LC
Mangaia Kingfisher Todiramphus ruficollaris



Taxonomy

Taxonomic source(s)
del Hoyo, J., Collar, N.J., Christie, D.A., Elliott, A. and Fishpool, L.D.C. 2014. HBW and BirdLife International Illustrated Checklist of the Birds of the World. Volume 1: Non-passerines. Lynx Edicions 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 Least Concern
2016 Vulnerable D1+2
2012 Vulnerable D1+2
2008 Vulnerable D1; D2
2004 Vulnerable
2000 Vulnerable
1996 Vulnerable
1994 Vulnerable
1988 Threatened
Species attributes

Migratory status not a migrant Forest dependency high
Land-mass type Average mass 50 g
Range

Estimate Data quality
Extent of Occurrence (breeding/resident) 84 km2 medium
Area of Occupancy (breeding/resident) 84 km2
Severely fragmented? no -
Population
Estimate Data quality Derivation Year of estimate
Population size 2100-3500, 2700 mature individuals good estimated 2020
Population trend stable poor suspected -
Generation length 3.2 years - - -
Number of subpopulations 1 - - -
Percentage of mature individuals in largest subpopulation 100% - - -

Population justification: Using distance sampling, Baker et al. (1996) estimated a population of 393-764 individuals of T. ruficollaris, believed to represent a depleted population due to habitat loss and degradation. In 2018-2019, using a similar method, Thacker et al. (2022) estimated 3,191-5,283 individuals (equivalent to c.2,100-3,500 mature individuals), with densities (0.12-1.65 birds/ha) similar to those of other Pacific Todiramphus. Although the population density and area of suitable habitat between the two periods appear to have genuinely increased, Baker et al. (1996) are considered likely to have underestimated the number of T. ruficollaris in secondary habitats due to their exclusion of agricultural habitat in their calculation, despite Thacker et al. (2022) finding T. ruficollaris at a relatively high density in this habitat. Similarly, Baker et al. (1996) did not survey either the central plantation forest or village areas for T. ruficollaris (see also Rowe and Empson 1996), whereas Thacker et al. (2022) found the species present in both areas, with densities in plantation forest very similar to those of primary forest. Consequently, the number of mature individuals is considered best represented by the estimation made by Thacker et al. (2022), and is placed here between 2,100 and 3,500, with a best estimate of 2,700.

Trend justification: The species is believed to be currently stable or increasing (Thacker et al. 2022). It formerly declined, principally owing to the widespread cultivation of pineapples. Following the collapse of the industry in the 1980s, the pineapple plantations on the volcanic hills were replaced by plantation forest. In contrast, the land used for the cultivation of pineapples in the lowlands was left to regenerate into secondary forest. These left the extent of primary and Barringtonia forests to increase slightly (from 11.2 km2 to 13.1 km2, and 1.94 km2 to 3.0 km2 respectively) between 1996 and 2019, and the area of secondary forest more substantially, from 4.0 km2 to 12.9 km2 (see Thacker et al. [2022] for discussion on why the 1996 values, from Baker et al. [1996], may not be directly comparable). These have led to a population recovery from 390-760 individuals in 1996 (Baker et al. [1996], although this is likely to have been a potentially substantial underestimate) to 3,200-5,300 in 2018-19 (Thacker et al. 2022). The island is currently suspected to be at carrying capacity for the habitat available, although further restoration of forest may increase the population further (however there may be balance shifts in this with, for example, primary forests hosting lower densities than secondary forest).


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

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

Habitats & altitude
Habitat (level 1) Habitat (level 2) Importance Occurrence
Artificial/Terrestrial Arable Land marginal resident
Artificial/Terrestrial Plantations major resident
Artificial/Terrestrial Rural Gardens marginal resident
Artificial/Terrestrial Subtropical/Tropical Heavily Degraded Former Forest suitable resident
Forest Subtropical/Tropical Moist Lowland major resident
Altitude 0 - 1300 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
Past, Unlikely to Return Majority (50-90%) Slow, Significant Declines Past Impact
Stresses
Ecosystem degradation, Ecosystem conversion
Human intrusions & disturbance Work & other activities Timing Scope Severity Impact
Ongoing Minority (<50%) Unknown Unknown
Stresses
Species disturbance
Invasive and other problematic species, genes & diseases Invasive non-native/alien species/diseases - Acridotheres tristis Timing Scope Severity Impact
Ongoing Minority (<50%) No decline Low Impact: 4
Stresses
Competition
Invasive and other problematic species, genes & diseases Invasive non-native/alien species/diseases - Capra hircus Timing Scope Severity Impact
Ongoing Whole (>90%) No decline Medium Impact: 6
Stresses
Ecosystem degradation
Invasive and other problematic species, genes & diseases Invasive non-native/alien species/diseases - Felis catus Timing Scope Severity Impact
Ongoing Whole (>90%) Negligible declines Medium Impact: 6
Stresses
Species mortality
Invasive and other problematic species, genes & diseases Invasive non-native/alien species/diseases - Rattus exulans Timing Scope Severity Impact
Ongoing Whole (>90%) Negligible declines Medium Impact: 6
Stresses
Reduced reproductive success
Invasive and other problematic species, genes & diseases Invasive non-native/alien species/diseases - Rattus rattus Timing Scope Severity Impact
Ongoing Whole (>90%) Negligible declines Medium Impact: 6
Stresses
Reduced reproductive success
Invasive and other problematic species, genes & diseases Invasive non-native/alien species/diseases - Sus domesticus Timing Scope Severity Impact
Ongoing Whole (>90%) No decline Medium Impact: 6
Stresses
Ecosystem degradation
Invasive and other problematic species, genes & diseases Problematic native species/diseases - Urodynamis taitensis Timing Scope Severity Impact
Ongoing Majority (50-90%) Negligible declines Low Impact: 5
Stresses
Species mortality

Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Species factsheet: Mangaia Kingfisher Todiramphus ruficollaris. Downloaded from https://datazone.birdlife.org/species/factsheet/mangaia-kingfisher-todiramphus-ruficollaris on 23/11/2024.
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 23/11/2024.