VU
Japanese Murrelet Synthliboramphus wumizusume



Taxonomy

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. Volume 1: Non-passerines. Lynx Edicions BirdLife International, Barcelona, Spain and Cambridge, UK.

IUCN Red List criteria met and history
Red List criteria met
Critically Endangered Endangered Vulnerable
- - C2a(ii)

Red List history
Year Category Criteria
2018 Vulnerable C2a(ii)
2016 Vulnerable A2cde+3cde+4cde;C2a(ii)
2012 Vulnerable A2cde+3cde+4cde;C2a(ii)
2010 Vulnerable A2c,d,e; A3c,d,e; A4c,d,e; C2a(ii)
2008 Vulnerable A2d,e; A3d,e; A4d,e; C2a(ii)
2007 Vulnerable
2005 Vulnerable
2004 Vulnerable
2000 Vulnerable
1996 Vulnerable
1994 Vulnerable
1988 Threatened
Species attributes

Migratory status not a migrant Forest dependency does not normally occur in forest
Land-mass type Land-mass type - shelf island
Average mass -
Distribution

Estimate Data quality
Extent of Occurrence breeding/resident (km2) 1,310,000 medium
Extent of Occurrence non-breeding (km2) 2,580,000 medium
Area of Occupancy breeding/resident (km2) 110 medium
Number of locations 11-100 -
Severely fragmented? no -
Population and trend
Value Data quality Derivation Year of estimate
Number of mature individuals 5200-9400 medium estimated 2000
Population trend decreasing poor suspected 1998-2034
Number of subpopulations 1 - - -
Percentage in largest subpopulation 100 - - -
Generation length (years) 12.1 - - -

Population justification: By 2015, 38 colonies (current and historical) were reported, with a total estimated population of 2,600-4,700 pairs (Otsuki and Nakamura 2016), equating to around 5,200-9,400 mature individuals. National population sizes have been estimated at <100 breeding pairs and c.50-1,000 individuals on migration in Korea and c.100-10,000 breeding pairs and c.50-1,000 wintering individuals in Japan (Brazil 2009).

Trend justification: Populations are thought to be declining rapidly through the combined impact of bycatch mortality and predation by invasive species.


Country/territory distribution
Country/Territory Presence Origin Resident Breeding Non-breeding Passage
Japan extant native yes
Russia extant native yes
Russia (Asian) extant native yes
South Korea extant native yes
Taiwan, China extant vagrant yes

Important Bird and Biodiversity Areas (IBA)
Country/Territory IBA Name
Japan Niijima and Shikinejima Islands
Japan Kozushima island
Japan Miyakejima island
Japan Mikurajima island
Japan Hachijojima island
Japan Torishima island
Japan Kanmurijima and Kutsujima islets
Japan Seinan islands
Japan Okinoshima and Koyajima islets
Japan Nanatsujima islets
Japan Kii Nagashima islets
Japan Tsukuejima islets
Japan Eboshijima islet
Japan Danjo islands
Japan Birojima islet
South Korea Kukul-do island
South Korea Chilbal-do island
Japan Nanatsujima islets - Marine
Japan Kii Nagashima islets - Marine
Japan Mikomotojima island
Japan Kii Nagashima islets-Marine
Japan Okinoshima and Koyajima islands - Marine
Japan Tsukuejima islets - Marine
Japan Fumishima Islet and Oki Islands - Marine
Japan Birojima islet - Marine
Japan Danjo islands - Marine
Japan Eboshijima islet - Marine
Japan Seinan islands - Marine
Japan Kanmurijima and Kutsujima islets - Marine
Japan Hachijojima island - Marine
Japan Northern Izu Islands - Marine

Habitats & altitude
Habitat (level 1) Habitat (level 2) Importance Occurrence
Marine Coastal/Supratidal Sea Cliffs and Rocky Offshore Islands major breeding
Marine Neritic Pelagic suitable resident
Marine Oceanic Epipelagic (0-200m) suitable non-breeding
Altitude   Occasional altitudinal limits  

Threats & impact
Threat (level 1) Threat (level 2) Impact and Stresses
Biological resource use Fishing & harvesting aquatic resources - Unintentional effects: (large scale) [harvest] Timing Scope Severity Impact
Ongoing Majority (50-90%) Slow, Significant Declines Medium Impact: 6
Stresses
Species mortality
Biological resource use Fishing & harvesting aquatic resources - Unintentional effects: (subsistence/small scale) [harvest] Timing Scope Severity Impact
Ongoing Majority (50-90%) Rapid Declines Medium Impact: 7
Stresses
Species mortality
Biological resource use Hunting & trapping terrestrial animals - Intentional use (species is the target) Timing Scope Severity Impact
Past, Unlikely to Return Majority (50-90%) Slow, Significant Declines Past Impact
Stresses
Reduced reproductive success, Species mortality
Invasive and other problematic species, genes & diseases Invasive non-native/alien species/diseases - Felis catus Timing Scope Severity Impact
Ongoing Minority (<50%) Slow, Significant Declines Low Impact: 5
Stresses
Species mortality
Invasive and other problematic species, genes & diseases Invasive non-native/alien species/diseases - Rattus rattus Timing Scope Severity Impact
Ongoing Minority (<50%) Rapid Declines Medium Impact: 6
Stresses
Reduced reproductive success, Species mortality
Pollution Industrial & military effluents - Oil spills Timing Scope Severity Impact
Ongoing Minority (<50%) Slow, Significant Declines Low Impact: 5
Stresses
Ecosystem degradation, Species mortality

Utilisation
Purpose Primary form used Life stage used Source Scale Level Timing
Food - human - - non-trivial recent

Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2023) Species factsheet: Synthliboramphus wumizusume. Downloaded from http://datazone.birdlife.org/species/factsheet/japanese-murrelet-synthliboramphus-wumizusume on 30/09/2023. Recommended citation for factsheets for more than one species: BirdLife International (2023) IUCN Red List for birds. Downloaded from http://datazone.birdlife.org on 30/09/2023.