NT
Rote Boobook Ninox rotiensis



Taxonomy

Taxonomic note
Ninox boobookN. rotiensisN. fusca and N. plesseni were previously lumped under N. boobook (del Hoyo and Collar 2014) but are split on the basis of genetic divergence and differences in vocalisations (Gwee et al. 2017). For relationships with other taxa in Ninox, see under N. boobook. Monotypic.

Taxonomic source(s)
Handbook of the Birds of the World and BirdLife International. 2023. Handbook of the Birds of the World and BirdLife International digital checklist of the birds of the world. Version 8. Available at: https://datazone.birdlife.org/userfiles/file/Species/Taxonomy/HBW-BirdLife_Checklist_v8_Dec23.zip.

IUCN Red List criteria met and history
Red List criteria met
Critically Endangered Endangered Vulnerable
- - D1

Red List history
Year Category Criteria
2023 Near Threatened B1ab(iii,iv)+2ab(iii,iv); C1+2a(i,ii); D1
2016 Not Recognised
2012 Not Recognised
2008 Not Recognised
2004 Not Recognised
2000 Not Recognised
1994 Not Recognised
1988 Not Recognised
Species attributes

Migratory status not a migrant Forest dependency medium
Land-mass type Average mass -
Range

Estimate Data quality
Extent of Occurrence (breeding/resident) 1,960 km2 good
Area of Occupancy (breeding/resident) 400 km2 medium
Number of locations 11-100 -
Severely fragmented? no -
Population
Estimate Data quality Derivation Year of estimate
Population size 500-5000 mature individuals poor inferred 2023
Population trend decreasing medium suspected 2014-2029
Rate of change over the past 10 years/3 generations (longer of the two periods) 1-9% - - -
Rate of change over the future 10 years/3 generations (longer of the two periods) 3-13% - - -
Rate of change over the past & future 10 years/3 generations (longer of the two periods) 3-13% - - -
Generation length 5.45 years - - -
Number of subpopulations 1 - - -
Percentage of mature individuals in largest subpopulation 100% - - -

Population justification: The population size of this species has not been robustly estimated. It is descriptively considered local and uncommon (Verbelen et al. 2017, Eaton et al. 2021), and Verbelen et al. (2017) speculated there may be fewer than 500 mature individuals, writing that the population occurs in 'an area of less than 50–100 km2. However, the species appears to occur in several areas of forest across Rote (mostly in the north; eBird 2023), and the total area of suitable habitat is calculated here to be at least 200 km2. Verbelen et al.'s (2017) observation of six calling individuals in a relatively small area of evergreen forest near Bolatena suggests that, where good habitat remains, this species can occur at reasonably high density (as is often typical for insular Ninox). Precautionarily, the minimum number of mature individuals is set to 500. In the absence of specific data, the maximum number is set to 5,000 mature individuals, allowing for a total area of occupied habitat of c. 250 km2, and a density of 20 mature individuals or 10 pairs per km2.

Trend justification: It is suspected to be declining slowly in response to forest cover loss. N. rotiensis is at least moderately forest-dependent, being observed only very rarely in plantations or heavily degraded landscapes (Verbelen 2010, Verbelen et al. 2017, Eaton et al. 2021, eBird 2023). There is no other threat known or suspected to be impacting the species, thus the rate of population decline is thought to be closely matched to that of forest cover loss. Over the past three generations (16.35 years: 2007–2023), the rate of forest cover loss in its range was equal to 5–6%, depending on the assumptions used (Global Forest Watch 2023, based on data from Hansen et al. (2013) and methods disclosed therein). This rate accelerated slightly from 2014, equivalent to 7.5–9% over three generations. Over the past three generations therefore, the population size of this species is suspected to have declined by 1–9%, while over the next three generations (2023–2039), and in the window 2014–2030, the population is suspected to decline by a slightly increased rate of 3–13%. Because this species is tolerant of secondary forests, these declines are thought to be reversible if logging ceases.


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

Important Bird and Biodiversity Areas (IBA)
Country/Territory IBA Name

Habitats & altitude
Habitat (level 1) Habitat (level 2) Importance Occurrence
Artificial/Terrestrial Plantations marginal resident
Artificial/Terrestrial Subtropical/Tropical Heavily Degraded Former Forest marginal resident
Forest Subtropical/Tropical Dry major resident
Altitude 0 - 440 m Occasional altitudinal limits  

Threats & impact
Threat (level 1) Threat (level 2) Impact and Stresses
Agriculture & aquaculture Annual & perennial non-timber crops - Shifting agriculture Timing Scope Severity Impact
Ongoing Minority (<50%) Slow, Significant Declines Low Impact: 5
Stresses
Species disturbance
Agriculture & aquaculture Annual & perennial non-timber crops - Small-holder farming Timing Scope Severity Impact
Ongoing Minority (<50%) Slow, Significant Declines Low Impact: 5
Stresses
Ecosystem degradation
Agriculture & aquaculture Wood & pulp plantations - Small-holder plantations Timing Scope Severity Impact
Ongoing Minority (<50%) Slow, Significant Declines Low Impact: 5
Stresses
Ecosystem degradation

Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2025) Species factsheet: Rote Boobook Ninox rotiensis. Downloaded from https://datazone.birdlife.org/species/factsheet/rote-boobook-ninox-rotiensis on 04/01/2025.
Recommended citation for factsheets for more than one species: BirdLife International (2025) IUCN Red List for birds. Downloaded from https://datazone.birdlife.org/species/search on 04/01/2025.