Data Zone
Taxonomic source(s)
del Hoyo, J., Collar, N.J., Christie, D.A., Elliott, A. and Fishpool, L.D.C. 2014. HBW and BirdLife International Illustrated Checklist of the Birds of the World. Volume 1: Non-passerines. Lynx Edicions BirdLife International, Barcelona, Spain and Cambridge, UK.
| Critically Endangered | Endangered | Vulnerable |
|---|---|---|
| - | - | - |
| Year | Category | Criteria |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | Near Threatened | A2cd+3cd+4cd |
| 2016 | Near Threatened | A3d |
| 2012 | Near Threatened | A3d |
| 2008 | Near Threatened | A3d |
| 2004 | Near Threatened | |
| 2000 | Lower Risk/Near Threatened | |
| 1996 | Vulnerable | |
| 1994 | Vulnerable | |
| 1988 | Threatened |
| Migratory status | not a migrant | Forest dependency | high |
| Land-mass type | Average mass | - |
| Estimate | Data quality | |
|---|---|---|
| Extent of Occurrence (breeding/resident) | 22,600 km2 | medium |
| Severely fragmented? | no | - |
| Estimate | Data quality | Derivation | Year of estimate | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Population size | 100000-220000 mature individuals | medium | estimated | 2017 |
| Population trend | decreasing | poor | suspected | 2013-2034 |
| Rate of change over the past 10 years/3 generations (longer of the two periods) | 5-29% | - | - | - |
| Rate of change over the future 10 years/3 generations (longer of the two periods) | 5-29% | - | - | - |
| Rate of change over the past & future 10 years/3 generations (longer of the two periods) | 5-29% | - | - | - |
| Generation length | 7.18 years | - | - | - |
| Number of subpopulations | 2 | - | - | - |
| Percentage of mature individuals in largest subpopulation | 99% | - | - | - |
Population justification: This species is described as fairly common where not hunted (Ekstrom et al. 2002, Dutson 2011). Studies have estimated much higher populations than previously surmised, with 1,500-7,000 individuals for Rivière Bleue National Park depending on the season (Grillet 1995, J-P. Demoncheaux in litt. 1997, Y. Létocart verbally 1998) and 100,000 individuals for the entire island (Ekstrom et al. 2000, 2002). More recently, distance sampling surveys resulted in an average density of 35 pigeons per km² (24-50) and an occupancy for the entire mainland of 42% at 3763 listening points (Theuerkauf et al. 2017). Based on this and the area of tree cover remaining in the range, the population estimate is estimated to fall within the range 100,000-220,000 mature individuals. A small population also occurs on the Ile des Pins (Gibbs et al. 2001).
Trend justification: The species is thought to be tolerant of habitat disturbance to some extent, and forest loss detected by remote sensing data is ongoing at a slow rate (c.2-3% over three generations) in the range (Global Forest Watch 2024, using data from Hansen et al. [2013] and methods disclosed therein). However, this does not take into account additional impacts of degradation which is plausibly compounding declines. It is additionally subject to very high hunting pressure, with regulations poorly enforced and evidence that the species is no longer present in certain areas where mining has established (F. Brescia in litt. 2024). Although the species appears to remain common and widespread (Ekstrom et al. 2002, Dutson 2011), very high numbers are hunted annually: a 2010 survey on tribal agriculture in New Caledonia revealed that 20,000 are hunted annually in the northern and southern provinces (Guyard et al. 2014), and it has been suggested that hunting pressure, as well as habitat loss/degradation, may have intensified during the last three-generation period (J. J. Cassan in litt. 2024, F. Brescia in litt. 2024, M. Oedin in litt. 2024, Société Calédonienne d’Ornithologie in litt. 2024). While uncertain, considering ongoing habitat degradation and intensive hunting pressure, it is plausible that the overall rate of population decline may exceed 20% in the relatively long three-generation period of 21.6 years. As such, the suspected rate of decline is tentatively placed in a wide band of 5-29%.
