LC
Archbold's Bowerbird Archboldia papuensis



Justification

Justification of Red List category
This species has a large range, and hence 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 is suspected to be stable, thus does not approach the thresholds for Vulnerable under the population trend criterion (>30% decline over ten years or three generations). The population size is not quantified, but is suspected of being relatively large, and 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
The population size of this species is unknown. At some localities it has proven locally common, but is generally scarce (Pratt and Beehler 2015, Beehler and Pratt 2016). However, it has a large range that encompasses c.25,000 km2 of forest cover (Global Forest Watch 2022, based on Hansen et al. [2013]) such that even if only a portion of this is occupied, and the species occurs at a low density, it is considered unlikely to number fewer than 10,000 mature individuals.

Trend justification
There are no direct population trends for this species. Its range encompasses some of the most remote regions of New Guinea and, according to remote sensing data (Global Forest Watch 2022, using data and methods from Hansen et al. [2013]), forest loss in its range is minimal (<1% in the three generations to 2021). In the absence of other known threats, its population is therefore suspected to be stable.

Distribution and population

Archboldia papuensis is very patchily distributed in the Central Ranges of New Guinea, from the Weyland Mountains of Papua (formerly Irian Jaya), Indonesia, to the highlands provinces of Papua New Guinea. It is generally rare but locally moderately common.

Ecology

It inhabits high altitude forests, often with Pandanus on high frost-disturbed plateaus from 2,300-3,660 m, and rarely as low as 1,750 m (Beehler et al. 1986, Coates 1990). It has a clutch size of one (Donaghey 2015). It is often seen individually or as mother-offspring pairs. Male bowers have two structural components, the first being a matted fern stage covered in snail shells and other small objects, and the second being low branches over the stage covered in epiphytic orchids (Pratt and Beehler 2015).

Threats

Historically, the species was apparently impacted by forest loss (Beehler 1985, Collar 1986) and at risk of population fragmentation (A. Mack in litt. 1999). However, recent remote sensing data (Global Forest Watch 2022, using methods and data from Hansen et al. [2013]) indicate that forest loss in its range over the three generations to 2021 was minimal (<1%).

Conservation actions

Conservation Actions Underway
None is known.

Conservation Actions Proposed
Monitor populations in the locations where it is known to occur. Survey to discover additional populations. Protect forest at sites where it occurs.

Acknowledgements

Text account compilers
Berryman, A.

Contributors
Mack, A.


Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Species factsheet: Archbold's Bowerbird Archboldia papuensis. Downloaded from https://datazone.birdlife.org/species/factsheet/archbolds-bowerbird-archboldia-papuensis on 06/12/2024.
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 06/12/2024.