Data Zone
Justification of Red List category
This species is considered Near Threatened as it is suspected to be declining moderately rapidly across its range as a result of habitat loss.
Population justification
The global population size has not been quantified, but the species is described as common in areas of continuous forest canopy (del Hoyo et al. 2005).
Trend justification
A moderately rapid population decline is likely to be occurring, owing to the widespread and rapid loss of forest habitats occurring throughout the Sundaic region. The rate of population decline is not thought to be more rapid as this species is tolerant of secondary and logged habitats.
Aegithina viridissima is restricted to the Sundaic lowlands, where it occurs from south Tenasserim, Myanmar, peninsular Thailand, Singapore, Sabah, Sarawak and Peninsular Malaysia, Kalimantan (including Natuna Islands) and Sumatra (including offshore islands), Indonesia and Brunei (BirdLife International 2001). It is locally fairly common to common within this range.
This species occurs in mangroves and primary, tall secondary and logged forests, up to 825 m.
Rates of forest loss in the Sundaic lowlands have been extremely rapid, owing partly to the escalation of illegal logging and land conversion, with deliberate targeting of all remaining stands of valuable timber including those inside protected areas. Forest fires have also had a damaging effect (particularly in 1997-1998). The magnitude of these threats may be allayed by this species's tolerance of logged and secondary forests.
Conservation Actions Underway
No targeted conservation actions are known for this species, although it occurs in a number of protected areas.
Conservation Actions Proposed
Conduct repeated surveys in areas within and surrounding the species's range to measure rates of population decline or range contraction. Conduct ecological studies to improve understanding of its precise habitat requirements, tolerance of secondary habitats and response to fragmentation. Grant protection to areas of suitable habitat.
Text account compilers
Benstead, P., Gilroy, J., Taylor, J.
Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2023) Species factsheet: Aegithina viridissima. Downloaded from
http://datazone.birdlife.org/species/factsheet/green-iora-aegithina-viridissima on 23/09/2023.
Recommended citation for factsheets for more than one species: BirdLife International (2023) IUCN Red List for birds. Downloaded from
http://datazone.birdlife.org on 23/09/2023.
