• 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). 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 is very large, and 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 species is common throughout its range and the population is thought to considerably exceed 50,000 birds (C. Trainor in litt. 2020). On Timor Island particularly, the species may occupy 20% of the overall range amounting to approximately one pair/hectare, which approximately tallies to around 100,000 pairs. It is also common on Semau Island (C. Trainor in litt. 2020). As a preliminary range based on these rough values the population is considered to fall somewhere between 30,000-200,000 mature individuals.

Trend justification
The population is suspected to be undergoing a slow population reduction due to loss of habitat to agriculture and development. However, the species appears to be able to use degraded woodland areas, hence any decline is not thought to approach thresholds for listing as threatened.

Saxicola gutturalis is restricted to Timor, Indonesia and Timor-Leste, and its satellite islands of Rote and Semau (the nominate subspecies gutturalis occurs on Timor and Rote, with subspecies luctuosa on Semau). While initially considered to have a potentially small population size due to this relatively small range, extensive survey effort since 2003 has demonstrated that this is actually common almost throughout, and not considered at risk (C. Trainor in litt. 2020).

It occurs up to 1,200 m in monsoon and open dry forest, and scrubby savanna. In West Timor it is present even in very small remnant pockets of woodland, but is largely excluded from savanna and open scrub by the Pied Bushchat S. caprata. The species appears to be able to use degraded woodland areas. It forages on insects by gleaning and sallying in the canopy and in tall shrubbery beneath. It nests mainly in October and November, but also in May and June.

Forest loss on Timor has been extensive owing to agricultural expansion and logging, but the species can persist in small remnants and scrubby areas, of which a great deal remains.

Conservation Actions Underway
None are currently known. 

Conservation Actions Proposed
Generate density estimates to inform a revised population estimate for the species. Estimate the area of suitable habitat and assess threats to the species. Effectively protect significant areas of suitable habitat, in both strictly protected areas and community-led multiple use areas.

Text account compilers
Fernando, E., Martin, R., Murray-Watson, R.

Contributors
Benstead, P., Bird, J., Khwaja, N. & Trainor, C.

---

Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Species factsheet: White-bellied Bushchat Saxicola gutturalis. Downloaded from https://datazone.birdlife.org/species/factsheet/white-bellied-bushchat-saxicola-gutturalis 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.