Data Zone
Justification of Red List category
This species occupies a moderately small range, in which the conversion of forested habitat for coffee plantations is rapid and ongoing. As a result of the loss and degradation of its habitat, the population is believed to be severely fragmented and declining. Therefore, the species has been uplisted to Vulnerable.
Population justification
The global population size has not been quantified, but the species is described as uncommon to locally fairly common (del Hoyo et al. 2007).
Trend justification
The species is considered to be declining due to logging and the conversion of forest to coffee plantations. A remote sensing study found that forest cover was lost at a rate of 4% over three generations (13.8 years) within the range (Tracewski et al. 2016). Assuming that population declines are proportional to forest loss and that declines are ongoing at a similar rate into the future, the species is thought to decline by < 10% over three generations.
This species is confined to the Da Lat Plateau in South Annam, Viet Nam, and adjacent Mondulkiri, Cambodia. It is considered locally common to uncommon within its very small range.
It occurs in primary and secondary forest and at the forest edge, and occasionally feeds in nearby plantations and agricultural areas. It is most often observed in large flocks moving through the forest canopy.
Although it has a broad tolerance of habitat degradation, forest within its very small range is being rapidly converted to coffee plantations. An analysis of deforestation rates by Tracewski et al. (2016) suggests that the rate of forest loss across this species’ range is 4.1% over three generations (13.8 years).
Conservation Actions Underway
It occurs in Chu Yang Sin National Park, Bi Doup-Nui Ba National Park and around Tuyen Lam Lake.
Identification. 15.5 cm. Medium-sized thick-billed parrotbill with black cap extending from forehead to nape. Pale grey face and white undeparts. Upperparts rufous-buff. Similar species. Grey-headed Parrotbill, lacks black crown, has black throat. Voice. Song of 3-4 notes as jhu'jhu'jhu, harsh chit alarm call.
Text account compilers
Taylor, J., Elliott, N., Mahood, S.
Contributors
Craik, R., Eames, J.C. & Hung, L.
Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Species factsheet: Black-headed Parrotbill Paradoxornis margaritae. Downloaded from
https://datazone.birdlife.org/species/factsheet/black-headed-parrotbill-paradoxornis-margaritae 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.