• Summary
• Text account
• Data table and detailed info
• Distribution map
• Reference and further resources

Justification of Red List category
This species has a small range in which logging is intensifying, and the population undergoing a continuing decline as a result of forest loss and degradation. It is therefore classified as Near Threatened.

Population justification
The global population size has not been quantified, but the species appears to be overall uncommon (Dutson 2011). It is described as relatively uncommon on Kolombangara (Buckingham et al. 1995), common or fairly common on New Georgia, uncommon on Vella Lavella and rare on Ranongga (del Hoyo et al. 2006).

Trend justification
The species is described as rare in heavily degraded forest (Buckingham et al. 1995) such that the population is inferred to be declining due to logging, which is currently increasing in extent and intensity throughout the Solomon Islands. Remote sensing data (Global Forest Watch 2022, using Hansen et al. [2013] data and methods disclosed therein) indicate that in the ten years to 2020, forest loss in this species' range has been equivalent to c.7-9%. This may accelerate slightly (to an equivalent rate of 8-10%) in the future based on the rate of forest loss between 2015 and 2020. Given the species' dependence on primary forest (Buckingham et al. 1995, Dutson 2011), the reduction in forest cover extent is thought broadly to be causing an equivalent loss in the population size.

This species is endemic to the New Georgia group of islands in the Solomon Islands. It occurs as four subspecies, some of which are single island endemics. In particular the distinct subspecies ganongae on Ranongga (where there is little remaining forest), and nigrotectus on Vella Lavella (where logging is extensive) and Bangga, are naturally scarce and therefore highly threatened (Gibbs 1996, G. Dutson pers. obs. 1998, Hornbuckle 1999, Dutson 2011).

It is a primary forest species, rarely found in degraded forest habitats, to a maximum of 600 m (Buckingham et al. 1995).

The main threat to this species is forest loss in its range (Global Forest Watch 2022, using Hansen et al. [2013] data and methods disclosed therein). Widespread logging across the area is thought to be causing a population decline, but it has strongholds in forest reserves on Kolombangara and unlogged areas on other islands (Blaber 1990, Buckingham et al. 1995, G. Dutson pers. obs. 1998, Hornbuckle 1999) and does not yet have a fragmented distribution.

Conservation Actions Underway
None is known.

Conservation Actions Proposed
Regularly monitor the populations of all subspecies at selected sites. Research its tolerance of degraded forest. Protect significant areas of remaining primary forest from logging on all islands where it occurs.

Text account compilers
Vine, J.

Contributors
Dutson, G., Khwaja, N., Mahood, S. & O'Brien, A.

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Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Species factsheet: Kolombangara Monarch Symposiachrus browni. Downloaded from https://datazone.birdlife.org/species/factsheet/kolombangara-monarch-symposiachrus-browni 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.