Data Zone
Justification of Red List category
Eclectus cornelia qualifies for listing as Endangered due to its small population size which is believed to be declining due to trapping for the pet trade and habitat degradation caused by selective logging.
Population justification
Sumba Eclectus was estimated to have a population of 1,900 individuals from surveys carried out in 1989 and 1992 (Jones et al. 1995). Given the suspected decline in mature individuals and the age of the population estimate, the number of mature individuals of Sumba Eclectus is currently suspected to be between 1,000-2,500.
Trend justification
Sumba Eclectus is believed to be undergoing a continuing decline due to selective logging and low-level trapping for the pet trade, although it is not possible to estimate the rate of decline due to the lack of up to date information. In 1991 the population was estimated to be declining by approximately 76% over three generations (Marsden 1995), and this was the "rarest Psittacine species on Sumba" (Riffel and Bekti in litt. in Jones et al. 1995). This was due to very high levels of trapping for national and international trade coupled with extensive deforestation in the previous decades (Jones et al. 1995, Marsden 1995). However, more recently trapping is thought to have been greatly reduced following the introduction of a trade moratorium for Yellow-crested Cockatoo, which was suffering even more extreme exploitation (Cahill et al. 2006, Djawarai et al. 2014, Reuleaux 2017), but this did not apply to Sumba Eclectus and some capture is believed to continue to supply at least local and national markets. The population decline is therefore assumed to be ongoing.
Despite the estimated rapid rate of decline, surveys in the early 1990s (Jones et al. 1995, Marsden 1995) found the species widely distributed across the island, whereas now records are more restricted and the majority are from within or close to protected areas (eBird 2019). Encounter rates in the Manupeu Tanaduru National Park, surveyed in 2011 (Bashari & Wungo 2011), were similar to those reported in the late 1980s and early 1990s in good forest (Marsden 1995, Jones et al. 1995), suggesting that the population within the national park is at capacity: outside, the decline is suspected to have continued to be moderately rapid to rapid. While forest loss on Sumba has been minimal over the past two decades, with annual deforestation estimated at 0.1% since 2000 (Tracewski et al. 2016), large trees containing suitable nest sites do appear to be a limiting resource (Marsden & Jones 1997, Releaux 2017), and there are reports of small-scale selective logging continuing near occupied parrot nest trees (Djawarai et al. 2014).
Eclectus cornelia occurs solely on the island of Sumba in the west of the Lesser Sunda Islands, Indonesia (Collar et al. 2019). Surveys across the whole of the island in the early 1990s found the species to be widespread, but that densities varied considerably and were highest in secondary forest, likely due to abundance of food resources (Marsden 1995). However, the species is likely limited by nest site availability, and selective logging may have reduced the numbers of very large trees even in protected areas.
The Sumba Eclectus occupies the canopy of primary and secondary lowland forest. It can be found from near the coast to mid-montane areas, and may forage in coastal scrub, denser savanna woodland, plantations, secondary growth and garden areas but requires very large deciduous trees with natural cavities in which to nest. The majority of nests are found in Tetrameles nudiflora, large examples of which often contain multiple cavities and are challenging for mammalian predators to climb (Marsden and Jones 1997). Typically feeds on fruits, seeds, nuts, leaf-buds and blossoms (Collar et al. 2019).
Sumba Eclectus has been intensively trapped for local, national trade, and the international cagebird trade which was believed to be driving a very rapid decline in the species (Marsden 1995, Jones et al. 1995). Targeted conservation action on the island for Yellow-crested Cockatoo Cacatua sulphurea brought illegal trapping of that species almost to a halt on the island (Cahill et al. 2006, Reuleaux 2017), although the moratorium introduced did not apply to Eclectus and trade is thought to have continued in this species at an unknown level. While the estimated deforestation rate on Sumba has been low (estimated from satellite data to be c. 0.1% annually since 2000: Tracewski et al.[2016]), selective logging of large trees is suspected to be having a significant impact, with suitable nesting holes apparently limiting and seemingly restricted to protected areas.
Conservation actions in place
The species occurs in two National Parks, Manupeu Tanaduru National Park and Laiwanggi Wanggameti National Park. The species is listed on CITES Appendix II. There are numerous individuals in captivity: there is potential for greater co-ordination to ensure genetic diversity is maintained.
Research and conservation actions needed
An updated population estimate is urgently needed to establish the extent of the decline since the 1990s. Subsequently, regularly repeated censuses based on a rapid assessment technique using encounter rates (e.g. Marsden et al. 2016). Selective logging incidences need to be monitored and it may be possible to grant special status to nesting trees based on community agreements, with a proxy for nest site availability a potentially useful measure that could be obtained. Any trade is assumed likely to be unsustainable with present knowledge of the population, any current rate of offtake needs assessing. Captive sources should be registered and vetted to be authorised suppliers, if there is to be regulated trade in the species.
Larger than other Eclectus; male green; upper mandible yellowish red, lower black; flanks and underwing-coverts red; leading edge of wing blue; primaries with deep blue; tail with increasing blue suffusion laterally, below brownish black, tipped yellowish white both sides. Female almost entirely red, darker on back and wings; bill black; leading edge of wing blue; tail tipped orange-yellow. Immature resembles adult of respective sex, bill greyer.
Text account compilers
Everest, J., Martin, R.
Contributors
Mohammed, M.
Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Species factsheet: Sumba Eclectus Eclectus cornelia. Downloaded from
https://datazone.birdlife.org/species/factsheet/sumba-eclectus-eclectus-cornelia 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.