Common Name: Newton’s Fiscal
Scientific Name: Lanius newtoni
Distribution: Endemic to the island of Sao Tome in the Gulf of Guinea.
Biology: Newton’s Fiscal is a little known species, owning to its rarity. It was discovered in 1888, but was considered extinct from 1928 until its rediscovery in 1990. Part of the Laniidae family, the Shrikes, this species is the only representative from the family that lives that have adapted to a true forest environment, preferring closed canopy lowland forest.
Like other shrikes, Newton’s Fiscal is carnivorous, yet the species docent seem to exhibit the ravenous behaviour of storing prey, and mainly goes after smaller invertebrates. The species finds most of its prey in low trees, but often descends to the forest floor when spotting prey, taking it from the leaf litter or amongst roots or stones. The species is very vocal, and its loud repetitive call is often the first indication of its presence that observers will get.
IUCN Conservation Status: Critically Endangered
The Newton’s Fiscal is one of the rarest and most endangered avian species in the world, with a tiny global population estimated to be around as little as 50 mature individuals. The main threat to the species is habitat destruction and fragmentation, and previous use of insecticides in cocoa and coffee plantations hit the population hard. Little information exists on the behaviour of the species making it difficult to compose a through conservation plan. Many local people living in and of the forest on São Tomé have never seen the species or simply aren’t aware of its existence, but current information campaigns seeks to inform local communities about the species, to help increase engagement in its conservation. Multiple areas where the species is present have also been proposed to be designated as protected areas, yet progress on these initiatives are slow and enforcement hard to implement. Yet, the Newton’s Fiscal is, together with the other endangered species of the island country, receiving high attention from environmental groups, like the local division of BirdLife International.
