The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species™

ISSN 2307-8235 (online)

IUCN 2008: T22688529A93199883
Scope: Global
Language: English

Phodilus prigoginei, Congo Bay-owl

Assessment by: BirdLife International

View on www.iucnredlist.org

Citation: BirdLife International. 2016. Phodilus prigoginei. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species
2016: e.T22688529A93199883. http://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-
3.RLTS.T22688529A93199883.en

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THE IUCN RED LIST OF THREATENED SPECIES™

Taxonomy
Kingdom Phylum Class Order Family

Animalia Chordata Aves Strigiformes Tytonidae

Taxon Name:  Phodilus prigoginei Schouteden, 1952

Common Name(s):
• English: Congo Bay-owl, African Bay Owl, Congo Bay Owl, Congo Bay-Owl, Itombwe Owl
• French: Phodile de Prigogine
• Spanish: Lechuza del Congo
Taxonomic Source(s):
del Hoyo, J., Collar, N.J., Christie, D.A., Elliott, A. and Fishpool, L.D.C. 2014. HBW and BirdLife
International Illustrated Checklist of the Birds of the World. Lynx Edicions BirdLife International,
Barcelona, Spain and Cambridge, UK.

Identification Information:
23-29 cm. Extremely beautiful, rich chestnut-brown owl. Only female ever described. Rusty-brown
above with paler, orangey underparts. Compact and oval facial disc with dark eyes. Voice Possibly long,
mournful whistles (but requires confirmation).

Assessment Information
Red List Category & Criteria: Endangered B1ab(i,ii,iii,v) ver 3.1

Year Published: 2016

Date Assessed: October 1, 2016

Justification:
This poorly-known species is undoubtedly very rare and has a very small known range. It appears to
have very specific habitat requirements and, while a large area of its habitat remains, forest clearance
and degradation are likely to be causing declines in range and numbers. It therefore qualifies as
Endangered.

Previously Published Red List Assessments

2012 – Endangered (EN) – http://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2012-1.RLTS.T22688529A37993120.en

2008 – Endangered (EN)

2004 – Endangered (EN)

2000 – Endangered (EN)

1996 – Vulnerable (VU)

1994 – Vulnerable (VU)

1988 – Threatened (T)

© The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species: Phodilus prigoginei – published in 2016. 1
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Geographic Range
Range Description:
Phodilus prigoginei had not been recorded since the type-specimen was collected in 1951 at Muusi, in
the Itombwe Mountains, Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), until its rediscovery in 1996, when a
female was mist-netted in the extreme south-east corner of Itombwe Forest (Butynski et al. 1997, Omari
et al. 1999). This rediscovery extends the species's known range southwards by c.95 km and lowers its
altitudinal range by approximately 600 m (Butynski et al. 1997). Itombwe is not the only forest in central
Africa with a large area of highland forest/grassland habitat, and it is possible the species occurs
elsewhere, especially in Nyungwe Forest (F. Dowsett-Lemaire in litt. 1999). There is a possible sighting in
Burundi from 1974 and, in 1990, calls of an unidentified owl were tape-recorded in Nyungwe Forest,
Rwanda (Dowsett-Lemaire 1990). Recent surveys of Kibira and Mt Kabogo, in which this species was
targeted, were unsuccessful (A. Plumptre in litt. 2007).

Country Occurrence:
Native: Congo, The Democratic Republic of the

© The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species: Phodilus prigoginei – published in 2016. 2
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Distribution Map
Phodilus prigoginei

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Population
The population is estimated at 9,360 (10 individuals/km2 [population densiy of Oriental Bay-owl P.
badius in BirdLife Population Density Spreadsheet] × 936 km2 [20% EOO]), i.e. within the range 2,500-
9,999 mature individuals, and likely to be at the lower end due to specific habitat requirements. This
equates to 3,750-14,999 individuals, rounded here to 3,500-15,000 individuals.

