VU
Pollen's Vanga Xenopirostris polleni



Taxonomy

Taxonomic source(s)
del Hoyo, J., Collar, N.J., Christie, D.A., Elliott, A., Fishpool, L.D.C., Boesman, P. and Kirwan, G.M. 2016. HBW and BirdLife International Illustrated Checklist of the Birds of the World. Volume 2: Passerines. Lynx Edicions and BirdLife International, Barcelona, Spain and Cambridge, UK.

IUCN Red List criteria met and history
Red List criteria met
Critically Endangered Endangered Vulnerable
- - A2c+3c+4c

Red List history
Year Category Criteria
2024 Vulnerable A2c+3c+4c
2016 Near Threatened A3c; C1
2012 Near Threatened A3c;C2a(i)
2008 Near Threatened A3c; C2a(i)
2004 Near Threatened
2000 Lower Risk/Near Threatened
1996 Vulnerable
1994 Vulnerable
1988 Threatened
Species attributes

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

Estimate Data quality
Extent of Occurrence (breeding/resident) 172,000 km2 medium
Severely fragmented? no -
Population
Estimate Data quality Derivation Year of estimate
Population size unknown - - -
Population trend decreasing - suspected 2016-2027
Rate of change over the past 10 years/3 generations (longer of the two periods) 30-40% - - -
Rate of change over the future 10 years/3 generations (longer of the two periods) 25-35% - - -
Rate of change over the past & future 10 years/3 generations (longer of the two periods) 35-45% - - -
Generation length 4 years - - -
Percentage of mature individuals in largest subpopulation 1-89% - - -

Population justification: The population size of this species has not been quantified, but it is thought to be rather small; it is considered patchily distributed and quite common to scarce where it is present within its range (Schulenberg 2013, Yamagishi and Nakamura 2020). Considering this patchy distribution and its suspected sedentary nature (Yamagishi and Nakamura 2020), several subpopulations are likely present, although further study is needed to confirm this.

Trend justification: Although this species may occur in degraded or secondary forest, it only does so when these habitats are adjacent to primary intact forest (Langrand 1990, Schulenberg 2013). It is therefore considered to be highly dependent on the latter habitat, which is decreasing within its range at a rapid rate (Yamagishi and Nakamura 2020, Global Forest Watch 2024). It is therefore suspected to be decreasing, with a rate of decline which is suspected to be rapid and in step with the loss of its habitat.
Forest cover within the species’ range reduced in extent by 32-34% over the past three generations, and is projected to decrease by approximately 34-36% between 2016 and 2027 (setting 2016 as the start year on account of the fact it was the year of most rapid loss) and, based on the average annual rate of loss over the past 5 years (2018-2023) approximately 28-29% over the next three generations (Global Forest Watch 2024, using Hansen et al. [2013] data and methods disclosed therein). It is suspected that the rate of population reduction is similar to rates of forest cover loss, but the former may be greater because of the additive impacts of habitat fragmentation and degradation (this is supported by findings that show it is sensitive to habitat fragmentation, with its density decreasing in line with the size of habitat parcels (Benjara et al. 2021)). The suspected rate of decline of the population size is therefore placed in the band of 30-40% decline over the past three generations, and 35-45% between 2016 and 2027 and 25-35% over the next three generations.


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

Important Bird and Biodiversity Areas (IBA)
Country/Territory IBA Name
Madagascar Andohahela National Park - Section I
Madagascar Andringitra National Park
Madagascar Ankeniheny Classified Forest
Madagascar Betampona Strict Nature Reserve
Madagascar Bezavona Classified Forest
Madagascar Kalambatritra Special Reserve
Madagascar Midongy South National Park
Madagascar Ranomafana National Park and extension
Madagascar Upper Rantabe Classified Forest
Madagascar Zahamena National Park and Strict Reserve

Habitats & altitude
Habitat (level 1) Habitat (level 2) Importance Occurrence
Forest Subtropical/Tropical Moist Lowland major resident
Forest Subtropical/Tropical Moist Montane major resident
Altitude 400 - 2000 m Occasional altitudinal limits  

Threats & impact
Threat (level 1) Threat (level 2) Impact and Stresses
Agriculture & aquaculture Annual & perennial non-timber crops - Shifting agriculture Timing Scope Severity Impact
Ongoing Majority (50-90%) Slow, Significant Declines Medium Impact: 6
Stresses
Species disturbance, Ecosystem degradation, Ecosystem conversion
Agriculture & aquaculture Annual & perennial non-timber crops - Small-holder farming Timing Scope Severity Impact
Ongoing Majority (50-90%) Slow, Significant Declines Medium Impact: 6
Stresses
Species disturbance, Ecosystem degradation, Ecosystem conversion
Biological resource use Logging & wood harvesting - Unintentional effects: (large scale) [harvest] Timing Scope Severity Impact
Ongoing Majority (50-90%) Slow, Significant Declines Medium Impact: 6
Stresses
Species disturbance, Ecosystem degradation, Ecosystem conversion

Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Species factsheet: Pollen's Vanga Xenopirostris polleni. Downloaded from https://datazone.birdlife.org/species/factsheet/pollens-vanga-xenopirostris-polleni on 08/12/2024.
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 08/12/2024.