Data Zone
Justification of Red List category
This newly split species is listed as Near Threatened, as it suspected to have undergone a moderately rapid population decline over the past three generations inferred from rates of habitat loss and degradation, coupled with an unquantified but apparently significant effect of hunting and trapping.
Population justification
The global population size has not been quantified, but the species is described as locally uncommon or rare (Wells 2016).
Trend justification
The population is suspected to be in decline owing to ongoing habitat destruction and fragmentation as well as hunting pressure (Wells 2016).
I. tweeddalii is found on Palawan, the Calamians and Balabac in the western Philippines.
The species is found in lowland broadleaf evergreen to semi-evergreen forest up to 700 m (Wells 2016, P. Widmann in litt. 2017). It is predominantly found in primary forest, although has been recorded from secondary forest (though it is unknown whether breeding occurs there) (P. Widmann in litt. 2017).
Habitat degradation and loss has occurred at a significant rate over recent decades within the range of the species (Wells 2016), with habitat being lost as land is illegally encroached upon and infrastructure is developed (P. Widmann in litt. 2016). Hunting has also been noted as a potential threat, though the population impact of hunting (if any) on the species is unclear.
21-25 cm. A flashy and distinctive bird, although similar to Asian Fairy-bluebird this species has a colder azure to turquoise blue areas rather than the royal or violet-blue seen in that species. Additionally the uppertail coverts are much shorter, revealing far more of the black tail.
Text account compilers
Westrip, J., Butchart, S., Martin, R., Ekstrom, J.
Contributors
Widmann, P.
Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Species factsheet: Palawan Fairy-bluebird Irena tweeddalii. Downloaded from
https://datazone.birdlife.org/species/factsheet/palawan-fairy-bluebird-irena-tweeddalii on 22/11/2024.
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 22/11/2024.