Trend Justification
This species is suspected to be in decline owing to the continuing destruction and degradation of its
habitat. The likely rate of decline, however, has not been estimated.
Current Population Trend:  Decreasing

Habitat and Ecology (see Appendix for additional information)

The record in 1951 was at 2,430 m, in a grass clearing. The 1996 rediscovery was in montane gallery
forest at 1,830 m, where the slopes are covered with grass and bush and the lower slopes and valleys
with montane forest (Butynski et al. 1997). The species would appear to require a mosaic of grassland
and either montane or bamboo forest, and was netted in a slightly disturbed area, indicating that it may
tolerate some human activity (Butynski et al. 1997).

Systems:  Terrestrial

Threats (see Appendix for additional information)

Forest clearance for smallholder agriculture is a serious threat in Itombwe, where a maize blight since
the early 1990s has reduced yields and forced farmers to clear forest for new farms (Omari et al. 1999).
Gallery forest on the central savanna plateau, including the locality where the species was rediscovered,
is being degraded as a result (Omari et al. 1999). Clearance of forest for livestock-grazing, particularly at
higher altitudes, is also a threat (Omari et al. 1999).

Conservation Actions (see Appendix for additional information)

Conservation Actions Underway
CITES Appendix II. Itombwe Forest has recently been gazetted as a community reserve, although the
boundaries still need to be defined (A. Plumptre in litt. 2007). Conservation Actions Proposed
Conduct surveys to determine the range and population of the species (Butynski et al. 1997). The tape
of the mystery owl in Nyungwe (most probably Phodilus) has been deposited with the British Library,
and this ought to be used in the field in Nyungwe to search for this species, and elsewhere, including the
Itombwe (F. Dowsett-Lemaire and R. J. Dowsett in litt. 2016). Research its ecology (Butynski et al. 1997).
Facilitate conservation action in collaboration with traditional authorities to limit further habitat
degradation (Omari et al. 1999).

Credits
Assessor(s): BirdLife International

Reviewer(s): Butchart, S. & Symes, A.

© The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species: Phodilus prigoginei – published in 2016. 4
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Contributor(s): Dowsett-Lemaire, F., Plumptre, A. & Dowsett, R.

Facilitators(s) and Ekstrom, J., Khwaja, N., Shutes, S., Symes, A., Taylor, J., Westrip, J.
Compiler(s):

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Bibliography
Butynski, T. M.; Agenonga, U.; Ndera, B.; Hart, J. F. 1997. Rediscovery of the Congo Bay (Itombwe) Owl
Phodilus prigoginei. Bulletin of the African Bird Club 4(1): 32-35.

Collar, N. J.; Stuart, S. N. 1985. Threatened birds of Africa and related islands: the ICBP/IUCN Red Data
Book. International Council for Bird Preservation, and International Union for Conservation of Nature
and Natural Resources, Cambridge, U.K.

Dowsett-Lemaire, F. 1990. Eco-ethology, distribution and status of Nyungwe Forest birds, Rwanda. In:
Dowsett, R.J. (ed.), Enquête faunistique et floristique dans la Forêt de Nyungwe, Rwanda, pp. 31-85.
Tauraco Press, Ely, U.K.

IUCN. 2016. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2016-3. Available at: www.iucnredlist.org.
(Accessed: 07 December 2016).

Omari, I.; Hart, J. A.; Butynski, T. M.; Birnashirwa, N. R.; Upoki, A.; M'Keyo, Y.; Bengana, F.; Bashonga, M.;
Baguruburnwe, N. 1999. The Itombwe Massif, Democratic Republic of Congo: biological surveys and
conservation, with an emphasis on Grauer's gorilla and birds endemic to the Albertine Rift. Oryx 33:
301-322.

Citation
BirdLife International. 2016. Phodilus prigoginei. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2016:
e.T22688529A93199883. http://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-3.RLTS.T22688529A93199883.en

Disclaimer
To make use of this information, please check the Terms of Use.

External Resources
For Images and External Links to Additional Information, please see the Red List website.

