• Summary
• Text account
• Data table and detailed info
• Distribution map
• Reference and further resources

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.

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;C1
2012	Near Threatened	A2c+3c+4c;C1
2008	Near Threatened	A2c; A3c; A4c; C1
2004	Near Threatened
2000	Lower Risk/Near Threatened
1994	Lower Risk/Least Concern
1988	Lower Risk/Least Concern

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

	Estimate	Data quality
Extent of Occurrence (breeding/resident)	275,000 km2	medium
Severely fragmented?	no	-

	Estimate	Data quality	Derivation	Year of estimate
Population size	unknown	-	-	-
Population trend	decreasing	poor	inferred	2016-2027
Rate of change over the past 10 years/3 generations (longer of the two periods)	15-25%	-	-	-
Rate of change over the future 10 years/3 generations (longer of the two periods)	15-25%	-	-	-
Rate of change over the past & future 10 years/3 generations (longer of the two periods)	15-25%	-	-	-
Generation length	3.55 years	-	-	-
Number of subpopulations	3-10	-	-	-
Percentage of mature individuals in largest subpopulation	1-89%	-	-	-

Population justification: The global population size has not been quantified, but the species is described as locally common in its range (Allen 2020). The species has a relatively large range, with large tracts of suitable habitat remaining, particularly on Mindanao, Panay and Samar/Leyte. Accordingly, while its global population size is set to unknown, it is not thought to number fewer than 10,000 mature individuals.

Trend justification: Direct population trend data are lacking for this species although it is considered to be highly forest-dependent (at least for nesting) notwithstanding the fact it has occasionally been observed feeding over degraded landscapes (Allen 2020). Over the past three generations (11 years: 2013-2024) forest cover within its range has reduced by c. 15% (Global Forest Watch 2024, based on data from Hansen et al. [2013] and methods therein), but this doesn't account for additional impacts of selective logging and degradation, with large tracts of forest in its range, particularly on Mindanao, now heavily modified (Grantham et al. 2020). Accordingly, forest cover trends alone are thought to represent the minimum value of likely population reduction over the same timeframe, which is suspected to be 15-25%. Annual rates of forest loss in the past five years have been similar to the years before then, such that rates of population reduction are thought likely to continue at the same rate over the next three generations, unless conservation action adequately safeguards the lowland forests upon which this species depends.

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

Country/Territory	IBA Name
Philippines	Anonang-Lobi Range
Philippines	Biliran and Maripipi Island
Philippines	Bislig
Philippines	Central Cebu (including Tabunan)
Philippines	Cuernos de Negros
Philippines	Mount Apo
Philippines	Mount Hilong-hilong
Philippines	Mount Kangbulagsing and Mount Lanaya
Philippines	Mount Kanla-on Natural Park
Philippines	Mount Kitanglad
Philippines	Mount Nacolod
Philippines	Nug-as and Mount Lantoy
Philippines	Pasonanca watershed
Philippines	Tawi-tawi Island

Habitat (level 1)	Habitat (level 2)	Importance	Occurrence
Forest	Subtropical/Tropical Moist Lowland	major	resident
Altitude	0 - 1000 m	Occasional altitudinal limits

Threat (level 1)	Threat (level 2)	Impact and Stresses
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, Ecosystem conversion
Energy production & mining	Mining & quarrying	Timing		Scope		Severity		Impact
		Ongoing		Minority (<50%)		Negligible declines		Low Impact: 4
		Stresses Ecosystem degradation, Ecosystem conversion

---

Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Species factsheet: Philippine Spinetail Mearnsia picina. Downloaded from https://datazone.birdlife.org/species/factsheet/philippine-spinetail-mearnsia-picina 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.