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

Justification of Red List category
This species has a relatively small range that extends from western Myanmar to south-west China and northernmost Thailand. Within it, fewer than 10,000 mature individuals may remain, and evidence suggests it is continuing to decline in response to habitat loss, degradation and fragmentation, as well as compounding impacts of hunting. Accordingly, it is listed as Vulnerable.

Population justification
Estimating the population size of this species is difficult due to the inaccessibility of much of its range. The population of nominate humiae was previously suspected to number only 1,000 birds (McGowan and Garson 1995), however based on surveys covering Nagaland, Manipur and Mizoram, Choudhury (2002) estimated the population in India was likely to be c.4,000 individuals. A further c.6,000 individuals were thought to occur in north and east Myanmar (G. Gale and A. Iamsiri in litt. 2005). The population in China is unknown but based on densities at some key sites (see Lu Taichun 1991, Li Xiangtao 1996) the population probably numbers a further 4,000-5,000. The population in north-west Thailand is likely to be small and probably numbers fewer than 500 birds (BirdLife International 2001). Combining these estimates, the number of individuals is likely to be no more than c.15,000 birds, or c.10,000 mature individuals. However, the majority of these estimates were made 2000-2005 and the population has plausibly declined by 20-29% since then (see Population Trend). Consequently, the population estimate is placed in the band 2,500-9,999 mature individuals, with a best estimate of approximately 7,500.

Trend justification
Inferred to be declining due to forest loss and compounding hunting pressures. Recent data indicate that forest loss in this species' range has been moderately rapid. Including only patches >40 km² in their computational analysis, Savini et al. (2021) estimated a c.19% contraction in suitable habitat between 2000 and 2018, while Global Forest Watch (2022) indicate similar losses of c.17-20% forest loss over three generations (c.18 years; Bird et al. 2020) between 2002 and 2021. This species is largely forest dependent and forest cover losses are thought to be indicative of equivalent reductions in population size while also increasing the accessibility to hunters of the remaining evergreen forest. Hunting is considered to be a key threat to this species, having disappeared from areas of suitable habitat where it lies in close proximity to human habitation. Only c.2% of this species' range is in protected areas (Savini et al. 2021) and consequently both habitat loss and hunting are predicted to continue. The ongoing rate of decline is therefore suspected to be 20-29% over three generations.

Syrmaticus humiae occurs in Manipur, Mizoram, Nagaland and perhaps Arunachal Pradesh (Choudhury 2005, 2009) in north-east India, through west, north and east Myanmar to Yunnan and Guangxi in south China and adjacent north-west Thailand.

It inhabits open, dry, subtropical evergreen (mainly oak), coniferous (chiefly pine) or mixed conifer-broadleaf forests on steep, often rocky hillsides interrupted by scrub and grassy clearings. It appears to favour broken or successional habitats, with adjacent patches of dense forest, and fire may play an important role (G. Gale in litt. 2005). Although in Ailaoshan Nature Reserve the species prefers broadleaved evergreen forest (Liu Zhao et al. (2008). It is also described as inhabiting secondary and degraded jungle, and frequents the edges of abandoned slash-and-burn cultivation (Choudhury 2009). On Dazhong Mountain,Yunnan, the species' foraging habitats have been shown to be very similar in spring and autumn (Wei Zhou et al. 2010). Roosts are often located along ridges, and in other relatively open areas (Iamsiri and Gale 2004). The species has been observed to feed on oak nuts and termites (Iamsiri and Gale 2004). A recent microscopic analysis of faecal samples collected in Dazhongshan Nature Reserve, Yunnan, found the species' winter diet there to include at least 18 plant species of 12 families, with a clear preference for Athyrium guangnanense and Pseudocystopteris spinulosa (Li Ning et al. 2008).

The principal threats to this species are habitat loss and degradation, and hunting. Savini et al. (2021) estimated a c.19% contraction in suitable habitat between 2000 and 2018, while Global Forest Watch (2022) indicate similar losses of c.17-20% forest loss over three generations (c.18 years; Bird et al. 2020) between 2002 and 2021. The species is caught by snares set for galliformes, and is usually killed for consumption, or traded for consumption, although many trapped birds will be lost to predators (Choudhury 2009). Extensive shifting cultivation and uncontrolled annual burning has resulted in substantial fragmentation and loss of suitable habitat in Myanmar, China and India. In north Thailand, it has suffered from agricultural intensification and habitat fragmentation resulting from development projects (such as the construction of roads [Choudhury 2009]), and reforestation of large areas with dense conifer plantations may also pose a threat. In parts of north-eastern India, the majority of the rural population practice slash-and-burn cultivation as their main occupation, thus very rapid human population growth and expansion threaten to worsen its impacts (Choudhury 2009). Road construction also facilitates increases in the prevalence of hunting and logging (Choudhury 2009). Only c.2% of this species' range lies in protected areas (Savini et al. 2021) and consequently both habitat loss and hunting are predicted to continue apace without adequate safeguards.

Conservation Actions Underway
CITES Appendix I. The species is legally protected in India, Thailand, Myanmar and China. Populations persist in several protected areas, but these have very low coverage of total suitable habitat (see review by Savini et al. 2021).

Conservation Actions Proposed
Survey sites throughout its range to determine both presence/absence, and (where relevant) density. In particular, re-surveying sites covered by previous effort, e.g., Choudhury (2009), would be a reliable indicator of population trend. Increasing the area of this species' range circumscribed by protected areas is a priority, as is ensuring existing protected areas are sufficiently resourced to safeguard this species (and others) from habitat loss and hunting. Choudhury (2009) recommended that awareness campaigns amongst rural communities are carried out.

Male 90-92 cm, female 60-61 cm. Boldly patterned pheasant with long, barred tail. Male dark chestnut with dark greyish-purple hood and inner wing-coverts, white scapular and wing-bars, white back and uppertail-coverts barred black, with greyish, narrowly barred, brown-and-black. Female duller with shorter, white-tipped tail, greyish-brown with blackish markings and whitish streaks above, reduced white wing-bars and warm brown below scaled whitish from breast down. Voice Male territorial call, crowing cher-a-per cher-a-per cher cher cheria cheria. Also, cackling waaak notes and sharp tuk tuk when alarmed.

Text account compilers
Berryman, A.

Contributors
Choudhury, A., Eames, J.C., Gale, G., Garson, P., Iamsiri, A., Lianxian, H., Zaw, U.K.M., Benstead, P., Harding, M., Keane, A., Bird, J., Butchart, S., Mahood, S. & Taylor, J.

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Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Species factsheet: Mrs Hume's Pheasant Syrmaticus humiae. Downloaded from https://datazone.birdlife.org/species/factsheet/mrs-humes-pheasant-syrmaticus-humiae on 23/12/2024.
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 23/12/2024.