Data Zone
Justification of Red List category
This species is suspected to be undergoing a rapid population decline exceeding 30% over three generations due to the combined effect of trapping pressures for the wild cagebird trade and habitat loss. Thus, it has been uplisted to Vulnerable.
Population justification
The species is described as common to very common, and locally numerous across Thailand and Malaysia (del Hoyo et al. 2020, J. Eaton in litt. 2020). Population densities are estimated to be 10-14.5 individuals/km2 (observed across logged forests of Borneo and Sumatra; del Hoyo et al. 2020). Based on recent concerns of the rate of trapping pressures inflicted across the species's range however, it is likely that the population has lowered considerably. Thus, due to high uncertainty, the population size has not been quantified.
Trend justification
Based on a recent analyses by Symes et al. (2018), the species was considered to be undergoing a decline of 73.8% over a 10-year period, as estimated using data gathered between 2000-2015. Declines were attributed to the combined effect of habitat loss and trapping pressures (Symes et al. 2018, [also Tracewski et al. 2016]). However, due to the species's tolerance to some extent of forest degradation, the rate of decline is thought to not be as significant. Additionally, Harris et al. (2016) show that the species may have undergone a slight increase (c. 0.148 as estimated by a mean coefficient) during 1998-2011, observed during field sampling at Way Canguk Research and Training Area, in the Bukit Barisan Selatan National Park.
Furthermore, in comparison to the Brown-cheeked Bulbul Alophoixus bres, undergoing a very rapid decline of at least 50% across 10 years (S. Marsden in litt. 2020) based on more significant rates of exploitation and its subsequent disappearance from many sites across its range, it is suspected that A. tephrogenys, although subjected to population reduction, is not equivalent to the rate at which A. bres has declined. Thus, the species is thought to be experiencing a rapid decline of 30-49% over a three-generation period. A continued population decline can be inferred using numbers recorded in bird markets; 34 birds observed in July 2015 as compared to only 5 birds observed in July 2019 (J. Eaton in litt. 2020).
Alophoixus tephrogenys occurs across the Sundaic region of Southeast Asia, including Brunei, Peninsular and Borneo's East Malaysia, central to eastern Sumatra (Indonesia), and southern parts of Myanmar and Thailand (del Hoyo et al. 2020, eBird 2020).
The species prefers mature broadleaf forests (over regenerating forests), as well as tidal swamps or mixed deciduous forests, but can also tolerate logged forests and overgrown plantations (including cocoa and oil-palm plantations) (del Hoyo et al. 2020). It occurs from sea-level up to 1,150 m. It is a generalist species, feeding on both fruit and vegetables. Breeding occurs during April to July in Thailand, January to July in Peninsular Malaysia, and February to June in Borneo (del Hoyo et al. 2020).
The species is threatened by trapping for the wild cagebird trade. A 2018 survey of bird ownership involving over 3,000 households in all six of Java’s provinces estimated that 340,620 ± 54,354 Alophoixus sp. were currently kept in Java alone (Marshall et al. 2020). Habitat loss due to logging, land conversion for industrial plantations, and forest fires across the Sundaic lowlands had additionally increased, with a loss of over 70% of original Sundaland forest cover by 2010 (Symes et al. 2018).
Conservation Actions Underway
The species was recognised as a second-tier high conservation action concern, with additional research required during the Asian Songbird Trade Crisis Summit of 2015, headed by the Threatened Asian Songbird Alliance (TASA; Sykes et al. 2017).
Conservation Actions Proposed
Required research as outlined by Sykes et al. (2017) include increasing genetic and field research, implementing conservation breeding and husbandry, encouraging community engagement, communication and education, and enforcing legislation.
Text account compilers
Fernando, E.
Contributors
Butchart, S., Eaton, J., Ekstrom, J., Khwaja, N., Marsden, S. & Marshall, H.
Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Species factsheet: Grey-cheeked Bulbul Alophoixus tephrogenys. Downloaded from
https://datazone.birdlife.org/species/factsheet/grey-cheeked-bulbul-alophoixus-tephrogenys on 22/12/2024.
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 22/12/2024.