NT
Kadavu Fantail Rhipidura personata



Taxonomy

Taxonomic source(s)
del Hoyo, J., Collar, N.J., Christie, D.A., Elliott, A., Fishpool, L.D.C., Boesman, P. and Kirwan, G.M. 2016. HBW and BirdLife International Illustrated Checklist of the Birds of the World. Volume 2: Passerines. Lynx Edicions and BirdLife International, Barcelona, Spain and Cambridge, UK.

IUCN Red List criteria met and history
Red List criteria met
Critically Endangered Endangered Vulnerable
- - -

Red List history
Year Category Criteria
2022 Near Threatened B1b(iii)
2016 Near Threatened C1
2012 Near Threatened C1
2008 Near Threatened C1
2006 Near Threatened
2004 Least Concern
2000 Lower Risk/Least Concern
1994 Lower Risk/Near Threatened
1988 Lower Risk/Least Concern
Species attributes

Migratory status not a migrant Forest dependency high
Land-mass type Average mass -
Range

Estimate Data quality
Extent of Occurrence (breeding/resident) 910 km2 medium
Severely fragmented? no -
Population
Estimate Data quality Derivation Year of estimate
Population size 1500-7000 mature individuals medium estimated 2005
Population trend decreasing poor suspected -
Generation length 3.28 years - - -
Number of subpopulations 2-100 - - -

Population justification: BirdLife Fiji surveys found this species to be fairly common in native forests, with 36 birds recorded (mostly calling males) in 23.5 hours in a mixed lowland and montane site, and 13 birds in 15 hours at a montane site. Estimating an average pace of 1 km/hour and an effective detection distance of 25 m each side of the trail, this suggests that around 31 and 17 birds were detected per km2 at these sites. There are a number of likely errors in this estimate, which must be treated as very provisional.
The area of dense and medium-dense forest on Kadavu is around 225 km2, suggesting that the total population falls in the band 2,500-9,999 birds (unpublished data from Fiji IBA project via G. Dutson in litt. 2005). This equates to 1,667-6,666 mature individuals, rounded here to 1,500-7,000 mature individuals.
The species also occurs on the island of Ono, which probably constitutes a separate subpopulation as fantails rarely cross the sea, totalling about 5% of the total population.

Trend justification:

The population is suspected to be declining owing to forest loss and degradation. For the ten years to 2021, remote sensing data indicate that c.2% of forest was lost in this species' range (Global Forest Watch 2022, using data from Hansen et al. [2013] and methods disclosed therein), although this is likely to accelerate slightly (to an equivalent rate of 2-4%) in the future based on losses in 2016-2021. Agricultural encroachment is considered the main cause of forest loss (Conservation International Pacific Islands Program 2013) and Kadavu has suffered extensive fires (unpublished data from Fiji IBA project via G. Dutson in litt. 2005) which are increasing in frequency (Boles 2020).


Country/territory distribution
Country/Territory Presence Origin Resident Breeding visitor Non-breeding visitor Passage migrant
Fiji extant native yes

Important Bird and Biodiversity Areas (IBA)
Country/Territory IBA Name
Fiji East Kadavu
Fiji Nabukelevu

Habitats & altitude
Habitat (level 1) Habitat (level 2) Importance Occurrence
Forest Subtropical/Tropical Moist Lowland major resident
Wetlands (inland) Permanent Rivers/Streams/Creeks (includes waterfalls) suitable resident
Altitude 0 - 700 m Occasional altitudinal limits  

Threats & impact
Threat (level 1) Threat (level 2) Impact and Stresses
Agriculture & aquaculture Annual & perennial non-timber crops - Small-holder farming Timing Scope Severity Impact
Ongoing Majority (50-90%) Slow, Significant Declines Medium Impact: 6
Stresses
Ecosystem degradation, Ecosystem conversion
Agriculture & aquaculture Wood & pulp plantations - Scale Unknown/Unrecorded Timing Scope Severity Impact
Ongoing Majority (50-90%) Slow, Significant Declines Medium Impact: 6
Stresses
Ecosystem degradation, Ecosystem conversion
Natural system modifications Fire & fire suppression - Trend Unknown/Unrecorded Timing Scope Severity Impact
Ongoing Minority (<50%) Rapid Declines Medium Impact: 6
Stresses
Ecosystem degradation

Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Species factsheet: Kadavu Fantail Rhipidura personata. Downloaded from https://datazone.birdlife.org/species/factsheet/kadavu-fantail-rhipidura-personata 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.