Data Zone
Justification of Red List category
This species is likely to be in rapid decline as a result of the extensive loss of tall, wet grassland habitat, primarily owing to drainage, conversion to cultivation and grazing by domestic stock. It therefore qualifies as Vulnerable.
Population justification
The population is estimated to number 2,500-9,999 mature individuals based on an assessment of known records, descriptions of abundance and range size. This is consistent with recorded population density estimates for congeners or close relatives with a similar body size, and the fact that only a proportion of the estimated Extent of Occurrence is likely to be occupied. This estimate is equivalent to 3,750-14,999 individuals in total, rounded here to 3,500-15,000 individuals.
Trend justification
Despite a lack of recent data on population trends, a rapid decline is suspected to be continuing, consistent with rates of habitat loss throughout the species's range. In Assam, the species's stronghold in India, recent records suggest the population has undergone a massive decline (Rahmani 2012).
This species occurs in three disjunct populations, along the River Indus (where subsepcies scindicum is commonly found across 11 sites; Sadanandan et al. 2018) and its tributaries in Pakistan, in the terai of Nepal (where it is a very rare and local resident, known from just two highly disjunct localities [Inskipp et al. 2016]), and the Ganga-Brahmaputra floodplain (where subsepcies griseigulare is commonly found across 16 sites; Sadanandan et al. 2018) in north-east India (BirdLife International 2001). Surveys in Assam and Arunachal Pradesh, India in 2015-2016 found the species in Kaziranga, Orang, Manas, and Dibru-Saikhowa National Parks, Pani-Dihing Bird Sanctuary, and Majuli and Maguri beel in Assam, and D’Ering Memorial Wildlife Sanctuary and Dibang Reserved Forest in Arunachal Pradesh (A. Rahmani in litt. 2016; A. Choudhury in litt. 2020). In 2012, 33 individuals were discovered in Harike Wildlife Sanctuary, Punjab, India (Sawant and Sudhagar 2013). It is known historically from the Irrawaddy-Sittang plains of Myanmar, and in 2014 the species was rediscovered near Udo in the Yangon region of Myanmar (Rheindt et al. 2014), with a further 2-4 sites discovered in the Irrawaddy delta since the rediscovery (F. E. Rheindt in litt. 2016). It is possibly also known historically from Bangladesh but there are no recent records. Further records from Assam, its stronghold in India, suggest it has declined and in Pakistan it is uncommon and local.
It is a presumed resident, inhabiting river floodplain tall grassland and reedbeds (2-4 m high), often seasonally inundated or in close proximity to rivers and pools, and predominantly comprising species of Imperata, Saccharum, Phragmites and Typha. It prefers dense, contiguous, undisturbed stands of grass and generally avoids drier, semi-open, short grassland habitat with scattered bushes. It is unobtrusive and usually encountered in pairs or small groups. Its primary diet consists of grasshoppers, beetles, ants, and other small insects (Collar et al. 2020).
Large tracts of natural swamps and wet grassland have been destroyed or degraded throughout its range as a result of drainage, conversion for agriculture and grazing by domestic stock. This has been exacerbated in Pakistan by the construction of large barrages on the Indus, accelerating rates of land reclamation and conversion to cultivation. The proposed construction of a large number of dams in the foothills of Arunachal Pradesh poses a significant threat to the species's grassland habitats (R. Das in litt. 2016). On the Brahmaputra Valley for example, increased levels of flooding due to watershed forest loss has lead to erosion of riverine grasslands (Collar et al. 2020). Most remaining habitat is subject to intense pressure from further drainage for agriculture, human encroachment, excessive burning and cutting, domestic livestock-grazing, and, more locally, commercial forestry plantations. The political situation in Myanmar has largely precluded intensive surveys for the species. Additionally, much like for the Black-breasted Parrotbill (Paradoxornis flavirostris), the burning of grassland in protected areas is also a major threat (Choudhury 2011).
Conservation Actions Underway
In Nepal the species has been assessed as Critically Endangered at the national level (Inskipp et al. 2016). It occurs in several protected areas, including Kaziranga, Manas and Dibru-Saikowa National Park and D'Ering Memorial Wildlife Sanctuary, India, Sukla Phanta Wildlife Reserve and Chitwan National Park, Nepal. It is also present in the Buxa Tiger Reserve, West Bengal (Collar et al. 2020).
16-17 cm. Rather nondescript, thick-billed and long-tailed babbler. Grey lores, throat and breast. Paler lower mandible. Brown to golden-brown eye, greenish-yellow eye-ring. Subspecies griseigularis is darker and more rufous-chestnut above, has blacker lores, greyer throat and upper breast and deeper buff lower breast to vent. Juvenile is warmer overall and has pinkish lower mandible. Similar spp. Yellow-eyed Babbler C. sinense has yellow iris, orange eye-ring, white lores and supercilium, throat and breast. Voice Sings with rather weak chi-chi-chi-chew-chew-chew or ih-ih-ih-ih chew chitit chew i'wwiuu, sometimes introduced by uneven rapid itch, itit and tchew notes. Calls include short tic notes.
Text account compilers
Fernando, E.
Contributors
Allinson, T, Ashpole, J, Baral, H.S., Benstead, P., Choudhury, A., Das, K., Gilroy, J., Khan, A.A., Rahmani, A., Rheindt, F. & Taylor, J.
Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Species factsheet: Jerdon's Babbler Chrysomma altirostre. Downloaded from
https://datazone.birdlife.org/species/factsheet/jerdons-babbler-chrysomma-altirostre on 22/11/2024.
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 22/11/2024.