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

Taxonomic source(s)
del Hoyo, J., Collar, N.J., Christie, D.A., Elliott, A., Fishpool, L.D.C., Boesman, P. and Kirwan, G.M. 2016. HBW and BirdLife International Illustrated Checklist of the Birds of the World. Volume 2: Passerines. Lynx Edicions and BirdLife International, Barcelona, Spain and Cambridge, UK.

Red List criteria met

Critically Endangered	Endangered	Vulnerable
-	-	-

Red List history

Year	Category	Criteria
2024	Least Concern
2016	Near Threatened	C1+2a(i)
2012	Near Threatened	C1+2a(i)
2008	Near Threatened	C1; C2a(i)
2004	Near Threatened
2000	Lower Risk/Near Threatened
1994	Lower Risk/Near Threatened
1988	Lower Risk/Least Concern

Migratory status	not a migrant	Forest dependency	does not normally occur in forest
Land-mass type	continent	Average mass	-

	Estimate	Data quality
Extent of Occurrence (breeding/resident)	120,000 km2	medium
Severely fragmented?	no	-

	Estimate	Data quality	Derivation	Year of estimate
Population size	unknown	-	-	-
Population trend	stable	-	suspected	-
Generation length	2.81 years	-	-	-
Number of subpopulations	1	-	-	-
Percentage of mature individuals in largest subpopulation	100%	-	-	-

Population justification: The total population size is unknown. The species is known by just a few scattered records in this inaccessible and poorly known area, but it appears to be genuinely rather scarce and localised and is seemingly absent from extensive areas of seemingly suitable habitat (Madge 2020). Using a line transect method, a population of 18-33 individuals was estimated in a 7.4 km² study site (Ju and Golok 2013). Considering also an estimated c. 137,000 km² of highly suitable habitat (and a further c. 200,000 km² of medium suitability) (Li et al. 2023), the population probably numbers at least in the high tens of thousands.

Trend justification: Populations are thought to have stabilised through targeted conservation action including establishing a community-conserved area for the species and working with local herdsmen. Grazing has been restricted in critical habitat during nesting season, which has resulted in increased bunting numbers (Ju and Golok 2013). Additionally, climate change is not projected to cause a significant change in area of habitat: climate modelling showed that the area of habitat with high suitability is likely to increase marginally between now and 2050 (Li et al. 2023). In the absence of evidence for declines in the last ten years, the global population trend is suspected to be stable.

Country/Territory	Presence	Origin	Resident	Breeding visitor	Non-breeding visitor	Passage migrant
China (mainland)	extant	native	yes

Country/Territory	IBA Name
China (mainland)	Chamdo
China (mainland)	Gonjo
China (mainland)	Markam

Habitat (level 1)	Habitat (level 2)	Importance	Occurrence
Rocky areas (eg. inland cliffs, mountain peaks)		suitable	resident
Shrubland	Subtropical/Tropical High Altitude	major	resident
Altitude	3500 - 4700 m	Occasional altitudinal limits

Threat (level 1)	Threat (level 2)	Impact and Stresses
Invasive and other problematic species, genes & diseases	Invasive non-native/alien species/diseases - Unspecified species	Timing		Scope		Severity		Impact
		Ongoing		Majority (50-90%)		No decline		Low Impact: 5
		Stresses Ecosystem degradation, Reduced reproductive success, Species mortality

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Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Species factsheet: Tibetan Bunting Emberiza koslowi. Downloaded from https://datazone.birdlife.org/species/factsheet/tibetan-bunting-emberiza-koslowi 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.