Rodrigues fody
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| Rodrigues fody | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Illustrations by Joseph Wolf (1864) | |
Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Aves |
| Order: | Passeriformes |
| Family: | Ploceidae |
| Genus: | Foudia |
| Species: | F. flavicans |
| Binomial name | |
| Foudia flavicans A. Newton, 1865 | |
The Rodrigues fody (Foudia flavicans) is a rare species of bird in the weaver family. The Rodrigues fody only lives on Rodrigues, an island of Mauritius. It is classified by BirdLife International as being vulnerable.[2] It is also on the United States' Endangered Species List with an endangered status.[3]
The Rodrigues fody is 12 to 13 cm (4.7 to 5.1 in) long. It is yellow with an orange face and brown back, wings, and tail.[2]
The Rodrigues fody can be found in the canopy at heights of at least 5 metres (16 ft), and sometimes travels in flocks. It may be associated with the Norfolk Island pine (Araucaria cunninghamii) and some introduced species of plants. More birds of the Rodrigues fody species are found in areas with more dense stands of taller trees and higher diversity of tree species.[4] The Rodrigues fody feeds on insects, spiders, seeds, nectar, and fruit.[2]
Once abundant on the island, the Rodrigues fody was nearly driven to extinction with only 5 or 6 pairs remaining by 1968. Due to conservation efforts its numbers rose to between 911 and 1200 individuals by the year 1999.[2]
The main threat to the Rodrigues fody is the destruction of its forest habitat. The forest was cleared for subsistence farming and livestock. The Rodrigues fody also competes for food with its introduced relative, the Madagascar red fody (Foudia madagascariensis). Cyclones and drought reduce the food supply of the Rodrigues fody.[2]
Conservation efforts have included reforestation, the main cause of the increase in the Rodrigues fody's numbers. Fences are also used keep out livestock from habitats.[2]
References
[change | change source]- ↑ BirdLife International (2016). "Foudia flavicans". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2016 e.T22719159A94614670. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-3.RLTS.T22719159A94614670.en. Retrieved 12 November 2021.
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 "BirdLife Species Fact Sheet". BirdLife International.
- ↑ "Addition of 30 African birds to list of endangered and threatened wildlife" (PDF). Federal Register. USFWS. January 12, 1995.
- ↑ Andrew J. Impey; et al. (2002). "Population recovery of the threatened endemic Rodrigues fody (Foudia flavicans) (Aves, Ploceidae) following reforestation". Biological Conservation. 107 (3): 299–305. Bibcode:2002BCons.107..299I. doi:10.1016/S0006-3207(02)00068-X.