VU
Socotra Cormorant Phalacrocorax nigrogularis



Taxonomy

Taxonomic source(s)
AERC TAC. 2003. AERC TAC Checklist of bird taxa occurring in Western Palearctic region, 15th Draft. Available at: http://www.aerc.eu/DOCS/Bird_taxa_of_the_WP15.xls.
Cramp, S. and Simmons, K.E.L. (eds). 1977-1994. Handbook of the birds of Europe, the Middle East and Africa. The birds of the western Palearctic. Oxford University Press, Oxford.
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
- - A2bce+3ce+4bce; B2ab(i,ii,iii,iv,v)

Red List history
Year Category Criteria
2018 Vulnerable A2bce+3ce+4bce;B2ab(i,ii,iii,iv,v)
2016 Vulnerable A2bce+3ce+4bce;B2ab(i,ii,iii,iv,v)
2012 Vulnerable A2bce+3ce+4bce;B2ab(i,ii,iii,iv,v)
2010 Vulnerable A2c,e; A3c,e; A4c,e; B2a+b(i,ii,iii,iv,v)
2008 Vulnerable A2c,e; A3c,e; A4c,e; B2a+b(i,ii,iii,iv,v)
2006 Vulnerable
2005 Vulnerable
2004 Vulnerable
2000 Vulnerable
1994 Lower Risk/Near Threatened
1988 Near Threatened
Species attributes

Migratory status full migrant Forest dependency does not normally occur in forest
Land-mass type shelf island
Average mass -
Range

Estimate Data quality
Extent of Occurrence (breeding/resident) 1,650,000 km2 medium
Extent of Occurrence (non-breeding) 3,030,000 km2 medium
Area of Occupancy (breeding/resident) 50 km2 medium
Number of locations 6-10 -
Severely fragmented? no -
Population
Estimate Data quality Derivation Year of estimate
Population size 220000 mature individuals medium estimated 2010
Population trend decreasing medium inferred 2003-2029
Rate of change over the past 10 years/3 generations (longer of the two periods) 30-49% - - -
Rate of change over the future 10 years/3 generations (longer of the two periods) 30-49% - - -
Rate of change over the past & future 10 years/3 generations (longer of the two periods) 30-49% - - -
Generation length 8.7 years - - -
Number of subpopulations 2 - - -

Population justification: The breeding population is estimated at 110,000 pairs (Jennings 2010) (330,000 [Jennings 2000] to fewer than 500,000 [H. King in litt. 2005] individuals).

Trend justification: In the northern population, c.12 colonies have become extinct (Symens et al. 1993, Aspinall 1996, H. King in litt. 2005) since the 1960s, representing a potential loss of up to c.80,000 pairs. In Saudi Arabia, the number of breeding pairs declined by more than 75% during 1980-1992 (Symens et al. 1993). Declines are thought to be continuing due to coastal development, egg and chick collection (Wilson 2012) and marine pollution; and are placed here in the range 30-49% over three generations (c. 26 years).


Country/territory distribution
Country/Territory Presence Origin Resident Breeding visitor Non-breeding visitor Passage migrant
Bahrain extant native yes
Eritrea extant native yes
India extant vagrant yes
Iran, Islamic Republic of extant native yes
Iraq extant uncertain
Kuwait extant native yes
Oman extant native yes
Qatar extant native yes
Saudi Arabia extant native yes
Somalia extant native yes
Sudan extant uncertain yes
United Arab Emirates extant native yes
Yemen extant native yes

