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

Justification of Red List category
This species has a 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). Despite the fact that the population trend appears to be decreasing, the decline is not believed to be sufficiently rapid to approach the thresholds for Vulnerable under the population trend criterion (>30% decline over ten years or three generations). The population size is unknown, but is not suspected to be small, hence does not 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 population size of E. kochi has not been estimated. It is described as 'scarce and local' by Allen (2020) and eBird (2023) corroborate this description, with the species evidently being detected only infrequently; nonetheless, unless vocal, birds are likely to prove elusive and it is likely to be more numerous than records alone suggest. In its range, there is a large area of habitat, amounting to nearly 25,000 km² (Global Forest Watch 2023). Even if only a small percentage of this forest is occupied, the global population size is unlikely to be especially small.

Trend justification
In the absence of empirical population trend data, remote-sensed forest cover loss data is used as a proxy for this forest-dependent species. In the past three generations (13 years: 2009-2022), forest cover in this species' range reduced by c. 2% (Global Forest Watch 2023, based on data from Hansen et al. 2013 and methods disclosed therein). This does not account for habitat degradation (via selective logging etc.), which may have some impact on this species, although (like other Erythropitta) it is suspected of being tolerant of selectively logged and degraded forest (Allen 2020). No other threats beyond forest loss are known. The population is therefore suspected to be declining only very slowly, set here at a continuing rate of 1-9%.

Erythropitta kochi is endemic to Luzon in the Philippines.

It chiefly inhabits montane forest, tolerating degraded and selectively logged areas. Records span a wide altitudinal range (360-2,350 m), with highest densities found at 900-1,500 m (Allen 2020). It appears to prefer closed-canopy, primary montane, oak dominated forest, frequently on steep slopes. Its movements are poorly understood.

The only identified threat for this species is habitat loss and degradation. Remote sensing data indicate that rates have been slow over the past three generations, amounting to populations losses thought equivalent to only 1-9%. This is largely because of this species' predilection for montane and submontane forests, which are less accessible to loggers.

Conservation Actions Underway
CITES Appendix I. It occurs in a number of protected areas, including the Northern Sierra Madre Natural Park, Mt Isarog and Mt Pulog National Parks and the Maria Aurora Memorial Natural Park (eBird 2023, UNEP-WCMC and IUCN 2023). While law enforcement in protected areas is often weak, the Philippines' protected areas have proven relatively successful at protecting forests (see Apan et al. 2017).

Conservation Actions Proposed
Continue to monitor rates of habitat loss through remote sensing. Continue to protect areas of suitable habitat to confer benefit to this, and Luzon's other endemic species.

21 cm. Brightly-coloured, ground-dwelling passerine. Brown fore-crown, rusty-orange rear crown and nape. Dark olive-brown ear-coverts bordered below by broad, pinkish malar stripe and darker sub-malar area. Blue breast, rest of underparts scarlet. Dull olive-green upperparts except for blue rump and wing patch. Long, greyish-blue legs. Stout, dark bill. Juvenile is brown, spotted paler on breast. Shows pale malar area. Similar spp. Red-bellied Pitta P. erythrogaster is smaller and lacks pale malar. Voice Pigeon-like series of five to nine short woo notes which descend in pitch and accelerate. Hints Best located by call.

Text account compilers
Berryman, A.

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Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Species factsheet: Whiskered Pitta Erythropitta kochi. Downloaded from https://datazone.birdlife.org/species/factsheet/whiskered-pitta-erythropitta-kochi on 22/11/2024.
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 22/11/2024.