Data Zone
Justification of Red List category
This species has a relatively large range, and hence does not approach the thresholds for Vulnerable under the range size criterion (extent of occurrence <20,000 km2 combined with a declining or fluctuating range size, habitat extent/quality, or population size and a small number of locations or severe fragmentation). Despite the fact that the population trend appears to be decreasing, the decline is not believed to be sufficiently rapid to approach the thresholds for Vulnerable under the population trend criterion (>30% decline over ten years or three generations). The population size is not quantified but is not thought to approach the thresholds for Vulnerable under the population size criterion (<10,000 mature individuals with a continuing decline estimated to be >10% in ten years or three generations, or with a specified population structure). For these reasons the species is evaluated as Least Concern.
Population justification
The population size is unknown, but the species is described as common or locally common throughout much of South-East Asia (Robson 2008), very common in Thailand and Peninsular Malaysia and common in Borneo and Sumatra (del Hoyo et al. 2006).
Trend justification
This species is moderately forest dependent and suspected of declining in response to forest loss throughout the Indomalayan region, equivalent to c.4% over the past ten years (Global Forest Watch 2022, using data from Hansen et al. [2013] and methods disclosed therein). Similar rates of loss are also suspected to continue into the future.
The species is rather widespread in the Indomalayan biome, occurring from India, China, northern Myanmar, Bangladesh and (at least as a vagrant) Bhutan, south through Myanmar, Thailand, Viet Nam, Lao PDR, Cambodia and Peninsular Malaysia.
It occupies submontane and montane forests, typically at 400-2,000 m, but occasionally up to 2,500 and, especially towards the west of its range, down to sea-level in the non-breeding season.
The principal threat to this species is forest loss. Its preference for submontane forest, however, buffers it from the worst impacts of Sundaic lowland forest loss and currently it is thought to be losing habitat at a rate of only c.4% every ten years (Global Forest Watch 2022, based on Hansen et al. 2013). Historically it has appeared in the songbird trade (Melville 1982), although it is unclear whether this threat is ongoing.
Conservation Actions Underway
It occurs in numerous protected areas. In Thailand and Malaysia, it is listed as protected under the Wildlife Preservation and Protection Act, B.E. 2535 (1992) and the Wildlife Conservation Act 2010 respectively.
Conservation Actions Proposed
Continue to monitor forest loss throughout its range using remote sensing data.
Text account compilers
Berryman, A.
Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Species factsheet: Hill Blue Flycatcher Cyornis whitei. Downloaded from
https://datazone.birdlife.org/species/factsheet/hill-blue-flycatcher-cyornis-whitei on 04/12/2024.
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 04/12/2024.