Data Zone
Justification of Red List category
This species is confined to Palawan's lowlands where forest loss continues apace due to legal and illegal logging, as well as increasingly the threat of typhoons which threaten even well protected forests. Trapping and persecution are thought to be having additive if relatively low impacts. Combined, threats are thought to have caused declines of 25-35% over the past three generations, and declines are predicted to accelerate in the future. Unless these threats are adequately controlled, this species has a high risk of extinction in the future. Accordingly it is listed as Vulnerable.
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.
Prioniturus platenae is endemic to Palawan and its satellite islands in the Philippines (Collar et al. 1999).
This poorly-known species inhabits lowland forest, forest edge and adjacent cultivation (although the latter probably just for feeding), up to at least 650 m (Allen 2020).
Forest destruction is the chief threat. Deforestation in lowland Palawan has been extensive, and logging and mining concessions cover most of the island's remaining forested areas. Illegal logging persists throughout the island, and typhoons represent a risk to remaining forest stands in protected areas. This species is apparently only short-lived in captivity and is probably not widely trapped (P. Widmann in litt. 2012); however it may be so locally. In some places persecuted for feeding on agricultural crops such as bananas.
Conservation Actions Underway
CITES Appendix II. The whole of Palawan is classed as a game reserve, where hunting is illegal, and the island was designated as a Biosphere Reserve in 1990. However, the legislation controlling habitat alteration and hunting is difficult to enforce effectively. It occurs in several protected areas including Puerto Princesa Subterranean River National Park, Rasa Island (where the species may benefit owing to a wardening scheme in place primarily for the conservation of Philippine Cockatoo), Omoi Cockatoo Reserve on Dumaran Island and Culasian Managed Resource Protected Area, Rizal, southern Palawan (P. Widmann in litt. 2007). Iwahig Penal Colony is managed by the Bureau of Prisons but lacks official protection and management.
27 cm. Blue-and-green parrot with racquet-like tail extensions. Male has blue head grading into green breast. Rest of plumage bright green, darker on upperparts (especially wings) and yellowish on vent. Whitish-grey bill. Female similar though blue confined to crown and ear-coverts. Similar spp. Blue-naped Parrot Tanygnathus lucionensis is larger, lacks racquets and has red bill. Voice Raucous squawks interspersed with screeches and musical phrases. Hints Most often seen in rapid flight. Unobtrusive and difficult to see when perched.
Text account compilers
Berryman, A.
Contributors
Tabaranza, B. & Widmann, P.
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.