Open image gallery
The regional population of the near-endemic Neergaard's Sunbird Cinnyris neergaardi has not been quantified. Conservation concern for this species stems largely from its globally restricted range as well as ongoing habitat loss, which may have led to population declines. A precautionary approach warrants that the species be listed as regionally Near Threatened.
Neergaard's Sunbird is endemic to southern Africa, where it is found along the eastern littoral from Inhambane Province in Mozambique, south to the western shores of Lake St Lucia in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa (Johnson 1997, Parker 1999, Allan 2000). More than 80% of its global range lies in Mozambique, where it occurs primarily south of the Save River (extending slightly north of the Save into Sofala Province (Parker 2005). The Mozambique population is divided into two widely separated sub-populations, isolated by the Inkomati and Limpopo River floodplains: a southern population (south of Maputo and contiguous with populations in northern KwaZulu-Natal) occurs mainly in Sand Forest, while a much larger northern population (extending from about Panda, Inhambane northwards) occurs in mixed woodlands away from the coast (Parker 1999, Cheke and Mann 2001). Within KwaZulu-Natal, Neergaard's Sunbird is found mainly in stands of coastal sand forest (Johnson 1997), from the Mozambique border in the north to about Hluhluwe in the south. Previous reports mentioned its occurrence south to St Lucia or even Richards Bay, but this is not confirmed by SABAP2 atlas data. The species is well represented in the regional IBA network with populations in Mkuze Game Reserve, the iSimangaliso Wetland Park complex, Ndumo Game Reserve, and Tembe Elephant Park.
No accurate population estimates exist for Neergaard's Sunbird in South Africa, but it generally uncommon and highly localised and elusive. Numbers estimated for individual IBAs (Johnson et al. 1998) are: 80-120 pairs (160-240 birds) in Ndumo Game Reserve; 20-50 birds in Pongola Nature Reserve; ‘100s' of breeding pairs in Mkuze Game Reserve; and 100-150 pairs (200-400 birds) in iSimangaliso Wetland Park. These figures suggest a minimum regional population, inside these four IBAs, of c. 290-495 pairs, or 580-1 090 birds. Proportions of the species' range are in remote and poorly explored areas, so it is reasonable to assume that it is widely under-recorded, especially outside of protected areas. Consequently the regional population may be 2-3 times the estimate given above and in the region of 3 000 mature individuals. The species is described as common in southern Mozambique, with a population probably exceeding 5 000 individuals (Parker 1999). Confidence in the regional estimate is low.
The global population is suspected to be in decline due to reductions in habitat extent and quality (BirdLife International 2014). Too little is known of the global or regional population in order to provide an accurate trend estimate although it is suspected that the regional population is undergoing a decline due to habitat loss, and based on apparent decreases in Area of Occupancy. Confidence in the regional trend estimate is low.
Allan (2000) mentions that the species is likely to have suffered from habitat loss in areas outside protected reserves, particularly in densely settled and crop-farming (especially sugarcane) areas. Birds in Tembe Elephant Park may be at risk due to habitat modification by elephants (A Marchant pers. comm.). Concern for the conservation of Neergaard's Sunbird is mainly based on its very restricted global range, which means that any significant decline could prove to be disastrous.
There are no species-specific conservation measures in place. The establishment of the iSimangaliso Wetland Park complex, as well as the ongoing protection afforded by Mkuze and Ndumo game reserves will have secured the long-term conservation of this species in the region.
Data on population size is crucial for a complete assessment of the species status. Ongoing monitoring in the core populations would enable such population estimates.
* A full survey of the entire range of Neergaard's Sunbird in South Africa is recommended, with special emphasis on remote habitat patches outside of formally protected areas. Failing access to all potential habitat, satellite imagery may aid in establishing accurate population estimates.