VU
Sula Scrubfowl Megapodius bernsteinii



Taxonomy

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
Critically Endangered Endangered Vulnerable
- - A2cde+3cde+4cde

Red List history
Year Category Criteria
2021 Vulnerable A2cde+3cde+4cde
2016 Vulnerable A2cde+3cde+4cde
2012 Vulnerable A2cde+3cde+4cde
2011 Vulnerable A2c,d,e; A3c,d,e; A4c,d,e
2008 Near Threatened A2c,d,e; A3c,d,e; A4c,d,e
2004 Near Threatened
2000 Lower Risk/Near Threatened
1994 Lower Risk/Near Threatened
1988 Threatened
Species attributes

Migratory status not a migrant Forest dependency low
Land-mass type Average mass -
Range

Estimate Data quality
Extent of Occurrence (breeding/resident) 33,000 km2 good
Severely fragmented? no -
Population
Estimate Data quality Derivation Year of estimate
Population size 10000-19999 mature individuals medium inferred 2012
Population trend decreasing poor inferred 2014-2034
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 6.7 years - - -

Population justification: There were thought to be some 7,000 birds in the Banggai Islands, mostly on Peleng, and as many as 38,000 (22,500-54,000) individuals on Taliabu (BirdLife International 2001).  However, encounter rates reported by Rheindt (2010) were far lower than those found in the early 1990s (Davidson et al. 1991). Hence these populations are suspected to be undergoing rapid declines. Conservatively, the total population is now placed in the band 10,000-19,999 mature individuals, assumed from a total population of between 15,000-30,000 individuals.

Trend justification: This species is known to be suffering extensive habitat loss and degradation and intensive hunting pressure (Rheindt 2010). There has been forest loss and degradation throughout virtually the whole range, but in small patches, such that the overall percentage forest cover lost is estimated at 12% between 2001-2019 (Global Forest Watch 2021), equivalent to almost 13% over three generations. The pervasive nature of the habitat conversion in lowland areas does however facilitate hunting and egg-collecting across almost the entire range of the species. Rheindt (2010) reported a substantial fall in encounter rates on Taliabu when compared with fieldwork carried out in 1991 (Davidson et al. 1991), and reported declines on Peleng and associated islets. Its population is thus suspected to be undergoing a rapid decline.


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

Important Bird and Biodiversity Areas (IBA)
Country/Territory IBA Name
Indonesia Peleng - Banggai
Indonesia Pulau Seho
Indonesia Taliabu Utara

Habitats & altitude
Habitat (level 1) Habitat (level 2) Importance Occurrence
Artificial/Terrestrial Arable Land marginal resident
Artificial/Terrestrial Plantations marginal resident
Artificial/Terrestrial Subtropical/Tropical Heavily Degraded Former Forest suitable resident
Forest Subtropical/Tropical Dry suitable resident
Forest Subtropical/Tropical Mangrove Vegetation Above High Tide Level suitable resident
Forest Subtropical/Tropical Moist Lowland suitable resident
Savanna Dry suitable resident
Shrubland Subtropical/Tropical Moist suitable resident
Altitude 0 - 450 m Occasional altitudinal limits  

Threats & impact
Threat (level 1) Threat (level 2) Impact and Stresses
Agriculture & aquaculture Annual & perennial non-timber crops - Small-holder farming Timing Scope Severity Impact
Ongoing Majority (50-90%) Slow, Significant Declines Medium Impact: 6
Stresses
Ecosystem degradation, Ecosystem conversion
Biological resource use Hunting & trapping terrestrial animals - Intentional use (species is the target) Timing Scope Severity Impact
Ongoing Majority (50-90%) Slow, Significant Declines Medium Impact: 6
Stresses
Species mortality
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
Invasive and other problematic species, genes & diseases Invasive non-native/alien species/diseases - Canis familiaris Timing Scope Severity Impact
Ongoing Majority (50-90%) Slow, Significant Declines Medium Impact: 6
Stresses
Species mortality
Invasive and other problematic species, genes & diseases Invasive non-native/alien species/diseases - Felis catus Timing Scope Severity Impact
Ongoing Majority (50-90%) Slow, Significant Declines Medium Impact: 6
Stresses
Species mortality
Invasive and other problematic species, genes & diseases Invasive non-native/alien species/diseases - Named species Timing Scope Severity Impact
Ongoing Majority (50-90%) Slow, Significant Declines Medium Impact: 6
Stresses
Competition

Utilisation
Purpose Scale
Food - human subsistence, national

Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Species factsheet: Sula Scrubfowl Megapodius bernsteinii. Downloaded from https://datazone.birdlife.org/species/factsheet/sula-scrubfowl-megapodius-bernsteinii on 06/12/2024.
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 06/12/2024.