Threatened Species Factsheet No. 13 Santo Mountain

What are they called? What do they look like?

Scientific: These can grow up to 17cm santovestris long. They have a black-brown forehead with white eyes and a Common English: firm black bill. They are a Mountain/Santo/Vanuatu rusty/reddish brown colour all Starling over, with a slightly paler belly French: Stourne des and darker wingtips. The tail is montagnes short and darker. Bislama: They differ from the rusty-winged Vernacular (local name): starling also found on Santo, as Mataweli (Nokovula, they have no grey patches and Santo) white eyes, not black.

A little bit about them: They are medium sized found on the highest peaks of Santo island, usually between 1200- 1700m elevation. They are reported to nest in holes in trees, low to the ground. The birds have been seen feeding on insects, fruit and seeds. They are

usually seen no more than Source: Handbook of the birds of the world Alive 5m above the forest floor, Did you know? although occasionally perch in the canopy. They • The mountain starling is the fly quickly and directly in rarest of the endemic the sub-canopy. species in Vanuatu! What they do for us? Ø They disperse seeds from the fruit they eat, in their droppings. Ø Their foraging and scratching on the forest floor cycles nutrients in the forest ecosystem. Ø They are iconic birds of Vanuatu because they are not found anywhere else.

What can we do for them?

Source: www.beautyofbirds.com ü Enforce regulations in existing protected areas, Santo Mountain and identify other nesting are classified as Vulnerable and breeding sites and take (VU) on the IUCN Red List. conservation measures to Why are they threatened? protect them. Ø Predation by invasive ü Increase awareness of the species such as rats, threats to this species and cats, dogs and pigs. As discourage hunting. they are not native to ü Castrate and spay pet cats Vanuatu, birds have no and dogs to reduce feral natural defense against preying on adults, them chicks and eggs. Ø Habitat loss caused by the clearing of land for development. Want to know more? v Book: Birds of Melanesia by Guy Ø Sometimes hunted for Dutson food. v Visit: www.iucnredlist.org