VU
Chatham Islands Pigeon Hemiphaga chathamensis



Taxonomy

Taxonomic note

Hemiphaga novaeseelandiae and H. chathamensis (del Hoyo and Collar 2014) were previously lumped as H. novaeseelandiae following Sibley and Monroe (1990, 1993). Usually considered conspecific with H. novaeseelandiae, but differs in its grey vs blue-green rump and primary wing-coverts (3); matt blackish-grey vs glossy dark green crown, throat, breast and neck-sides (3); reduced dull maroon carpal area (2); dark green vs whitish undertail-coverts (ns2); darker tail (ns1); much stouter bill (not measured, but estimated at 2); also modest genetic divergence (Goldberg et al. 2010). Monotypic.

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
- - D1

Red List history
Year Category Criteria
2022 Vulnerable D1
2016 Vulnerable D1
2014 Vulnerable D1
2012 Not Recognised
2008 Not Recognised
2004 Not Recognised
2000 Not Recognised
1994 Not Recognised
1988 Not Recognised
Species attributes

Migratory status not a migrant Forest dependency medium
Land-mass type Average mass 653 g
Range

Estimate Data quality
Extent of Occurrence (breeding/resident) 1,900 km2 medium
Area of Occupancy (breeding/resident) 1,530 km2
Severely fragmented? no -
Population
Estimate Data quality Derivation Year of estimate
Population size 250-999 mature individuals - estimated 2021
Population trend increasing poor suspected 1998-2008
Generation length 7.18 years - - -
Number of subpopulations 1 - - -
Percentage of mature individuals in largest subpopulation 100% - - -

Population justification: The population has been much reduced since European settlement, and was estimated at just 45 birds in 1989 (Powlesland 2017). Since then, as a result of pest control, the population has increased markedly. During a survey in 2009, 263 individuals were counted and the population was estimated to number more than 600 (Dilks et al. 2010). Numbers are still thought to be increasing as a result of ongoing conservation action, but overall the population remains estimated at fewer than 1,000 mature individuals (Robertson et al. 2021).

Trend justification: The population is thought to be increasing owing to successful conservation action (Dilks 2010, Powlesland 2017, Robertson et al. 2021).


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

Important Bird and Biodiversity Areas (IBA)
Country/Territory IBA Name
New Zealand Tuku

Habitats & altitude
Habitat (level 1) Habitat (level 2) Importance Occurrence
Artificial/Terrestrial Pastureland suitable resident
Forest Temperate major resident
Shrubland Temperate suitable resident
Altitude 0 - 1100 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
Past, Unlikely to Return Minority (<50%) Negligible declines Past Impact
Stresses
Species mortality
Biological resource use Logging & wood harvesting - Unintentional effects: (subsistence/small scale) [harvest] Timing Scope Severity Impact
Ongoing Minority (<50%) Negligible declines Low Impact: 4
Stresses
Ecosystem degradation
Invasive and other problematic species, genes & diseases Invasive non-native/alien species/diseases - Felis catus Timing Scope Severity Impact
Ongoing Minority (<50%) Negligible declines Low Impact: 4
Stresses
Reduced reproductive success, Species mortality
Invasive and other problematic species, genes & diseases Invasive non-native/alien species/diseases - Gallirallus australis Timing Scope Severity Impact
Ongoing Minority (<50%) Negligible declines Low Impact: 4
Stresses
Reduced reproductive success, Species mortality
Invasive and other problematic species, genes & diseases Invasive non-native/alien species/diseases - Rattus rattus Timing Scope Severity Impact
Ongoing Minority (<50%) Negligible declines Low Impact: 4
Stresses
Reduced reproductive success, Species mortality
Invasive and other problematic species, genes & diseases Invasive non-native/alien species/diseases - Sus scrofa Timing Scope Severity Impact
Ongoing Minority (<50%) Negligible declines Low Impact: 4
Stresses
Ecosystem degradation, Reduced reproductive success, Species mortality
Invasive and other problematic species, genes & diseases Invasive non-native/alien species/diseases - Trichosurus vulpecula Timing Scope Severity Impact
Ongoing Minority (<50%) Negligible declines Low Impact: 4
Stresses
Reduced reproductive success, Species mortality

Utilisation
Purpose Scale
Food - human subsistence, national
Pets/display animals, horticulture international

Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Species factsheet: Chatham Islands Pigeon Hemiphaga chathamensis. Downloaded from https://datazone.birdlife.org/species/factsheet/chatham-islands-pigeon-hemiphaga-chathamensis on 25/12/2024.
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 25/12/2024.