VU
Japanese Murrelet Synthliboramphus wumizusume



Taxonomy

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
Critically Endangered Endangered Vulnerable
- - C2a(ii)

Red List history
Year Category Criteria
2018 Vulnerable C2a(ii)
2016 Vulnerable A2cde+3cde+4cde;C2a(ii)
2012 Vulnerable A2cde+3cde+4cde;C2a(ii)
2010 Vulnerable A2c,d,e; A3c,d,e; A4c,d,e; C2a(ii)
2008 Vulnerable A2d,e; A3d,e; A4d,e; C2a(ii)
2007 Vulnerable
2005 Vulnerable
2004 Vulnerable
2000 Vulnerable
1996 Vulnerable
1994 Vulnerable
1988 Threatened
Species attributes

Migratory status not a migrant Forest dependency does not normally occur in forest
Land-mass type shelf island
Average mass -
Range

Estimate Data quality
Extent of Occurrence (breeding/resident) 1,310,000 km2 medium
Extent of Occurrence (non-breeding) 2,580,000 km2 medium
Area of Occupancy (breeding/resident) 110 km2 medium
Number of locations 11-100 -
Severely fragmented? no -
Population
Estimate Data quality Derivation Year of estimate
Population size 5200-9400 mature individuals medium estimated 2000
Population trend decreasing poor suspected 1998-2034
Generation length 12.1 years - - -
Number of subpopulations 1 - - -
Percentage of mature individuals in largest subpopulation 100% - - -

Population justification: By 2015, 38 colonies (current and historical) were reported, with a total estimated population of 2,600-4,700 pairs (Otsuki and Nakamura 2016), equating to around 5,200-9,400 mature individuals. National population sizes have been estimated at <100 breeding pairs and c.50-1,000 individuals on migration in Korea and c.100-10,000 breeding pairs and c.50-1,000 wintering individuals in Japan (Brazil 2009).

Trend justification: Populations are thought to be declining rapidly through the combined impact of bycatch mortality and predation by invasive species.


Country/territory distribution
Country/Territory Presence Origin Resident Breeding visitor Non-breeding visitor Passage migrant
Japan extant native yes
Russia extant native yes
Russia (Asian) extant native yes
South Korea extant native yes
Taiwan, China extant vagrant yes

Important Bird and Biodiversity Areas (IBA)
Country/Territory IBA Name
Japan Birojima islet
Japan Birojima islet - Marine
Japan Danjo islands
Japan Danjo islands - Marine
Japan Eboshijima islet
Japan Eboshijima islet - Marine
Japan Fumishima Islet and Oki Islands - Marine
Japan Hachijojima island
Japan Hachijojima island - Marine
Japan Kanmurijima and Kutsujima islets
Japan Kanmurijima and Kutsujima islets - Marine
Japan Kii Nagashima islets
Japan Kii Nagashima islets - Marine
Japan Kii Nagashima islets-Marine
Japan Kozushima island
Japan Mikomotojima island
Japan Mikurajima island
Japan Miyakejima island
Japan Nanatsujima islets
Japan Nanatsujima islets - Marine
Japan Niijima and Shikinejima Islands
Japan Northern Izu Islands - Marine
Japan Okinoshima and Koyajima islands - Marine
Japan Okinoshima and Koyajima islets
Japan Seinan islands
Japan Seinan islands - Marine
Japan Torishima island
Japan Tsukuejima islets
Japan Tsukuejima islets - Marine
South Korea Chilbal-do island
South Korea Kukul-do island

Habitats & altitude
Habitat (level 1) Habitat (level 2) Importance Occurrence
Marine Coastal/Supratidal Sea Cliffs and Rocky Offshore Islands major breeding
Marine Neritic Pelagic suitable resident
Marine Oceanic Epipelagic (0-200m) suitable non-breeding
Altitude   Occasional altitudinal limits  

Threats & impact
Threat (level 1) Threat (level 2) Impact and Stresses
Biological resource use Fishing & harvesting aquatic resources - Unintentional effects: (large scale) [harvest] Timing Scope Severity Impact
Ongoing Majority (50-90%) Slow, Significant Declines Medium Impact: 6
Stresses
Species mortality
Biological resource use Fishing & harvesting aquatic resources - Unintentional effects: (subsistence/small scale) [harvest] Timing Scope Severity Impact
Ongoing Majority (50-90%) Rapid Declines Medium Impact: 7
Stresses
Species mortality
Biological resource use Hunting & trapping terrestrial animals - Intentional use (species is the target) Timing Scope Severity Impact
Past, Unlikely to Return Majority (50-90%) Slow, Significant Declines Past Impact
Stresses
Reduced reproductive success, Species mortality
Invasive and other problematic species, genes & diseases Invasive non-native/alien species/diseases - Felis catus Timing Scope Severity Impact
Ongoing Minority (<50%) Slow, Significant Declines Low Impact: 5
Stresses
Species mortality
Invasive and other problematic species, genes & diseases Invasive non-native/alien species/diseases - Rattus rattus Timing Scope Severity Impact
Ongoing Minority (<50%) Rapid Declines Medium Impact: 6
Stresses
Reduced reproductive success, Species mortality
Pollution Industrial & military effluents - Oil spills Timing Scope Severity Impact
Ongoing Minority (<50%) Slow, Significant Declines Low Impact: 5
Stresses
Ecosystem degradation, Species mortality

Utilisation
Purpose Scale
Food - human subsistence, national

Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Species factsheet: Japanese Murrelet Synthliboramphus wumizusume. Downloaded from https://datazone.birdlife.org/species/factsheet/japanese-murrelet-synthliboramphus-wumizusume 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.