NT
Malaita Monarch Symposiachrus malaitae



Taxonomy

Taxonomic note

Symposiachrus barbatus and S. malaitae (del Hoyo and Collar 2016) were previously lumped as Monarcha barbatus (see Sibley and Monroe [1990, 1993]; Coates et al. [2006]; Filardi and Smith [2005]).

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,v)
2016 Near Threatened A2c+3c+4c
2012 Not Recognised
2008 Not Recognised
2004 Not Recognised
2000 Not Recognised
1994 Not Recognised
1988 Not Recognised
Species attributes

Migratory status not a migrant Forest dependency medium
Land-mass type Average mass 21 g
Range

Estimate Data quality
Extent of Occurrence (breeding/resident) 6,000 km2 medium
Severely fragmented? no -
Population
Estimate Data quality Derivation Year of estimate
Population size unknown - - -
Population trend decreasing poor inferred 2015-2025
Rate of change over the past 10 years/3 generations (longer of the two periods) 1-9% - - -
Rate of change over the future 10 years/3 generations (longer of the two periods) 1-9% - - -
Rate of change over the past & future 10 years/3 generations (longer of the two periods) 1-9% - - -
Generation length 3.36 years - - -

Population justification: The population size has not been estimated but this species is described as uncommon throughout its range (Dutson 2011, Callaghan et al. 2019).

Trend justification:

The population is inferred to be declining owing to forest loss and degradation. Malaita has experienced moderate levels of logging and a slow rate of deforestation (Katovai et al. 2015), and 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 3-5%. This may accelerate slightly (to an equivalent rate of 4-6%) in the future based on losses 2015-2020. The species is described as rare in heavily degraded forest (Dutson 2011) such that the population is inferred to be declining and these losses are not expected to slow or cease, with extensive areas of Malaita under logging concessions (Katovai et al. 2015).


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

Important Bird and Biodiversity Areas (IBA)
Country/Territory IBA Name

Habitats & altitude
Habitat (level 1) Habitat (level 2) Importance Occurrence
Forest Subtropical/Tropical Moist Lowland major resident
Altitude 0 - 1200 m Occasional altitudinal limits (max) 1350 m

Threats & impact
Threat (level 1) Threat (level 2) Impact and Stresses
Biological resource use Logging & wood harvesting - Unintentional effects: (large scale) [harvest] Timing Scope Severity Impact
Ongoing Majority (50-90%) Slow, Significant Declines Medium Impact: 6
Stresses
Ecosystem degradation
Biological resource use Logging & wood harvesting - Unintentional effects: (subsistence/small scale) [harvest] Timing Scope Severity Impact
Ongoing Majority (50-90%) Slow, Significant Declines Medium Impact: 6
Stresses
Ecosystem degradation

Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Species factsheet: Malaita Monarch Symposiachrus malaitae. Downloaded from https://datazone.birdlife.org/species/factsheet/malaita-monarch-symposiachrus-malaitae on 06/12/2024.
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 06/12/2024.