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

Justification of Red List category
Endemic to the island of Mindoro, Philippines, where confined to small areas of remaining lowland forest. Its population size may be moderately small, and it is threatened by forest loss and degradation, and possibly trapping. It is accordingly listed as Vulnerable.

Population justification
Most recently described as uncommon (Allen 2020), but Dutson et al. (1992) considered it 'common and conspicuous' during fieldwork in 1991.
Based on 584 point counts, Lee and Marsden (2008) calculated an average density of 88 birds/km² (SE ± 20.8; detected in 77 points) in lowland forest, but based on citizen science data, where observations typically comprise 2-10 individuals (eBird 2024), this is suspected of being a (perhaps considerable) overestimate. Satellite data suggest a total of no more than c.800 km² of remaining suitable habitat (data from Jung et al. [2020], analysed using sRedList [2023]), although some of this is degraded and at elevations marginal for this species. Moreover, not all birds counted are likely to have been mature individuals, especially given Lee and Marsden (2008) targeted their surveys to the breeding season. The global population size is therefore placed in a broad band of 8,000-24,000 mature individuals, with the minimum assuming a much-reduced estimate of 10 mature individuals/km², with an arbitrary maximum value three times this.

Trend justification
Trend not well understood. During intensive fieldwork in 1991, Dutson et al. (1992) found this species to be 'common and conspicuous'. A little less than three decades later, Allen (2020) regarded it as uncommon. Whether this reflects a true reduction in abundance is difficult to determine, but it is now recorded in only c.70% of eBird checklists where it might reasonably be expected (eBird 2024). The main possible threats to this species are habitat loss and trapping. 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 (13 years: 2010-2023) 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' need for hollows to nest in, additional pressure of selective logging may have had a compounding impact, and only small areas of Mindoro's lowland forests have high intactness (Grantham et al. 2020). The threat of trapping is more abstract and difficult to quantify, but there is currently no evidence that this species is trapped at a scale or acuity capable of driving declines more than marginal. Accordingly, this species is suspected of declining at an ongoing rate of 5-19% over three generations.

Prioniturus mindorensis is endemic to the island of Mindoro in the Philippines (del Hoyo et al. 1997, Juniper and Parr 1998).

Inhabits humid lowland forests mostly below 1,000 m, but recorded up to 1,670 m (Allen 2020).

There is little information available on threats to this species, but ongoing habitat loss through agricultural expansion, logging for timber and development are thought to be causing a negative population trend. The threat of trapping is more abstract and difficult to quantify, but there is currently no evidence that this species is trapped at a scale or acuity capable of driving declines more than marginal.

Conservation Actions Underway
CITES Appendix II. Occurs in Mounts Iglit–Baco Natural Park.

Conservation Actions Proposed
Carry out surveys to quantify the population size more accurately. Assess the level of threat from trapping pressure. Use remote sensing techniques to track land-use change on Mindoro. Carry out awareness-raising activities to reduce trapping activities.

Text account compilers
Berryman, A.

Contributors
Allen, D.

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Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Species factsheet: Mindoro Racquet-tail Prioniturus mindorensis. Downloaded from https://datazone.birdlife.org/species/factsheet/mindoro-racquet-tail-prioniturus-mindorensis on 22/11/2024.
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 22/11/2024.