VU
Chinese Egret Egretta eulophotes



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. Lynx Edicions BirdLife International, Barcelona, Spain and Cambridge, UK.
del Hoyo, J.; Collar, N. J.; Christie, D. A.; Elliott, A.; Fishpool, L. D. C. 2014. HBW and BirdLife International Illustrated Checklist of the Birds of the World. Barcelona, Spain and Cambridge UK: Lynx Edicions and BirdLife International.

IUCN Red List criteria met and history
Red List criteria met
Critically Endangered Endangered Vulnerable
- - C2a(i)

Red List history
Year Category Criteria
2016 Vulnerable C2a(i)
2012 Vulnerable C2a(i)
2008 Vulnerable C2a(i)
2004 Vulnerable
2000 Vulnerable
1996 Endangered
1994 Endangered
1988 Threatened
Species attributes

Migratory status full migrant Forest dependency low
Land-mass type continent
Average mass -
Range

Estimate Data quality
Extent of Occurrence (breeding/resident) 1,240,000 km2 medium
Extent of Occurrence (non-breeding) 6,610,000 km2 medium
Number of locations 11-100 -
Severely fragmented? no -
Population
Estimate Data quality Derivation Year of estimate
Population size 2500-9999 mature individuals poor estimated 2012
Population trend decreasing poor suspected 2006-2026
Rate of change over the past 10 years/3 generations (longer of the two periods) 1-19% - - -
Rate of change over the future 10 years/3 generations (longer of the two periods) 1-19% - - -
Rate of change over the past & future 10 years/3 generations (longer of the two periods) 1-19% - - -
Generation length 6.6 years - - -
Number of subpopulations 2-100 - - -

Population justification: The global population was estimated to number c.2,600-3,400 individuals, roughly equivalent to 1,700-2,300 mature individuals, based on records and surveys (BirdLife International 2001). However, this is thought to be an underestimate, as the number in China alone is estimated at c.1,000 mature individuals and could be around 1,500-2,000 mature individuals (Xiaolin Chen et al. in litt. 2012). On this basis, the population is placed in the band for 2,500-9,999 mature individuals, which is probably equivalent to 3,800-15,000 individuals, assuming that mature individuals account for around 2/3 of the population.

Trend justification: Surveys of a breeding population on an offshore island in southern China indicate a decline of 22% over six years (Xiaolin Chen et al. in litt. 2012). There is little additional evidence for a significant decline in this species's population over the last ten years, although overall some decline (<20% over ten years) is suspected to be occurring, owing to on-going loss and degradation of available habitat through reclamation, especially of offshore breeding islands.


Country/territory distribution
Country/Territory Presence Origin Resident Breeding visitor Non-breeding visitor Passage migrant
Brunei extant native yes
China (mainland) extant native yes
Hong Kong (China) extant native yes
Indonesia extant native yes
Japan extant native yes
Macao (China) extant uncertain yes
Malaysia extant native yes
North Korea extant native yes
Philippines extant native yes
Russia extant native yes
Russia (Asian) extant native yes
Singapore extant native yes
South Korea extant native yes
Taiwan, China extant native yes
Thailand extant native yes
USA extant vagrant
Vietnam extant native yes

