Data Zone
Justification of Red List category
This species is restricted to a single subpopulation on the island of Viti Levu where the population is small and inferred to be in decline. It is therefore assessed as Vulnerable.
Population justification
The species is endemic to Viti Levu where it has always been considered rare, though it may only be unobtrusive and patchily distributed (Clunie 1984). All records are from the wetter centre and east of Viti Levu (N. Bostock in litt. 2000, Watling 2000, D. Watling in litt. 2000), where surveys suggest that the species is widespread at low densities (D. Liley in litt. 2005). During 108.5 km of standardised transects, six individuals were recorded within 10 m of the observer, giving a density of 2.8 birds/km2, but this figure is based on very little data and should be treated with considerable caution. The species was recorded at 60% (8/13) of recent survey sites on Viti Levu but these sites were pre-selected to have the densest old-growth forest, suggesting that the species' area of occupancy may be up to 2,400 km2 (60% x 4,000 km2 of high- and medium-density rainforest on Viti Levu). This implies that total numbers of mature individuals falls in the band 2,500-9,999 (unpublished data from Fiji IBA project via G. Dutson in litt. 2005, D. Liley in litt. 2005). This roughly equates to 3,750-14,999 individuals in total, rounded here to 3,500-15,000 individuals. There is no more recent population estimate.
Trend justification
There are no direct data on population trends, however the species is inferred to be declining likely owing to habitat loss and possibly the effects of introduced predators. Although the species may persist in the core area of its range where access is difficult, it has disappeared from sites it used to be seen at regularly (M. O'Brien in litt. 2023) and as such it is precautionarily inferred to be declining overall.
Remote sensing data (Global Forest Watch 2022, using Hansen et al. [2013] data and methods disclosed therein) indicate that forest loss in this species' range has been low in the ten years to 2021 (equivalent to c.1-2%), however, small holder farms, livestock farming and construction are considered significant current threats to Fiji's terrestrial biodiversity through ongoing loss and fragmentation of habitat (O'Brien et al. 2021). The extent of kava cultivation has expanded as a result of increased commercial production, with the area covered by cultivation increasing at a rate of 15% per year from 2014 to 2018 (O'Brien et al. 2021).
Erythrura kleinschmidti is endemic to Viti Levu, Fiji.
It is mainly found in mature, wet forest up to 1,000 m, although there are records from secondary scrub and plantations. It has even been recorded breeding at the edge of secondary forest, but is nevertheless regarded as dependent on mature forest (Watling 2000). It feeds at mid-height along tree-trunks and branches, usually alone or in pairs but also joining mixed-species flocks, feeding primarily on insects, but also flower buds and fruit (Watling 1982, Pratt et al. 1987). Juveniles have been observed in August-September and January-February (Clunie 1984). It may be nomadic, as other parrotfinches, but repeated observation in the same spots suggests that it could be sedentary.
On Viti Levu, only c.50% of the island remains forested (Watling 2000). The most reliable site, Joske's Thumb, was logged in the early 1980s with a dramatic decline in the number of sightings (D. Watling in litt. 2000). Large-scale logging is no longer ongoing, but smallholder farms, livestock farming and construction of roads, transmission lines and telecommunication sites in areas of high biodiversity are considered significant current threats to Fiji's terrestrial biodiversity through ongoing loss and fragmentation of habitat (O'Brien et al. 2021). The expansion of kava cultivation represents a significant threat to remaining native forest given its positive impacts on Fiji's economy, with the area covered by cultivation increasing at a rate of 15% per year from 2014 to 2018 (O'Brien et al. 2021). The species is vulnerable to predation by invasive rats and mongoose (Olson et al. 2006) which may increase in severity as ongoing forest disturbance facilitates their spread and decreases the area of remaining remote forest refugia.
Conservation Actions Underway
It is protected under Fijian law. It has been recorded in the protected watershed forest near Suva.
11 cm. Robust, greenish finch with outsized bill. Olive-green with black face, bluish crown and nape and red rump. Conspicuously large, glossy-pink bill. Immature birds similar but duller, having orange-horn bill with black tip. Similar spp. Fiji Parrotfinch E. pealii is smaller and brighter green with much smaller, dark bill (though immatures have horn-coloured bill). Voice Little known other than a high-pitched chee-chee and a clicking sound. Hints Search any undisturbed mature forest in central and east Viti Levu, such as Joske's Thumb near Suva.
Text account compilers
Vine, J.
Contributors
Dutson, G., Liley, D., O'Brien, M. & Watling, D.
Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Species factsheet: Pink-billed Parrotfinch Erythrura kleinschmidti. Downloaded from
https://datazone.birdlife.org/species/factsheet/pink-billed-parrotfinch-erythrura-kleinschmidti 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.