Data Zone
Justification of Red List category
This species is endemic to Mindanao and the Eastern Visayas in the Philippines, where it is confined to lowland forest understood to be at high risk from logging pressures. Over the past three generations (c. 16 years), populations are thought to have declined by nearly 30%, and since 2014 the rate of decline has accelerated such that the global population is thought to have started declining at a rate that may have exceeded 30% (over three generations) since 2014. Accordingly, it is now considered as Vulnerable.
Population justification
The global population size has not been quantified, although it is considered rare (Allen 2020) and has undoubtedly been reduced in number over the past three generations. Despite increasingly comprehensive survey effort, this species has not been discovered at many sites (eBird 2023). Records from Samar are especially scarce and the species may now be confined (or functionally so) to Samar Island Natural Park, where habitat degradation is ongoing (Hutchinson 2021). On Mindanao, records from PICOP have decreased in frequency over the past two decades, and the population at this site may no longer be particularly large (eBird 2023). The only other site of frequent observation is Pasonanca Natural Park (Zamboanga), and sightings elsewhere are typically in small and increasingly fragmented areas of mountain foothill forest. No single subpopulation is suspected of numbering more than 1,000 mature individuals, and precautionarily the global population size is suspected of being fewer than 10,000 mature individuals
Trend justification
The population is inferred to be declining due to forest loss and degradation. There are no empirical survey data from which to derive rates of population decline, thus forest cover loss is used as a proxy. Over the past three generations (16 years: 2006-2022), forest cover loss in this species has been 13-19%, depending on the assumptions used (Global Forest Watch 2023, based on data from Hansen et al. [2013] and methods disclosed therein). Rates of forest loss appear to have accelerated since c. 2014, equivalent to a rate of 17-23% over three generations. However, rates of forest cover loss are believed to (perhaps significantly) underestimate population declines. First, forest losses over the past three generations appear spatially biased towards areas of primary forest from which this species is known (despite effort elsewhere), suggesting that M. fuliginosus is being disproportionately affected. Moreover, selective logging is thought to be having a significant impact on this species (probably via the removal of suitable nesting trees); this is evidenced by it becoming more difficult to see at some points, for example, at PICOP, where its detection rate has undoubtedly dropped in recent years (eBird 2023) at a rate that appears to have exceeded net forest loss. Over the past three generations, the rate of population decline is therefore suspected to have been in the range of 15-29%, with an acceleration in both the current and projected future rates of loss, set precautionarily at 20-35%.
The species is endemic to the Philippines, where it occurs on Mindanao (the species' stronghold), Samar and Leyte (del Hoyo et al. 2002, Allen 2020).
The species inhabits lowland evergreen forest, up to 500 m, and appears not to tolerate habitat modification and disturbance (R. Hutchinson in litt. 2013, 2014; eBird 2023). The breeding season is reported as April to August in Samar and Leyte (del Hoyo et al. 2002).
This species is known to be impacted by habitat loss through much of its range, driven principally by timber extraction and the conversion of land to plantations (especially rubber). In addition to net forest cover loss, selective logging and illegal extraction of timber is known to be widespread in the Philippines, including in protected areas (see, e.g., photographs in Hutchinson [2021]). Nonetheless, protected areas in the Philippines are generally effective at reducing forest, although this effectiveness is idiosyncratic (see Apan et al. 2017).
Conservation Actions Underway
This species has been recorded in several protected areas of differing designations (UNEP-WCMC and IUCN 2023), although these have not always been entirely effective (see Apan et al. 2017, Hutchinson 2021). In many instances, protections afforded to Philippine Eagle Pithecophaga jefferyi have conferred benefit to the present (and other lowland) species.
Conservation Actions Proposed
Conduct further surveys in remaining tracts of suitable habitat and areas with historical records, particularly on Samar and Leyte. Use these data to determine an accurate population size. Continue to monitor habitat trends using remote sensing data. Continue to advocate the effective protection of (possible) key sites. Propose remaining forests found to support the species for establishment as protected areas. Promote more effective enforcement of forest protection laws.
Text account compilers
Berryman, A.
Contributors
Butchart, S., Ekstrom, J., Hutchinson, R., Jensen, A., Martin, R., Symes, A., Taylor, J. & Westrip, J.R.S.
Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Species factsheet: Southern Sooty Woodpecker Mulleripicus fuliginosus. Downloaded from
https://datazone.birdlife.org/species/factsheet/southern-sooty-woodpecker-mulleripicus-fuliginosus on 26/12/2024.
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 26/12/2024.