Data Zone
Justification of Red List category
This species has an extremely 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). The population trend appears to be stable, and hence the species does not approach the thresholds 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 size has not been quantified, but the species is described as common to very common on Flores and common and widespread on Timor (del Hoyo et al. 2006).
Trend justification
The population is suspected to be stable in the absence of evidence for any declines or substantial threats.
The species occurs throughout Timor, including many of its satellite islands such as Atauro, in the south-east Lesser Sundas and Flores in the west-central Lesser Sundas, Indonesia and Timor-Leste. The species also occurs throughout the forests of the island of Wetar, Indonesia (Clement 2019).
Phylloscopus presbytes occurs throughout lowland and hill semi-evergreen forest and woodland, from sea-level up to an elevation of approximately 2,300 m (Clement 2019). On the island of Flores, subspecies floresianus occurs in primary forest and slightly degraded montane forest alongside secondary scrub and casuarina forest between elevations of 1,000-2,400 m (Clement 2019). The species typically occupies middle levels and the canopy and feeds predominantly on small arthropods and insects taken from the foliage. Forages alone, in pairs and commonly in mixed-species flocks (Clement 2019).
The species is not currently known to be at risk from any substantial threats.
The Timor Leaf-warbler is a medium-sized olive brown leaf-warbler approximately 11cm in size with a long supercilium. The nominate subspecies presbytes is dull brownish-olive above, browner on side of crown, with a faint or dull yellowish central crownstripe, long yellowish-white supercilium to the rear of the ear-coverts, olive-brown lores and eyestripe, yellowish-white cheek and ear-coverts (Clement 2019). The species may exhibit a pale yellow wingbar at the tips of the greater upperwing-coverts. The tail is brown whilst the inner webs of the outer three feathers are pure white. It is pale yellowish-white below, whiter on the throat, streaked yellow on the breast and yellowest on the belly and vent. The iris is dark brown, upper mandible dark horn-brown, lower mandible yellow and the legs dark grey. Sexes alike. Juvenile is browner than adult, and lacks any hint of crownstripe. Subspecies floresianus has a shorter bill than the nominate, only vestigial median crownstripe, green edgings of the wings and its underparts are more uniformly and slightly deeper yellow.
Text account compilers
Everest, J., Ekstrom, J., Butchart, S.
Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Species factsheet: Timor Leaf-warbler Phylloscopus presbytes. Downloaded from
https://datazone.birdlife.org/species/factsheet/timor-leaf-warbler-phylloscopus-presbytes on 25/11/2024.
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 25/11/2024.