Santa Cruz Shrikebill Clytorhynchus sanctaecrucis Scientific name definitions

c. 19–20 cm. A heavy, large-eyed monarchid with distinctive bill. Male has black head and throat, with contrasting white ear-coverts and short white supercilium from above eye; upperparts blue-glossed black or sooty-coloured, upperwing and tail sooty black, wing-coverts and remiges with indistinct narrrow paler edges, outer tail feathers with small white tips; breast and entire underparts white; iris dark; bill blue-grey with black nail; legs blue-grey. Female is rufous-brown above, head somewhat greyer, and distinctly paler below, throat creamy whitish; bare parts as for male. Juvenile is probably most like female, with young male developing grey then black around face, and pale buff underparts, and apparently taking c. 2 years to acquire fully adult plumage.

Previously considered conspecific with C. nigrogularis, but differs in its (in male) black vs grey or brown crown (2); sooty vs greyish-brown mantle, wings and tail (2); silky-white vs greyish-buff underparts (ns[2]); (in female) dark brown vs rufous-brown (paler below) overall (3); and (in both sexes) overall smaller size, with no overlap in four measurements (at least 2); shallow vs heavy (and differently coloured) bill (2); and tail-cocking habit, perhaps associated with much greater terrestrial behaviour (1) (1 Dutson, G. (2006). The Pacific shrikebills (Clytorhynchus) and the case for species status for the form sanctaecrucis. Bull. Brit. Orn. Club 126(4): 299–308. Close ). Monotypic.

S Santa Cruz Is (Nendo), in extreme E Solomons.

Male gives clear rich swelling whistle often comprising 2–4 slurred pulses, becoming quieter at end, and usually repeated as a short series, also various deep harsh scolding notes, often repeated. Territorial male may call more or less continuously for long periods.

ENDANGERED. Restricted-range species: present in Vanuatu and Temotu EBA. Not seen between 1927, when the type specimens were collected, and 2004. This species has a very small population which is thought to be declining mainly as a result of small-scale loss of forest for subsistence farming. Its extent of occurrence on Nendo is put at 319 km², but there are few reliable data available and only a poor knowledge of the area of suitable habitat; although currently known from only one area, this species is suspected to occur at more than ten locations in the remaining old-growth forest on the island. It appears to be restricted to such forest, in which indications of population density include two pairs along a 10-km transect (2 Dutson, G. (2006). The Pacific Shrikebills Clytorhynchus spp. and the case for species status for the Santa Cruz C. sanctaecrucis. Bull. Brit. Orn. Club 126(4): 299–31948. Close ) and 0·4 birds/hour (3 Pierce, R.J. (2014). Surveys of threatened birds and flying-foxes in the Santa Cruz Islands, Solomon Islands, September–October 212114. Eco Oceania Pty Ltd Report for CEPF. Close ); these are similar to densities recorded for C. nigrogularis in Fiji. Probably less than half of the present species’ extent of occurrence represents occupied suitable habitat, suggesting a total population probably of 250–1000 individuals (but possibly fewer than 250 mature individuals). This shrikebill is susceptible to logging and, presumably, to threats posed by certain invasive species such as the rats (Rattus).