VU
Blue-headed Racquet-tail Prioniturus platenae



Taxonomy

Taxonomic source(s)
del Hoyo, J., Collar, N.J., Christie, D.A., Elliott, A. and Fishpool, L.D.C. 2014. HBW and BirdLife International Illustrated Checklist of the Birds of the World. Volume 1: Non-passerines. Lynx Edicions BirdLife International, Barcelona, Spain and Cambridge, UK.

IUCN Red List criteria met and history
Red List criteria met
Critically Endangered Endangered Vulnerable
- - A2cd+3cd+4cd

Red List history
Year Category Criteria
2024 Vulnerable A2cd+3cd+4cd
2016 Vulnerable A2cd+3cd+4cd;B1ab(ii,iii,v)
2012 Vulnerable A2cd+3cd+4cd;B1ab(ii,iii,v)
2008 Vulnerable A2c,d; A3c,d; A4c,d
2004 Vulnerable
2000 Vulnerable
1996 Vulnerable
1994 Vulnerable
1988 Lower Risk/Least Concern
Species attributes

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

Estimate Data quality
Extent of Occurrence (breeding/resident) 47,800 km2 medium
Severely fragmented? yes -
Population
Estimate Data quality Derivation Year of estimate
Population size unknown - - -
Population trend decreasing poor suspected 2016-2029
Rate of change over the past 10 years/3 generations (longer of the two periods) 25-35% - - -
Rate of change over the future 10 years/3 generations (longer of the two periods) 25-39% - - -
Rate of change over the past & future 10 years/3 generations (longer of the two periods) 25-39% - - -
Generation length 4.34 years - - -
Number of subpopulations 2 - - -
Percentage of mature individuals in largest subpopulation 1-89% - - -

Population justification: Population size not well known. Within its range lies c.4,000km2 of suitable habitat (calculated using sRedList [2023], based on data from Jung et al. [2020]) and within this it remains regularly seen (eBird 2024) although is overall considered uncommon (Allen 2020). While its population size is not estimated, it is not suspected to be very small given the extent of available habitat.

Trend justification: Thought to be declining rapidly in response to habitat loss, with primary lowland forest bearing the brunt of Palawan's forest loss caused by logging, agricultural expansion and, in some years, typhoon damage. Trapping poses an additive but unquantified threat.

In the past three generations (13 years: 2010-2023), forest cover within this species' mapped elevational range decreased by c.23-25% with a considerable loss in 2022, when the effects of Super Typhoon Odette (also known as Typhoon Rai), which hit the island in December 2021, were first realised in remote sensing data (Global Forest Watch 2024, based on data from Hansen et al. 2013, and methods therein). Losses have been most acute in the extreme lowlands (<200m), where losses were approximately 25-28%, and it is these elevations that are suspected to host the majority of this species' population. Given this species is forest dependent, rates of forest cover loss are suspected, albeit with some inherent uncertainty, to be the best proxy for rates of population trend. Trapping and persecution is likely to have additive impacts on population declines, and while unquantified, is taken into account here. Accordingly, over the past three generations, this species is suspected of having declined by 25-35%.

Rates of average forest loss have increased since c.2016. While a substantial amount was lost because of Super Typhoon Odette, even before this annual rates 2016-2021 were almost a third higher than in 2011-2016. Accordingly, if this doesn't cease or slow (and especially if another powerful typhoon hits in this window), then rates of forest cover loss, and hence population reduction, may be higher in the future. Accordingly future rates of decline are suspected to be 25-39% over three generations.


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

Important Bird and Biodiversity Areas (IBA)
Country/Territory IBA Name
Philippines Balabac Island
Philippines Busuanga Island
Philippines Calauit Island
Philippines Culion Island
Philippines Mount Mantalingahan
Philippines Puerto Princesa Subterranean River Natural Park / Cleopatra's Needle
Philippines San Vicente - Taytay - Roxas forests
Philippines Victoria and Anepahan Ranges

Habitats & altitude
Habitat (level 1) Habitat (level 2) Importance Occurrence
Artificial/Terrestrial Arable Land suitable resident
Forest Subtropical/Tropical Moist Lowland major resident
Altitude 0 - 650 m Occasional altitudinal limits  

Threats & impact
Threat (level 1) Threat (level 2) Impact and Stresses
Biological resource use Hunting & trapping terrestrial animals - Intentional use (species is the target) Timing Scope Severity Impact
Ongoing Majority (50-90%) Negligible declines Low Impact: 5
Stresses
Reduced reproductive success, Species mortality
Biological resource use Hunting & trapping terrestrial animals - Persecution/control Timing Scope Severity Impact
Ongoing Majority (50-90%) Negligible declines Low Impact: 5
Stresses
Species mortality
Biological resource use Logging & wood harvesting - Unintentional effects: (large scale) [harvest] Timing Scope Severity Impact
Ongoing Majority (50-90%) Slow, Significant Declines Medium Impact: 6
Stresses
Ecosystem degradation, Ecosystem conversion
Biological resource use Logging & wood harvesting - Unintentional effects: (subsistence/small scale) [harvest] Timing Scope Severity Impact
Ongoing Minority (<50%) Slow, Significant Declines Low Impact: 5
Stresses
Ecosystem degradation
Energy production & mining Mining & quarrying Timing Scope Severity Impact
Ongoing Minority (<50%) Slow, Significant Declines Low Impact: 5
Stresses
Ecosystem degradation, Ecosystem conversion

Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Species factsheet: Blue-headed Racquet-tail Prioniturus platenae. Downloaded from https://datazone.birdlife.org/species/factsheet/blue-headed-racquet-tail-prioniturus-platenae 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.