© The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species: Phodilus prigoginei – published in 2016. 6
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 Appendix

Habitats
(http://www.iucnredlist.org/technical-documents/classification-schemes)

Major
Habitat Season Suitability
Importance?

1. Forest -> 1.9. Forest - Subtropical/Tropical Moist Montane Resident Suitable Yes

4. Grassland -> 4.7. Grassland - Subtropical/Tropical High Altitude Resident Suitable Yes

Threats
(http://www.iucnredlist.org/technical-documents/classification-schemes)

Threat Timing Scope Severity Impact Score

11. Climate change & severe weather -> 11.1. Habitat Future Whole (>90%) Unknown -
shifting & alteration
Stresses: 1. Ecosystem stresses -> 1.2. Ecosystem degradation
1. Ecosystem stresses -> 1.3. Indirect ecosystem effects

2. Agriculture & aquaculture -> 2.1. Annual & Ongoing Majority (50- Rapid declines -
perennial non-timber crops -> 2.1.2. Small-holder 90%)

farming
Stresses: 1. Ecosystem stresses -> 1.1. Ecosystem conversion
1. Ecosystem stresses -> 1.2. Ecosystem degradation

2. Agriculture & aquaculture -> 2.3. Livestock farming Ongoing Majority (50- Slow, significant -
& ranching -> 2.3.3. Agro-industry grazing, ranching 90%) declines

or farming
Stresses: 1. Ecosystem stresses -> 1.1. Ecosystem conversion
1. Ecosystem stresses -> 1.2. Ecosystem degradation

Conservation Actions in Place

(http://www.iucnredlist.org/technical-documents/classification-schemes)

Conservation Actions in Place

In-Place Research, Monitoring and Planning

Action Recovery plan: No

Systematic monitoring scheme: No

In-Place Land/Water Protection and Management

Conservation sites identified: Yes, over entire range

Occur in at least one PA: Yes

Invasive species control or prevention: No

In-Place Species Management

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 Conservation Actions in Place
Successfully reintroduced or introduced beningly: No

Subject to ex-situ conservation: No

In-Place Education

Subject to recent education and awareness programmes: No

Included in international legislation: No

Subject to any international management/trade controls: Yes

Conservation Actions Needed

(http://www.iucnredlist.org/technical-documents/classification-schemes)

Conservation Actions Needed

1. Land/water protection -> 1.2. Resource & habitat protection

Research Needed
(http://www.iucnredlist.org/technical-documents/classification-schemes)

Research Needed
1. Research -> 1.2. Population size, distribution & trends

1. Research -> 1.3. Life history & ecology

Additional Data Fields

Distribution
Continuing decline in area of occupancy (AOO): Yes

Extreme fluctuations in area of occupancy (AOO): No

Estimated extent of occurrence (EOO) (km²): 4900

Continuing decline in extent of occurrence (EOO): Yes

Extreme fluctuations in extent of occurrence (EOO): No

Number of Locations: 1

Continuing decline in number of locations: Unknown

Extreme fluctuations in the number of locations: No

Lower elevation limit (m): 1800

Upper elevation limit (m): 2400

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 Population
Number of mature individuals: 2500-9999

Continuing decline of mature individuals: Yes

Extreme fluctuations: No

Population severely fragmented: No

No. of subpopulations: 2-100

Continuing decline in subpopulations: Unknown

Extreme fluctuations in subpopulations: No

All individuals in one subpopulation: No

Habitats and Ecology

Continuing decline in area, extent and/or quality of habitat: Yes

Generation Length (years): 5.9

Movement patterns: Not a Migrant

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The IUCN Red List Partnership

The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species™ is produced and managed by the IUCN Global Species
Programme, the IUCN Species Survival Commission (SSC) and The IUCN Red List Partnership.

The IUCN Red List Partners are: Arizona State University; BirdLife International; Botanic Gardens
Conservation International; Conservation International; NatureServe; Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew;
Sapienza University of Rome; Texas A&M University; and Zoological Society of London.

THE IUCN RED LIST OF THREATENED SPECIES™