Data Zone
Justification of Red List category
This species has a large range, and 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 species is suspected to be decreasing but only slowly, it hence does not meet or approach the thresholds for Vulnerable under the population trend criterion (>30% decline over ten years or three generations). The population size has not been directly quantified and although it may plausibly be moderately small, it does not 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
This species is described as uncommon and very patchily distributed (Watling 2001, Dutson 2011, O'Brien and Masibalavu 2017), though locally fairly abundant (Morley 2018). In Vanuatu, Tongoa and Emae are thought to be strongholds for the species (Parr 2007). Elsewhere in Vanuatu it appears to be uncommon or rare however and may number only a few thousand in the country overall (G. Dutson in litt. 2024). Based on point count data from 2016, the Samoan population was estimated to number 3,660-5,500 individuals (O'Brien and Masibalavu 2017), suggesting the largest subpopulation exceeds 1,000 mature individuals if it is assumed that each island population corresponds to a distinct subpopulation. The global population has not been directly quantified, though given a large proportion of its range lies outside of Samoa it may exceed 10,000 mature individuals. Considering this species’ apparent rarity and that much of its range is poorly studied, it is here tentatively suspected to fall within the band 7,000-19,999 mature individuals. An accurate quantification is urgently required.
Trend justification
In Vanuatu there have been no recent records from several islands where the species was recorded in the past suggesting it has become locally extinct or very scarce, perhaps owing to extensive logging and forest clearance (Bregulla 1992, Birchenough 2003, Dutson 2011). The current population trend has not been quantified directly, though the species may be affected by ongoing habitat loss in part of its range. Remote sensing data are not available to estimate the rate of tree cover loss within Samoa, though forest loss across the species' range in Vanuatu remains low, equivalent to c.2% in ten years (Global Forest Watch 2024, using data from Hansen et al. [2013] and methods disclosed therein). Although this does not account for additional impacts of degradation, this species occurs in secondary forest and open habitat and is considered to have a low forest dependency overall (Watling 2001, Dutson 2011, O'Brien and Masibalavu 2017). Opportunistic slingshot hunting of parrotfinches for food has been reported locally (Pratt and Mittermeier 2016, Morley 2018). It is also reportedly captured illegally for the caged bird trade, though numbers are likely small (Birchenough 2003, Golden 2014, Morley 2018). Precautionarily, the species is suspected to be declining slowly.
This species is endemic to Samoa where it occurs on Savai'i and Upolu, and Vanuatu where recent records come from Gaua, Santo, Epi, Tongoa, Emae and Efate (Dutson 2011). Older records in Vanuatu come from Ambae, Pentecost, Malekula, Ambrym, Paama, Lopevi and Aneityum (Dutson 2011).
The species occurs in old growth forest, forest edge, as well as degraded and open habitats with large fig trees (Watling 2001, Dutson 2011). On larger islands in Vanuatu it is thought to be more common in hills and mountains (Dutson 2011), though in Samoa it is more commonly found in lowland habitat (Butler 2012, Pratt and Mittermeier 2016, O'Brien and Masibalavu 2017).
In Vanuatu the population appears to have declined as a result of habitat loss as forest was cleared for logging, agriculture and gardens on islands with large human populations (Bregulla 1992, Birchenough 2003) and remote sensing data suggest that forest loss is slow but ongoing within the range (Global Forest Watch 2024, using data from Hansen et al. [2013] and methods disclosed therein). Lowland forest throughout Vanuatu continues to be under threat from local subsistence farming, slash-and burn agriculture, and cattle grazing (Anderson et al. 2017). Logging also remains a threat in Samoa, and invasive species are present and likely causing ongoing habitat degradation (Butler 2012). Large-scale weather events may also impact upon populations, with cyclones of 1990-1991 thought to have significantly affected the species in Samoa (Watling 2001). Opportunistic slingshot hunting of parrotfinches for food has been reported locally (Pratt and Mittermeier 2016, Morley 2018). It is also reportedly captured illegally for the caged bird trade, though numbers are likely small (Birchenough 2003, Golden 2014, Morley 2018).
Conservation Actions Underway
Local people have prevented people catching the species for the bird trade in the past on Tongoa, in the hope that the birds' presence will attract ecotourists (S. Totterman in litt. 2007).
Text account compilers
Vine, J.
Contributors
Totterman, S. & Dutson, G.
Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Species factsheet: Red-headed Parrotfinch Erythrura cyaneovirens. Downloaded from
https://datazone.birdlife.org/species/factsheet/red-headed-parrotfinch-erythrura-cyaneovirens on 24/12/2024.
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 24/12/2024.