Data Zone
Justification of Red List category
This species has a small range, and is experiencing continued habitat degradation through deforestation. It has therefore been classified as Near Threatened.
Population justification
The global population size has not been quantified, but the species is described as fairly common to common (del Hoyo et al. 2005).
Trend justification
This species has a high forest dependency, but appears tolerant to some degree of habitat degradation for the establishment of plantations (Collar 2020). Forest on Comoros is experiencing ongoing loss and degradation (Global Forest Watch 2021), likely for subsistence farmland and fuel wood (Sewall et al. 2003), therefore this species is suspected to be declining overall. Between 2001-2019, this species experienced forest cover loss of 4% (Global Forest Watch 2021). This would equate to 2.4% over 3 generations. Between 2016-2019, this species experienced forest cover loss of 0.68% (Global Forest Watch 2021), which would equate to a loss of c.2% when projected forward 3 generations from 2016. Assuming that the population declines at a similar rate, the rate of decline is suspected to fall into the band 1-10%.
Turdus bewsheri is endemic to the Comoro Islands. Subspecies T. b. comorensis is found on Grand Comoro (Ngazidja), T. b. moheliensis is found on Moheli (Mwali), while T. b. bewsheri is found on Anjouan (Ndzuani) (Collar 2020).
This species prefers forest habitat, but is also present in wooded and semi-wooded areas, including plantations (Collar 2020).
This species is threatened by the loss and degradation of its forest habitat (Global Forest Watch 2021), which likely occurs due to pressures from subsistence farmland and fuel wood harvest (Sewall et al. 2003). It appears reasonably tolerant of some habitat degradation, and has been found present in plantations (Collar 2020).
Conservation Actions Underway
No targeted conservation actions are known to be underway for this species. There are currently no long-term forest conservation measures in place on Moheli (Daniel et al. 2016), however Dahari, the local NGO, is working on forest protection and reforestation on the island of Anjouan, and may utilise links with partners to expand their work to other islands (Dahari 2021)
Conservation Actions Needed
Conduct population surveys and calculate a population size estimate. Once a baseline population estimate has been established, monitor the population trend to better understand the effects of habitat degradation on this species.
Text account compilers
Clark, J.
Contributors
Ekstrom, J. & Butchart, S.
Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Species factsheet: Comoro Thrush Turdus bewsheri. Downloaded from
https://datazone.birdlife.org/species/factsheet/comoro-thrush-turdus-bewsheri on 27/11/2024.
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 27/11/2024.