Justification of Red List category
This species is listed as Near Threatened because it is thought to have a moderately small population, which may be undergoing a continuing decline owing to forest loss. However, little is currently known about the population size of and threats to this species. Further information may indicate that its status warrants revision.
Population justification
This species is assumed to have a moderately small population because it has a restricted range within which it is not recorded commonly. It is placed in the band 10,000-19,999 individuals, equating to 6,667-13,333 mature individuals, rounded here to 6,000-15,000 mature individuals.
Trend justification
The population is suspected to be in decline owing to ongoing habitat destruction.
Phoenicurus alaschanicus is known from Qinghai, Gansu and Ningxia, China, with presumed non-breeding records from Shaanxi, Shanxi, Hebei and Beijing. Its breeding range and habitat requirements remain poorly understood because of the sparse ornithological coverage of much of its range.
It breeds on dense scrub-covered hillsides with loose rocks, in bush-dotted riverine plains in the upper coniferous montane forest belt from c.3,300 m to the treeline, and it makes a short distance altitudinal migration, wintering down to 2,000 m. It apparently feeds extensively on berries in the autumn.
It has presumably been affected by habitat loss.
Conservation Actions Underway
It has been recorded in the Helan Mountain Nature Reserve, and in or near to Yanchiwan Nature Reserve.
Text account compilers
Benstead, P., Bird, J., Butchart, S., Khwaja, N.
Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Species factsheet: Ala Shan Redstart Phoenicurus alaschanicus. Downloaded from
https://datazone.birdlife.org/species/factsheet/ala-shan-redstart-phoenicurus-alaschanicus on 23/11/2024.
Recommended citation for factsheets for more than one species: BirdLife International (2024) IUCN Red List for birds. Downloaded from
https://datazone.birdlife.org/species/search on 23/11/2024.