VU
Short-toed Coucal Centropus rectunguis



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
- - A2c+3c+4c

Red List history
Year Category Criteria
2023 Vulnerable A2c+3c+4c
2016 Vulnerable A2c+3c+4c
2012 Vulnerable A2c+3c+4c
2008 Vulnerable A2c; A3c; A4c
2004 Vulnerable
2000 Vulnerable
1994 Lower Risk/Near Threatened
1988 Threatened
Species attributes

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

Estimate Data quality
Extent of Occurrence (breeding/resident) 2,780,000 km2 medium
Severely fragmented? yes -
Population
Estimate Data quality Derivation Year of estimate
Population size unknown - - -
Population trend decreasing poor suspected 2016-2031
Rate of change over the past 10 years/3 generations (longer of the two periods) 25-35% - - -
Rate of change over the future 10 years/3 generations (longer of the two periods) 25-35% - - -
Rate of change over the past & future 10 years/3 generations (longer of the two periods) 25-35% - - -
Generation length 5.05 years - - -
Number of subpopulations 3-50 - - -
Percentage of mature individuals in largest subpopulation 1-89% - - -

Population justification: The global population size has not been quantified but is believed to be large given the range and frequency of records in suitable habitat. It is a forest-dependent species and appears to occur only in primary forest (eBird 2022). Within its range, the rate of forest conversion to plantations, primarily oil palm, has been very rapid over the past few decades (per Global Forest Watch 2022). There are recent records from remaining forested areas across the range, however the extent of suitable habitat is now considerably smaller than three generations ago. Where habitat is secure the species continues to be regularly observed (eBird 2022), though observing the species away from protected areas is becoming increasingly difficult. In Thailand, all recent records are in (/the vicinity of) the Hala Bala Wildlife Sanctuary (Treesucon and Limparungpatthanakij 2018) and the population there must now be very small. Almost all records in Malaysia now come from protected areas or forest concessions, and the population is thought to be declining rapidly in lowland Indonesia, although here (especially in Kalimantan), there are large tracts of suitable habitat remaining. Forest loss is much lower in Brunei, where impacts on the species may be much less severe and much of the forest here is likely to be suitable for this species. Overall, the population is considered highly unlikely to meet or approach the population size threshold for listing as threatened (<10,000 mature individuals) although this requires confirmation.

Trend justification: The species is most abundant in the undergrowth of intact primary lowland forest. Consequently the population impact of forest cover loss is expected to be equal to or greater than the rate of loss. In the three generations (15.15 years; Bird et al. 2020) to 2021, forest cover in this species' range was reduced by 24–27%, depending on the forest cover thresholds set (Global Forest Watch 2022, based on data from Hansen et al. [2013] and methods disclosed therein). This value does not account for the impact of forest degradation, hence the population rate of reduction from habitat loss is likely to be greater than this. Similarly, since the species is most regularly encountered in low-lying forest (eBird 2022), where losses are greater, the overall rate of population reduction is suspected to be equivalent to c.25–35% over the last three generations. This rate is also precautionarily projected over the next three generations, although beyond that rates of loss may slow as the percentage area of forest outside protected areas diminishes.


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

Important Bird and Biodiversity Areas (IBA)
Country/Territory IBA Name
Brunei Seria Coast
Brunei Southern Ladan Hills
Indonesia Bukit Bahar - Tajau Pecah
Indonesia Bukit Baling
Indonesia Gunung Palung
Indonesia Gunung Singgalang
Indonesia Meranti
Indonesia Tanjung Puting
Malaysia Belum-Temenggor
Malaysia Bintang Range
Malaysia Central Titiwangsa Range
Malaysia Danum Valley Conservation Area
Malaysia Endau-Rompin
Malaysia Kabili-Sepilok
Malaysia Kelabit Highlands
Malaysia Kinabatangan floodplain
Malaysia Klias peninsula
Malaysia Krau Wildlife Reserve
Malaysia Kulamba Wildlife Reserve
Malaysia Lambir Hills National Park
Malaysia Mulu - Buda Protected Area
Malaysia Niah National Park
Malaysia Panti forest
Malaysia Pondok Tanjung Forest Reserve
Malaysia Sadong-Saribas coast
Malaysia Similajau National Park
Malaysia South-east Pahang peat swamp forest
Malaysia Tabin Wildlife Reserve
Malaysia Taman Negara National Park
Malaysia Tanjung Datu-Samunsam Protected Area
Malaysia Ulu Muda
Thailand Bala Sector, Hala-Bala Wildlife Sanctuary
Thailand Hala Sector, Hala-Bala Wildlife Sanctuary and Bang Lang National Park

Habitats & altitude
Habitat (level 1) Habitat (level 2) Importance Occurrence
Forest Subtropical/Tropical Moist Lowland major resident
Shrubland Subtropical/Tropical Moist suitable resident
Altitude 0 - 600 m Occasional altitudinal limits  

Threats & impact
Threat (level 1) Threat (level 2) Impact and Stresses
Agriculture & aquaculture Annual & perennial non-timber crops - Agro-industry farming Timing Scope Severity Impact
Ongoing Minority (<50%) Slow, Significant Declines Low Impact: 5
Stresses
Ecosystem degradation, Ecosystem conversion
Agriculture & aquaculture Annual & perennial non-timber crops - Small-holder farming Timing Scope Severity Impact
Ongoing Minority (<50%) Slow, Significant Declines Low Impact: 5
Stresses
Ecosystem degradation, Ecosystem conversion
Agriculture & aquaculture Wood & pulp plantations - Agro-industry plantations 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: (large scale) [harvest] Timing Scope Severity Impact
Ongoing Majority (50-90%) Slow, Significant Declines Medium Impact: 6
Stresses
Ecosystem degradation, Ecosystem conversion
Natural system modifications Fire & fire suppression - Increase in fire frequency/intensity Timing Scope Severity Impact
Ongoing Minority (<50%) Slow, Significant Declines Low Impact: 5
Stresses
Ecosystem degradation

Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Species factsheet: Short-toed Coucal Centropus rectunguis. Downloaded from https://datazone.birdlife.org/species/factsheet/short-toed-coucal-centropus-rectunguis 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.