Data Zone
Justification of Red List category
Although this species may have a restricted range, it is not believed to approach the thresholds for Vulnerable under the range size criterion (Extent of Occurrence <20,000 km2 combined with a declining or fluctuating range size, habitat extent/quality, or population size and a small number of locations or severe fragmentation). Despite the fact that the population trend appears to be decreasing, the decline is not believed to be sufficiently rapid to approach the thresholds for Vulnerable under the population trend criterion (>30% decline over ten years or three generations). The population size may be moderately small to large, but it is not believed to approach the thresholds for Vulnerable under the population size criterion (<10,000 mature individuals with a continuing decline estimated to be >10% in ten years or three generations, or with a specified population structure). For these reasons the species is evaluated as Least Concern.
Trend justification
The population is declining owing to intensive egg collection, soil erosion, predation by feral dogs, consumption and unearthing of eggs by feral pigs and habitat destruction caused by growth of the timber industry. Stochastic events such as cyclones have also had an impact on breeding and foraging grounds (del Hoyo et al. 1994).
Text account compilers
Ekstrom, J., Butchart, S.
Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Species factsheet: Melanesian Scrubfowl Megapodius eremita. Downloaded from
https://datazone.birdlife.org/species/factsheet/melanesian-scrubfowl-megapodius-eremita 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.