Taxonomic source(s)
Christidis, L. and Boles, W.E. 2008. Systematics and Taxonomy of Australian Birds. CSIRO Publishing, Collingwood, Australia.
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.
Critically Endangered | Endangered | Vulnerable |
---|---|---|
- | C2a(ii) | B1ab(ii,iii,v); C2a(i,ii); D1 |
Year | Category | Criteria |
---|---|---|
2022 | Endangered | C2a(ii) |
2016 | Endangered | B1ab(ii,iii,iv,v); C2a(ii) |
2013 | Endangered | B1ab(ii,iii,iv,v); C2a(i,ii) |
2012 | Endangered | B1ab(ii,iii,iv,v);C2a(i) |
2008 | Endangered | B1a+b(ii,iii,iv,v); C2a(i) |
2007 | Endangered | |
2004 | Endangered | |
2000 | Endangered | |
1996 | Critically Endangered | |
1994 | Critically Endangered | |
1988 | Threatened |
Migratory status | not a migrant | Forest dependency | does not normally occur in forest |
Land-mass type |
Australia |
Average mass | - |
Estimate | Data quality | |
---|---|---|
Extent of Occurrence (breeding/resident) | 14,000 km2 | medium |
Number of locations | 5 | - |
Severely fragmented? | no | - |
Estimate | Data quality | Derivation | Year of estimate | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Population size | 400-2000, 1000 mature individuals | medium | estimated | 2020 |
Population trend | decreasing | medium | inferred | 1998-2008 |
Generation length | 4.1 years | - | - | - |
Number of subpopulations | 3 | - | - | - |
Percentage of mature individuals in largest subpopulation | 95-99% | - | - | - |
Population justification: Distance analysis estimated 481 (236–983) colonies of Black-eared Miners in Riverland Biosphere Reserve in 2015–2016 (where >95% of the population occurs), with a 61% reduction in the abundance of Black-eared Miners within a 2006 firescar compared to long-unburnt mallee (Boulton 2019). At least 18 colonies were known from Murray-Sunset National Park in 2019 (R. Boulton unpublished data) and two persisted in Annuello Flora and Fauna Reserve in 2014 (Boulton 2014). However, these figures are likely to exaggerate the population size. First, although Black-eared Miners are a communal species, the number of mature adults is only about double the number of colonies because of the skewed adult sex ratio and complex social organisation (Ewen et al. 2001). Second, miners move towards an observer when close by but avoid detection at greater distances, which overestimates abundance. Third, their distribution is clumped even within core habitat; few new colonies were discovered in recent surveys despite extensive off-track areas being walked during the distance transects (Cale 2012, Boulton 2019). These challenges are likely to lead to over-estimation of population size, especially in the Riverland Biosphere Reserve which could be as low as 200 colonies. Population size is also heavily influenced by rainfall, with no breeding in drought and continuous breeding across the year if good conditions persist. Accounting for these uncertainties, the number of mature individuals is set at 400-2,000, with a best estimate of 1,000. More than 95% of these are thought to occur in the Riverland Biosphere Reserve.
Trend justification: Historically, the species declined dramatically owing to clearance and fragmentation of its preferred mallee habitat. As a result, hybridisation with the dominant M. flavigula, which invades remnant habitat patches, is now the greatest threat and continues to drive declines. The Millennium Drought is likely to have affected the population; fires burned all the suitable habitat in the Bronzewing Fauna and Flora Reserve, and fires have reduced the suitable habitat available in the Riverlamd Biosphere Reserve (R. Clarke and R. Boulton in litt. 2016). These threats are therefore thought to be causing ongoing declines and have caused significant declines in the past (Boulton et al. 2021). Earlier population estimates are from 2007, when there were about 200 colonies in Riverland Biosphere Reserve (Clarke et al. 2008), seven in Murray-Sunset National Park and the two in Annuello Flora and Fauna Reserve (Boulton 2014). The Riverland Biosphere Reserve population at that time had declined from an estimated 501 (270–927) colonies following a severe fire in 2006 (Clarke et al. 2005), whilst other populations had declined due to drought and genetic introgression from about 53 colonies (32–85) in Murray-Sunset National Park and 14 in Scotia Sanctuary and Tarawi Nature Reserve in New South Wales, and four in Bronzewing Flora and Fauna Reserve (Baker-Gabb 2007).
Country/Territory | Presence | Origin | Resident | Breeding visitor | Non-breeding visitor | Passage migrant |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Australia | extant | native | yes |
Country/Territory | IBA Name |
---|---|
Australia | Murray-Sunset, Hattah and Annuello |
Australia | Riverland Mallee |
Australia | Wyperfeld, Big Desert and Ngarkat |
Habitat (level 1) | Habitat (level 2) | Importance | Occurrence |
---|---|---|---|
Savanna | Dry | major | resident |
Shrubland | Subtropical/Tropical Dry | major | resident |
Altitude | 0 - 85 m | Occasional altitudinal limits |
Threat (level 1) | Threat (level 2) | Impact and Stresses | |||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Agriculture & aquaculture | Annual & perennial non-timber crops - Agro-industry farming | Timing | Scope | Severity | Impact | ||||
Ongoing | Majority (50-90%) | Slow, Significant Declines | Medium Impact: 6 | ||||||
|
|||||||||
Agriculture & aquaculture | Livestock farming & ranching - Agro-industry grazing, ranching or farming | Timing | Scope | Severity | Impact | ||||
Ongoing | Majority (50-90%) | Slow, Significant Declines | Medium Impact: 6 | ||||||
|
|||||||||
Climate change & severe weather | Droughts | Timing | Scope | Severity | Impact | ||||
Ongoing | Whole (>90%) | Causing/Could cause fluctuations | Medium Impact: 7 | ||||||
|
|||||||||
Climate change & severe weather | Habitat shifting & alteration | Timing | Scope | Severity | Impact | ||||
Future | Whole (>90%) | Unknown | Unknown | ||||||
|
|||||||||
Climate change & severe weather | Temperature extremes | Timing | Scope | Severity | Impact | ||||
Future | Majority (50-90%) | Slow, Significant Declines | Low Impact: 4 | ||||||
|
|||||||||
Invasive and other problematic species, genes & diseases | Invasive non-native/alien species/diseases - Capra hircus | Timing | Scope | Severity | Impact | ||||
Ongoing | Majority (50-90%) | Slow, Significant Declines | Medium Impact: 6 | ||||||
|
|||||||||
Invasive and other problematic species, genes & diseases | Invasive non-native/alien species/diseases - Oryctolagus cuniculus | Timing | Scope | Severity | Impact | ||||
Ongoing | Majority (50-90%) | Negligible declines | Low Impact: 5 | ||||||
|
|||||||||
Invasive and other problematic species, genes & diseases | Problematic native species/diseases - Manorina flavigula | Timing | Scope | Severity | Impact | ||||
Ongoing | Whole (>90%) | Slow, Significant Declines | Medium Impact: 7 | ||||||
|
|||||||||
Invasive and other problematic species, genes & diseases | Problematic native species/diseases - Named species | Timing | Scope | Severity | Impact | ||||
Ongoing | Majority (50-90%) | Slow, Significant Declines | Medium Impact: 6 | ||||||
|
|||||||||
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 | ||||||
|
Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Species factsheet: Black-eared Miner Manorina melanotis. Downloaded from
https://datazone.birdlife.org/species/factsheet/black-eared-miner-manorina-melanotis on 23/12/2024.
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 23/12/2024.