Data Zone
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.
del Hoyo, J.; Collar, N. J.; Christie, D. A.; Elliott, A.; Fishpool, L. D. C. 2014. HBW and BirdLife International Illustrated Checklist of the Birds of the World. Barcelona, Spain and Cambridge UK: Lynx Edicions and BirdLife International.
| Critically Endangered | Endangered | Vulnerable |
|---|---|---|
| - | - | - |
| Year | Category | Criteria |
|---|---|---|
| 2016 | Near Threatened | A2bcd+3bcd+4bcd |
| 2012 | Near Threatened | A2bcd+3bcd+4bcd |
| 2008 | Near Threatened | A2b,c,d; A3b,c,d; A4b,c,d |
| 2006 | Near Threatened | |
| 2004 | Near Threatened | |
| 2000 | Lower Risk/Near Threatened | |
| 1994 | Lower Risk/Near Threatened | |
| 1988 | Lower Risk/Least Concern |
| Migratory status | full migrant | Forest dependency | low |
| Land-mass type |
continent shelf island |
Average mass | - |
| Estimate | Data quality | |
|---|---|---|
| Extent of Occurrence (breeding/resident) | 22,300,000 km2 | medium |
| Extent of Occurrence (non-breeding) | 17,900,000 km2 | medium |
| Severely fragmented? | no | - |
| Estimate | Data quality | Derivation | Year of estimate | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Population size | 10000-19999 mature individuals | medium | estimated | 2002 |
| Population trend | decreasing | medium | suspected | 2001-2031 |
| Rate of change over the past 10 years/3 generations (longer of the two periods) | 20-29% | - | - | - |
| Rate of change over the future 10 years/3 generations (longer of the two periods) | 20-29% | - | - | - |
| Rate of change over the past & future 10 years/3 generations (longer of the two periods) | 20-29% | - | - | - |
| Generation length | 10.1 years | - | - | - |
Population justification: The population is estimated to number up to 10,000 individuals in south Asia, plus up to another 10,000 in south-east Asia and up to 100 in east Asia (Q. Wang in litt. 2002). This is likely to total fewer than 20,000 mature individuals, and so the population is placed in the band 10,000-19,999 mature individuals. This equates to 15,000-29,999 individuals in total, rounded here to 15,000-30,000 individuals.
Trend justification: The species is suspected to be in moderately rapid decline owing to hunting, egg collecting, disturbance at breeding colonies, drainage and agricultural conversion. The area of mangrove habitat in Myanmar has declined (C. Zöckler in litt. 2016). A population decline is precautionarily retained here however in some areas the species is increasing with the species increasingly using man-made wetlands (G. Sundar in litt. 2016). New information on the global population trend is required to confirm the trend direction.
| Country/Territory | Presence | Origin | Resident | Breeding visitor | Non-breeding visitor | Passage migrant |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bangladesh | extant | native | yes | |||
| Cambodia | extant | native | yes | |||
| China (mainland) | extant | native | yes | |||
| Hong Kong (China) | extant | native | yes | |||
| India | extant | native | yes | |||
| Indonesia | extant | native | yes | |||
| Japan | extant | vagrant | yes | |||
| Laos | extant | vagrant | yes | |||
| Malaysia | extant | native | yes | |||
| Mongolia | extant | vagrant | ||||
| Myanmar | extant | native | yes | |||
| Nepal | extant | native | yes | |||
| Pakistan | extant | native | yes | |||
| Philippines | extant | native | yes | |||
| Russia | extant | native | ||||
| Russia (Asian) | extant | native | ||||
| South Korea | extant | vagrant | yes | |||
| Sri Lanka | extant | native | yes | |||
| Thailand | extant | native | yes | |||
| Vietnam | extant | native | yes |
| Country/Territory | IBA Name |
|---|---|
| Vietnam | Bac Lieu |
| Vietnam | Tra Cu |
| Sri Lanka | Giants Tank |
| Sri Lanka | Yala |
| China (mainland) | Zhalong Nature Reserve |
| Indonesia | Sembilang |
| Indonesia | Pesisir Riau Tenggara |
