Current view: Data table and detailed info
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
Red List history
| Migratory status |
not a migrant |
Forest dependency |
does not normally occur in forest |
| Land-mass type |
shelf island
|
Average mass |
- |
Population justification: There is very little data on the species occurrence from which a population estimate can be derived. Previously, based on the likely small area of remaining habitat (P.B. Taylor in litt. 1999) a provisional population size was given as most likely to fall between 250-999 mature individuals. However, no surveys to generate even rough abundance have been carried out and while it is plausible that the population size is small or very small, this can only be suspected from the available information. The abundance of the species at individual sites is unknown largely due to the secretive nature of the species, but also a lack of targeted survey effort. In addition, there is the potential for suitable habitat to be present at a number of sites additional to those that do have records (Safford and Hawkins 2013). What is currently known is that records come from three areas that are widely separated but all lie within a narrow elevational band in the zone of eastern slope rainforest, which is now highly fragmented itself (Safford and Hawkins 2013). The areas with records are also sites regularly visited by birdwatching groups: systematic or randomised searches of similar habitat in between has not yet taken place. The current, suspected small or very small population size is retained, but there is potential for the true population to be somewhat larger given the limited survey effort to date.
Trend justification: This species's population is inferred to be declining due to ongoing habitat loss owing to transformation of its aquatic habitats by agricultural activities (Kull 2012) and from reports of a recent sudden drop in abundance at a site where the species was previously commonly observed (L.-A. Rene de Roland in litt. 2022). Kull (2012) estimated that between 1950-1994, 60% of wetlands were lost, roughly equating to a loss rate of 19% over 10 years. Wetlands are being degraded through conversion to rice paddies, and while there is some evidence that this species can utilise these habitats (Taylor and van Perlo 1998) almost all records come from wetlands in the vicinity of forest. Assuming that the rate of loss is continuing at the same rate, and that the population declines at a similar rate, then the rate of decline is suspected to fall into the band of 10-19%. Wetland degradation is linked to the expanding population, hence it is likely to continue.
Country/territory distribution
Important Bird and Biodiversity Areas (IBA)
Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Species factsheet: Slender-billed Flufftail Sarothrura watersi. Downloaded from
https://datazone.birdlife.org/species/factsheet/slender-billed-flufftail-sarothrura-watersi 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.
