• Summary
• Text account
• Data table and detailed info
• Distribution map
• Reference and further resources

Justification of Red List category
This species may have a moderately small population (although this remains unconfirmed), however it appears to benefit from ongoing forest loss and degradation and its population may be increasing. The species is therefore listed as Least Concern.

Population justification
The population was suspected to number 2,500-9,999 mature individuals previously (G. Dutson in litt. 2002), although this requires survey confirmation and the population size is here considered unknown. However, it is described as localised and rare, except on Kolombangara where it is locally fairly common (Dutson 2011).

Trend justification
While there is ongoing forest loss in its range (equivalent to c.12-15% over three generations [Global Forest Watch 2022, using Hansen et al. [2013] data and methods disclosed therein]), this species favours early successional habitats (Taylor 2020) and may benefit from forest loss. It has presumably increased in the past to populate large forestry plantations (G. Dutson pers. obs. 1997, M. Iles verbally 1998). Consequently, there is no reason to suspect declines in response to forest loss. Overall, the population is suspected to be stable, though it may in fact even be increasing.

Hypotaenidia rovianae is known from New Georgia and Kolombangara, with reports from Kohinggo, Vonavona and Rendova in the Solomon Islands (Diamond 1991). It is locally fairly common in thickets and young plantations on Kolombangara, but there are few records from other islands (Diamond 1991, Gibbs 1996, G. Dutson pers. obs. 1997, M. Iles verbally 1998).

It inhabits forest, especially secondary growth, young plantations, rank grassland, abandoned gardens and other edge habitats (Dutson 2011).

As a flightless species, it may be under threat from introduced predatory mammals and village dogs but there is no evidence of decline on Kolombangara, where it has presumably increased to populate the large forestry plantations (G. Dutson pers. obs. 1997, M. Iles verbally 1998).

Conservation Actions Underway
None is known.

Conservation Actions Proposed
Survey on Kohinggo, Vonavona and Rendova to determine current status there. Investigate threats and ecology. Reduce levels of predation by dogs through community education programmes.

Text account compilers
Vine, J.

Contributors
Dutson, G. & Iles, M.

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Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Species factsheet: Roviana Rail Hypotaenidia rovianae. Downloaded from https://datazone.birdlife.org/species/factsheet/roviana-rail-hypotaenidia-rovianae 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.