Data Zone
Justification of Red List category
Recent monitoring data indicate rapid declines of this species in response to climate change. For this reason, it is listed as Vulnerable.
Population justification
The abundance of Victoria's Riflebirds is calculated from the density and distribution of birds using data from standardised transect surveys along elevational gradients and the area of climatically suitable habitat at different altitudes in 2016 (Williams et al. 2010a; 2021).
Trend justification
There appears to have been a substantial decline in population size in the last three generations, as predicted by climate change modelling (Williams et al. 2003). Annual monitoring undertaken 2000–2016 (1,970 plots, 62 different locations, 0–1,500 m) revealed a highly significant decline of 34.9% in the total population over the three generations to 2016 from an estimated 560,000 to 360,000 individuals. Declines occurred at lower, mid- and higher altitudes (Williams & de la Fuente 2021) and given the predicted 'escalator to extinction' effect, this rate is thought to be ongoing.
Victoria's Riflebirds are endemic to the Wet Tropics of north Queensland, Australia, from Mount Amos in the north, south to Paluma, Bluewater Range and Mount Elliott near Townsville, inland to the Windsor Tableland and Ravenshoe and including Hinchinbrook and Dunk Islands and some other offshore islands (Higgins et al. 2006).
Victoria's Riflebirds occur in upland rainforest, formerly attaining their highest densities at 200–1000 m (Williams et al. 2010b), feeding primarily in the mid- to upper-canopy on insects and fruit for which they probe with their long beak (Frith 1984). They usually lay two eggs in a shallow well-concealed 1.5–20 m above the ground and often atop a broken-off tree trunk, a vine-covered tree or in the centre of a tree fern, pandanus, fan palm or cordylines (Frith and Frith 1995, Frith and Beehler 1998).
Climate change is the only known threat and could be having both direct effects as a result of increased mortality during heat waves, which have been longer and hotter in the last two decades, and an indirect effect because the dry season has been longer, drier and hotter, which is likely to have reduced resource availability (Williams et al. 2010b, Williams &de la Fuente 2021). Models predict that heat will have a greater impact than rainfall (Li et al. 2009).
Conservation Actions Underway
Almost the entire range lies within protected areas.
Conservation Actions Proposed
Understand constraints on population size and survival. Identify reasons for sensitivity to climate change and options for countering them. Develop strategies for maintaining remaining populations. Apply adaptation strategies as required.
Text account compilers
Berryman, A., Vine, J.
Contributors
Ekstrom, J. & Butchart, S.
Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Species factsheet: Victoria's Riflebird Lophorina victoriae. Downloaded from
https://datazone.birdlife.org/species/factsheet/victorias-riflebird-lophorina-victoriae 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.