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Rote Leaf-warbler Phylloscopus rotiensis



Taxonomy

Taxonomic note
Phylloscopus presbytes has been split into Timor Leaf-warbler P. presbytes and Rote Leaf-warbler P. rotiensis after Ng et al. (2018). 

The previously undescribed taxon, in comparison with P. presbytes, differs by its; greater bill length, possibly related to a bark-gleaning habit unusual in leaf-warblers (16.3 [n=1] vs 13.4 [n=2] (allow 3); much stronger pale yellow median crown-stripe (2); wholly yellow-orange vs mostly dark lower mandible (1); richer yellow underparts, supercilium and ear-coverts (2); brighter olive-brown upperparts (ns[1]).

Taxonomic source(s)
Handbook of the Birds of the World and BirdLife International. 2019. Handbook of the Birds of the World and BirdLife International digital checklist of the birds of the world. Version 4. Available at: https://datazone.birdlife.org/userfiles/file/Species/Taxonomy/HBW-BirdLife_Checklist_v4_Dec19.zip.
Ng, N. S., Prawiradilaga, D. M., Ng, E. Y., Ashari, H., Trainor, C., Verbelen, P., & Rheindt, F. E. 2018. A striking new species of leaf warbler from the Lesser Sundas as uncovered through morphology and genomics. Scientific reports 8(1): 15646.

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

Red List history
Year Category Criteria
2019 Near Threatened B1ab(ii,iii,iv,v)+2ab(ii,iii,iv,v); C2a(ii)
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 high
Land-mass type Average mass -
Range

Estimate Data quality
Extent of Occurrence (breeding/resident) 1,900 km2
Number of locations 11-100 -
Severely fragmented? no -
Population
Estimate Data quality Derivation Year of estimate
Population size 2500-9999 mature individuals poor suspected 2019
Population trend decreasing - suspected -
Number of subpopulations 1 - - -
Percentage of mature individuals in largest subpopulation 100% - - -

Population justification: The population size of this species has not been quantified. However, a preliminary population estimate can be derived from a congener, the Island Leaf-warbler (Phylloscopus poliocephalus), which occurs from the Indonesian Archipelago through Papua New Guinea to the Solomon Islands. This species occurs at a density of c. 180 individuals/km2 in intact forest (Marsden 1998). Only an area of 244 km2 offer suitable forested habitat for Rote Leaf-warbler throughout its range (Ng et al. 2018). Assuming that Rote Leaf-warbler occurs at a similar density throughout suitable habitat, and that only about 20% of suitable habitat is occupied, the population may number c. 8,800 individuals, which roughly equates to 5,900 mature individuals. As this estimate is highly preliminary and requires confirmation, the species is tentatively placed in the band 2,500-9,999 mature individuals.

Trend justification: The population trend has not been quantified, but the species is threatened by habitat loss and deforestation. Although the species is currently predominantly found on the Tapuafu Peninsula, where large areas of intact forest persist (Ng et al. 2018, eBird 2019), the species's restricted range and specific habitat requirements make it vulnerable to habitat degradation and loss. As a result, and given the degree of disturbance and fragmentation already within its range, the species is precautionarily suggested to be undergoing a slow decline (Ng et al. 2018).


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

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

Habitats & altitude
Habitat (level 1) Habitat (level 2) Importance Occurrence
Artificial/Terrestrial Subtropical/Tropical Heavily Degraded Former Forest suitable resident
Forest Subtropical/Tropical Dry major resident
Altitude 0 - 420 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 Majority (50-90%) Slow, Significant Declines Medium Impact: 6
Stresses
Ecosystem degradation, Ecosystem conversion
Biological resource use Logging & wood harvesting - Unintentional effects: (subsistence/small scale) [harvest] Timing Scope Severity Impact
Ongoing Majority (50-90%) Slow, Significant Declines Medium Impact: 6
Stresses
Ecosystem degradation, Ecosystem conversion
Transportation & service corridors Roads & railroads Timing Scope Severity Impact
Ongoing Majority (50-90%) Slow, Significant Declines Medium Impact: 6
Stresses
Ecosystem degradation

Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Species factsheet: Rote Leaf-warbler Phylloscopus rotiensis. Downloaded from https://datazone.birdlife.org/species/factsheet/rote-leaf-warbler-phylloscopus-rotiensis on 26/12/2024.
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 26/12/2024.