Data Zone
Justification of Red List category
This species has a moderately small population size, which likely numbers 5,000-20,000 mature individuals, with probably no more than 500-1,500 in each subpopulation. The data quality for these estimates is very poor however. In most of its range the population trend is probably stable, but on Kangean, subspecies kangeanensis is likely to be declining in response to habitat loss. Accordingly this species is listed as Near Threatened, approaching the thresholds for listing as threatened Criterion C2a(i).
Population justification
The global population size of this species has not been formerly estimated, but it is evidently localised and scarce (Eaton et al. 2021, eBird 2023). On Java, there are recent records from several lowland protected areas, mostly in the east (e.g. Baluran and Alas Purwo National Parks) although in large part this reflects survey effort. In hill and montane forests it appears scarcer, with intensive effort on West Java mountains finding it on just three of the 12 mountain regions surveyed (Marsden et al. 2023). On Bali, the situation appears similar, with recent records from both lowland forests (e.g. Bali Barat National Park) and lower montane forests (e.g. Bali Botanical Garden) (eBird 2023). While abundance at these sites seems low, survey effort is minimal when compared to the large area of suitable habitat, and Java and Bali probably host a population size in the thousands. On Kangean (and Paliat), endemic subspecies kangeanensis has been (erroneously) postulated to be extinct (e.g. del Hoyo et al. 2020) but while Berryman et al. (2024) conclude that this taxon is highly threatened and at risk of extirpation in the near-term, it is still extant and probably for now numbers in the low hundreds.
A broad analysis of suitable habitat within this species' range, combined with the plausible density values used in Berryman et al. (2024) for Kangean's population (which themselves are those calculated for congenerics by Yorke 1984, Sivakumar et al. 2006, Wijesundaral and Wijesundaral 2014) suggests that the global population size of C. strictus lies between 5,000-20,000 mature individuals, depending on the tolerance of the species in response to habitat degradation and fragmentation (which remain improperly known). Forest cover on Java is now so fragmented that no subpopulation may number more than 1,000 mature individuals, but this remains unconfirmed.
Trend justification
Probably declining, although perhaps in only parts of its distribution. On Java, forest cover extent has remained relatively stable over the past 20 years (Global Forest Watch 2023, based on data from Hansen et al. [2013] and methods disclosed therein) such that any recent declines must be due to fragmentation/extinction debt processes, and/or habitat degradation imperceptible to the rather insensitive remote sensing analysis used here. However, given the species is often found in open forests (especially in eastern Java and Bali, where typically uses savanna forests) that are in most instances quite degraded, forest modification is unlikely to be causing only (very) slow declines. On Kangean, probably declining in response to the widespread removal of almost any tree with a diameter large enough to host a breeding hollow (Berryman et al. 2024).
Endemic to Java, Bali and the Kangean Islands, Indonesia. The distribution of this species has often been subject to misinterpretation, with Winkler et al. (1995) and del Hoyo and Collar (2014), for example, confining it to eastern Java, Bali and Kangean. However, as discussed by Mees (1996), and implied also by Collar (2011) in justifying the split of C. strictus, the species occurs much farther to the west, to Mt Gede-Pangrango, and south of Cirebon (as now mapped by Eaton et al. 2016, 2021, and here). On Kangean, occurs on only Pulau Kangean and Paliat (with no records from Sepanjang) (Berryman et al. 2024).
This species uses open woodland and hill forest nearly throughout, occurring occasionally to 2,475 m on Java, and 1,280 m on Bali. But it is predominantly a lowland species, and is among those considered most susceptible to habitat fragmentation (Lambert and Collar 2002, citing data collected by B. van Balen).
On Java, most forest below 1,000 m, and in some areas up to 1,500 m, has already been cleared (van Balen et al. 2013) and there is little evidence of ongoing habitat loss (Global Forest Watch 2023). However, selective logging is definitely ongoing on Kangean (Berryman et al. 2024), and there may be additional degradation occurring on Java and Bali which is not well-detected using remote sensing data. Recorded in two trade datasets by Donald et al. (2024) suggesting low prevalence in trade; this threat is therefore likely to have negligible or no impacts on the species' population.
Conservation and research actions underway
No targeted actions are known. The species occurs in several national parks on Java (UNEP-WCMC and IUCN 2023).
Conservation and research actions proposed
Protect remaining areas of suitable habitat, especially on Kangean, where endemic race kangeanensis is at risk of extirpation (Berryman et al. 2024). Obtain population densities and estimates throughout its range.
c. 28-34cm. A striking woodpecker with yellowish-golden upperparts, thick black post-ocular stripe through the ear coverts to the hindneck and broad white supercillium. Females have a bright yellow crown and crest, which is red in the male. Similar spp. C. guttacristatus is larger, has much more extensive red on the rump and the female has a black crown and crest spotted with white.
Text account compilers
Berryman, A.
Contributors
Akbar, P.
Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Species factsheet: Javan Flameback Chrysocolaptes strictus. Downloaded from
https://datazone.birdlife.org/species/factsheet/javan-flameback-chrysocolaptes-strictus on 26/12/2024.
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 26/12/2024.