Data Zone
Justification of Red List category
Although this species has a small range, there is currently no evidence of a threat acting on its population. Consequently, its extinction risk is perceived to be very low, and it is listed as Least Concern.
Population justification
The population size of this species has not been quantified, but it is described as fairly common in all wooded habitats, including open woodland and gardens (Eaton et al. 2021), and appears to be among the most commonly observed species on Kai Besar (eBird 2022). Nonetheless, given the island is just 550 km2 in size, its population size may be moderately small.
Trend justification
In the ten years to 2022, forest loss on Kai Besar was less than 2% (Global Forest Watch 2022, based on data from Hansen et al. [2013] and methods disclosed therein). Given this species' tolerance of open woodland and gardens, it is not thought that this level of habitat loss and degradation is likely to be impacting the species. Although its occurrence in the songbird trade cannot be ruled (especially owing to the fact out-of-range Zosterops in markets are notoriously difficult to identify), this species has not been recorded in market surveys (S. Bruslund in litt. 2023) and, in absence of evidence to the contrary, trapping is not thought to be causing declines. In the absence of other threats, the population is considered stable.
Zosterops grayi is restricted to the Banda Sea Islands Endemic Bird Area, Indonesia, where it occurs on Kai Besar only.
This species inhabits a variety of forest and scrub habitats (Eaton et al. 2021).
This species may be vulnerable to forest loss within its small range, however it is adaptable to forest loss (Eaton et al. 2021) and current losses are minimal (per Global Forest Watch 2022). Although its occurrence in the songbird trade cannot be ruled (especially owing to the fact out-of-range Zosterops in markets are notoriously difficult to identify), this species has not been recorded in market surveys (S. Bruslund in litt. 2023) and, in absence of evidence to the contrary, trapping is not thought to be causing declines.
Conservation Actions Underway
None is known and none of Kai Besar lies within a protected area.
Conservation Actions Proposed
Continue to monitor habitat losses and degradation on Kai Besar. Advocate for the protection of Kai Besar's forests for this and other range-restricted species.
Text account compilers
Berryman, A.
Contributors
Benstead, P., Bruslund, S., Gilroy, J., Khwaja, N., Mahood, S. & Symes, A.
Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Species factsheet: Kai Besar White-eye Zosterops grayi. Downloaded from
https://datazone.birdlife.org/species/factsheet/kai-besar-white-eye-zosterops-grayi on 25/12/2024.
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 25/12/2024.