Data Zone
Justification of Red List category
This species has a large range, hence does not approach the thresholds for Vulnerable under the range size criterion (Extent of Occurrence <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 Area of Occupancy has not been estimated for the species, but is believed to greatly exceed the threshold for Vulnerable. 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 (>30% decline over ten years or three generations). The population size is uncertain, and may be moderately small, but it is not believed to approach the thresholds for Vulnerable under the population size criterion (<10,000 mature individuals with a continuing decline estimated to be >10% in ten years or three generations, or with a specified population structure). For these reasons the species is evaluated as Least Concern.
Population justification
Previously the population was very roughly set as 1,000-100,000 individuals. The lower bound of this is unlikely given the size of the range and likely density of the species, but there is no reliable estimate of population size.
Trend justification
The population is declining owing to habitat destruction, intense egg collecting and hunting (del Hoyo et al. 1994). The rate of deforestation within the mapped range of the species has been 2.8% over 19 years (2001-2019 [Global Forest Watch 2020]), equivalent at the same average rate to 3.5% forest loss over three generations (23.5 years). As such, the species is suspected to be suffering a slow population reduction.
Occurs on the West Papuan Islands of Salawati and Misool and Vogelkop, northwest Papua and from the Bomberai peninsula to the southern foothills of the Snow Mountains east to the Mimika River (Indonesia). The range overlaps with that of T. fuscirostris in the latter areas, with this species occupying higher elevations where both are present (Holmes 1989). Considered common above 100 m on Misool Island, with sparse human densities and likely to be secure despite intensive egg collection close to settlements (Jones et al. 1995).
Occurs from close to sea level to at least 1,600 m (Holmes 1989). Mound-builder, apparently breeding throughout the year (Elliot and Kirwan 2020). It is assumed that males defend a mound based territory and multiple females lay in mounds of successful males. Mounds found at the base of large trees and may be up to 3.6 m wide (Jones et al. 1995).
Rates of deforestation have been increasing in Papua, but much of the range is in remote areas. The total loss of forest in the mapped range between 2001 and 2019 has been 2.8% (Global Forest Watch 2020), equivalent to 3.5% over three generations (23.5 years).
Protected under Indonesian law.
Text account compilers
Martin, R.
Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Species factsheet: Red-billed Brushturkey Talegalla cuvieri. Downloaded from
https://datazone.birdlife.org/species/factsheet/red-billed-brushturkey-talegalla-cuvieri on 18/12/2024.
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 18/12/2024.