EN
Bahama Oriole Icterus northropi



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
- C2a(ii) B1ab(ii,iii,v); C2a(ii); D2

Red List history
Year Category Criteria
2021 Endangered C2a(ii)
2016 Critically Endangered C2a(ii)
2013 Critically Endangered C2a(ii)
2012 Critically Endangered C2a(ii)
2011 Critically Endangered C2a(ii)
2008 Not Recognised
2004 Not Recognised
2000 Not Recognised
1994 Not Recognised
1988 Not Recognised
Species attributes

Migratory status not a migrant Forest dependency medium
Land-mass type Average mass -
Range

Estimate Data quality
Extent of Occurrence (breeding/resident) 8,200 km2 medium
Number of locations 1 -
Severely fragmented? no -
Population
Estimate Data quality Derivation Year of estimate
Population size 2400-8400 mature individuals good estimated 2021
Population trend decreasing poor inferred -
Generation length 3.42 years - - -
Number of subpopulations 1 - - -
Percentage of mature individuals in largest subpopulation 100% - - -

Population justification:

Point count surveys following a distance sampling design in northern North Andros estimated a population of c. 1,200-2,800 mature individuals in the study area (Rowley et al. 2021). The study site included the largest area of pine forest on Andros, which was found to be the species’ preferred habitat (Rowley et al. 2021). These forests may represent around 30-50% of good pine forest habitat present on Andros and may hold a large proportion of the global population, as other pine forests are small, patchy and likely not used as much by the species (J. Antalffy and K. Omland pers. comm. 2021). Tentatively, it is assumed that global population is 2-3 times higher than the estimate for the study site in North Andros (J. Antalffy and K. Omland pers. comm. 2021) and is therefore here placed in the band 2,400-8,400 mature individuals.
The species has been extirpated from Abaco and now only occurs on Andros. Its ability to use a variety of habitats suggests that all individuals may get in contact with each other, and it is therefore assumed that the species forms a single subpopulation.

Trend justification: The species is thought to undergo a continuing decline due to the combined effects of predation by invasive species, nest parasitism by Shiny Cowbirds and the loss and degradation of its preferred pine forest habitat through the impacts of hurricanes and subsequent saltwater inundations, as well as through clearance for agriculture.
The rate of decline has not been quantified, but it is considered unlikely to exceeded 30% over the past three generations (10.3 years; Bird et al. 2020). The rate of decline may however increase rapidly in the future, as the species and its habitat are at high risk of hurricanes and storm-surge flooding. The intensity, and probably the frequency of hurricanes in the Atlantic are projected to increase with climate change (see e.g., Knutson et al. 2010; Walsh et al. 2016; Hall and Kossin 2019). While pine forests show resilience to storms, they are very sensitive to flooding and saltwater inundation and may take decades to recover (B. Watson pers. comm. 2021). Potentially severe storms and flooding on Andros in the near future may prove detrimental for the species and its habitat and increase the rate of decline considerably.


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

Important Bird and Biodiversity Areas (IBA)
Country/Territory IBA Name
Bahamas Driggs Hill to Mars Bay
Bahamas Mangrove Cay
Bahamas Owenstown
Bahamas Red Bays
Bahamas San Andros Pond
Bahamas Stafford Creek to Andros Town

Habitats & altitude
Habitat (level 1) Habitat (level 2) Importance Occurrence
Artificial/Terrestrial Arable Land suitable resident
Artificial/Terrestrial Plantations suitable resident
Forest Subtropical/Tropical Dry major resident
Introduced vegetation suitable resident
Altitude   Occasional altitudinal limits  

Threats & impact
Threat (level 1) Threat (level 2) Impact and Stresses
Agriculture & aquaculture Annual & perennial non-timber crops - Scale Unknown/Unrecorded Timing Scope Severity Impact
Ongoing Majority (50-90%) Slow, Significant Declines Medium Impact: 6
Stresses
Ecosystem conversion
Climate change & severe weather Habitat shifting & alteration Timing Scope Severity Impact
Future Whole (>90%) Slow, Significant Declines Low Impact: 5
Stresses
Indirect ecosystem effects, Ecosystem conversion
Climate change & severe weather Storms & flooding Timing Scope Severity Impact
Past, Likely to Return Majority (50-90%) Rapid Declines Past Impact
Stresses
Ecosystem degradation, Ecosystem conversion
Invasive and other problematic species, genes & diseases Invasive non-native/alien species/diseases - Canis familiaris Timing Scope Severity Impact
Ongoing Minority (<50%) Negligible declines Low Impact: 4
Stresses
Reduced reproductive success, Species mortality
Invasive and other problematic species, genes & diseases Invasive non-native/alien species/diseases - Felis catus Timing Scope Severity Impact
Ongoing Majority (50-90%) Causing/Could cause fluctuations Medium Impact: 6
Stresses
Reduced reproductive success, Species mortality
Invasive and other problematic species, genes & diseases Invasive non-native/alien species/diseases - Molothrus bonariensis Timing Scope Severity Impact
Ongoing Minority (<50%) Negligible declines Low Impact: 4
Stresses
Reduced reproductive success
Invasive and other problematic species, genes & diseases Invasive non-native/alien species/diseases - Pantherophis guttatus Timing Scope Severity Impact
Ongoing Minority (<50%) No decline Low Impact: 4
Stresses
Reduced reproductive success
Invasive and other problematic species, genes & diseases Invasive non-native/alien species/diseases - Procyon lotor Timing Scope Severity Impact
Unknown Minority (<50%) Negligible declines Unknown
Stresses
Species mortality
Invasive and other problematic species, genes & diseases Invasive non-native/alien species/diseases - Rattus rattus Timing Scope Severity Impact
Ongoing Minority (<50%) Negligible declines Low Impact: 4
Stresses
Reduced reproductive success
Invasive and other problematic species, genes & diseases Invasive non-native/alien species/diseases - Unspecified species Timing Scope Severity Impact
Ongoing Minority (<50%) Negligible declines Low Impact: 4
Stresses
Indirect ecosystem effects, Ecosystem degradation
Invasive and other problematic species, genes & diseases Problematic native species/diseases - Chilabothrus strigilatus Timing Scope Severity Impact
Ongoing Minority (<50%) Negligible declines Low Impact: 4
Stresses
Reduced reproductive success, Species mortality
Invasive and other problematic species, genes & diseases Problematic native species/diseases - Cubophis vudii Timing Scope Severity Impact
Ongoing Minority (<50%) Negligible declines Low Impact: 4
Stresses
Reduced reproductive success
Natural system modifications Fire & fire suppression - Increase in fire frequency/intensity Timing Scope Severity Impact
Ongoing Majority (50-90%) Slow, Significant Declines Medium Impact: 6
Stresses
Ecosystem degradation, Reduced reproductive success

Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Species factsheet: Bahama Oriole Icterus northropi. Downloaded from https://datazone.birdlife.org/species/factsheet/bahama-oriole-icterus-northropi on 22/11/2024.
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 22/11/2024.