Data Zone
Justification of Red List category
This species is restricted to reedbed habitats, and is suspected to be declining moderately rapidly throughout its range as a result of the loss and degradation of reedbeds. It is therefore listed as Near Threatened. Further surveys are urgently needed in order to quantify the rate of habitat loss.
Population justification
The global population size has not been quantified, but the species is described as locally common, but totally dependent on reedbeds (del Hoyo et al. 2007).
Trend justification
This species is likely to be declining at a moderately rapid rate throughout its range, as a result of encroachment, development and habitat degradation within reedbed habitats.
Paradoxornis heudei is known from Lake Khanka in Primorye, Russia, Mongolia, and Heilongjiang, Liaoning, Inner Mongolia, Shandong, Jiangsu, Shanghai, Zhejiang and Jiangxi, China, where it is locally common in suitable habitats.
This species is found in reedbeds bordering rivers, lakes and the coast. Population density is significantly higher in non-harvested than in harvested reedbeds during the breeding period, with nesting taking place in tall stands (Boulord et al. 2010; 2012).
Several of the sites where this species has been recorded recently in eastern China are under severe threat from development and reclamation, as well as reed harvesting. Reedbeds appear to be under pressure everywhere in China, as well as other parts of the range.
Conservation Actions Underway
No targeted conservation actions are known for this species.
Conservation Actions Proposed
Monitor population and habitat trends across its range. Campaign for the protection of lowland reedbed habitats, particularly in eastern China.
Text account compilers
Taylor, J., Wheatley, H., Benstead, P., Gilroy, J.
Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Species factsheet: Reed Parrotbill Paradoxornis heudei. Downloaded from
https://datazone.birdlife.org/species/factsheet/reed-parrotbill-paradoxornis-heudei 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.