Data Zone
Justification of Red List category
Although the species has a fairly small population and range, the population is suspected to be stable in the absence of significant threats within its range and to exceed small population thresholds for listing as Vulnerable. For these reasons the species is evaluated as Least Concern.
Population justification
The population was considered to fall within the band of 2,500-9,999 individuals (Buchanan et al. 2008), equating to c. 1,600-7000 mature individuals. While Davis et al. (2017) considered that the population should be placed in a lower band due to a low encounter rate, the size of the range and extent of remaining suitable habitat, coupled with the additional occurrence on Umboi Island suggests that this estimate is too low, hence the current estimate is retained.
Trend justification
The population is suspected to be stable in the absence of evidence for any declines or substantial threats, with no evidence of logging within the habitat of the species noted and an apparent absence of impact from introduced potential predators inferred from the congeneric Makira Thrush Z. margaretae (Davis et al. 2017).
New Britain Thrush is restricted to upper elevations of New Britain and the adjacent island of Umboi, Papua New Guinea.
The species occurs in humid montane forest, generally above 1,000 metres above sea level (Davis et al. 2017). It is rarely recorded and appears to be present at low densities.
Rates of logging within the elevational range of the species are presently very low and are not considered to currently threaten the populations of the species (Tracewski et al. 2016, Davis et al. 2017). Nevertheless, there is potential for future development to threaten this favourable situation in time.While introduced species (including cats) are present on New Britain, these are not believed to occur at significant densities within the range of the species and the congeneric Makira Thrush Z. margaretae occurs alongside feral cats without apparently suffering negative population impacts (Davis et al. 2017).
Conservation Actions Underway
No targeted conservation actions are known for this species.
Conservation Actions Proposed
Designate of sizable areas of forest as protected land, where this will not disrupt the current land rights that have maintained this extent of habitat to date.
Text account compilers
Martin, R., Mahood, S., O'Brien, A., Taylor, J., Derhé, M.
Contributors
Dutson, G.
Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Species factsheet: New Britain Thrush Zoothera talaseae. Downloaded from
https://datazone.birdlife.org/species/factsheet/new-britain-thrush-zoothera-talaseae on 22/12/2024.
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 22/12/2024.