Zapata Wren - BirdLife Species Factsheet

Justification A recent survey suggests that this species might be more common than previously feared. However, it is classified as Endangered because it has a very small range and presumably population, which are confined to one area and continue to decline in response to habitat loss.

Family/Sub-family Troglodytidae

Species name author Barbour, 1926

Taxonomic source(s) AOU checklist (1998 + supplements), Sibley and Monroe (1990, 1993), Stotz et al. (1996)

Identification 16 cm. Medium-sized, brown wren. Brown, striped black, except for greyish underparts. Long tail, bill and legs. Similar spp. House Wren Troglodytes aedon is smaller, all brown and does not inhabit sawgrass. Voice High-pitched, loud and musical warble preceded by guttural note, given in series of three or four phrases. Also harsh and chipping notes. Female song is weaker and shorter.

Population estimate

Population trend

Range estimate (breeding/resident)

Country endemic?

1,000-2,499

decreasing

940 km²

Yes

Range & population Ferminia cerverai is known only from the northern and central parts of the Zapata Swamp, Cuba. It was reported as common at the time of its discovery in 1926, but anecdotal evidence suggests that it has subsequently declined. A survey along the Hatiguanico and Guareira rivers in 1998 recorded 24 wrens in three new localities².

Ecology: It occupies freshwater marshes with extensive fields of sawgrass Cladium jamaicensis and patches of shrubs seasonally flooded to a depth of 0.5 metre⁵. It feeds on insects, spiders, small snails, lizards and berries³. Nests are placed in sawgrass tussocks, and the breeding season is apparently January-July⁴.

Threats Dry-season burning, wetland drainage and agricultural expansion destroy and degrade suitable habitat, and it is possibly predated by introduced mongooses and rats¹.

Conservation measures underway Areas of the Zapata Swamp have protected status, but regulations are often not enforced⁴. Surveys for this species were undertaken in 1998².

Conservation measures proposed Survey to accurately determine range, numbers and threats². Enforce the legal protection of the Zapata Swamp.

References Collar et al. (1992). 1. Dinerstein et al. (1995). 2. Kirkconnell et al. (1999). 3. Raffaele et al. (1998). 4. Stattersfield et al. (1998). 5. Garrido and Kirkconnell (2000).

Text account compilers Isabel Isherwood (BirdLife International), Simon Mahood (BirdLife International), Rob Pople (BirdLife International), David Wege (BirdLife International)

IUCN Red List evaluators Stuart Butchart (BirdLife International), Simon Mahood (BirdLife International)

Recommended citation BirdLife International (2008) Species factsheet: Ferminia cerverai. Downloaded from http://www.birdlife.org on 3/1/2009

This information is based upon, and updates, the information published in BirdLife International (2000) Threatened birds of the world. Barcelona and Cambridge, UK: Lynx Edicions and BirdLife International, and BirdLife International (2004) Threatened birds of the world 2004 CD-ROM. These sources provide the information for species accounts for the birds on the IUCN Red List.

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