Data Zone
Justification of Red List category
This species has a small range which is subject to logging and clearance for subsistence agriculture, although the range is not yet severely fragmented or restricted to few locations. The species is consequently listed as Near Threatened.
Population justification
Approximately 6,300 km2 of forest remained in this species' range in 2021 (Global Forest Watch 2022, based on data and methods from Hansen et al. 2013) and this is suspected of hosting a population size 'in the hundreds of thousands' (G. Dutson in litt. 2012), tentatively placed here in the band 100,000-499,999 mature individuals.
Trend justification
Remote sensing data (Global Forest Watch 2022, based on data from Hansen et al. [2013] and methods disclosed therein) indicate that within this species' range, forest cover extent reduced by c.5% in the three generations (12.4 years; Bird et al. 2020) to 2022. As a forest-dependent species, this is thought to have had a broadly proportional impact on the species' population size, which is suspected of having reduce by 1-9% in the same time frame. Much forest on New Ireland remains accessible to loggers, such that the same rate of forest cover loss and population reduction is also suspected to occur in the next three generations.
Dicrurus megarhynchus is endemic to New Ireland (Papua New Guinea), where it is found in primary lowland forest, hill forest, stunted mossy montane forest and tall secondary growth (del Hoyo et al. 2009, Dutson 2011). It is suggested that >50% of the population occurs in the contiguous tract of montane forest extending down into the lowlands of southern New Ireland (G. Dutson and B. Beehler in litt. 2012).
It is found in primary lowland forest, hill forest, stunted mossy montane forest and tall secondary growth from sea-level to c.1,800 m (del Hoyo et al. 2009). The species is described as fairly shy, but loud and active, often chasing each other, in mid-storey and lower canopy. It is usually found in pairs (Dutson 2011).
The principal threat is logging and habitat degradation. Remote sensing data (Global Forest Watch 2022, based on data from Hansen et al. [2013] and methods disclosed therein) indicate that within this species' range, forest cover extent reduced by c.5% in the three generations (12.4 years; Bird et al. 2020) to 2022 and this is thought to continue in the future.
Conservation measures underway
None is known.
Conservation measures proposed
Continue to monitor trends in forest loss. Conduct surveys to establish estimates of its population size. Research its tolerance of degraded forest. Safeguard the species' habitat.
40-63 cm including tail-streamers. Glossy black bird with long forked tail and very long twisted outer tail feathers. Tail-streamers are often broken or absent. Uniformly black with blue gloss, especially crown, wings and tail, and small bright blue spots on neck and breast, and red eye. Similar spp. Short-tailed birds differ from Metallic Starling Aplonis metallica by forked or square tail and clear blue spots on breast and habits. Voice Noisy, with variable loud calls. Loud shrieking rasp schrEER EEER. Harsh melodious sch-sch-brip. Series of melodious, simple, slurred and disyllabic whistles. High-pitched fluty notes. Rattling ch-ch-ch.
Text account compilers
Berryman, A.
Contributors
Beehler, B.M. & Dutson, G.
Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Species factsheet: Ribbon-tailed Drongo Dicrurus megarhynchus. Downloaded from
https://datazone.birdlife.org/species/factsheet/ribbon-tailed-drongo-dicrurus-megarhynchus 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.