Data Zone
Justification of Red List category
Nicobar Sparrowhawk is a very poorly known species known definitely from only four islands in the poorly studied Nicobar archipelago. It therefore has a small range and probably a small population, and is suspected to be declining because of habitat loss and degradation. Moreover, it occurs at only a handful of Locations. Accordingly, it is listed as Vulnerable.
Population justification
The status and population size of this species are very poorly known. There are no recent confirmed sightings of the nominate taxon from Car Nicobar, where there has apparently been widespread conversion of forest to coconut palm plantations (Praveen J in litt. 2023). During three years of surveys, R. Sankaran sighted 20-25 individuals of this species in its entire known range, and no sightings of this species were obtained in the coastal habitats of the Nicobar Islands during fieldwork in 2006 (K. Sivakumar in litt. 2012), whilst fieldwork from March 2009 to August 2011 produced only two sightings of single birds on Nancowry Island (A. P. Zaibin in litt. 2012). In recent eBird checklists from Kamorta and Nancowry, it is the least frequently recorded endemic. Robust estimates of abundance are lacking, but evidence strongly supports that this species occurs at a low density. Accordingly, and acknowledging considerable uncertainty, the population is suspected to number 500-2,500 mature individuals.
Trend justification
In the most recent three generations (16 years: 2006-2022) forest cover extent in the species' range reduced by c. 5% (Global Forest Watch 2023, based on data from Hansen et al. [2013] and methods disclosed therein). Given that the species is apparently restricted to forest habitats, it is suspected to be declining at a similar rate to that of forest loss. Moreover, habitat degradation, and potentially some hunting (A. Singh in litt. 2023) may be driving additive declines, although the latter threat is wholly speculative. Accordingly, the species is suspected to be declining at an ongoing rate of 5-15%.
Accipiter butleri is endemic to the Nicobar Islands in the Bay of Bengal, India, where it is only known with certainty from Kamorta, Katchall, Nancowry and Car Nicobar islands (Pande et al. 2007, Sundaramoorthy 2010, eBird 2023, Sivaperuman et al. 2018). As many islands in the archipelago are poorly studied, it is possible that it is more widely distributed, although it is considered unlikely that this species occurs in the South Nicobar Islands (Praveen J in litt. 2023).
This species is apparently restricted to forested habitats, mostly below 100 m (Ferguson-Lees & Christie 2001). There is very little information available about its breeding and feeding ecology, but lizards and insects have been recorded as food items (Ferguson-Lees and Christie 2001).
The primary threat to this species appears to be habitat loss and degradation, and this has accelerated since the arrival of migrants from mainland India in the late 1960s. Clearance for agriculture and urban development have increased greatly, and much of Car Nicobar, for example, is now coconut palm plantations (Praveen J in litt. 2023). Hunting with airguns has become far commoner in recent years (A. Singh in litt. 2023), although it is unknown whether this species is hunted or, if it is, at an intensity that is driving declines.
Conservation Actions Underway
The species is protected under Indian Wildlife legislation. No targeted conservation measures are known to have been implemented and there are no large protected areas in its range.
30 cm. Medium-sized forest-dwelling hawk. Adult males have pale grey upperparts; dark primaries; dark sub-terminal band to the tail and pale underparts with rusty breast and flank barring. Females and immatures are rich rufous brown with 3-5 dark bands on the uppertail.
Text account compilers
Berryman, A., Haskell, L.
Contributors
Sivakumar, K., Zaibin, A., Pande, S., Westrip, J.R.S., Taylor, J., Benstead, P., Crosby, M., Bird, J., Praveen, J. & Singh, A.P.
Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Species factsheet: Nicobar Sparrowhawk Accipiter butleri. Downloaded from
https://datazone.birdlife.org/species/factsheet/nicobar-sparrowhawk-accipiter-butleri 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.