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

Justification of Red List category
This species has a very restricted range and there is ongoing forest loss and degradation within its range. It is therefore assessed as Near Threatened.

Population justification
The global population size has not been quantified, but the species is described as fairly common to common (del Hoyo et al. 2006, Dutson 2011, Aplin et al. 2015).

Trend justification
There are no data on population trends, but much of the island has been logged or is under logging concessions (Boles 2020). In the ten years to 2021, remote sensing data indicate that 3-5% of forest was lost in this species' range (Global Forest Watch 2022, using data from Hansen et al. [2013] and methods disclosed therein) and this may accelerate slightly (to an equivalent rate of 5-7%) in the future based on losses in 2016-2021. Based on steeper losses in 2021 alone, forest loss may continue at a rate equivalent to c.12% within ten years if this is ongoing. However, given that the species appears able to tolerate degraded habitat the population trend is considered unknown (Aplin et al. 2015).

Rhipidura matthiae is endemic to Mussau (400 km²) in the St Matthias Group of Papua New Guinea.

It is a fairly common forest species which appears to be able to tolerate degraded habitats (Eastwood 1996, G. Dutson pers. obs. 1997-1998, Hornbuckle 1999). It is found in forest, especially forest edge and tree-fall gaps, including secondary regrowth and scrub (Dutson 2011). Its habits are typical of a fantail.

Remote sensing data indicate that forest loss is ongoing within this species' range (Global Forest Watch 2022, using data from Hansen et al. [2013] and methods disclosed therein), although it appears to be tolerant of degraded habitat. Most of Mussau has been logged or is under logging concessions and this species may be threatened if it proves to be poorly tolerant of large areas of degraded habitat (Boles 2020).

Conservation Actions Underway
No targeted conservation actions are known for this species.

Conservation Actions Proposed
Conduct research to determine the population size. Conduct surveys and interview local villagers to determine population trends. Determine its habitat requirements. Monitor numbers at sites across the island. Ascertain area of forest and rates of clearance across the island. Publicise this species' range and status through public awareness discussions.

Text account compilers
Vine, J.

Contributors
Dutson, G.

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Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Species factsheet: Mussau Fantail Rhipidura matthiae. Downloaded from https://datazone.birdlife.org/species/factsheet/mussau-fantail-rhipidura-matthiae 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.