VU
Germain's Peacock-Pheasant Polyplectron germaini



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. 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
- - A2cd+4cd; C2a(i)

Red List history
Year Category Criteria
2023 Vulnerable A2cd+4cd; C2a(i)
2016 Near Threatened C2a(i)
2012 Near Threatened C2a(i)
2008 Near Threatened C2a(i)
2005 Near Threatened
2004 Vulnerable
2000 Vulnerable
1996 Vulnerable
1994 Vulnerable
1988 Threatened
Species attributes

Migratory status not a migrant Forest dependency high
Land-mass type continent
Average mass -
Range

Estimate Data quality
Extent of Occurrence (breeding/resident) 48,700 km2 medium
Number of locations 11-100 -
Severely fragmented? no -
Population
Estimate Data quality Derivation Year of estimate
Population size 5400-27000, 7500-15000 mature individuals medium estimated 2022
Population trend decreasing poor inferred 2005-2024
Rate of change over the past 10 years/3 generations (longer of the two periods) 30-49% - - -
Rate of change over the future 10 years/3 generations (longer of the two periods) 20-29% - - -
Rate of change over the past & future 10 years/3 generations (longer of the two periods) 30-49% - - -
Generation length 6.25 years - - -
Number of subpopulations 5-50,23 - - -
Percentage of mature individuals in largest subpopulation 1-89% - - -

Population justification: The only species-specific density for this species is calculated by Nguyen et al. (2018) who, at Cat Tien National Park, Vietnam, estimated 0.66-8.75 (pooled value: 4.33) calling males/km2 depending on forest type. Savini et al. (2021) estimated that the total area of forest patches >40 km2 in its range in 2018 totalled 13,300 km2 however it bears mention that there are few records from the northern limits of their deduced suitable range. To 2021, a further reduction to c.12,600 km2 is suspected to have occurred (Global Forest Watch 2022, based on data from Hansen et al. [2013] and methods disclosed therein). Densities at Cat Tien National Park may reasonably be considered among the highest in its range given the (admittedly not total) protection from hunting its designation affords it (Nguyen et al. 2018). Assuming half the pooled mean density (4.33 calling males/km2) from Cat Tien is appropriate for a global estimation, and that occupancy is c.50%, the maximum population size is considered to be 13,500 calling males (crudely doubled to 27,000 mature individuals). However, much of habitat in this species' range lies within a matrix of human dominated/agricultural areas (Nguyen et al. 2018) thus the population may be much smaller. Considering that the average density across its range may only be a quarter of that recorded at Cat Tien and that only 20% of suitable habitat may now be occupied, the minimum population size is set at 2,700 calling males, or c.5,400 mature individuals. The population is therefore estimated to number 5,400-27,000 mature individuals, with a best estimate of 7,500-15,000.

Trend justification: The population is inferred to be declining due to forest loss and compounding hunting pressures. Recent data indicate that forest loss in this species' range has been quite rapid. Including only patches >40 km2 in their analysis, Savini et al. (2021) estimated a c.27.5% contraction in suitable habitat between 2000 and 2018, while Global Forest Watch (2022) indicate similar losses of c.24-27% forest loss over three generations (18.75 years; Bird et al. 2020) between 2002 and 2021. Although this species occasionally ventures into secondary forest, the majority of forest loss in this region has amounted to total clearance. Consequently, this is considered to have caused equivalent reductions in population size while also increasing the accessibility to hunters of the remaining evergreen forest. Snaring and hunting are commonplace in this region, even in protected areas; for example in Seima Wildlife Sanctuary, Cambodia, rangers removed an average of 942 snares per year between 2010 and 2018 (Gray et al. 2021). Consequently, declines over the last three generations are suspected to have exceeded 30%. Future rates of decline are suspected to be slower (20-29%) due to a greater proportion of remaining habitat lying in protected areas; however, this should be closely monitored.


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

Important Bird and Biodiversity Areas (IBA)
Country/Territory IBA Name
Cambodia Snoul / Keo Sema / O Reang
Cambodia Virachey
Vietnam Cat Loc
Vietnam Chu Prong
Vietnam Chu Yang Sin
Vietnam Ea So
Vietnam Lo Go - Xa Mat
Vietnam Nam Cat Tien
Vietnam Tuyen Lam

Habitats & altitude
Habitat (level 1) Habitat (level 2) Importance Occurrence
Forest Subtropical/Tropical Dry major resident
Forest Subtropical/Tropical Moist Lowland suitable resident
Forest Subtropical/Tropical Moist Montane suitable resident
Altitude 0 - 1500 m 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 Minority (<50%) Rapid 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 Majority (50-90%) Slow, Significant Declines Medium Impact: 6
Stresses
Species mortality
Biological resource use Logging & wood harvesting - Unintentional effects: (large scale) [harvest] Timing Scope Severity Impact
Ongoing Minority (<50%) Rapid Declines Medium Impact: 6
Stresses
Ecosystem degradation
Biological resource use Logging & wood harvesting - Unintentional effects: (subsistence/small scale) [harvest] Timing Scope Severity Impact
Ongoing Minority (<50%) Slow, Significant Declines Low Impact: 5
Stresses
Ecosystem degradation, Ecosystem conversion

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

Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Species factsheet: Germain's Peacock-Pheasant Polyplectron germaini. Downloaded from https://datazone.birdlife.org/species/factsheet/germains-peacock-pheasant-polyplectron-germaini 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.