Taita Thrush (Turdus helleri) - BirdLife species factsheet

Taita Thrush Turdus helleri

Current view: Data table and detailed info

Taxonomy

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.

IUCN Red list criteria met and history

Red List criteria met

Critically Endangered	Endangered	Vulnerable
B2ab(i,ii,iii,iv,v)	B1ab(i,ii,iii,iv,v)+2ab(i,ii,iii,iv,v); C2a(ii)	B1ab(i,ii,iii,iv,v)+2ab(i,ii,iii,iv,v); C2a(i,ii); D1+2

Red List history

Year	Category	Criteria
2018	Critically Endangered	B2ab(i,ii,iii,iv,v)
2016	Critically Endangered	B2ab(i,ii,iii,iv,v)
2015	Critically Endangered	B2ab(i,ii,iii,iv,v)
2012	Critically Endangered	B2ab(i,ii,iii,iv,v)
2009	Critically Endangered	B2a+b(i,ii,iii,iv,v)
2008	Critically Endangered
2004	Critically Endangered
2000	Critically Endangered
1996	Critically Endangered
1994	Critically Endangered
1988	Threatened

Species attributes

Migratory status	not a migrant	Forest dependency	High
Land mass type	Land-mass type - continent	Average mass	-

Extent of occurrence (EOO)

	Estimate	Data quality
Extent of Occurrence breeding/resident (km2)	290	medium
Extent of Occurrence breeding/resident (km2)	4	good
Number of locations	3	-
Fragmentation		-

Population and trend

	Estimate	Data quality	Derivation	Year of estimate
No. of mature individuals	930	good	estimated	1997
Population trend	Decreasing	poor	suspected	-
Decline (3 years/1 generation past)		-	-	-
Decline (5 years/1 generation past)		-	-	-
Decline (10 years/1 generation past)		-	-	-
Decline (10 years/3 generation future)		-	-	-
Decline (10 years/3 generation past and future)		-	-	-
Number of subpopulations	4	-	-	-
Largest subpopulations		-	-	-
Generation length (yrs)	6.1	-	-	-

Population justification: Waiyaki and Samba (2000) estimate the population to number 1,400 individuals, roughly equivalent to 930 mature individuals.

Trend justification: The population is suspected to be in decline as the species's montane forest habitat has been severely fragmented and continues to decline in both extent and quality, however the rate of decline has not been quantified.

Country/territory distribution

Country/Territory	Occurrence status	Presence	Resident	Breeding	Non-breeding	Passage
Kenya	N	Extant	Yes

Important Bird and Biodiversity Areas (IBA)

Country/Territory	IBA Name
Kenya	Taita Hills Forests

Habitats & altitude

Habitat (level 1)	Habitat (level 2)	Importance	Occurrence
Forest	Subtropical/Tropical Moist Montane	major	resident
Altitude	1200 - 2000 m	Occasional altitudinal limits

Threats & impact

Threat (level 1)

Threat (level 2)

Impact and Stresses

Agriculture & aquaculture

Annual & perennial non-timber crops - Small-holder farming

Timing

Scope

Severity

Impact

Ongoing

Whole (>90%)

Slow, Significant Declines

Medium Impact: 7

Stresses
Ecosystem degradation, Ecosystem conversion

Agriculture & aquaculture

Wood & pulp plantations - Scale Unknown/Unrecorded

Timing

Scope

Severity

Impact

Ongoing

Whole (>90%)

Slow, Significant Declines

Medium Impact: 7

Stresses
Ecosystem degradation, Ecosystem conversion

Climate change & severe weather

Habitat shifting & alteration

Timing

Scope

Severity

Impact

Future

Whole (>90%)

Unknown

Stresses
Indirect ecosystem effects, Ecosystem degradation

Invasive and other problematic species, genes & diseases

Problematic native species/diseases - Unspecified species

Timing

Scope

Severity

Impact

Ongoing

Majority (50-90%)

Slow, Significant Declines

Medium Impact: 6

Stresses
Reduced reproductive success

Natural system modifications

Fire & fire suppression - Increase in fire frequency/intensity

Timing

Scope

Severity

Impact

Ongoing

Majority (50-90%)

Causing/Could cause fluctuations

Medium Impact: 6

Stresses
Ecosystem conversion, Species mortality

Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2020) Species factsheet: Turdus helleri. Downloaded from http://www.birdlife.org on 05/06/2020. Recommended citation for factsheets for more than one species: BirdLife International (2020) IUCN Red List for birds. Downloaded from http://www.birdlife.org on 05/06/2020.