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Concerns for the conservation of the Lemon-breasted Canary Crithagra citrinipectus stem mainly from its globally restricted range. It is suspected to be in decline, approaching but not attaining the 30% threshold for qualification as Vulnerable.
The Lemon-breasted Canary is an uncommon, highly localised near-endemic to the region. It is one of four species with global ranges of less than 50 000 km2 defining the South-east African Coast Endemic Bird Area (Stattersfield et al. 1998). Its range is centred in Mozambique, which encompasses the majority of its global distribution, but it also extends to southern Malawi and the lowlands of south-eastern Zimbabwe. Within the region, it occurs in northern Zululand, from about St Lucia northwards, and marginally into the north-eastern portion of Kruger National Park (Allan 2000). Its distribution is linked to that of the Lala Palm Hyphaene coriacea, a common tree in Maputaland where large stands of the palm grow almost to the exclusion of anything else. In the last two decades, the EoO of the Lemon-breasted Canary has contracted slightly (by c. 8%) to 54 589 km2 based on SABAP2 data. The contraction in its AoO has been more significant with a decline of c. 28% to 5 503 km2. Its numbers are variable at the same locality from year to year with movements probably being linked to irregular rainfall (Berruti 1997). The species has been recorded from four IBAs including Kruger National Park, Kosi Bay System, Mkuze Game Reserve and the iSimangaliso Wetland Park.
The global population size has not been quantified, but the species is described as local and uncommon within its limited range, although occasionally abundant (Clement et al. 1999), forming flocks of hundreds during suitable environmental conditions. Parker (1999) suspected that the population in southern Mozambique exceeds 50 000 birds. No population estimates exist for South Africa, but the number of birds in the region is certainly less than 10 000 mature individuals. Confidence in this regional population estimate is low, and the status of the species requires further investigation.
The global population is suspected to be in overall decline owing to pressures on the palms with which it is strongly associated, plus trapping for the cage-bird trade (Allan 2000, Clement et al. 1999). The utilisation of the Lemon-breasted Canary in the bird-trade is mentioned as far back as the early 1970s (Clancey 1971), while Parker (1999) noted that up to 2 000 birds are exported per year from southern Mozambique. A lack of population data complicates inferring a population trend. Although the AoO of the species has declined considerably between the two atlas periods, the relationship between a decline in AoO and concomitant decline in population size is not always linear. Furthermore the three-generation length of this species (11.4 years) is shorter than the time between atlas periods. It is unlikely that the species exceeds the 30% threshold, which would qualify it as regionally Vulnerable, but it may be approaching this level of decline. Confidence in the regional population trend estimate is low and requires verification.
The Lala Palm is one of the most economically important plants in Maputaland, supplying alcoholic wine, material for cane furniture and fibre, for domestic consumption and sale. Overexploitation may pose a threat to Lemon-breasted Canaries. Conversely, woodland clearing and small-scale agriculture probably provides additional habitat for the Lemon-breasted Canary. In neighbouring Mozambique, the collection of birds for the cage-bird trade is of concern; it is unknown whether this aconstitutes a threat in South Africa.
No species-specific measures are underway.
The species is reasonably represented in protected areas. Captive breeding, with the aim of re-introduction, may be a viable option for the Lemon-breasted Canary.
* A review of the conservation status of the regional population is required, including an asssessment of the population, trends, threats and ecology of the species.