Data Zone
Justification of Red List category
Nicobar Imperial-pigeon remains common in much of its small range, but it is inferred to be undergoing a continuing decline due to high hunting pressure, particularly on Car Nicobar. As parts of the range are not subject to this threat, the species does not meet the criteria for listing as threatened. It is currently assessed as Near Threatened, on the basis that it has an Extent of Occurrence below 20,000 km2 and is declining.
Population justification
It is common in forested areas throughout the Andaman Islands, and is still frequently encountered in the Nicobar Islands. On Car Nicobar the species has suffered a rapid decline attributed to high rates of hunting (Sankaran 1998) and the species now appears to be infrequent or rare on the island (eBird 2021). Hunting is suspected to be a minor problem for the species on several other islands, but there are large protected areas on Great Nicobar and on some smaller islands such as Tillanchong the species is still said to be abundant (Sankaran 1998). Tillanchong is virtually undisturbed and protected by a strong local protection system. Rates of deforestation within the range have been low since the significant damage caused by a tsunami in 2004. Tree cover loss between 2000 and 2020 has been estimated from satellite imagery to be 2.5% (Global Forest Watch 2021), which is approximately equivalent to three generations (20.8 years). The observation that the species also uses areas of tree crops indicates that these levels may not necessarily lead to population impacts, however it has been reported that abundance is much lower than in the past (Kirwan et al. 2020).
Trend justification
The population is inferred to be declining due to hunting on Car Nicobar (Sankaran 1998) and possibly elsewhere in the range. While parts of the range and population are secure and assumed to be stable, on Car Nicobar the population is reported to have suffered a rapid decline and is now infrequently recorded (eBird 2021).
Ducula nicobarica is restricted to islands in the Nicobar group, from Car Nicobar south through all the main islands and smaller islands (Sankaran 1998; Pande et al. 2007), India. It remains common ('exceedingly abundant'; Sankaran [1998]) especially on smaller islands such as Tillanchong (Sankaran 1998). It is however suspected there has been a reduction in overall population size from historical levels: it was described as 'swarming' on some islands (Butler 1899-1900). It requires lowland forest, but feeds on fruiting trees in agricultural landscapes throughout the range. The occupied range size has recently been estimated at 1,150 km2 (State of India's Birds 2020), although this excludes Car Nicobar and areas of probable occurrence, and is not scaled to a 2 km by 2 km grid. There continue to be records on Car Nicobar (eBird 2021; GBIF.org 2021), and (when scaled appropriately) the range of the maximum Area of Occupancy (AOO) inferred from the occupied and probably occupied range has here been calculated as 2,340-2,544 km2.
The species is recorded primarily in lowland evergreen forest, including secondary and degraded forest, mangroves, forest agriculture and gardens. It breeds in coconut trees (Sivakumar 2003), though tall dipterocarps are assumed to be more typical with nests at heights of 26-39 m (Sivakumar 2003). It is assumed to be resident, but its occurrence on small islands indicates that inter-island movements are likely (Kirwan et al. 2020). It is a frugivore, although there is little information on its diet (Kirwan et al. 2020).
Hunting with airguns is suspected to have caused a rapid decline on Car Nicobar Island (Sankaran 1998), and may also be impacting the population on other islands such as Little Nicobar. On Tillanchong hunting is banned, and it is also prohibited within the Great Nicobar Biosphere Reserve.
Conservation actions in place
No direct conservation actions for the species are known. It occurs in Campbell Bay National Park and Galathea National Park on Great Nicobar, which are both within the UNESCO Great Nicobar Biosphere Reserve, designated in 2013.
Conservation actions needed
To address the much depleted population on Car Nicobar it will be necessary to restrict the extent and severity of hunting the species. Ensuring that the species is recognised in environmental legislation at the national level and by the Andaman and Nicobar Administration is the vital first step in addressing threats to the species. A parallel program of community education to highlight that the species is now recognised as an endemic species occurring only on the islands may allow the introduction of restrictions on hunting, which are required on Car Nicobar. The apparent low habitat specificity of the species suggests that if hunting pressure is reduced, the population should stabilise. An initial density-based sampling survey is required to estimate the global population size. A regular monitoring program for all bird species at sampled sites on each island is needed to assess population trends.
Text account compilers
Martin, R.
Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Species factsheet: Nicobar Imperial-pigeon Ducula nicobarica. Downloaded from
https://datazone.birdlife.org/species/factsheet/nicobar-imperial-pigeon-ducula-nicobarica 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.