Important Bird and Biodiversity Areas (IBA)
Country/Territory IBA Name
Brunei Brunei Bay
Brunei Seria Coast
Brunei Wasan
China (mainland) Beidaihe
China (mainland) Coast between Ao Jiang and Feiyun Jiang
China (mainland) Eastern tidal flat of Nanhui
China (mainland) Futian
China (mainland) Hailü Dao
China (mainland) Haimao Dao Island
China (mainland) Jiushan Islands Nature Reserve
China (mainland) Laotieshan
China (mainland) Min Jiang Estuary
China (mainland) Nanliujiang Hekou
China (mainland) Rong Jiang Estuary
China (mainland) She Dao Island
China (mainland) Shicheng Dao Island
China (mainland) Shuangtai (Shuangtaizi) Estuary and Inner Gulf of Liaodong
China (mainland) Weizhou Dao and Xieyang Dao
China (mainland) Wuchishan Dao Nature Reserve
China (mainland) Xingkai Hu Nature Reserve
China (mainland) Xingren Tuo Island
China (mainland) Yalu Jiang Estuary
China (mainland) Yueqing Wan
Hong Kong (China) Inner Deep Bay and Shenzhen River catchment area
Indonesia Delta Mahakam
Indonesia Kutai
Indonesia Morowali
Malaysia Bako-Buntal Bay
Malaysia Brunei Bay (Malaysia)
Malaysia Klias peninsula
Malaysia Matang coast
Malaysia North-central Selangor coast
Malaysia Pulau Bruit National Park
Malaysia Sadong-Saribas coast
Malaysia South-west Johor coast
Malaysia Tanjung Datu-Samunsam Protected Area
North Korea Chongchon River estuary (including Mundok Nature Reserve)
North Korea Daedong Bay
North Korea Dok-do island
North Korea Kangryong field
North Korea Onchon field
North Korea Rab-do and Muki-do islands
North Korea Sogam-do, Daegam-do, Zung-do, Ae-do and Hyengzedo islands
North Korea Unryul Kumsanpo
Philippines Basilan Natural Biotic Area
Philippines Batanes Islands
Philippines Calauit Island
Philippines Calituban and Tahong-tahong Islands (Talibon group)
Philippines Mactan, Kalawisan and Cansaga Bays
Philippines Manila Bay
Philippines Mount Makiling
Philippines Olango Island
Philippines Pagbilao and Tayabas Bay
Philippines Pasonanca watershed
Philippines Polillo Islands
Philippines Puerto Princesa Subterranean River Natural Park / Cleopatra's Needle
Philippines Ragay Gulf
Philippines Sibutu and Tumindao Islands
Philippines Tubbataha Reef National Marine Park
Philippines Victoria and Anepahan Ranges
Russia (Asian) Lower Tumen river
Singapore Kranji-Mandai
Singapore Ubin-Khatib
South Korea Baeksu tidal flat
South Korea Cheonsu Bay
South Korea Daebu-do island
South Korea Dongjin estuary
South Korea Hampyeong Bay
South Korea Mangyeong estuary
South Korea Muan tidal flat
South Korea Nakdong-gang estuary
South Korea Sihwa-ho lake
South Korea Tidal flat area of southern Ganghwa-do island
South Korea Tidal flat area of Yeongjong-do island
South Korea Yeongheung-do and Sonje-do islands
Taiwan, China Chihben Wetlands
Taiwan, China Chu'an
Taiwan, China Dapingding and Hsutsuo Harbor
Taiwan, China Hsinchu City Coastal Area
Taiwan, China Hualien River Estuary
Taiwan, China Kaomei Wetlands
Taiwan, China Lanyang River Estuary
Taiwan, China Matsu (Mazu) Islands Tern Refuge
Taiwan, China Watzuwei Nature Reserve
Taiwan, China Yieliu
Thailand Laem Pakarang
Thailand Na Muang Krabi
Vietnam Ba Tri
Vietnam Bai Boi
Vietnam Binh Dai
Vietnam Dat Mui
Vietnam Nghia Hung
Vietnam Thai Thuy
Vietnam Xuan Thuy

Habitats & altitude
Habitat (level 1) Habitat (level 2) Importance Occurrence
Artificial/Terrestrial Arable Land suitable non-breeding
Forest Subtropical/Tropical Mangrove Vegetation Above High Tide Level suitable non-breeding
Marine Coastal/Supratidal Coastal Brackish/Saline Lagoons/Marine Lakes major non-breeding
Marine Intertidal Mud Flats and Salt Flats major non-breeding
Marine Intertidal Rocky Shoreline suitable non-breeding
Marine Intertidal Rocky Shoreline suitable breeding
Altitude   Occasional altitudinal limits  

Threats & impact
Threat (level 1) Threat (level 2) Impact and Stresses
Agriculture & aquaculture Annual & perennial non-timber crops - Agro-industry farming Timing Scope Severity Impact
Ongoing Majority (50-90%) Slow, Significant Declines Medium Impact: 6
Stresses
Ecosystem degradation, Ecosystem conversion
Agriculture & aquaculture Marine & freshwater aquaculture - Scale Unknown/Unrecorded Timing Scope Severity Impact
Ongoing Majority (50-90%) Slow, Significant Declines Medium Impact: 6
Stresses
Ecosystem degradation, Ecosystem conversion
Biological resource use Hunting & trapping terrestrial animals - Intentional use (species is the target) Timing Scope Severity Impact
Ongoing Minority (<50%) Slow, Significant Declines Low Impact: 5
Stresses
Species mortality
Human intrusions & disturbance Recreational activities Timing Scope Severity Impact
Ongoing Minority (<50%) Slow, Significant Declines Low Impact: 5
Stresses
Species disturbance
Human intrusions & disturbance Work & other activities Timing Scope Severity Impact
Ongoing Minority (<50%) Slow, Significant Declines Low Impact: 5
Stresses
Species disturbance, Ecosystem degradation
Pollution Agricultural & forestry effluents - Type Unknown/Unrecorded Timing Scope Severity Impact
Ongoing Majority (50-90%) Slow, Significant Declines Medium Impact: 6
Stresses
Ecosystem degradation
Residential & commercial development Commercial & industrial areas Timing Scope Severity Impact
Ongoing Majority (50-90%) Slow, Significant Declines Medium Impact: 6
Stresses
Ecosystem degradation, Ecosystem conversion
Residential & commercial development Tourism & recreation areas Timing Scope Severity Impact
Ongoing Minority (<50%) Slow, Significant Declines Low Impact: 5
Stresses
Ecosystem degradation, Ecosystem conversion
Transportation & service corridors Roads & railroads Timing Scope Severity Impact
Ongoing Majority (50-90%) Slow, Significant Declines Medium Impact: 6
Stresses
Ecosystem degradation

Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Species factsheet: Chinese Egret Egretta eulophotes. Downloaded from https://datazone.birdlife.org/species/factsheet/chinese-egret-egretta-eulophotes 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.