LC
New Zealand Grebe Poliocephalus rufopectus



Taxonomy

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.
Turbott, E.G. 1990. Checklist of the Birds of New Zealand. Ornithological Society of New Zealand, Wellington.

IUCN Red List criteria met and history
Red List criteria met
Critically Endangered Endangered Vulnerable
- - -

Red List history
Year Category Criteria
2022 Least Concern
2016 Near Threatened D1
2015 Near Threatened D1
2012 Vulnerable C2a(i)
2008 Vulnerable C2a(i)
2004 Vulnerable
2000 Vulnerable
1996 Endangered
1994 Endangered
1988 Lower Risk/Least Concern
Species attributes

Migratory status not a migrant Forest dependency does not normally occur in forest
Land-mass type Average mass 249 g
Range

Estimate Data quality
Extent of Occurrence (breeding/resident) 260,000 km2 medium
Severely fragmented? no -
Population
Estimate Data quality Derivation Year of estimate
Population size 1000-5000, 2000-4000 mature individuals poor estimated 2021
Population trend increasing poor suspected 2016-2030
Generation length 4.8 years - - -
Number of subpopulations 1 - - -
Percentage of mature individuals in largest subpopulation 100% - - -

Population justification: The species was previously estimated to number 1,900-2,000 birds with c.200 in Northland, c.700 in the Volcanic Plateau, c.400 in the Hawkes Bay, c.150 in Wairarapa and c.400 in Manawatu (Heather and Robertson 1997). More than 750 were counted at Rotorua lakes alone in 2018 (J. Innes in lit. 2022). The population trend was believed to be stable in 2008 and 2012 (Miskelly et al. 2008, Robertson et al. 2013) and to be increasing at a rate of more than 10% over three generations in 2016 and 2021 (Robertson et al. 2017, 2021). For this reason, the population size is now thought to be higher than that estimated in 1997. The estimation of 1,000-5,000 mature individuals made by Robertson et al. (2017, 2021) is therefore followed here, but with a best guess of 2,000-4,000 mature individuals.

Trend justification: The population was formerly precautionarily suspected to be in decline owing primarily to habitat loss and modification and the impacts of human disturbance and introduced predators, however the species appears to be now stable or increasing (Robertson et al. 2017, 2021); for example, it has recently recolonised Southland (Petyt 2013, eBird 2021) and the population in the Rotorua Lakes area (a significant portion of the global population) has been increasing steadily with 364 individuals in 1985, 572 in 2011 (Sachtleben et al. 2014) and 757 in 2018 (J. Innes in litt. 2022).


Country/territory distribution
Country/Territory Presence Origin Resident Breeding visitor Non-breeding visitor Passage migrant
New Zealand extant native yes

Important Bird and Biodiversity Areas (IBA)
Country/Territory IBA Name
New Zealand Rotorua Sulphur Point
New Zealand Wairarapa Moana Ruamahanga

Habitats & altitude
Habitat (level 1) Habitat (level 2) Importance Occurrence
Artificial/Aquatic & Marine Artificial/Aquatic - Water Storage Areas (over 8ha) major resident
Wetlands (inland) Permanent Freshwater Lakes (over 8ha) major resident
Wetlands (inland) Permanent Freshwater Marshes/Pools (under 8ha) major resident
Altitude 0 - 800 m Occasional altitudinal limits  

Threats & impact
Threat (level 1) Threat (level 2) Impact and Stresses
Agriculture & aquaculture Marine & freshwater aquaculture - Scale Unknown/Unrecorded Timing Scope Severity Impact
Ongoing Majority (50-90%) Negligible declines Low Impact: 5
Stresses
Species disturbance
Human intrusions & disturbance Recreational activities Timing Scope Severity Impact
Ongoing Majority (50-90%) Negligible declines Low Impact: 5
Stresses
Species disturbance
Invasive and other problematic species, genes & diseases Invasive non-native/alien species/diseases - Mustela erminea Timing Scope Severity Impact
Ongoing Majority (50-90%) Negligible declines Low Impact: 5
Stresses
Species mortality
Invasive and other problematic species, genes & diseases Invasive non-native/alien species/diseases - Mustela furo Timing Scope Severity Impact
Ongoing Majority (50-90%) Negligible declines Low Impact: 5
Stresses
Species mortality
Invasive and other problematic species, genes & diseases Invasive non-native/alien species/diseases - Mustela nivalis Timing Scope Severity Impact
Ongoing Majority (50-90%) Negligible declines Low Impact: 5
Stresses
Species mortality
Invasive and other problematic species, genes & diseases Invasive non-native/alien species/diseases - Named species Timing Scope Severity Impact
Ongoing Majority (50-90%) Negligible declines Low Impact: 5
Stresses
Reduced reproductive success
Invasive and other problematic species, genes & diseases Invasive non-native/alien species/diseases - Tachybaptus novaehollandiae Timing Scope Severity Impact
Ongoing Minority (<50%) Unknown Unknown
Stresses
Competition
Invasive and other problematic species, genes & diseases Invasive non-native/alien species/diseases - Trichosurus vulpecula Timing Scope Severity Impact
Ongoing Majority (50-90%) Negligible declines Low Impact: 5
Stresses
Species mortality

Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Species factsheet: New Zealand Grebe Poliocephalus rufopectus. Downloaded from https://datazone.birdlife.org/species/factsheet/new-zealand-grebe-poliocephalus-rufopectus 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.