Current view: Data table and detailed info
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
Red List history
Migratory status |
nomadic |
Forest dependency |
high |
Land-mass type |
|
Average mass |
- |
Population justification: There are no direct estimates of the species's population density or population size. On Espiritu Santo, it was recorded as present between 500 and 1,400 m asl, and common between 800 and 1,200 m in the West Santo mountains (S. Totterman pers. obs. 2010). During surveys in the Espiritu Santo uplands in 2002-2003, the species was uncommon at Wunarohaehare and common at Tsaraepae, where 20 were sometimes recorded on a single day (Kratter et al. 2006). It has been found to be common on Vanua Lava (Parr 2007). It appears to be rare on Ambae (none seen or heard in several days birdwatching in the montane forest [S. Totterman in litt. 2007]).
According to remote sensing data, there were approximately 3,540 km2 of forest with at least 50% canopy cover within the species's range in 2010 (Global Forest Watch 2021). Based on the minimum and first quartile recorded densities of congeners (1.1 and 14.5 individuals/km2, respectively), the area of tree cover stated above, and assuming that tree cover to be one to two thirds occupied, the population size is tentatively suspected to fall in the range 1,200 - 35,000 individuals, roughly equating to 800 - 23,000 mature individuals. Given that the species has been described as common in parts of Espiritu Santo and on Vanua Lava, the true population size is unlikely to fall very close to the minimum end of this range, and the best estimate is here placed in the range 2,500 - 23,000 mature individuals.
Its population structure is poorly known but it is precautionarily assessed as having separate subpopulations on each of the main islands. The species's range on Espiritu Santo has the largest area of tree cover, estimated at 2,500 km2 (approximately 70% of the total; Global Forest Watch 2021), which may translate to a population of 600-16,000 mature individuals according to the method used above, but is suspected to be larger than 1,000 mature individuals (G. Dutson in litt. 2021).
Trend justification: There are no data on population trends. Remote sensed data on tree cover loss indicates that forest loss within the species's range has been very slow over recent decades, with approximately 0.36% of tree cover with at least 50% canopy cover lost over 19 years from 2000-2019 (Global Forest Watch 2021). Hunting may be causing a population decline, but the impact is unknown.
Country/territory distribution
Important Bird and Biodiversity Areas (IBA)
Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Species factsheet: Vanuatu Imperial-pigeon Ducula bakeri. Downloaded from
https://datazone.birdlife.org/species/factsheet/vanuatu-imperial-pigeon-ducula-bakeri on 24/12/2024.
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 24/12/2024.