Data Zone
Justification of Red List category
This species is listed as Endangered because it is estimated to have a very small population size of 500-2,500 mature individuals, which is precautionarily inferred to be declining due to sustained trapping pressure for the songbird trade on Java.
Population justification
The global population size of this highly threatened species has not precisely been estimated. Former concern that the population size was very small (<250 mature individuals) was initially prompted by a collapse in the number appearing in trade markets throughout Java and the price being fetched for them (Collar and van Balen 2013, Eaton et al. 2015, Shepherd et al. 2016), but it was acknowledged in Collar and van Balen (2013) that this was not necessarily driving a collapse in wild populations. More recent survey effort indicates that this population size was overly precautionary. Because trapping pressure on this species is still nonetheless assumed to be high, the localities discussed are obscured.
The previous assessment of a very small population size was also partly made on the basis that recent records came from only two mountains which were precautionarily assumed to be the only mountains occupied. However, more recent data indicate that it still occurs on at least nine (Marsden et al. 2023, eBird 2023). In a survey of 295 transects across 12 mountains in west Java, the species was found on 39 and 6 respectively, with an encounter rate that was not alarmingly lower than other species of a similar size/guild (Marsden et al. 2023). Notable however is the very low encounter rate (0.43 ± SE 0.08 groups/h) of subspecies G. r. slamatensis, which probably remains on the verge of extinction. On another mountain (not one surveyed by Marsden et al. 2023), several independent groups were recorded in October 2023—totally at least 25-40 birds—on a single line transect up it in 24 hours; these birds were found in the most accessible parts of the mountain, suggesting the species probably occurs at similar densities (at least) around all slopes, and the mountain supports a total population in the low hundreds (A. Berryman pers. obs.). Even accepting, most pessimistically, that this population is unrepresentatively robust to trapping pressure, in combination with the observations and encounter rates recorded by Marsden et al. (2023), it is likely that the global population of this species numbers in the (probably low) thousands given the recent span of records. Additional evidence for a larger-than-anticipated population size also comes from Nijman et al. (2020), who estimated approximately 90 Rufous-fronted Laughingthrushes were being sold in physical trade markets each year in Java. An additional, unknown number are sold online (although none were detected online by Okarda et al. (2022). If the population size were as small as 250 mature individuals, a number this high being traded annually would cause a rapid collapse in population that would already be apparent—there is no evidence this has taken place.
Nonetheless, it is evident that the species does remain scarce in places (no doubt due to locally high trapping pressure) and that the population density between mountains is likely highly variable. Given the abundance and distribution of birds observed up to the end of 2023, and the trade data reviewed by Nijman et al. (2020), it is considered highly unlikely that the number of birds numbers as few as 500 mature individuals; this is, nonetheless, set as the plausible minimum bound, and assumes that most occupied mountains now support fewer than <50 mature individuals, but 1-2 others support 100-200. Alternatively, smaller mountains/those with higher trapping pressure may host populations of <100 mature individuals, while 3-5 may host 200-400, suggesting a maximum global population of 2,500 mature individuals. Accordingly, the global population size of this species is estimated to be 500-2,500 mature individuals, with the largest subpopulation hosting 100-400.
Trend justification
Precautionarily inferred to be undergoing a continuing decline, although the evidence base for this assumption is rather weak. Collar and van Balen (2013) and Eaton et al. (2015) made a compelling case for rapid declines in population, based principally on trade/market data, but also because surveys in parts of its range had failed to detect the species (but from where it was recorded historically and was therefore expected). More recent surveys, however, detected it at several sites (Marsden et al. 2023, eBird 2023) and in the absence of robust monitoring data with clear time series, it is difficult to calculate ongoing rates of decline. Nonetheless, because trapping pressure has evidently caused declines historically (Eaton et al. 2015) and the species continues to be observed in markets with regularity (Nijman et al. 2020), including recently (October 2023: J. Beilby in litt. 2023) in numbers that exceed numbers in previous market surveys, a continuing decline is inferred. Rates of decline over the past three generations (12 years: 2011-2023) and future three generations (12 years: 2023-2035) are not estimated due to considerable uncertainty.
Garrulax rufifrons is restricted to the mountains of western and central Java, Indonesia.
This species is found in broadleaved evergreen and montane primary forests at 900-2,500 m (Eaton et al. 2015, 2021).
