São Tomé fiscal
Kingdom
Phylum
Class
Family
Genus
SPECIES
Lanius newtoni

The São Tomé fiscal (Lanius newtoni ), or Newton's fiscal, is a species of bird in the family Laniidae. It is endemic to São Tomé Island, São Tomé and Príncipe. It is 20 to 21 centimeters long. The bird is black above with a white shoulder-scapular bar. The São Tomé fiscal has a pale yellow chin, breast, belly, flanks vent and under tail. Its graduated tail has all black central tail feathers and an increasing amount of white on outer web from inner to outer tail feathers. The Lanius newtoni has a clear voice with a whistle tiuh tiuh often repeated and metallic tsink tsink audible over a long distance.

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The species lives on the island of São Tomé and is usually found under closed canopy. Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical moist lowland forests and subtropical or tropical moist montane forests.

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Distribution

Geography

Continents
São Tomé fiscal habitat map

Biome

São Tomé fiscal habitat map
São Tomé fiscal

Habits and Lifestyle

Lifestyle
Seasonal behavior
Bird's call

Diet and Nutrition

Population

Population number

The São Tomé fiscal is a very rare bird. There were records of sightings in 1888 and again in 1928. Another individual was sighted in 1990 near the source of the Rio Xufexufe, and a number of birds have been spotted since then. All sightings have been in primary forest with rocky areas but little undergrowth, sometimes on low ridges or beside watercourses, and always below 1,400 m (4,600 ft). This type of habitat is decreasing as forests are cut to create coffee and cocoa plantations, and the building of new hydropower plants are another possible threat, even though it is a protected area (Parque Natural Obô de São Tomé). It is considered to be a critically endangered bird by the International Union for Conservation of Nature.

References

1. São Tomé fiscal Wikipedia article - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/São_Tomé_fiscal
2. São Tomé fiscal on The IUCN Red List site - https://www.iucnredlist.org/species/22705080/131390093
3. Xeno-canto bird call - https://xeno-canto.org/510799

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