Data Zone
Justification of Red List category
Owing to forest loss and trapping within its range this species is assumed to have undergone moderately rapid declines and as a result it is classified as Near Threatened.
Population justification
The population size of this species has not been quantified. However, it is typically described as scarce to uncommon (Wells 2007, Mann 2008, Eaton et al. 2016) and in Sarawak, Borneo, a density of 10 birds/km2 was recorded (Fogden 1976). Consequently, although the population size has not been estimated, it is not considered likely to meet or approach the threshold for assessment as Threatened (<10,000 mature individuals).
Trend justification
Suspected to be declining because of forest loss throughout its range. Over the past 10 years, forest loss in this species' range has been equivalent to 18–20% (Global Forest Watch 2022, using data from Hansen et al. [2013] and methods disclosed therein). Because this rate was similar between 2016 and 2020, with little indication this will slow in the future, the same rate is projected over the next three generations. As a forest-dependent species, the population is suspected to be declining at a rate broadly similar to the that of forest loss, although it can tolerate some degradation. In addition, this species is prized for the bird trade. Symes et al. (2018) assigned probability curves according to expert opinion on trade desirability in conjunction with accessibility (based on a distance to forest edge from remote sensed forest data) to determine likely rates of population loss over the next three generation or ten-year period: across the species' range, the estimated loss was 27% because of hunting alone, although this analysis had no term to account for reproduction, used a slightly longer three-generation time period (11.4 years) than that used here, and analysed only Indonesia where trapping pressure is at its highest; consequently, this figure may be overly pessimistic. Combining these data, the species is suspected of declining at an ongoing rate of 20-29%.
Copsychus pyrropygus occurs in the Sundaic lowlands of peninsular Thailand; Sabah, Sarawak and peninsular Malaysia; Kalimantan and Sumatra, Indonesia, and Brunei. Although widespread, the species is generally described as uncommon within its range, and it has certainly declined owing to the extensive loss of lowland forests within the region.
It inhabits lowland (including peatswamp, ultrabasic, burnt alluvial and mixed dipterocarp) and hill-slope broadleaf evergreen forests to 1,200 m. It is commoner in primary forest, but will tolerate logged habitat and there is one record from a rubber plantation. It has been recorded breeding from February until June in various parts of its range.
Rates of forest loss in the Sundaic lowlands have been extremely rapid, owing partly to the escalation of illegal logging and land conversion, with deliberate targeting of all remaining stands of valuable timber including those inside protected areas (Hansen et al. 2013, Global Forest Watch 2022). Also trapped, at least locally, for the songbird trade, especially in Indonesia (Rentschlar et al. 2018, Symes et al. 2018).
Conservation Actions Underway
No species specific actions are known, although it does occur in a number of protected areas within its range.
Text account compilers
Berryman, A.
Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Species factsheet: Rufous-tailed Shama Copsychus pyrropygus. Downloaded from
https://datazone.birdlife.org/species/factsheet/rufous-tailed-shama-copsychus-pyrropygus 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.