VU
Sri Lanka Blue Magpie Urocissa ornata



Taxonomy

Taxonomic note

Taxonomic source(s)
del Hoyo, J., Collar, N.J., Christie, D.A., Elliott, A., Fishpool, L.D.C., Boesman, P. and Kirwan, G.M. 2016. HBW and BirdLife International Illustrated Checklist of the Birds of the World. Volume 2: Passerines. Lynx Edicions and BirdLife International, Barcelona, Spain and Cambridge, UK.
Sibley, C. G.; Monroe, B. L. 1990. Distribution and taxonomy of birds of the world. Yale University Press, New Haven, USA.

IUCN Red List criteria met and history
Red List criteria met
Critically Endangered Endangered Vulnerable
- - B1ab(ii,iii,iv,v)

Red List history
Year Category Criteria
2016 Vulnerable B1ab(ii,iii,iv,v)
2012 Vulnerable B1ab(ii,iii,iv,v)
2008 Vulnerable B1a+b(ii,iii,iv)
2004 Vulnerable
2000 Vulnerable
1996 Vulnerable
1994 Vulnerable
1988 Threatened
Species attributes

Migratory status not a migrant Forest dependency high
Land-mass type shelf island
Average mass -
Range

Estimate Data quality
Extent of Occurrence (breeding/resident) 6,300 km2 medium
Number of locations 11-100 -
Severely fragmented? yes -
Population
Estimate Data quality Derivation Year of estimate
Population size 9000-19500 mature individuals good estimated 2007
Population trend decreasing poor suspected 2006-2026
Rate of change over the past 10 years/3 generations (longer of the two periods) 10-19% - - -
Rate of change over the future 10 years/3 generations (longer of the two periods) 10-19% - - -
Rate of change over the past & future 10 years/3 generations (longer of the two periods) 10-19% - - -
Generation length 6.7 years - - -
Number of subpopulations 6 - - -
Percentage of mature individuals in largest subpopulation 1-89% - - -

Population justification: Extensive surveys in 2004-2006 estimated a total population of 10,181-19,765 individuals. However, the species is a cooperative breeder with a monogamous mating system, so the effective population size and the number of mature individuals may be considerably fewer. Hence we retain a lower estimate of 9,500-19,500 for mature individuals.

Trend justification: The species is suspected to have declined steadily, in line with forest loss in the wet zone of Sri Lanka. However, if the current moratorium on further logging remains in place this decline may slow.


Country/territory distribution
Country/Territory Presence Origin Resident Breeding visitor Non-breeding visitor Passage migrant
Sri Lanka extant native yes

Important Bird and Biodiversity Areas (IBA)
Country/Territory IBA Name
Sri Lanka Knuckles Range (Knuckles IBA)
Sri Lanka Agrapatana-Bopaththalawa
Sri Lanka Hakgala / Meepilimana
Sri Lanka Horton plains / Ohiya / Pattipola-Ambewela
Sri Lanka Nuwara Eliya
Sri Lanka Peak Wilderness Sanctuary
Sri Lanka Dotalugala / Rassagala
Sri Lanka Kithulgala
Sri Lanka Bambarabotuwa
Sri Lanka Delgoda / Kudumiriya / Kobahadukanda
Sri Lanka Delwela / Panilkanda / Walankanda
Sri Lanka Gilimale-Eratna
Sri Lanka Waratalgoda
Sri Lanka Morningside and Handapan Ella Plains (Sinharaja IBA)
Sri Lanka Nakiyadeniya / Kanneliya / Dediyagala
Sri Lanka Haputale
Sri Lanka Morapitiya-Runakanda

Habitats & altitude
Habitat (level 1) Habitat (level 2) Importance Occurrence
Artificial/Terrestrial Plantations marginal resident
Forest Subtropical/Tropical Moist Lowland major resident
Forest Subtropical/Tropical Moist Montane major resident
Altitude 150 - 2135 m Occasional altitudinal limits  

Threats & impact
Threat (level 1) Threat (level 2) Impact and Stresses
Agriculture & aquaculture Annual & perennial non-timber crops - Agro-industry farming Timing Scope Severity Impact
Ongoing Minority (<50%) Rapid Declines Medium Impact: 6
Stresses
Ecosystem degradation, Ecosystem conversion
Biological resource use Logging & wood harvesting - Unintentional effects: (subsistence/small scale) [harvest] Timing Scope Severity Impact
Ongoing Minority (<50%) Slow, Significant Declines Low Impact: 5
Stresses
Ecosystem degradation
Energy production & mining Mining & quarrying Timing Scope Severity Impact
Ongoing Minority (<50%) Slow, Significant Declines Low Impact: 5
Stresses
Ecosystem degradation, Ecosystem conversion
Natural system modifications Fire & fire suppression - Increase in fire frequency/intensity Timing Scope Severity Impact
Ongoing Minority (<50%) Slow, Significant Declines Low Impact: 5
Stresses
Ecosystem degradation
Residential & commercial development Housing & urban areas Timing Scope Severity Impact
Ongoing Minority (<50%) Slow, Significant Declines Low Impact: 5
Stresses
Ecosystem degradation, Ecosystem conversion

Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Species factsheet: Urocissa ornata. Downloaded from https://datazone.birdlife.org/species/factsheet/sri-lanka-blue-magpie-urocissa-ornata on 19/03/2024.
Recommended citation for factsheets for more than one species: BirdLife International (2024) IUCN Red List for birds. Downloaded from https://datazone.birdlife.org on 19/03/2024.