5 thoughts on “Plain-backed Sunbird (Anthreptes reichenowi)”
The part written about the threats in the East Usambaras in section “Population Trend” is partially incorrect. The citation (Borghesio et al 2008) is about the submontane forests, where those threats persist, especially about the tea and sugar cane. They do NOT all apply to the lowlands where this sunbird species occurs. Check the Global Forest Watch data to get an idea about the threats to the lowland forest reserves. I recall that Bombo East I Forest Reserve in the East Usambara lowlands was burned in mid-2000s. This sunbird was recorded there and in Bombo West FR and Mgambo FR in 1996 (see below) From atop the peaks of the submontane region at night, looking eastwards toward the coast, the number of fires associated with charcoal are high in the lowlands. I would imagine forest loss and degradation is now high, but please verify with Global Forest Watch data. Some of the lowland forest around Kambai is being used for cinnamon, pepper and cardamom cultivation, where the understorey is removed, and in some cases, large trees are cut. The extent of these changes have not been tracked in recent years, and this has been quite recent in the lowlands. At least for the East Usambara lowlands, while the species is known from several forest reserves, the loss of habitat, including from fire, and the changes made to the forest understorey may not be favourable to this species.
Cordeiro, N. J., & Githiru, M. (2000). Conservation evaluation for birds of Brachylaena woodland and mixed dry forest in north-east Tanzania. Bird Conservation International, 10(1), 47-65.
Cordeiro, N. J., & Githiru, M. (2001). Birds of Mgambo proposed forest reserve and other East Usambara lowland sites. Scopus, 22, 37-47.
Many thanks to everyone who has contributed to this discussion. We greatly appreciate the time and effort invested in commenting. The window for consultation is now closed and we are unable to accept any more comments until 25 April 2025. We will now analyse and interpret the information, and we will post a preliminary decision on this species’ Red List category on this page on 25 April 2025, when discussions will re-open.
We thank Norbert for their comment. As the information cited from Borghesio et al. (2008) does not apply to the species’ elevational range, it will be removed from the assessment. We also appreciate your note on additional threats impacting lowland forest around Kambai, which will be incorporated.
Although rates of forest loss and degradation are high in the East Usambaras, this area represents only a small proportion of the species’ overall range. Global Forest Watch data indicate a 9.8% decline in tree cover across the species’ range over the past 10 years, which is the relevant time period for this assessment. As outlined in the draft assessment, this is suspected to have resulted in a population decline of 5–15% over the same period. Taking into consideration the additional information provided, the conclusion that the species is unlikely to be approaching the thresholds for listing in a threatened category remains appropriate.
Based on available information, our preliminary proposal for the 2025 Red List would be to adopt the proposed classification outlined in the initial forum discussion.
There is now a period for further comments until the final deadline on 4 May 2025, after which the recommended categorisations will be put forward to IUCN.
The final 2025 Red List categories will be published on the BirdLife and IUCN websites in October 2025, following further checking of information relevant to the assessments by both BirdLife and IUCN.
Many thanks to everyone who has contributed to this discussion. We greatly appreciate the time and effort invested in commenting. The window for consultation is now closed and we are unable to accept any more comments. We will analyse and interpret the information, and a final decision on this species’ Red List category will be posted on this page on 12 May 2025.
Recommended categorisation to be put forward to IUCN
The final categorisation for this species has not changed. Plain-backed Sunbird is recommended to be listed as Least Concern.
Many thanks for everyone who contributed to the 2025.2 GTB Forum process. The final Red List categories will be published on the BirdLife and IUCN websites in October 2025, following further checking of information relevant to the assessments by both BirdLife and IUCN.
The part written about the threats in the East Usambaras in section “Population Trend” is partially incorrect. The citation (Borghesio et al 2008) is about the submontane forests, where those threats persist, especially about the tea and sugar cane. They do NOT all apply to the lowlands where this sunbird species occurs. Check the Global Forest Watch data to get an idea about the threats to the lowland forest reserves. I recall that Bombo East I Forest Reserve in the East Usambara lowlands was burned in mid-2000s. This sunbird was recorded there and in Bombo West FR and Mgambo FR in 1996 (see below) From atop the peaks of the submontane region at night, looking eastwards toward the coast, the number of fires associated with charcoal are high in the lowlands. I would imagine forest loss and degradation is now high, but please verify with Global Forest Watch data. Some of the lowland forest around Kambai is being used for cinnamon, pepper and cardamom cultivation, where the understorey is removed, and in some cases, large trees are cut. The extent of these changes have not been tracked in recent years, and this has been quite recent in the lowlands. At least for the East Usambara lowlands, while the species is known from several forest reserves, the loss of habitat, including from fire, and the changes made to the forest understorey may not be favourable to this species.
Cordeiro, N. J., & Githiru, M. (2000). Conservation evaluation for birds of Brachylaena woodland and mixed dry forest in north-east Tanzania. Bird Conservation International, 10(1), 47-65.
Cordeiro, N. J., & Githiru, M. (2001). Birds of Mgambo proposed forest reserve and other East Usambara lowland sites. Scopus, 22, 37-47.
Many thanks to everyone who has contributed to this discussion. We greatly appreciate the time and effort invested in commenting. The window for consultation is now closed and we are unable to accept any more comments until 25 April 2025. We will now analyse and interpret the information, and we will post a preliminary decision on this species’ Red List category on this page on 25 April 2025, when discussions will re-open.
Preliminary proposal
We thank Norbert for their comment. As the information cited from Borghesio et al. (2008) does not apply to the species’ elevational range, it will be removed from the assessment. We also appreciate your note on additional threats impacting lowland forest around Kambai, which will be incorporated.
Although rates of forest loss and degradation are high in the East Usambaras, this area represents only a small proportion of the species’ overall range. Global Forest Watch data indicate a 9.8% decline in tree cover across the species’ range over the past 10 years, which is the relevant time period for this assessment. As outlined in the draft assessment, this is suspected to have resulted in a population decline of 5–15% over the same period. Taking into consideration the additional information provided, the conclusion that the species is unlikely to be approaching the thresholds for listing in a threatened category remains appropriate.
Based on available information, our preliminary proposal for the 2025 Red List would be to adopt the proposed classification outlined in the initial forum discussion.
There is now a period for further comments until the final deadline on 4 May 2025, after which the recommended categorisations will be put forward to IUCN.
The final 2025 Red List categories will be published on the BirdLife and IUCN websites in October 2025, following further checking of information relevant to the assessments by both BirdLife and IUCN.
Many thanks to everyone who has contributed to this discussion. We greatly appreciate the time and effort invested in commenting. The window for consultation is now closed and we are unable to accept any more comments. We will analyse and interpret the information, and a final decision on this species’ Red List category will be posted on this page on 12 May 2025.
Recommended categorisation to be put forward to IUCN
The final categorisation for this species has not changed. Plain-backed Sunbird is recommended to be listed as Least Concern.
Many thanks for everyone who contributed to the 2025.2 GTB Forum process. The final Red List categories will be published on the BirdLife and IUCN websites in October 2025, following further checking of information relevant to the assessments by both BirdLife and IUCN.