Abstract :
The Taita Apalis Apalis fuscigularis (IUCN category: Critically Endangered) is a species endemic
to south-eastern Kenya. We assessed population size and habitat use in the three forest sites in
which it is known to occur (Ngangao, Chawia and Vuria, totalling 257 ha). The estimate of total
population size, derived from distance sampling at 412 sample points, ranged from 310 to 654
individuals, with the northern section of Ngangao fragment having 10-fold higher densities than
Chawia (2.47–4.93 versus 0.22–0.41 birds ha1). Ngangao north alone hosted 50% of the global
population of the species. The highly degraded Vuria fragment also had moderately high
densities (1.63–3.72 birds ha1) suggesting that the species tolerates some human disturbance.
Taita Apalis prefers vegetation with abundant climbers, but the predictive power of habitat use
models was low, suggesting that habitat structure is not a primary cause for the low density of
the species in Chawia. Protecting the subpopulation in the northern section of Ngangao is
a priority, as is identifying factors responsible of the low abundance in Chawia, because
ameliorating conditions in this large fragment could substantially increase the population of
Taita Apalis.