| Indonesia | Pulau Dua |
| Cambodia | Ang Tropeang Thmor |
| Cambodia | Prek Toal |
| India | Gudavi Bird Sanctuary |
| India | Karanji Tank |
| India | Narasambudhi Lake |
| India | Vettangudi Bird Sanctuary |
| India | Harike Lake Bird Sanctuary |
| Nepal | Farmlands in Lumbini area |
| Nepal | Koshi Tappu Wildlife Reserve and Koshi Barrage |
| Myanmar | Gulf of Mottama |
| India | Bhashkarpara |
| India | Odiyur Lagoon |
| Habitat (level 1) | Habitat (level 2) | Importance | Occurrence |
|---|---|---|---|
| Artificial/Aquatic & Marine | Artificial/Aquatic - Seasonally Flooded Agricultural Land | suitable | non-breeding |
| Artificial/Aquatic & Marine | Artificial/Aquatic - Seasonally Flooded Agricultural Land | suitable | breeding |
| Forest | Subtropical/Tropical Mangrove Vegetation Above High Tide Level | suitable | breeding |
| Forest | Subtropical/Tropical Mangrove Vegetation Above High Tide Level | suitable | non-breeding |
| Grassland | Subtropical/Tropical Seasonally Wet/Flooded | suitable | non-breeding |
| Grassland | Subtropical/Tropical Seasonally Wet/Flooded | suitable | breeding |
| Marine Coastal/Supratidal | Coastal Brackish/Saline Lagoons/Marine Lakes | suitable | non-breeding |
| Marine Coastal/Supratidal | Coastal Brackish/Saline Lagoons/Marine Lakes | suitable | breeding |
| Marine Intertidal | Salt Marshes (Emergent Grasses) | suitable | breeding |
| Marine Intertidal | Salt Marshes (Emergent Grasses) | suitable | non-breeding |
| Wetlands (inland) | Bogs, Marshes, Swamps, Fens, Peatlands | suitable | non-breeding |
| Wetlands (inland) | Bogs, Marshes, Swamps, Fens, Peatlands | suitable | breeding |
| Wetlands (inland) | Permanent Freshwater Lakes (over 8ha) | suitable | non-breeding |
| Wetlands (inland) | Permanent Freshwater Lakes (over 8ha) | suitable | breeding |
| Wetlands (inland) | Permanent Rivers/Streams/Creeks (includes waterfalls) | suitable | breeding |
| Wetlands (inland) | Permanent Rivers/Streams/Creeks (includes waterfalls) | suitable | non-breeding |
| Altitude | Occasional altitudinal limits |
| Threat (level 1) | Threat (level 2) | Impact and Stresses | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Agriculture & aquaculture | Annual & perennial non-timber crops - Small-holder farming | Timing | Scope | Severity | Impact | ||||
| Ongoing | Minority (<50%) | Slow, Significant Declines | Low Impact: 5 | ||||||
|
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| Biological resource use | Hunting & trapping terrestrial animals - Intentional use (species is the target) | Timing | Scope | Severity | Impact | ||||
| Ongoing | Minority (<50%) | Slow, Significant Declines | Low Impact: 5 | ||||||
|
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| Human intrusions & disturbance | Work & other activities | Timing | Scope | Severity | Impact | ||||
| Ongoing | Majority (50-90%) | Negligible declines | Low Impact: 5 | ||||||
|
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| Natural system modifications | Dams & water management/use - Abstraction of ground water (domestic use) | Timing | Scope | Severity | Impact | ||||
| Ongoing | Minority (<50%) | Slow, Significant Declines | Low Impact: 5 | ||||||
|
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| Pollution | Agricultural & forestry effluents - Type Unknown/Unrecorded | Timing | Scope | Severity | Impact | ||||
| Ongoing | Minority (<50%) | Slow, Significant Declines | Low Impact: 5 | ||||||
|
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Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2023) Species factsheet: Threskiornis melanocephalus. Downloaded from
http://datazone.birdlife.org/species/factsheet/black-headed-ibis-threskiornis-melanocephalus on 05/12/2023.
Recommended citation for factsheets for more than one species: BirdLife International (2023) IUCN Red List for birds. Downloaded from
http://datazone.birdlife.org on 05/12/2023.
