Data Zone
Justification of Red List category
This owl is endemic to Mindoro, the Philippines, where it is thought to have a relatively small population that continues to decline in response to clearance of lowland forests for agriculture. It is therefore classified as Vulnerable.
Population justification
Within its range remains a maximum of c.2,000 km2 of suitable habitat (calculated by sRedList [2023], using underlying data from Jung et al. [2020]), however some of this is heavily degraded and it appears to be commoner at lower elevations (with most remaining habitat >1,000 m).
Using satellite tracking data, Jakosalem et al. (2013) estimated densities as high as 10 pairs/km2 for the formerly conspecific and similar-sized N. rumseyi of Cebu. However, this density was based on home ranges from satellite-tracking data that the authors acknowledged were likely to be too small due to the short time the birds were followed for. The estimated home ranges were, for example, up to ten times smaller than that of another similar-sized Ninox species (Olsen et al. 2011).
Assuming 30-60% occupancy, and a range of densities of 4-20 mature individuals/km2 gives a range of c.2,400-24,000 mature individuals. This is rounded here to 2,500-25,000 mature individuals, with a best estimate at the lower range of this (2,500-9,999).
Trend justification
The main plausible threat to this species is habitat loss and degradation. While historically rates of lowland forest cover loss were very high on Mindoro (BirdLife International 2001), recent rates have been much slower, and over the past three generations (16 years: 2007-2023) forest cover in this species' range was reduced by 5-7% (Global Forest Watch 2024, based on data from Hansen et al. [2013] and methods therein). Moreover, degradation may have additive impacts, and only small areas of Mindoro's lowland forests have high intactness (Grantham et al. 2020). Overall, the population is suspected to have declined by 5-15% over the past three generations. Future rates of decline are highly uncertain, and not estimated here.
Ninox mindorensis is endemic to the island of Mindoro, Philippines, and has recently been found also on Ilin and Abulong Islands off south-west Mindoro (eBird 2024).
Inhabits primary and secondary forests, as well as open forests (Allen 2020). This species has been reported up to at least 1,400 m on Mount Halcon (R. Hutchinson in litt. 2016).
Main threat to this species is forest cover loss and degradation. Over the past three generations (16 years: 2007-2023) forest cover in this species' range was reduced by 5-7% (Global Forest Watch 2024, based on data from Hansen et al. [2013] and methods therein). Given this species' forest dependence, this is thought to have caused concurrent declines of 5-15%.
Conservation and research actions underway
This species has been recorded from forest in Mts Iglit-Baco and Naujan Lake National Parks (Rasmussen et al. 2012).
Conservation and research actions proposed
Carry out surveys to more accurately determine the species' population size. Continue to use remote sensing data to monitor habitat trends. Protect more lowland forests on Mindoro, and attempt to reforest cleared areas (this species is likely to be tolerant of regenerated forest).
Text account compilers
Taylor, J., Westrip, J.R.S., Ekstrom, J., Butchart, S., Symes, A., Berryman, A.
Contributors
Hutchinson, R.
Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Species factsheet: Mindoro Boobook Ninox mindorensis. Downloaded from
https://datazone.birdlife.org/species/factsheet/mindoro-boobook-ninox-mindorensis on 24/11/2024.
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 24/11/2024.