VU
Red-lored Whistler Pachycephala rufogularis



Taxonomy

Taxonomic source(s)
Christidis, L. and Boles, W.E. 2008. Systematics and Taxonomy of Australian Birds. CSIRO Publishing, Collingwood, Australia.
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
- - B2ab(ii,iii,v); C2a(i)

Red List history
Year Category Criteria
2022 Vulnerable B2ab(ii,iii,v)
2016 Vulnerable B2ab(i,ii,iii,iv,v); C2a(i)
2012 Vulnerable B2ab(i,ii,iii,iv,v);C2a(i)
2008 Near Threatened C2a(i)
2004 Near Threatened
2000 Lower Risk/Near Threatened
1996 Lower Risk/Conservation Dependent
1994 Lower Risk/Conservation Dependent
1988 Threatened
Species attributes

Migratory status not a migrant Forest dependency does not normally occur in forest
Land-mass type Australia
Average mass 37 g
Range

Estimate Data quality
Extent of Occurrence (breeding/resident) 196,000 km2 medium
Area of Occupancy (breeding/resident) 1,400 km2
Number of locations 10 -
Severely fragmented? no -
Population
Estimate Data quality Derivation Year of estimate
Population size 1000-5000, 4100 mature individuals poor estimated 2020
Population trend decreasing poor inferred -
Rate of change over the past 10 years/3 generations (longer of the two periods) 20-29% - - -
Generation length 4.31 years - - -
Number of subpopulations 3-4 - - -
Percentage of mature individuals in largest subpopulation 1-89% - - -

Population justification: The population of Red-lored Whistler is difficult to estimate because they are patchily distributed in most areas even if the habitat seems suitable. The population at Round Hill and Nombinnie Nature Reserves was estimated at 500 in 2017–2018 (NSW OEH 2018), with 100 in Riverland Reserve in 2012 (P. Waanders 2012, unpublished), about 2400 in Murray–Sunset in 2018–2019 (S. Verdon unpublished) and about 200 in the Big Desert (R. Clarke unpublished). The maximum population has been estimated from the mean of the product of recorded densities (2 birds/km2, Woinarski [1987]; 10 birds/km2, Moise [2008]) and the AOO.

Trend justification: A continuing decline is likely. Fire and drought have greatly reduced the population size in Riverland Biosphere Reserve, and Billiatt and Ngarkat Conservation Parks within the last three generations (P Waanders, L Ireland, C Hedger, R Boulton unpublished) but trends outside South Australia are unclear. In the last 30 years, they have disappeared from the northern Eyre Peninsula (since 1996), Mount Boothby and Ferries-McDonald Conservation Parks (since 1980s) and all habitat east of the Murray River in South Australia; from Pulletop Nature Reserve (since 1982), near Ennisvale, Springwood Station and Tarawi Nature Reserves (since 1996) in New South Wales; and Hattah-Kulkyne National Park, Bronzewing and Wathe Flora and Fauna Reserves (since 1980s; DEWLP 2016). Historically large parts of its range have been lost to habitat conversion, however recent declines have been primarily driven by fires.


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

Important Bird and Biodiversity Areas (IBA)
Country/Territory IBA Name
Australia Central NSW Mallee
Australia Murray-Sunset, Hattah and Annuello
Australia Riverland Mallee
Australia Wyperfeld, Big Desert and Ngarkat

Habitats & altitude
Habitat (level 1) Habitat (level 2) Importance Occurrence
Shrubland Mediterranean-type Shrubby Vegetation major resident
Altitude 35 - 180 m Occasional altitudinal limits  

Threats & impact
Threat (level 1) Threat (level 2) Impact and Stresses
Agriculture & aquaculture Annual & perennial non-timber crops - Agro-industry farming Timing Scope Severity Impact
Ongoing Minority (<50%) Slow, Significant Declines Low Impact: 5
Stresses
Ecosystem degradation, Ecosystem conversion
Biological resource use Gathering terrestrial plants - Unintentional effects (species is not the target) Timing Scope Severity Impact
Ongoing Minority (<50%) Negligible declines Low Impact: 4
Stresses
Ecosystem degradation
Climate change & severe weather Droughts Timing Scope Severity Impact
Ongoing Whole (>90%) Slow, Significant Declines Medium Impact: 7
Stresses
Indirect ecosystem effects, Ecosystem degradation
Climate change & severe weather Habitat shifting & alteration Timing Scope Severity Impact
Future Whole (>90%) Unknown Unknown
Stresses
Indirect ecosystem effects, Ecosystem degradation
Invasive and other problematic species, genes & diseases Invasive non-native/alien species/diseases - Capra hircus Timing Scope Severity Impact
Ongoing Minority (<50%) Negligible declines Low Impact: 4
Stresses
Ecosystem degradation
Invasive and other problematic species, genes & diseases Invasive non-native/alien species/diseases - Oryctolagus cuniculus Timing Scope Severity Impact
Ongoing Minority (<50%) Negligible declines Low Impact: 4
Stresses
Ecosystem degradation
Invasive and other problematic species, genes & diseases Invasive non-native/alien species/diseases - Vulpes vulpes Timing Scope Severity Impact
Ongoing Minority (<50%) Negligible declines Low Impact: 4
Stresses
Species mortality
Invasive and other problematic species, genes & diseases Problematic native species/diseases - Pachycephala inornata Timing Scope Severity Impact
Ongoing Majority (50-90%) Unknown Unknown
Stresses
Hybridisation
Natural system modifications Fire & fire suppression - Increase in fire frequency/intensity Timing Scope Severity Impact
Ongoing Majority (50-90%) Rapid Declines Medium Impact: 7
Stresses
Indirect ecosystem effects, Ecosystem degradation, Species mortality
Natural system modifications Fire & fire suppression - Trend Unknown/Unrecorded Timing Scope Severity Impact
Ongoing Majority (50-90%) Rapid Declines Medium Impact: 7
Stresses
Species disturbance, Ecosystem degradation, Reduced reproductive success, Species mortality

Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Species factsheet: Red-lored Whistler Pachycephala rufogularis. Downloaded from https://datazone.birdlife.org/species/factsheet/red-lored-whistler-pachycephala-rufogularis 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.