Current view: Data table and detailed info
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
Red List history
| Migratory status |
not a migrant |
Forest dependency |
high |
| Land-mass type |
continent
|
Average mass |
- |
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
Important Bird and Biodiversity Areas (IBA)
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 22/11/2024.
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 22/11/2024.
