Data Zone
Justification of Red List category
This species appears highly restricted and is estimated to have a small population size, but there appear few threats to the species and as such the population is assumed to be stable. Given the likely small population size the species is evaluated as Near Threatened.
Population justification
This species has an identical ecology to, and was formerly considered conspecific with, M. muelleriana, which has been observed at densities of one pair per 200 m of river on New Guinea (Boles et al. 2020); on New Britain, while the extent of occurrence of the split species is large it appears to have a tiny occupied range that is arranged linearly with the entire length of suitable sections of rivers apparently below 100 km. Applying a density of 2 mature individuals per 200 m of river to the available section of river yields a population estimate of 1,000 mature individuals. Given the tremendous uncertainty with this estimate due to the difficulty in accessing and surveying other nearby rivers where it may be present, the population is therefore estimated at 1,000-1,499 mature individuals.
Trend justification
The population is suspected to be stable in the absence of evidence for any declines or substantial threats.
Restricted to fast-flowing and braided rivers in eastern New Britain, Papua New Guinea.
Confined to forest along rivers but appears to be tolerant of habitat disturbance as it occurs in degraded areas.
Threats to the species are not well known, and it utilises sections of streams with open space around as it occurs within small landslips (Dutson 2011). However, the response of the species to the removal of streamside vegetation is not documented, nor is it clear why it appears so restricted on New Britain. Rivers in the area which the species occurs are used as significant access routes and there is evidence of clearing along their banks by small-holders for agriculture (Hansen et al. 2013). There does not appear to be any particular reason to infer that the population is declining, and on New Guinea Monachella muelleriana is often found on rivers in degraded habitat.
Conservation and Research Actions Underway
None.
Conservation and Research Actions Proposed
Protect the few areas from which this species is currently known. There is an urgent need to clarify this species's distribution and confirm whether it is as narrowly confined to eastern New Britain as current data suggest. From this a robust population estimate should be generated and the presence/absence of any threats impacting the species confirmed.
Text account compilers
Butchart, S., Berryman, A., Ekstrom, J.
Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2025) Species factsheet: New Britain Flyrobin Monachella coultasi. Downloaded from
https://datazone.birdlife.org/species/factsheet/new-britain-flyrobin-monachella-coultasi on 06/01/2025.
Recommended citation for factsheets for more than one species: BirdLife International (2025) IUCN Red List for birds. Downloaded from
https://datazone.birdlife.org/species/search on 06/01/2025.