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

Justification of Red List category
This species is evaluated as Vulnerable because it has a small, declining population due to habitat loss, potentially compounded by introduced predators.

Population justification
The global population size has not been quantified, though national population estimates include: < c.1,000 individuals on migration and < c.1,000 wintering individuals in China; < c.50 individuals on migration and < c.50 wintering individuals in Taiwan; c.100-100,000 breeding pairs and c.50-10,000 individuals on migration in Japan and c.100-100,000 breeding pairs and c.50-10,000 individuals on migration in Russia (Brazil 2009).

Trend justification
A moderate and on-going population decline is suspected owing to habitat change and introduced predators on the islands.

The species is restricted to the Izu Islands, south of Honshu, Japan. Recently Izu Robin  has been seen frequently on Miyake-jima and Hachijo-jima, but the situation on Oshima is unclear.

Occurs in dense undergrowth of mature or old-growth, damp montane deciduous and evergreen temperate forest. Also occurs in planted Cryptomeria forest. Also found in well-wooded urban areas.

Siberian Weasel was introduced to Miyake-jima in the 1970s and domestic cats are also widely present, additionally enhanced populations of Large-billed Crow as a result of the availability of food via poor human rubbish disposal. Large areas of natural forest have been replaced by Cryptomeria for timber, although L. tanensis does occur in this habitat (Clement and Rose 2015). Road-building and the creation of tourist infrastructure have also been noted to have reduced the extent of natural habitat.

In addition the impact of volcanic eruptions is a potential threat to populations in that these events can degrade large areas of habitat. The eruption in 2000 of Mt. Oyama is estimated to have degraded 60% of forest on Miyake-jima, however populations of birds were observed to recover relatively quickly from this event.

Conservation Actions Underway
The entire Izu Archipelago has been designated as a national park and several important sites have been designated as Special Protected Areas. However, there are no rangers in the national park, and loss and modification of habitats continues on many islands. There is a small sanctuary on Miyake-jima.

Conservation Actions Proposed
Study the possible impact of pesticide use on the invertebrate prey of this and other species on the Izu Islands. Maintain and enhance areas of suitable forest and woodland on the Izu Islands. Plan new development on these islands to minimise their negative effects on the habitats of this and other endemic species. Strengthen the human resources of the national park on the Izu Islands. Enforce legal protection in areas affected by trappers.

Text account compilers
Butchart, S., Ekstrom, J. & Harding, M.

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Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Species factsheet: Izu Robin Larvivora tanensis. Downloaded from https://datazone.birdlife.org/species/factsheet/izu-robin-larvivora-tanensis 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.