• Summary
• Text account
• Data table and detailed info
• Distribution map
• Reference and further resources

Justification of Red List category
This species has a large range, and hence does not 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 thresholds for Vulnerable under the population trend criterion (>30% decline over three generations). The population size is unknown, but is not suspected to be sufficiently small 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
There are no data available from which to estimate this species' population size. The area of suitable habitat is very large (c.20,000 km²; per Global Forest Watch 2022) and although no density data are available, it is considered highly unlikely that the number of mature individuals is fewer than 10,000. If the species is confirmed from northern Sumatra/Aceh, the area of suitable habitat will be almost double.

Trend justification
The population is suspected to be declining slowly due to habitat loss at the lower elevations of its range, and potentially trapping. In the three generations (13.4 years; Bird et al. 2020) to 2022, forest cover loss in its range was 3-4% (Global Forest Watch 2022, based on Hansen et al. [2013] and methods disclosed therein), and this is thought to have had minimal impact on the population. Trapping for the songbird trade has also been identified as a threat to this species. However, the species has only very rarely appeared on physical market survey inventories, and using a web-scraping tool to mine data from online marketplace platforms, Okarda et al. (2022) found only three advertisements for C. beccarii among c.105,000 listings. Consequently, although trapping may cause local losses at the most accessible locations, it is unlikely to be causing a rapid reduction in global population size. Evaluating all the data available, the population is suspected of declining at a past and future rate of 1-9% over three generations.

Cochoa beccarii is endemic to the mountains of Sumatra, Indonesia.

It inhabits the middle and upper storeys of tropical lower montane forest between 1,000 m and 2,200 m (Eaton et al. 2021). It is thought likely to be largely sedentary, but may make some local seasonal movements.

In the three generations (13.4 years; Bird et al. 2020) to 2022, forest cover loss in its range was 3-4% (Global Forest Watch 2022, based on Hansen et al. [2013] and methods disclosed therein), and this is thought to have had minimal impact on the population. Trapping for the songbird trade has also been identified as a threat to this species. However, the species has only very rarely appeared on physical market survey inventories, and using a web-scraping tool to mine data from online marketplace platforms, Okarda et al. (2022) found only three advertisements for C. beccarii among c.105,000 listings. Consequently, although trapping may cause local losses at the most accessible locations, it is unlikely to be causing a rapid reduction in global population size.

Conservation Actions Underway
None is specifically known. Much of its range lies in protected areas (UNEP-WCMC and IUCN 2022).

Conservation Actions Proposed
Conduct extensive surveys for the species (surveyors should be familiar with its vocalisations to aid detection), in particular in Aceh Province where there is a large area of potential habitat but no confirmed records (J. Eaton in litt. 2016). Such surveys would help to establish its current distribution and population status. Continue to monitor habitat loss within its range.

28 cm. Large, thrush-like bird of forest canopy. Male predominantly black with conspicuous powder-blue crown, wing-patch and base of tail. Female apparently duller with buff cheeks and throat. Similar spp. Shiny Whistling-thrush Myophonus melanurus is more plump, noisy and more uniform dark blue. Voice Rather thin, high-pitched and drawn out whistle (like other cochoas). Hints Carefully scan forest mid-storey and canopy for birds making occasional flights between perches.

Text account compilers
Berryman, A.

Contributors
Benstead, P., Brickle, N., Derhé, M., Eaton, J., Gilroy, J., Khwaja, N. & Westrip, J.R.S.

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Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Species factsheet: Sumatran Cochoa Cochoa beccarii. Downloaded from https://datazone.birdlife.org/species/factsheet/sumatran-cochoa-cochoa-beccarii on 23/12/2024.
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 23/12/2024.