Horn of Africa region will require further clarification or have been investigated only recently.

This concerns at least eight of the taxa listed in the Endemic Breeding Bird table. The Socotra Buzzard (Buteo socotraensis) is according to genetic findings closest related to Buteo bannermanni, who lives on the Cape Verde islands. Valid nomenclatural description was not done until recently (Jennings 2010, Porter and Kirwan 2010). Buteo archeri, living in Somalia, is often regarded as a subspecies of Buteo augur. Further studies to define the populations are lacking. Otus socotranus (described 1899) is seen again as a separate species after long lumped with O. senegalensis (Jennings, l.c.). The re-separation of Laniarius erlangeri (described 1905) of L. aethiopicus was only recently (Nguembock et al. 2008). In this context the Bulo Burti Boubou (L. liberatus), described in 1991 by Smith et al., was recognized as a morph and the species status withdrawn. Calandrella erlangeri (described 1905) was long regarded as subspecies of Calandrella blanfordi. Dowsett and Forbes-Watson (1993) united C. somalica, C. athensis and C. erlangeri to C. somalica. However, Clements (2000) regarded C. erlangeri again as separate species. While Redman et al. (2009) follow the suggestion, Ash and Atkins (2009) treat erlangeri again as a subspecies of C. blanfordi. A final clarification seems open. The Degodi Lark is no longer a valid species (Collar et al. 2009).

Endemic Birds on the Horn of Africa

Ethiopia is characterized by a great topographic and landscape diversity. The height profile varies from 125 meters below sea level in the Danakil desert to the 4,533 m high summit of Ras Dejen in the Simien mountains. With an area of 1,127 million km² Ethiopia is something three times as large as Germany, with a comparable population of currently around 85 million. The peculiarity of the Ethiopian avifauna can be judged better when viewed in a somewhat wider context. As a spatial reference point should serve the "Horn of Africa", in addition to Ethiopia including its neighbors Eritrea, Djibouti and Somalia, as well as the Socotra Archipelago (short Socotra), lying off the Somali coast, but politically belonging to Yemen.

In this region more than 1,000 nesting and migratory bird species were noted. In the Endemic Breeding Birds table overall 67 species or taxonomic units are listed, which may be awarded the status of "endemic" on the Horn of Africa. Such a list is always provisional and can not offer more than a basis for discussion. This is due to the fact that a number of taxonomic and nomenclatural issues are still unclear. New findings inevitably lead to other perspectives and revised figures. Secondly, there is always a certain discretion whether to record a species with very small area units (or occasional occurrence) in neighboring countries in such a list or not. The table includes the IUCN Red List category, population size and trend for each species.