Data Zone
Justification of Red List category
This species has a large range, and hence does not approach the thresholds for Vulnerable under the range size criterion (Extent of Occurrence under 20,000 km² combined with a declining or fluctuating range size, habitat extent/quality, or population size and a small number of locations or severe fragmentation). The population size has not been quantified, but it is not believed to approach the thresholds for Vulnerable under the population size criterion (under 10,000 mature individuals with a continuing decline estimated to be over 10% in ten years or three generations, or with a specified population structure). Despite the fact that the population trend appears to be decreasing, the decline is not believed to be sufficiently rapid to approach the thresholds for Vulnerable under the population trend criterion (over 30% decline over ten years or three generations). For these reasons the species is evaluated as Least Concern.
Population justification
The global population size has not been quantified, but the species is reported to be uncommon to rare throughout its range (del Hoyo et al. 1997). This species is considered to have a medium dependency on forest habitat, and tree cover is estimated to have declined by 7.3% within its mapped range over the past three generations (Global Forest Watch 2022, using Hansen et al. [2013] data and methods disclosed therein). Therefore, as a precautionary measure, it is tentatively suspected that this loss of cover may have led to a decline of between 1-19% in the species' population size over the same time frame.
Trend justification
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Hierococcyx pectoralis is endemic to the Philippines, occurring on the islands of Banton, Basilan, Bohol, Cagayancillo, Catanduanes, Cebu, Jolo, Leyte, Luzon, Mindanao, Mindoro, Negros, Palawan, Panay, Sibuyan, Siquijor, Tablas, and Ticao (Erritzoe et al. 2012). It is considered uncommon to rare, but also that it may be overlooked (Erritzoe et al. 2012).
Found in primary and secondary forest, including mossy dipterocarp forest, from the lowlands up to 2,300 m and is often found near water (Erritzoe et al. 2012). Occurs also in remnant patches of secondary woodland, mahogany plantations, and remnant forest patches in metropolitan Manila (D. L. Yong in litt. 2013). Small numbers were caught during migration studies at night at the Dalton Pass, Luzon in the autumns of 1967-1969 (Erritzoe et al. 2012).
28 cm. Smallish hawk-cuckoo, similar in appearance to several other species with a bright yellow eye-ring. Head and upperparts are slate grey in the adult, with a grey chin, white lores, throat and neck-sides. The underparts are pale rufous becoming white from the lower belly down. Subadults are grey-barred rufous where the adults are grey; the head may be nearly black and the underparts have heavy brown streaking on the breast and upper belly. Similar spp. Large Hawk-cuckoo C. sparverioides is larger with heavy dark barring below. C. fugax, C. nisicolor and C. hyperythrus have a black or dark grey chin spot. All have different vocalisations. Voice. A shrill "wheet-wheet-wheet-wheet-tu", 5-7 notes lasting about 1.5 seconds and repeated 9-10 times.
Text account compilers
Rutherford, C.A.
Contributors
Yong, D.
Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Species factsheet: Philippine Hawk-Cuckoo Hierococcyx pectoralis. Downloaded from
https://datazone.birdlife.org/species/factsheet/philippine-hawk-cuckoo-hierococcyx-pectoralis 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.