NT
Ruspoli's Turaco Tauraco ruspolii



Taxonomy

Taxonomic source(s)
del Hoyo, J., Collar, N.J., Christie, D.A., Elliott, A. and Fishpool, L.D.C. 2014. HBW and BirdLife International Illustrated Checklist of the Birds of the World. Volume 1: Non-passerines. Lynx Edicions BirdLife International, Barcelona, Spain and Cambridge, UK.

IUCN Red List criteria met and history
Red List criteria met
Critically Endangered Endangered Vulnerable
- - C2a(ii)

Red List history
Year Category Criteria
2022 Near Threatened A2ce; C2a(ii)
2016 Vulnerable C2a(ii)
2012 Vulnerable C2a(ii)
2008 Vulnerable C2a(ii)
2006 Vulnerable
2004 Vulnerable
2000 Vulnerable
1996 Endangered
1994 Endangered
1988 Threatened
Species attributes

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

Estimate Data quality
Extent of Occurrence (breeding/resident) 26,800 km2 medium
Severely fragmented? no -
Population
Estimate Data quality Derivation Year of estimate
Population size 2500-9999 mature individuals poor suspected 2007
Population trend decreasing poor inferred 2016-2031
Rate of change over the past 10 years/3 generations (longer of the two periods) 10-29% - - -
Rate of change over the future 10 years/3 generations (longer of the two periods) 10-20% - - -
Rate of change over the past & future 10 years/3 generations (longer of the two periods) 10-20% - - -
Generation length 5 years - - -
Number of subpopulations 1 - - -
Percentage of mature individuals in largest subpopulation 100% - - -

Population justification: In 1995, the population was suspected to be over 10,000 mature individuals, based on transect surveys (Borghesio and Massa 2000). However, rapid changes to its habitat between 1995 and 2007 are likely to have caused a decline in the population of around 10-30% (L. Borghesio in litt. 2007). This decline would produce a population size of 7,000-9,000 total individuals, which would roughly equate to 4,200-5,400 mature individuals. The population size is therefore suspected to be in the band 2,500-9,999 mature individuals.

Trend justification: The population was suspected to have declined by c.10-30% between 1995 and 2007, owing to rapid changes to the species' habitat (L. Borghesio in litt. 2007). However, tree cover loss within the range is now low, at around 5% over three generations (Global Forest Watch 2020, using Hansen et al. [2013] data and methods disclosed therein), and recent surveys suggest it is more common and widespread than previously believed, and is able to tolerate human disturbance (Turner and Boesman 2020). Therefore, it is suspected that past declines were <30%. Between 2016 and 2019, this species' range experienced a forest loss of 1.4% (Global Forest Watch 2020, using Hansen et al. [2013] data and methods disclosed therein). This equates to a loss of 6.8% when projected forward over 3 generations. Due to the additional threat of hybridisation with T. leucotis, and potential degradation by the conversion of native tree cover to exotic plantations (L. Borghesio in litt. 2005) the future rate of decline is therefore suspected to fall in the 10-20% band.


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

Important Bird and Biodiversity Areas (IBA)
Country/Territory IBA Name
Ethiopia Anferara forests
Ethiopia Arero forest
Ethiopia Dawa - Wachile
Ethiopia Genale river
Ethiopia Mankubsa - Welenso forest

Habitats & altitude
Habitat (level 1) Habitat (level 2) Importance Occurrence
Forest Subtropical/Tropical Dry major resident
Savanna Dry marginal resident
Shrubland Subtropical/Tropical Dry suitable resident
Altitude 1275 - 1800 m Occasional altitudinal limits  

Threats & impact
Threat (level 1) Threat (level 2) Impact and Stresses
Agriculture & aquaculture Annual & perennial non-timber crops - Small-holder farming Timing Scope Severity Impact
Ongoing Minority (<50%) Unknown Unknown
Stresses
Ecosystem degradation, Ecosystem conversion
Agriculture & aquaculture Livestock farming & ranching - Small-holder grazing, ranching or farming Timing Scope Severity Impact
Ongoing Minority (<50%) Unknown Unknown
Stresses
Ecosystem degradation, Ecosystem conversion
Agriculture & aquaculture Wood & pulp plantations - Small-holder plantations Timing Scope Severity Impact
Ongoing Minority (<50%) Unknown Unknown
Stresses
Ecosystem degradation, Ecosystem conversion
Biological resource use Hunting & trapping terrestrial animals - Intentional use (species is the target) Timing Scope Severity Impact
Ongoing Minority (<50%) Negligible declines Low Impact: 4
Stresses
Reduced reproductive success, Species mortality
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
Energy production & mining Mining & quarrying Timing Scope Severity Impact
Ongoing Majority (50-90%) Slow, Significant Declines Medium Impact: 6
Stresses
Ecosystem degradation, Ecosystem conversion
Invasive and other problematic species, genes & diseases Problematic native species/diseases - Tauraco leucotis Timing Scope Severity Impact
Ongoing Minority (<50%) Unknown Unknown
Stresses
Hybridisation
Natural system modifications Fire & fire suppression - Trend Unknown/Unrecorded Timing Scope Severity Impact
Ongoing Majority (50-90%) Slow, Significant Declines Medium Impact: 6
Stresses
Ecosystem degradation
Residential & commercial development Housing & urban areas Timing Scope Severity Impact
Future Majority (50-90%) Slow, Significant Declines Low Impact: 4
Stresses
Ecosystem conversion
Transportation & service corridors Roads & railroads Timing Scope Severity Impact
Ongoing Majority (50-90%) Slow, Significant Declines Medium Impact: 6
Stresses
Ecosystem degradation

Utilisation
Purpose Scale
Food - human subsistence, national

Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Species factsheet: Ruspoli's Turaco Tauraco ruspolii. Downloaded from https://datazone.birdlife.org/species/factsheet/ruspolis-turaco-tauraco-ruspolii on 28/12/2024.
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 28/12/2024.