Data Zone
Justification of Red List category
Liocichla bugunorum was first sighted in 1995, before it was formally described in 2006 after it was eventually mist-netted after four-days of field effort. The fact that the species went undiscovered for many years speaks to the undoubtedly small population. Continued surveys have never recorded more than ten individuals in one day, with only 14 individuals reliably known. The species is expected to occupy an area of only 140 km2, and the population is estimated at only 25-250 mature individuals. Consequentially, the species is precautionarily listed as Critically Endangered.
Population justification
The population size of Liocichla burunorum is undoubtedly small, though it has not been comprehensively surveyed. The species occurs in one area covering c. 140 km2 of suitable habitat (calculated by sRedList [2023] using data from ESA [2022]) in Eaglenest Wildlife Sanctuary, Arunachal Pradesh, India (Athreya 2006). The surveys by Athreya (2006), which led to the description of the species, identified 14 separate individuals, four seen near Bompu camp in 2006 and 10 seen in 2005 at Lama Camp. Although the population is likely higher than 14 individuals, the population is obviously small, especially considering the distinctive plumage and vocalisations mean the species is unlikely to be overlooked now that it has been described (Athreya 2006). All previous sightings are of small flocks of two to six individuals, and the species was missed completely in two separate survey attempts by Athreya (2006) in 2005. It was also not recorded in several surveys within the region from 1997 to 2002, five of which were within Eaglenest Wildlife Sanctuary (Choudhury 2003) and within the elevational range of the species (Rasmussen and Anderton 2012). There has been a large increase in eBird records since the species was described. However, these sightings are almost exclusively along the accessible track between Lama Camp and Bompu Camp, and all of a small number of individuals (eBird 2024). Therefore, although the number of published sightings has increased, many of these are likely of the same small number of individuals (although it is notable that they are concentrated along a short section, with very few records from elsewhere along the well-surveyed road).
Habitat modelling suggests the species may occur over a wider range (Peterson and Papeş 2006), and there is hope the species' range also includes central and eastern Arunachal Pradesh and into Bhutan (Athreya 2006). Nonetheless, this is not yet confirmed and a precautionary approach must be taken that the species may not occur elsewhere and might be genuinely confined to the small area from which all observations come. Accordingly, the population size is estimated here at 25-250 mature individuals.
Trend justification
L. bugunorum occurs in heavily disturbed hillsides and ravines, provided there is dense shrubbery (Collar et al. 2020). The apparent localised and rare nature of the species is therefore surprising given it appears to have a high tolerance for degradation. Regardless, the population may still be impacted by localised threats. Habitat at Lama Camp was fragmented by the construction of a new road in 2012-2013 (Collar et al. 2020), and the Lama Camp region overall is heavily logged (Athreya 2006). The construction of a major highway that intersects Lama Camp was reportedly planned (Athreya 2006), but so far has not been constructed. Increased human disturbance and the construction of new roads would presumably represent a threat to the species, but Eaglenest Wildlife Sanctuary has remained relatively untouched overall (Athreya 2006). Although the species appears to prefer disturbed habitat, there are presumably unknown mechanisms restricting the population to such a small area. However, the trend in the population is unknown until further surveys can quantify changes in the population, or the threats to the species are better understood.
Liocichla bugunorum was described from Eaglenest Wildlife Sanctuary, Arunachal Pradesh, India (Athreya 2006). Since the original sighting, the species has also been sighted near Bomdila (eBird 2024).
Little is known about L. bugunorum. However, it is recorded from heavily disturbed hillsides and ravines with dense shrubbery, including secondary regrowth, and occasionally from forest edge (Rasmussen and Anderton 2012, Collar et al. 2020). The species is reported from 2,060-2,340 m (Collar et al. 2020) but may occur from 2,000-2,700 m (Rasmussen and Anderton 2012). They are most often seen in pairs in the summer, and small flocks in the winter (Rasmussen and Anderton 2012), generally feeding on small berries whilst foraging on the ground, though may be seen at all vegetation levels including the canopy (Collar et al. 2020).
The threats to this species are poorly understood, especially as it occurs in disturbed habitats (Collar et al. 2020). Regardless, the population may still be impacted by localised threats. Habitat at Lama Camp was fragmented the construction of a new road in 2012-2013 (Collar et al. 2020), and Lama Camp overall is heavily logged (Athreya 2006). The construction of a major highway that intersects Lama Camp was reportedly planned (Athreya 2006), but this threat has so far has not been realised. Increased human disturbance and the construction of new roads would presumably represent a threat to the species. However, Eaglenest Wildlife Sanctuary has remained relatively untouched overall (Athreya 2006).
Conservation Actions Underway
The type locality of the species at Lama Camp has been the target of a major conservation upgrade with the villagers starting a legal process to have the area declared a conservation reserve, and the species is now a conservation flagship species for the local community (R. Athreya in litt. 2016).
Conservation Actions Proposed
Conduct further surveys to improve understanding of the species' range, population and ecology, including intensive surveys in adjoining areas of Arunachal Pradesh, and also in adjacent areas of Bhutan. Appraise potential threats to this species. Ensure that habitats within the Kameng protected area remain safe by opposing further road developments.
22 cm. Greyish-olive liocichla with black crown, yellow lores and broken supercilium, broad yellow wing patch and red drop-like tips on secondaries and tertials, red tips on undertail-coverts and tail. Presumed male has crown glossy black with slightly elongate feathers, shading on upperparts to greyish-olive; upperwing with greater coverts golden-yellow, golden-yellow on fringes of outer primaries and on basal half of rest of flight-feathers (forming broad wingpanel), distal half of other remiges black with white tips, edges of secondaries narrowly white and more broadly (because fringes frayed) red, forming “drops” just before feather tip; graduated tail blackish above with obsolete barring and “frayed” orange-red tips, outer feathers subterminally washed olive, below blackish centrally and then olive, becoming flame-coloured on outermost pair; lores and frontal superciliary area orange-yellow (in bold triangle) and postocular superciliary streak yellow, these separated by black rectangle from eye to crown; cheek olive-tinged grey, chin and upper submoustachial area yellow-olive, ear-coverts, lower submoustachial area and throat grey; underparts yellow-olive, shading to dull olive-grey on lower belly, thighs and vent, and undertail-coverts black with red tips and yellow edges; iris dark reddish-brown; bill blackish at base, shading to pale horn at tip; legs grayish-pink. Presumed female is duller yellow-olive on wings, with duller, copper-red colour on undertail, no red in undertail-coverts, and yellow tail tips. Juvenile undescribed. Sounds: All fluty and in all of which the initial consonant barely audible, include descending “wieu’u-wee’i-tuu’i-tuu’uw-tu’oow”, slightly slurred and inflected at end, and similar but higher “weei’u-tuuu’i-tuu’uw-tu’oow”, with shortened versions including “weee-keew” and “yu-weee-keew”; presumed female may give accompanying dry “trrrr-trii-trii”.
Text account compilers
Richardson, L.
Contributors
Alstrom, P., Athreya, R., Bonpo, C., Dalvi, S., Eaton, J., Praveen, J., Singh, A.P., Singh, P., Westrip, J.R.S., Symes, A., Derhé, M., Bird, J., Butchart, S., Gilroy, J. & Taylor, J.
Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Species factsheet: Bugun Liocichla Liocichla bugunorum. Downloaded from
https://datazone.birdlife.org/species/factsheet/bugun-liocichla-liocichla-bugunorum on 22/12/2024.
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 22/12/2024.