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

Justification of Red List category
This species is listed as Near Threatened because it has a small range in which habitat is declining through forest loss and degradation.

Population justification
The species is locally quite common (Dutson 2011, eBird 2022). It occurs at a density of 7–17 birds/km² (Bowen 1997), although much larger densities of 100 birds/km² have been recorded in optimum protected habitat (Woodall 2020). Adopting a range of 10-40 mature individuals/km² (to incorporate a likely variation between sites) and an occupancy rate of 30-50%, the population size of T. farquhari is broadly estimated at 14,000-94,000 mature individuals, assuming that c.4,700 km² of suitable habitat remains (Global Forest Watch 2022, using Hansen et al. [2013] and methods disclosed therein).

Trend justification
Although in some areas this species appears semi-tolerant of habitat degradation, in much of its range it is confined to undisturbed forest, being outcompeted by T. chloris in more open environments. Consequently, ongoing, albeit slow, habitat loss and degradation (equivalent to 3-4% over three generations; Global Forest Watch 2022, based on Hansen et al. [2013]) is thought to be causing a slow decline.

Todiramphus farquhari is endemic to Espiritu Santo, Malo, Aore and Malakula in Vanuatu. It was reported to be fairly widely distributed on all these islands in 2004-2005 (N. Barré in litt. 2007, S. Totterman in litt. 2007). On Santo, the population density was estimated at c.7-17 calling birds per km² at Loru Protected Area (Bowen 1997), and the species is still considered "fairly common in suitable habitat" (Dutson 2011), but birds appear to be less common at Big Bay Protected Area and perhaps elsewhere (G. Dutson pers. obs. 1998). Though it is not hard to find in suitable habitat, numbers are believed to have declined on the east coast of Santo owing to habitat loss (S. Totterman in litt. 2007).

It replaces T. chloris in "dark bush" - the densest parts of closed-canopy forest (Medway and Marshall 1975, Bregulla 1992, S. Totterman in litt. 2007), however it also occurs in other forest types, such as dry forest (S. Totterman in litt. 2007). It is most common in primary evergreen rainforest, from sea-level to at least 800 m, and it has been considered more common in the hills (Bregulla 1992, G. Dutson pers. obs. 1998, Kratter et al. 2006). It appears to be able to tolerate even fairly open secondary and logged forest and forest patches (S. Totterman in litt. 2007). It feeds on lizards and insects from a perch low in the forest and nests in arboreal termite nests (Bregulla 1992).

Although in some areas this species appears semi-tolerant of habitat degradation, in much of its range it is confined to undisturbed forest, being outcompeted by T. chloris in more open environments. Consequently, ongoing, albeit slow, habitat loss and degradation (equivalent to 3-4% over three generations; Global Forest Watch 2022, based on Hansen et al. [2013]) is thought to be causing a slow decline. Being an understorey species, declines caused by habitat loss are likely compounded by degradation of primary and logged forest by feral cattle and pigs (Bregulla 1992, S. Maturin in litt. 1994, G. Dutson pers. obs. 1998).

Conservation Actions Underway
It is protected under Vanuatu law. It occurs in the two protected areas on Santo: Big Bay and Loru (Bowen 1997).

Conservation Actions Proposed
Survey Malo and Malakula. Survey Santo to ascertain its distribution and abundance. Ascertain extent of remaining closed-canopy lowland forest. Determine habitat and altitudinal requirements. Determine tolerance of logged forest. Assess effects of cattle and pig browsing by monitoring in a large fenced-off sector of Loru Protected Area. Monitor numbers at Loru and Big Bay protected areas through annual aural surveys. Advocate creation of forest reserves on each major island.

19 cm. Medium-sized, blue-black, chestnut-and-white kingfisher. Similar to many congeners. Upperparts are iridescent deep purple-blue with clear white collar and loral spot. Underparts are largely orange-rufous. Similar spp. White-collared Kingfisher T. chloris found in more open habitats and larger and pale turquoise-blue above with variable orange or rufous on supercilium, flanks and sometimes belly. Voice Long, accelerating series of chirps, repeated for more than a minute. Hints Best seen by stalking calling birds.

Text account compilers
Berryman, A.

Contributors
Barré, N., Diamond, J.M., Dutson, G., Maturin, S., Stattersfield, A., Symes, A. & Totterman, S.

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Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Species factsheet: Vanuatu Kingfisher Todiramphus farquhari. Downloaded from https://datazone.birdlife.org/species/factsheet/vanuatu-kingfisher-todiramphus-farquhari on 23/11/2024.
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 23/11/2024.