Data Zone
Justification of Red List category
This species has an extremely 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. The status of this species was recently reassessed against the IUCN Red List criteria at national level for the Action Plan for Australian Birds 2020 (Garnet and Baker 2021), and not found to approach or meet the thresholds for threatened status, thereby supporting its continuing treatment as globally Least Concern.
Population justification
The global population size has not been quantified, but the species is described as uncommon or locally common. In 2006 the species was abundant at Mornington Station, central Kimberley (S. Legge in litt. 2006) and large flocks were seen in Nathan River National Park, south-west Gulf of Carpentaria (D. Hooper in litt. 2006). Numbers have been roughly estimated at c.50,000 individuals but this appears to fluctuate greatly. The population is suspected to be in decline owing to ongoing habitat destruction. The mobility of the species, however, makes its status difficult to assess, and the analyses of changes in reporting rate over the last 25 years failed to reveal clear trends, with increases in frequency indicated in half the regions where the species occurs, decreases in four and stability in two.
Trend justification
The population is suspected to be in decline owing to ongoing habitat destruction. The mobility of the species, however, makes its status difficult to assess, and the analyses of changes in reporting rate over the last 25 years failed to reveal clear trends, with increases in frequency indicated in half the regions where the species occurs, decreases in four and stability in two.
This species is found in northern Australia, between the Fitzroy River Valley, Western Australia, and the upper Burdekin and central-western Cape York Peninsula, Queensland.
The age ratio in flocks at Mornington Station ranged from 1 adult to every 20 juveniles to 1 adult to every 40 juveniles highlighting the temporal variability in the species's population size.
An increase in the incidence of airsac mite, which also affects the threatened Gouldian Finch Erythrura gouldiae, may be indicative of a decline or of environmental stress from other causes. Changes in the burning regime, and the introduction of stock including cattle, sheep and horses, are likely to have affected the species, but the mechanism by which this has occurred is unknown. Owing to the lack of firm evidence for population trends, further moitoring of population size and potential threats are warranted.
Text account compilers
Rutherford, C.A.
Contributors
Garnett, S.
Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Species factsheet: Pictorella Mannikin Heteromunia pectoralis. Downloaded from
https://datazone.birdlife.org/species/factsheet/pictorella-mannikin-heteromunia-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.