VU
Nilgiri Woodpigeon Columba elphinstonii



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.

IUCN Red List criteria met and history
Red List criteria met
Critically Endangered Endangered Vulnerable
- - C2a(ii)

Red List history
Year Category Criteria
2016 Vulnerable C2a(ii)
2012 Vulnerable C2a(ii)
2008 Vulnerable C2a(ii)
2007 Vulnerable
2004 Vulnerable
2000 Vulnerable
1994 Lower Risk/Near Threatened
1988 Threatened
Species attributes

Migratory status not a migrant Forest dependency high
Land-mass type continent
Average mass -
Range

Estimate Data quality
Extent of Occurrence (breeding/resident) 334,000 km2 medium
Number of locations 11-100 -
Severely fragmented? no -
Population
Estimate Data quality Derivation Year of estimate
Population size 2500-9999 mature individuals poor estimated 2000
Population trend decreasing poor suspected 2008-2025
Rate of change over the past 10 years/3 generations (longer of the two periods) 10-19% - - -
Rate of change over the future 10 years/3 generations (longer of the two periods) 10-19% - - -
Rate of change over the past & future 10 years/3 generations (longer of the two periods) 10-19% - - -
Generation length 5.6 years - - -
Number of subpopulations 1 - - -
Percentage of mature individuals in largest subpopulation 100% - - -

Population justification: The population is estimated to number 2,500-9,999 mature individuals based on an assessment of known records, descriptions of abundance and range size. This is consistent with recorded population density estimates for congeners or close relatives with a similar body size, and the fact that only a proportion of the estimated Extent of Occurrence is likely to be occupied. This may be conservative as the species may be rare in suitable habitat as encounter rates of 0.03-0.6 individuals/km have been recorded (Mehta and Kulkarni 2012) and c.71 individuals were found during surveys of Sahyadri Tiger Reserve (1165km2) (Koparde et al. 2015). The population size estimate is equivalent to 3,750-14,999 individuals, rounded here to 3,500-15,000 individuals (P. O. Nameer in litt. 2003).

Trend justification: This species is suspected to be declining at a moderate rate, based on on-going rates of habitat loss and potential hunting pressure.


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

Important Bird and Biodiversity Areas (IBA)
Country/Territory IBA Name
India Achankovil Forest Division
India Amarambalam Reserved Forest - Nilambur
India Amboli-Tilari Reserve Forest
India Anamudi Shola National Park
India Anshi National Park
India Aralam Wildlife Sanctuary
India Avalanche (Nilgiri)
India Bandipur National Park
India Bannerghatta National Park
India Berijam (Kodaikanal)
India Bhadra Wildlife Sanctuary
India Bhagwan Mahavir Wildlife Sanctuary (including Molem)
India Bhimashankar Wildlife Sanctuary
India Biligiri Rangaswamy Temple Wildlife Sanctuary and Hills
India Bison Swamp (Nilgiri)
India Brahmagiri Wildlife Sanctuary
India Cairn Hill Reserve Forest (Nilgiri)
India Camel’s Hump Mountains
India Cauvery Wildlife Sanctuary
India Chandoli National Park
India Chimmony Wildlife Sanctuary
India Chinnar Wildlife Sanctuary
India Cotigao Wildlife Sanctuary
India Dandeli Wildlife Sanctuary
India Eravikulam National Park
India Governor's Shola (Nilgiri)
India Grass Hills
India Idukki Wildlife Sanctuary
India Indira Gandhi Wildlife Sanctuary and National Park
India INS - Shivaji and adjoining areas, Lonavla
India Kalakad-Mundanthurai Tiger Reserve
India Karnala Bird Sanctuary
India Kemmangundi and Bababudan Hills
India Konni Reserve Forest
India Koyna Wildlife Sanctuary
India Kudremukh National Park
India Kulahupuzha Reserved Forest
India Kurinjimala Wildlife Sanctuary
India Longwood Shola - Kothagiri
India Mankulam Forest Division
India Mathikettan Shola National Park
India Megamalai Mountains
India Melagiris
India Mhadei Wildlife Sanctuary and area
India Mudumalai National Park
India Mukurthi National Park (Nilgiris)
India Muthikulam-Siruvani Reserve Forest
India Muthukuzhi
India Naduvattam
India Nagarhole National Park
India Nandi Hills
India Nelliyampathy (Nemmara Division)
India Netravali Wildlife Sanctuary
India Neyyar Wildlife Sanctuary
India Pampadum Shola National Park
India Parambikulam Wildlife Sanctuary
India Peechi - Vazhani Wildlife Sanctuary
India Peppara Wildlife Sanctuary
India Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary
India Phansad Wildlife Sanctuary
India Poomparai and Kukkal
India Pushpagiri Wildlife Sanctuary
India Radhanagari Wildlife Sanctuary
India Ranni Reserve Forest
India Sanjay Gandhi National Park
India Shendurney Wildlife Sanctuary
India Shola around Kodaikanal
India Silent Valley National Park
India Srivilliputhur Wildlife Sanctuary
India Talakaveri Wildlife Sanctuary
India Thaishola
India Thattekkad Wildlife Sanctuary
India Tirunelveli Reserve Forest
India Vazhachal Forest Division
India Wynaad Wildlife Sanctuary