Important Bird and Biodiversity Areas (IBA)
Country/Territory IBA Name
Bahrain Hawar Islands
Iran, Islamic Republic of Sheedvar island
Oman Barr al Hikman
Oman Duqm
Oman Halaaniyaat Islands
Oman Hamr an Nafur
Oman Jabal Qamar
Oman Jazirat Hino
Oman Khawr ad Dahariz
Oman Khor Mughsayl
Oman Musandam islands
Qatar Al-Aliyah island
Qatar Al-Ashat islands
Qatar Shara'awh island
Saudi Arabia Gulf coral islands
Saudi Arabia Gulf of Salwah
United Arab Emirates Al Rafiq
United Arab Emirates Alqurm Wa Lehfeiyah (Khor Kalba)
United Arab Emirates Bu Tinah
United Arab Emirates Dayyinah Island (Diynah)
United Arab Emirates Ghagha Island
United Arab Emirates Khor Al Jazirah
United Arab Emirates Salahah Island
United Arab Emirates Siniyah Island
United Arab Emirates Sir Bani Yas Islands
United Arab Emirates Sir Bu Na'air Island
United Arab Emirates Yasat Island
Yemen Darsa
Yemen Falang - Momi coast and cliffs (Socotra)
Yemen Islands off Bir Ali
Yemen Kal Farun (Socotra)
Yemen Qishn beach
Yemen Sabuniya (Socotra)
Yemen Samha

Habitats & altitude
Habitat (level 1) Habitat (level 2) Importance Occurrence
Marine Coastal/Supratidal Sea Cliffs and Rocky Offshore Islands suitable breeding
Marine Coastal/Supratidal Sea Cliffs and Rocky Offshore Islands suitable non-breeding
Marine Intertidal Sandy Shoreline and/or Beaches, Sand Bars, Spits, Etc major breeding
Marine Neritic Pelagic major breeding
Marine Neritic Pelagic major non-breeding
Rocky areas (eg. inland cliffs, mountain peaks) suitable non-breeding
Altitude   Occasional altitudinal limits  

Threats & impact
Threat (level 1) Threat (level 2) Impact and Stresses
Biological resource use Fishing & harvesting aquatic resources - Unintentional effects: (large scale) [harvest] Timing Scope Severity Impact
Ongoing Majority (50-90%) Negligible declines Low Impact: 5
Stresses
Species mortality
Biological resource use Hunting & trapping terrestrial animals - Intentional use (species is the target) Timing Scope Severity Impact
Ongoing Minority (<50%) Unknown Unknown
Stresses
Reduced reproductive success, Species mortality
Biological resource use Hunting & trapping terrestrial animals - Persecution/control Timing Scope Severity Impact
Ongoing Majority (50-90%) Unknown Unknown
Stresses
Species mortality
Climate change & severe weather Storms & flooding Timing Scope Severity Impact
Past, Likely to Return Whole (>90%) Causing/Could cause fluctuations Past Impact
Stresses
Ecosystem degradation, Reduced reproductive success
Invasive and other problematic species, genes & diseases Invasive non-native/alien species/diseases - Felis catus Timing Scope Severity Impact
Ongoing Majority (50-90%) Rapid Declines Medium Impact: 7
Stresses
Reduced reproductive success, Species mortality
Invasive and other problematic species, genes & diseases Problematic native species/diseases - Named species Timing Scope Severity Impact
Ongoing Majority (50-90%) Negligible declines Low Impact: 5
Stresses
Reduced reproductive success
Invasive and other problematic species, genes & diseases Problematic native species/diseases - Vulpes vulpes Timing Scope Severity Impact
Ongoing Majority (50-90%) Rapid Declines Medium Impact: 7
Stresses
Reduced reproductive success, Species mortality
Pollution Industrial & military effluents - Oil spills Timing Scope Severity Impact
Past, Likely to Return Minority (<50%) Rapid Declines Past Impact
Stresses
Indirect ecosystem effects, Ecosystem degradation, Reduced reproductive success, Species mortality
Residential & commercial development Housing & urban areas Timing Scope Severity Impact
Ongoing Majority (50-90%) Rapid Declines Medium Impact: 7
Stresses
Ecosystem degradation, Ecosystem conversion

Utilisation
Purpose Scale
Pets/display animals, horticulture international

Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Species factsheet: Socotra Cormorant Phalacrocorax nigrogularis. Downloaded from https://datazone.birdlife.org/species/factsheet/socotra-cormorant-phalacrocorax-nigrogularis on 23/11/2024.
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 23/11/2024.