| Country/Territory | Presence | Origin | Resident | Breeding visitor | Non-breeding visitor | Passage migrant |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| New Caledonia (to France) | extant | native | yes |
| Country/Territory | IBA Name |
|---|---|
| New Caledonia (to France) | Aoupinié |
| New Caledonia (to France) | Boulinda |
| New Caledonia (to France) | Bwa Opana |
| New Caledonia (to France) | Dent de Saint-Vincent |
| New Caledonia (to France) | Entre les monts Nakada et Do |
| New Caledonia (to France) | Entre les monts Rembaï et Canala |
| New Caledonia (to France) | Entre Table Unio et Farino |
| New Caledonia (to France) | Forêt Plate |
| New Caledonia (to France) | Goro Até et haute vallée de la rivière Tchamba |
| New Caledonia (to France) | Goro Jé et haute vallée de la rivière Amoa |
| New Caledonia (to France) | Grand Koum |
| New Caledonia (to France) | Hautes vallées des rivières Néaoua, Koua et Kouaoua |
| New Caledonia (to France) | Massif des Lèvres |
| New Caledonia (to France) | Massif du Mé Kanin, Sphinx et Arago |
| New Caledonia (to France) | Massif du Panié |
| New Caledonia (to France) | Massifs du Grand Sud - entre le mont Humboldt et la rivière Bleue |
| New Caledonia (to France) | Mé Maoya |
| New Caledonia (to France) | Pic Ningua |
| New Caledonia (to France) | Presqu'île de Pindaï |
| New Caledonia (to France) | Prokoméo |
| Habitat (level 1) | Habitat (level 2) | Importance | Occurrence |
|---|---|---|---|
| Forest | Subtropical/Tropical Moist Lowland | major | resident |
| Forest | Subtropical/Tropical Moist Montane | major | resident |
| Altitude | 0 - 1500 m | Occasional altitudinal limits |
| Threat (level 1) | Threat (level 2) | Impact and Stresses | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Agriculture & aquaculture | Annual & perennial non-timber crops - Small-holder farming | Timing | Scope | Severity | Impact | ||||
| Ongoing | Minority (<50%) | Slow, Significant Declines | Low Impact: 5 | ||||||
|
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| Biological resource use | Hunting & trapping terrestrial animals - Intentional use (species is the target) | Timing | Scope | Severity | Impact | ||||
| Ongoing | Minority (<50%) | Slow, Significant Declines | Low Impact: 5 | ||||||
|
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| Biological resource use | Logging & wood harvesting - Unintentional effects: (subsistence/small scale) [harvest] | Timing | Scope | Severity | Impact | ||||
| Ongoing | Minority (<50%) | Slow, Significant Declines | Low Impact: 5 | ||||||
|
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| Energy production & mining | Mining & quarrying | Timing | Scope | Severity | Impact | ||||
| Ongoing | Minority (<50%) | Slow, Significant Declines | Low Impact: 5 | ||||||
|
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| Invasive and other problematic species, genes & diseases | Invasive non-native/alien species/diseases - Rusa timorensis | Timing | Scope | Severity | Impact | ||||
| Ongoing | Minority (<50%) | Slow, Significant Declines | Low Impact: 5 | ||||||
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| Natural system modifications | Fire & fire suppression - Trend Unknown/Unrecorded | Timing | Scope | Severity | Impact | ||||
| Ongoing | Minority (<50%) | Slow, Significant Declines | Low Impact: 5 | ||||||
|
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| Purpose | Scale |
|---|---|
| Food - human | subsistence, national |
| Sport hunting/specimen collecting | subsistence, national |
Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Species factsheet: New Caledonian Imperial-pigeon Ducula goliath. Downloaded from
https://datazone.birdlife.org/species/factsheet/new-caledonian-imperial-pigeon-ducula-goliath 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.