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Olive-backed Woodpecker Chloropicoides rafflesii



Taxonomy

Taxonomic note
A recent comprehensive molecular phylogeny of the Picidae recovered the genus Dinopium as paraphyletic, with Olive-backed Woodpecker D. rafflesii (del Hoyo & Collar 2014) sister to Pale-headed Woodpecker Gecinulus grantia. Kirwan & Collar (2020), having presented evidence that rafflesii is a distinctive woodpecker divergent from both Dinopium and Gecinulus, reviewed previous treatments and established, as firmly as the limited evidence allows, that the earliest generic name available for the species is Chloropicoides Malherbe, 1849. Original description previously attributed to Vigors and Horsfield, but Vigors alone was the author (Bruce 2003). Individual variation considerable, and subspecies poorly marked, differing only in size; described subspecies peninsulare (Malacca, in Peninsular Malaysia) considered synonymous with nominate. Two subspecies recognized.

Taxonomic source(s)
Handbook of the Birds of the World and BirdLife International. 2022. Handbook of the Birds of the World and BirdLife International digital checklist of the birds of the world. Version 7. Available at: https://datazone.birdlife.org/userfiles/file/Species/Taxonomy/HBW-BirdLife_Checklist_v7_Dec22.zip.

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

Red List history
Year Category Criteria
2024 Near Threatened A2c+3c+4c
2016 Near Threatened A2c+3c+4c
2012 Near Threatened A2c+3c+4c
2008 Near Threatened A2c; A3c; A4c
2004 Near Threatened
2000 Lower Risk/Near Threatened
1994 Lower Risk/Least Concern
1988 Lower Risk/Least Concern
Species attributes

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

Estimate Data quality
Extent of Occurrence (breeding/resident) 3,860,000 km2 medium
Severely fragmented? no -
Population
Estimate Data quality Derivation Year of estimate
Population size unknown - - -
Population trend decreasing poor inferred 2016-2029
Rate of change over the past 10 years/3 generations (longer of the two periods) 20-29% - - -
Rate of change over the future 10 years/3 generations (longer of the two periods) 20-29% - - -
Rate of change over the past & future 10 years/3 generations (longer of the two periods) 20-29% - - -
Generation length 4.29 years - - -
Number of subpopulations 3-50 - - -
Percentage of mature individuals in largest subpopulation 1-89% - - -

Population justification: The global population size of this species has not been quantified, but it is generally scarce in its range (Wells 1999, Eaton et al. 2021, eBird 2024) in remaining tracts of lowland forest, which remain widespread, although much reduced in extent compared to three generations ago. Accordingly, its global population size is likely to be relatively large.

Trend justification: No direct population trend data are available for this species, however remote sensing data are considered a suitable proxy for this forest-dependent species. Over the past three generations, forest cover within its range reduced by c. 18-22% (Global Forest Watch [2024], based on data from Hansen et al. [2013] and methods therein). This species is commonest at lower elevations, where rates have been most rapid, and the species may be additionally impacted by forest degradation and fragmentation. Accordingly, rates of population reduction may be slightly higher than remote sensing data alone indicate. Accordingly, the rate of population reduction for the past three generations is set at 20-29%.


Country/territory distribution
Country/Territory Presence Origin Resident Breeding visitor Non-breeding visitor Passage migrant
Brunei extant native yes
Indonesia extant native yes
Malaysia extant native yes
Myanmar extant native yes
Singapore extinct native yes
Thailand extant native yes

Important Bird and Biodiversity Areas (IBA)
Country/Territory IBA Name
Malaysia Belum-Temenggor
Malaysia Bintang Range
Malaysia Central Titiwangsa Range
Malaysia Danum Valley Conservation Area
Malaysia Endau-Rompin
Malaysia Gunung Penrissen
Malaysia Gunung Pueh
Malaysia Kabili-Sepilok
Malaysia Kelabit Highlands
Malaysia Kinabatangan floodplain
Malaysia Krau Wildlife Reserve
Malaysia Lambir Hills National Park
Malaysia Lanjak Entimau Wildlife Sanctuary
Malaysia Maliau Basin Conservation Area
Malaysia Mount Kinabalu
Malaysia Mulu - Buda Protected Area
Malaysia Panti forest
Malaysia Pondok Tanjung Forest Reserve
Malaysia Selangor Heritage Park
Malaysia Similajau National Park
Malaysia South-east Pahang peat swamp forest
Malaysia Tabin Wildlife Reserve
Malaysia Taman Negara National Park
Malaysia Tanjung Datu-Samunsam Protected Area
Thailand Bala Sector, Hala-Bala Wildlife Sanctuary
Thailand Chaloem Pra Kiet (Pa Phru to Daeng)
Thailand Kaeng Krachan
Thailand Khao Luang
Thailand Khao Nor Chuchi

Habitats & altitude
Habitat (level 1) Habitat (level 2) Importance Occurrence
Forest Subtropical/Tropical Mangrove Vegetation Above High Tide Level suitable resident
Forest Subtropical/Tropical Moist Lowland major resident
Forest Subtropical/Tropical Moist Montane suitable resident
Altitude 0 - 1600 m Occasional altitudinal limits  

Threats & impact
Threat (level 1) Threat (level 2) Impact and Stresses
Agriculture & aquaculture Annual & perennial non-timber crops - Agro-industry farming Timing Scope Severity Impact
Ongoing Minority (<50%) Slow, Significant Declines Low Impact: 5
Stresses
Ecosystem degradation, Ecosystem conversion
Agriculture & aquaculture Annual & perennial non-timber crops - Small-holder farming Timing Scope Severity Impact
Ongoing Minority (<50%) Slow, Significant Declines Low Impact: 5
Stresses
Ecosystem degradation, Ecosystem conversion
Agriculture & aquaculture Wood & pulp plantations - Agro-industry plantations Timing Scope Severity Impact
Ongoing Minority (<50%) Slow, Significant Declines Low Impact: 5
Stresses
Ecosystem degradation, Ecosystem conversion
Biological resource use Logging & wood harvesting - Unintentional effects: (large scale) [harvest] Timing Scope Severity Impact
Ongoing Minority (<50%) Slow, Significant Declines Low Impact: 5
Stresses
Ecosystem degradation, Ecosystem conversion
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
Stresses
Ecosystem degradation
Natural system modifications Fire & fire suppression - Increase in fire frequency/intensity Timing Scope Severity Impact
Ongoing Minority (<50%) Slow, Significant Declines Low Impact: 5
Stresses
Ecosystem degradation

Utilisation
Purpose Scale
Pets/display animals, horticulture subsistence, national, international

Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Species factsheet: Olive-backed Woodpecker Chloropicoides rafflesii. Downloaded from https://datazone.birdlife.org/species/factsheet/olive-backed-woodpecker-chloropicoides-rafflesii 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.