Data Zone
Justification of Red List category
Although this species may have a small range, it is not believed to approach the thresholds for Vulnerable under the range size criterion (Extent of Occurrence <20,000 km2 combined with a declining or fluctuating range size, habitat extent/quality, or population size and a small number of locations or severe fragmentation). Despite the fact that the population trend appears to be decreasing, the decline is not believed to be sufficiently rapid to approach the threshold for Vulnerable under the population trend criterion (>30% decline over ten years or three generations). The population size has not been quantified, but it is not believed to approach the thresholds for Vulnerable under the population size criterion (<10,000 mature individuals with a continuing decline estimated to be >10% in ten years or three generations, or with a specified population structure). For these reasons the species is evaluated as Least Concern.
Population justification
The global population of this species has not been quantified. The species is described as uncommon (Eaton et al. 2016).
Trend justification
The species is tentatively assumed to be in decline as a result of habitat loss, as with Turacoena manadensis (White-faced Cuckoo-dove) (Tracewski et al. 2016). Forest loss and degradation has been severe throughout its range during the past decades, largely as a result of conversion to agriculture, selective logging and forest fires (Rheindt 2010, Rheindt et al. 2010, Ng and Rheindt 2016). This has left the lowlands largely devoid of forest with many upland environments exhibiting significant decline (Ng and Rheindt 2016). This reduction in suitable habitat would therefore suggest a decline in the number of Sula Cuckoo-doves however, the species appears to tolerate some degree of forest degradation hence likely rates of decline are less rapid than the rate of forest degradation and loss. There are no direct assessments of the species's abundance or rates of population change.
The Sula Cuckoo-dove was originally thought to be endemic to Taliabu Island (Sula archipelago), but also occurs on Mangole and Sanana (Sulabes) and has recently been discovered on Peleng Island (Banggai archipelago) in Eastern Sulawesi, Indonesia (Ng and Rheindt 2016, eBird 2019).
The species is an arboreal frugivore (Baptista et al. 2019) and occurs throughout a wide range of wooded habitats (Ng and Rheindt 2016). It is frequently found in primary, secondary and degraded forest, wooded gorges, patches of dense woodland in relatively open country and occasionally in degraded orchards and lowland agricultural areas, up to 900 m (Eaton et al. 2016, Ng and Rheindt 2016, Baptista et al. 2019).
The most significant threat posed for this species, both throughout the past decades and into the future, is habitat loss. Stemming largely from logging, changing agricultural practices and forest fires, it has left lowland regions largely devoid of forest. Peleng and Taliabu, the two islands to which Turacoena sulaensis is endemic, have experienced some of the most dramatic lowland loss in Sulawesi, with the latter exhibiting severe degradation also in high altitude forest (Rheindt 2010, Rheindt et al. 2010, Ng and Rheindt, 2016).
Conservation Actions Underway
Targeted conservation actions are currently unknown.
Conservation Actions Proposed
Surveys for forest birds repeated at regular intervals are essential for conservation planning, and would be key to understanding the state of bird populations within the Sula islands. Repeating these standardised surveys is then required to monitor trends in bird populations, for this and all endemic bird species of the Sula islands. Protected areas throughout the Sula islands need to retain undisturbed zones where there is no selective logging to retain large trees, which may be critical resources for this and other species restricted to these islands.
The Sula Cuckoo-dove is typically 36-39cm in length. It has a white forehead, face and throat, albeit more grey than Turacoena manadensis; dark grey plumage with a green or purple iridescence to its neck and black legs, feet and bill. It is further distinguished from T. manadensis as a result of its smaller size and distinctly different vocal trait patterns (Eaton et al. 2016, Ng and Rheindt, 2016). Both sexes are alike whilst juveniles are duller than the adult, have grey rather than white faces and lack the green/purple iridescence on the neck (Eaton et al. 2016).
Text account compilers
Martin, R., Everest, J.
Contributors
Palmer-Newton, A.
Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Species factsheet: Sula Cuckoo-Dove Turacoena sulaensis. Downloaded from
https://datazone.birdlife.org/species/factsheet/sula-cuckoo-dove-turacoena-sulaensis on 22/12/2024.
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 22/12/2024.