São Tomé fiscal facts for kids
Quick facts for kids São Tomé fiscal |
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| Conservation status | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Lanius
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| Species: |
newtoni
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| Distribution of the São Tomé fiscal | |
The São Tomé fiscal (Lanius newtoni), also known as Newton's fiscal, is a special type of bird. It belongs to the Laniidae family, which includes shrikes. This bird is found only on São Tomé Island, which is part of São Tomé and Príncipe. This means it is endemic to that island.
This bird is about 20 to 21 centimeters long. Its upper body is black, and it has a white stripe on its shoulders. The São Tomé fiscal has a light yellow color on its chin, chest, belly, sides, and under its tail. Its tail feathers get longer towards the middle. The central tail feathers are all black, but the outer ones have more and more white on them. The Lanius newtoni has a clear and strong voice. It often makes a whistling sound like tiuh tiuh and a metallic sound like tsink tsink that can be heard from far away.
This bird lives in the forests of São Tomé Island. It usually stays under the thick tree cover. Its natural habitats are warm, wet lowland forests and wet montane forests (forests found on mountains).
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What is the São Tomé Fiscal's Status?
The São Tomé fiscal is a very rare bird. People saw it in 1888 and again in 1928. Then, in 1990, another bird was seen near the source of the Rio Xufexufe. Since then, a few more have been spotted. All these sightings have been in old, untouched forests with rocky areas, but not much undergrowth. Sometimes they are seen on low hills or next to rivers. They are always found below 1,400 meters (about 4,600 feet).
This type of forest is shrinking. People are cutting down trees to make farms for coffee and cocoa. Also, building new power plants could be another danger. Even though the area is protected (Parque Natural Obô de São Tomé), these activities still threaten the bird. In 2020, experts estimated there were only 50 to 249 adult birds left in the wild. Because of this, the International Union for Conservation of Nature considers it a critically endangered bird. This means it is at a very high risk of disappearing forever.
What Threats Does the São Tomé Fiscal Face?
How Land Use and Forest Changes Affect the Bird
In the past, large areas of lowland and mid-altitude forests were cleared. This was done to create farms for cocoa and coffee. Even though these farms were later left empty, they left behind many areas of new, younger forests. Sadly, these newer forests are not good homes for the São Tomé fiscal. Cutting down trees for wood and expanding farms are still big threats to the remaining forests where these birds live.
Dangers from Other Animals
Some animals that are not native to São Tomé Island have been brought there. These include the Black rat, Mona monkey, African civet, and Feral cat. These introduced animals can be dangerous predators. They might attack the São Tomé fiscal's nests and harm the birds. This is a big worry for the bird's survival in its home.
