NT
Snowy-throated Babbler Stachyris oglei



Taxonomy

Taxonomic source(s)
del Hoyo, J., Collar, N.J., Christie, D.A., Elliott, A., Fishpool, L.D.C., Boesman, P. and Kirwan, G.M. 2016. HBW and BirdLife International Illustrated Checklist of the Birds of the World. Volume 2: Passerines. Lynx Edicions and BirdLife International, Barcelona, Spain and Cambridge, UK.

IUCN Red List criteria met and history
Red List criteria met
Critically Endangered Endangered Vulnerable
- - -

Red List history
Year Category Criteria
2023 Near Threatened B1b(iii)
2016 Vulnerable B1ab(i,ii,iii,iv,v)
2012 Vulnerable B1ab(i,ii,iii,iv,v)
2008 Vulnerable B1a+b(i,ii,iii,iv,v)
2004 Vulnerable
2000 Vulnerable
1996 Vulnerable
1994 Vulnerable
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) 15,560 km2 medium
Severely fragmented? no -
Population
Estimate Data quality Derivation Year of estimate
Population size unknown poor - -
Population trend decreasing poor suspected 2016-2026
Rate of change over the past 10 years/3 generations (longer of the two periods) 1-9% - - -
Rate of change over the future 10 years/3 generations (longer of the two periods) 1-9% - - -
Rate of change over the past & future 10 years/3 generations (longer of the two periods) 1-9% - - -
Generation length 2.17 years - - -
Number of subpopulations 2-20,2 - - -
Percentage of mature individuals in largest subpopulation 1-89% - - -

Population justification: The population size of this species has not been quantified, but citizen science data (eBird 2022) suggest it is regularly observed in the correct habitat, although this may be extremely localised. In India it is confined to Arunachal Pradesh where, historically, it was often thought to be rare (see BirdLife International 2001). However, in Namdapha National Park (nearly 2,000 km2 in extent) it appears to be locally common, and it likely occurs too in adjacent forest areas, including Kamlang Wildlife Sanctuary (A. Choudhury and U. Srinivasan in litt. 2016). It has been observed only sporadically in northern Myanmar (e.g. Ming-Xia Zhang et al. 2017, eBird 2022), however this region is comparatively under-recorded and the area of suitable habitat is large. Away from the township of Putao, much of this habitat remains undegraded and likely supports a relatively large population. However, the ability to derive a population estimate is further confounded by this species' apparent reliance on a particular species of bamboo (Praveen J in litt. 2023), for which no accurate quantification of extent exists. In the absence of an accurate area with which to apply a proposed density, the population size is for now best considered unknown.

Trend justification: This species is precautionarily suspected to be declining, although the rate of this is assumed to be slow. Within its assumed range, remote sensing data indicate that 1-2% of forest was lost in the ten years to 2022 (Global Forest Watch 2022, based on data from Hansen et al. [2013] and methods disclosed therein). Most of this is attributable to the slow attrition of forest around the township of Putao, Myanmar, while populations in India have remained secure. As a forest-dependent species, this is nonetheless thought to have some impact, and the species is precautionarily suspected to have declined by 1-9% between 2012 and 2022. The future rate of decline is uncertain. However, while most of the range in India lies in habitat either remote or within a protected area (UNEP-WCMC and IUCN 2022), that in Myanmar remains vulnerable. The same rate of loss is therefore predicted into the future.


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

Important Bird and Biodiversity Areas (IBA)
Country/Territory IBA Name
India Chaglagaum - Denning
India Dichu Reserve Forest
India Gorumara National Park
India Kamlang Wildlife Sanctuary and Reserve Forest
India Namdapha National Park
India Upper Dihing (East) Complex
India Walong
Myanmar Hponkanrazi

Habitats & altitude
Habitat (level 1) Habitat (level 2) Importance Occurrence
Forest Subtropical/Tropical Moist Lowland major resident
Shrubland Subtropical/Tropical Moist suitable resident
Altitude 300 - 900 m Occasional altitudinal limits  

Threats & impact
Threat (level 1) Threat (level 2) Impact and Stresses
Agriculture & aquaculture Annual & perennial non-timber crops - Shifting agriculture Timing Scope Severity Impact
Ongoing Minority (<50%) Slow, Significant Declines Low Impact: 5
Stresses
Ecosystem degradation, Ecosystem conversion
Agriculture & aquaculture Livestock farming & ranching - Small-holder grazing, ranching or farming Timing Scope Severity Impact
Ongoing Minority (<50%) Slow, Significant Declines Low Impact: 5
Stresses
Ecosystem degradation, Ecosystem conversion
Biological resource use Logging & wood harvesting - Unintentional effects: (subsistence/small scale) [harvest] Timing Scope Severity Impact
Ongoing Minority (<50%) Slow, Significant Declines Low Impact: 5
Stresses
Ecosystem degradation

Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Species factsheet: Snowy-throated Babbler Stachyris oglei. Downloaded from https://datazone.birdlife.org/species/factsheet/snowy-throated-babbler-stachyris-oglei 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.