LC
Yellow Tit Machlolophus holsti



Justification

Justification of Red List category
Although this species has a moderately small range, there is no evidence for continuing declines in any parameters, thus it does not approach the thresholds for Vulnerable under the range size criterion (Extent of Occurrence <20,000 km2 combined with a declining or fluctuating range size, habitat extent/quality, or population size and a small number of locations or severe fragmentation). The population trend of this species is believed to be stable, hence it does not approach the thresholds for Vulnerable under the population trend criterion (>30% decline over ten years or three generations). The population size is unknown, but is not suspected to be small, hence does not approach the thresholds for Vulnerable under the population size criterion (<10,000 mature individuals with a continuing decline estimated to be >10% in ten years or three generations, or with a specified population structure). For these reasons the species is evaluated as Least Concern.

Population justification
Brazil (2009) estimated a population size of between c.100 and 10,000 breeding pairs, although the lower bound of this estimate is highly improbable given that there remains 10,000 km2 of forest within its mapped range. eBird (2023) data suggest it is commonly encountered, although Severinghaus (2010) describe it as 'local'. The population size is not quantified here in the absence of robust data, however it is evaluated as unlikely to be especially small.

Trend justification
There are no direct population trend data for this species, although there has been no overall habitat loss in the past 20 years (per Global Forest Watch 2023, based on data from Hansen et al. [2013] and methods disclosed therein). Although it has historically been caught for the bird trade, there is no published evidence this is ongoing or occurring at a scale thought capable of causing a population reduction. In the absence of other threats, the population is suspected to be stable.

Distribution and population

This species is confined to the mountains of central Taiwan, China (BirdLife International 2001).

Ecology

This species occurs in primary broadleaved forest and occasionally secondary growth at 700-2,500 m (Severinghaus 2010).

Threats

Historically, large areas of Taiwan's native forests were cleared for timber extraction, although this impacted lowland areas more than those in the mountains. In the last 20 years, there has been almost no deforestation registered according to remote sensing data (per Global Forest Watch 2023) and the majority (>70%) of the species' range now lies within Taiwan's extensive protected area network (UNEP-WCMC and IUCN 2023).

Conservation actions

Conservation Actions Underway
Much (>70%) of its range is contained within protected areas (UNEP-WCMC and IUCN 2023).

Conservation Actions Proposed
Continue to monitor habitat trends using remote sensing data. Establish a monitoring protocol that directly assess the trend of this species and others.

Acknowledgements

Text account compilers
Berryman, A.

Contributors
Butchart, S., Everest, J., Gilroy, J. & Taylor, J.


Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Species factsheet: Machlolophus holsti. Downloaded from https://datazone.birdlife.org/species/factsheet/yellow-tit-machlolophus-holsti 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.