Data Zone
Justification of Red List category
This species is endemic to the poorly known Kangean Islands, Indonesia. Although its range is small, it is described as common and favours scrubby and highly modified forest habitats. There is no threat to be driving population declines and its extinction risk is therefore thought currently to be very low. Accordingly it is assessed as Least Concern.
Population justification
The population size of this species is poorly known, but it has consistently been described as historically common (e.g., de Iongh et al. 1982, Irham 2016) and Berryman et al. (2024) noted that the species continues to be observed at most sites visited, and in 2024 it was 'one of the most abundant passerines', with 18–22 birds recorded in only a 1.7–2.2-km transect. Accounting for detectability, this strongly suggests that Mixornis prillwitzi occurs in suitable habitat at densities that exceed (perhaps greatly) 100 birds per km2, as is typical for Mixornis species (e.g., Styring et al. 2016, Atikah et al. 2021). While its range is evidently relatively small, comprising just 485 km2, a large proportion of this is probably occupied given its habitat plasticity. Its population size is therefore estimated to number somewhere between 10,000–50,000 mature individuals, with the large range accounting for uncertainty around occupancy.
Trend justification
No evidence for declines and therefore suspected to be stable. Historical and contemporary accounts of its abundance consistently describe this species as common (Hartert 1901, 1902, de Iongh et al. 1982, Irham 2016, Berryman et al. 2024). Berryman et al. (2024) identified no acting threats on this species, and considered it to likely benefit from ongoing forest clearance due to its apparent preference for scrubby habitat. The only plausible future threat to this species is trapping for the songbird trade, but there is no evidence that this species, or any other Mixornis, is threatened by this currently. However, this should be monitored.
Mixornis prillwitzi is endemic to the Kangean Islands, Indonesia, where it is known from Pulau Kangean and Paliat, but is apparently absent from other islands including Sepanjang (Berryman et al. 2024).
Commonly encountered in all most all habitats on Kangean, including forest (with understorey), agricultural areas with scrub, teak plantations etc., although absent from mangroves (Irham 2016, Berryman et al. 2024). It occurs at all elevations.
The only threats identified for Kangean's birds are forest loss and trapping, however Berryman et al. (2024) concluded that this species' preference for scrubby/heavily degraded habitats probably means it benefits from the former, and there is no evidence of the latter. Accordingly, it is assumed that no threats are currently acting on this species.
Conservation Actions Underway
None is known for this species, and it does not occur in the Kangean archipelago's only protected area (Berryman et al. 2024).
Conservation Actions Needed
Berryman et al. (2024) proposed a protected area on Pulau Kangean, which would protect this species (although it occurs so widely on the island, even in scrub habitats, that any benefit to this species of a protected area would be minimal). The same authors also proposed that although not at risk currently, songbird trade markets should continue to be monitored in case trapping becomes a threat for this species, as it has others in Indonesia (Java in particular).
Text account compilers
Berryman, A.
Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Species factsheet: Kangean Tit-babbler Mixornis prillwitzi. Downloaded from
https://datazone.birdlife.org/species/factsheet/kangean-tit-babbler-mixornis-prillwitzi 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.