Data Zone
Justification of Red List category
Although the species is thought to be increasing as a result of ongoing conservation efforts primarily focused on invasive predator control, the population remains small at less than 1,000 mature individuals. For this reason, the species is classified as Vulnerable.
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).
Hemiphaga chathamensis is a forest pigeon endemic to the Chatham Islands, New Zealand. It formerly occurred on the islands of Mangere and Pitt (del Hoyo et al. 1997, Gibbs et al. 2001), but it is now mainly restricted to Chatham Island. Most of the population occurs in southern Chatham Island, with a few in forest patches near the southern and western shoreline of Te Whanga Lagoon, and intermittently in forest patches elsewhere on the island (Powlesland 2017).
The species uses three main habitats: native forest, including extensive tracts and small patches; stunted scrub- and bracken-covered areas; and pasture adjacent to forest or shelter-belts. They feed on a variety of fruit, leaf buds, leaves, flower buds and flowers (Powlesland 2017).
Much of Chatham Island's original forest cover has been lost, and the species is now restricted to the south-west of the island, in the Tuku Nature Reserve and adjacent covenants. The species spends considerable time on the ground grazing on leaves and fruit, making it an easy target for feral cats. Cats, possums, rats, feral pigs and Weka are also able to easily access nests, which can often be in low vegetation or occasionally on the ground (Powlesland 2017).
Conservation Actions Underway
Intensive predator control has seen numbers undergo unprecedented increases, reversing the decline of the species from 40 individuals in the 1980s to c.600 in 2009 (Grant et al. 1997, Dilks et al. 2010). This aids forest regeneration and fruit availability as well as reducing predation, and fencing of reserves and covenants further contributes to this (Powlesland 2017) . Cat, rat and possum control are carried out within the Tuku Nature Reserve and owners of adjacent Conservation Covenants area assisted to do the same. These traps sometimes catch the Chatham Pigeon, but considerable effort is put into trap placement and understanding parea behavour in an effort to avoid this. The 1,238 ha Tuku Nature Reserve was donated to the Crown in 1983 and since its protection the condition of the forest has improved. Surveys are carried out during the breeding season every five years to ascertain the population size and trend. In 1984/85 there was a failed translocation to South East Island (Miskelly and Powlesland 2013). Ten individuals were translocated to Pitt Island in 2020, however 5 birds were found dead and there have been no recent sightings (D. Houston in litt. 2022).
51 cm. Large, plump green and white pigeon with an ashy-grey wash all over. Head, throat, upper breast and upperparts blackish-grey; clearly demarcated white lower breast, underparts and legs; red bill and feet. Similar spp. New Zealand Pigeon Hemiphaga novaeseelandiae is more strongly marked, with glossy green head, throat, upper breast and neck sides. Hint Listen for distinctive noisy wingbeats overhead. Voice call single 'kuu'.
Text account compilers
Vine, J., Symes, A., Stringer, C., Martin, R., Mahood, S., Khwaja, N., Taylor, J., McClellan, R., Benstead, P.
Contributors
Houston, D.
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.