• Summary
• Text account
• Data table and detailed info
• Distribution map
• Reference and further resources

Justification of Red List category
This species is perhaps surprisingly poorly known. It is suspected to have a small population size (7,500-20,000 mature individuals) and to probably be in decline owing to habitat loss and modification, as well as possibly trapping for the pet trade. However it is adaptable to degraded lands and there is no evidence for especially rapid declines. It is therefore precautionarily listed as Near Threatened.

Population justification
Described by Eaton et al. (2021) as 'uncommon'. Although mapped as occurring over a large area, its abundance is locally highly varied, being reported in numbers of 25-200 at some sites, but nearly absent in others (e.g. the species is evidently rare in the far east of Timor-Leste, with C. Trainor (in litt. 2024) reporting only 1-2 records over c. 200 days), especially areas without Eucalyptus. Numbers at least locally may be suppressed by trapping pressure, but this does not appear to be a large threat to this species. The area of suitable habitat across its range is between 6,000-8,000 km², depending on the habitat classes included in the calculation (Jung et al. 2020), but it is suspected that birds are somewhat nomadic in response to the availability of flowering trees. Based on surveys in the 1990s, Juniper and Parr (1998) estimated a population of 'around 10,000 birds'. Out of an abundance of caution, a population size of 7,500-20,000 mature individuals is estimated here to incorporate the suggestion of Juniper and Parr (1998), but also to allow for the possibility (considered likely) that their suggestion was overly pessimistic.

Trend justification
No direct population trend is available for this species, but it is precautionarily thought to be declining in response to habitat loss and perhaps some trapping pressure. Remote sensing data indicate that forest cover loss within this species' range reduced by c. 5-7% over the past three generations (16.2 years), which increases to 7-9% if higher elevations (where this species appears scarce) are removed from the calculations (Global Forest Watch 2024, based on data from Hansen et al. 2013 and methods therein). The impact on this species is not well understood, however it is precautionarily suspected to have a near-equal impact; notwithstanding this species' use of flowering trees in heavily degraded environments, the loss of potential nesting trees is likely to reduce carrying capacity over time. It bears mention that almost all these losses have come from Timor, with Wetar's largely impenetrable forests remaining almost entirely intact over the past three generations. Trapping is plausibly compounding these declines, with birds observed for sale in West Timor and Dili (C. Trainor in litt. 2024) and there is emerging evidence of international trade in the species (Emerson et al. 2022, Donald et al. 2024). Precautionarily, declines over the past three generations are suspected to fall in the range of 5-19%. In the absence of suitable conservation measures, rates of population decline are suspected to be the same in the future.

Trichoglossus iris is restricted to Timor and Wetar, Indonesia and Timor-Leste (BirdLife International 2001, Mauro 2003).

Occurs in all types of woodland, including monsoon forests, plantations and agricultural land with flowering trees. Seems to prefer areas with flowering Eucalyptus. Recorded from sea-level to 1,800 m, but most records 600-1,200 m (Eaton et al. 2021).

The two main threats to this species are habitat loss and degradation, as well as probably trapping for the pet trade. Over the past three generations forest loss has caused a reduction in tree cover of c.5-7% in this species' range (Global Forest Watch 2024, based on data from Hansen et al. 2013 and methods therein), which has largely been driven by local-scale shifting agriculture and clearance for plantations, almost entirely on Timor (Wetar has remained intact). The extent to which trapping affects wild populations is effectively unknown, but there is evidence for local (C. Trainor in litt. 2024), regional (e.g. Shepherd 2006) and international (Emerson et al. 2022, Donald et al. 2024) trade in this species.

Conservation Actions Underway
Listed in CITES Appendix II but no species-specific measure is known.

Conservation Actions Proposed
Undertake more detailed and expansive surveys to more accurately determine the species' population size. Monitor trade markets across Indonesia and beyond to understand the extent to which domestic and international trade may be threatening this species (as well as other poorly known Wallacean parrots). Continue to monitor forest cover loss using remote sensing data. Protect as many remaining areas of suitable lowland habitat on Timor using traditional protected areas and community initiatives.

Text account compilers
Taylor, J., Tobias, J., Berryman, A., Benstead, P., Mahood, S., Crosby, M., Collar, N.

Contributors
Trainor, C.

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Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Species factsheet: Iris Lorikeet Trichoglossus iris. Downloaded from https://datazone.birdlife.org/species/factsheet/iris-lorikeet-trichoglossus-iris 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.