Habitats & altitude
Habitat (level 1) Habitat (level 2) Importance Occurrence
Forest Subtropical/Tropical Moist Lowland major resident
Forest Subtropical/Tropical Moist Montane major resident
Altitude 20 - 2250 m Occasional altitudinal limits  

Threats & impact
Threat (level 1) Threat (level 2) Impact and Stresses
Agriculture & aquaculture Annual & perennial non-timber crops - Small-holder farming Timing Scope Severity Impact
Ongoing Majority (50-90%) Slow, Significant Declines Medium Impact: 6
Stresses
Ecosystem degradation, Ecosystem conversion
Agriculture & aquaculture Wood & pulp plantations - Scale Unknown/Unrecorded Timing Scope Severity Impact
Ongoing Majority (50-90%) Slow, Significant Declines Medium Impact: 6
Stresses
Ecosystem degradation, Ecosystem conversion
Biological resource use Hunting & trapping terrestrial animals - Intentional use (species is the target) Timing Scope Severity Impact
Ongoing Minority (<50%) Negligible declines Low Impact: 4
Stresses
Species mortality
Energy production & mining Mining & quarrying Timing Scope Severity Impact
Ongoing Minority (<50%) Slow, Significant Declines Low Impact: 5
Stresses
Ecosystem degradation, Ecosystem conversion
Energy production & mining Renewable energy Timing Scope Severity Impact
Ongoing Minority (<50%) Slow, Significant Declines Low Impact: 5
Stresses
Ecosystem degradation, Ecosystem conversion
Natural system modifications Dams & water management/use - Dams (size unknown) Timing Scope Severity Impact
Ongoing Minority (<50%) Slow, Significant Declines Low Impact: 5
Stresses
Ecosystem degradation, Ecosystem conversion
Residential & commercial development Housing & urban areas Timing Scope Severity Impact
Ongoing Majority (50-90%) Slow, Significant Declines Medium Impact: 6
Stresses
Ecosystem degradation, Ecosystem conversion
Residential & commercial development Tourism & recreation areas Timing Scope Severity Impact
Ongoing Minority (<50%) Slow, Significant Declines Low Impact: 5
Stresses
Ecosystem degradation, Ecosystem conversion

Utilisation
Purpose Scale
Food - human subsistence, national
Pets/display animals, horticulture international
Sport hunting/specimen collecting subsistence, national

Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Species factsheet: Nilgiri Woodpigeon Columba elphinstonii. Downloaded from https://datazone.birdlife.org/species/factsheet/nilgiri-woodpigeon-columba-elphinstonii 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.