This species is heavily exploited as a cage-bird, which appears to have caused the disappearance of the species from much of its former range (Collar and van Balen 2013), although more recent surveys from across the range indicate the latter authors were pessimistic (Marsden et al. 2023). The species is notoriously difficult to breed in captivity (Collar et al. 2012, Owen et al. 2014, A. Owen in litt. 2016) and trade in this species is thought to almost entirely refer to wild-caught birds (Nijman et al. 2020). Most trade is domestic (within Indonesia), with little evidence of trade outside of Java; nonetheless, the species has been observed on Sumatra (Shepherd 2011) and it is likely that the species is exported to markets on neighbouring islands. Nijman et al. (2020) estimated that in 11 markets on Java, approximately 90 Rufous-fronted Laughingthrushes are sold each year, with an unknown additional number sold online and in smaller markets. There is no data, however, on the impact of this trade on the species' wild population, in large part because there is immense uncertainty over the species' global population size, with the species rediscovered (to ornithologists) only recently on multiple mountains it had not been seen on for decades (Marsden et al. 2023)—it is, however, inevitable that these birds from several of these mountains are traded (Nijman et al. 2020), and probably have been traded for years. The rate of decline this threat is causing is therefore considered unknown.
Historically, logging and agricultural expansion probably impacted this species to some extent, although its preference for high-elevation forests has likely always safeguarded it from the most devastating rates of forest loss (almost all of Java's lowland forests are cleared). In recent years, there is little to no evidence for forest loss within this species' altitudinal range (Global Forest Watch 2023), but the creation of tracks for recreational hiking and improved accessibility to the base of mountains has simultaneously improved access of once-remote forests to trappers.
Conservation Actions Underway
Protected under Indonesian law since 1979 (Noerjito and Maryanto 2001), although apparently no one has ever been fined or prosecuted for trading Rufous-fronted Laughingthrushes (Nijman et al. 2020), despite this evidently ongoing. Captive breeding of this species is currently restricted to two facilities in the world: (1) Cikananga Conservation Breeding Center (CCBC); and (2) Prigen Conservation Breeding Ark. Both facilities hold populations of nominate G. r. rufifrons and G. r. slamatensis (B. Ferns in litt. 2023). Breeding ex-situ with this species is, however, far from simple, mostly due to the sensitive nature of this species which is easily stressed. Conservation breeding results are therefore inconsistent for both facilities, however, each year there is progress and the combined conservation breeding population is slowly growing (B. Ferns in litt. 2023). As of November 2023, between the two facilities there are 25 individuals of the nominate species and 17 individuals of G. r. slamatensis. As of 2023, the European Association of Zoos and Aquaria established an EAZA Ex situ Programme (EEP) for this species with an assigned EEP Coordinator. Extensive surveys have recently taken place for this species in the wild (see Marsden et al. 2023).
Conservation Actions Proposed
Re-survey areas covered by Marsden et al. (2023) to help infer population trends. Continue to monitor physical trade markets (e.g. Nijman et al. 2020) to infer information on trade. Lobby for improved enforcement of national legislation, which ostensibly protects this species. Look into the feasibility of upscaling captive-breeding efforts to potentially establish trade in captive-bred individuals (only if this can be established as a viable alternative to wild-caught birds, and it is considered likely to reduce trade in the latter).
27cm. A large brown laughingthrush that moves rapidly though a tad clumsily through dense low and mid-level vegetation in groups. The forehead is an intense dark chestnut, the lores very dark and the light yellow orange iris stands out prominently. Voice has been likened to the gentle whinnying of a horse, as reflected in the Indonesian name 'Poksai kuda', though this is considered an agitated call.
Text account compilers
Berryman, A., Fernando, E.
Contributors
Butchart, S., Chng, S., Devenish, C., Eaton, J., Gilroy, J., Junaid, A.R., Marsden, S., Owen, A., Sulfani Udin, J., Taylor, J., Tritto, A., Westrip, J.R.S., Yong, D., Martin, R., Berryman, A., Ferns, B. & Beilby, J.
Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Species factsheet: Rufous-fronted Laughingthrush Garrulax rufifrons. Downloaded from
https://datazone.birdlife.org/species/factsheet/rufous-fronted-laughingthrush-garrulax-rufifrons on 22/11/2024.
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 22/11/2024.