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

Justification of Red List category
This species has a small population that is thought to be undergoing a rapid population decline as a result of the loss, degradation and fragmentation of its tropical thorn-scrub habitat. It has a moderately large range, but populations are severely fragmented and low in number. It therefore qualifies as Vulnerable.

Population justification
The population is estimated to number 2,500-9,999 mature individuals, from analysis of records in BirdLife International (2001), who concluded that the distribution was very patchy, the species occurred at low densities, and overall numbers must be very low, i.e. fewer than 10,000. This estimate equates to 3,750-14,999 individuals, rounded here to 3,500-15,000 individuals.

Trend justification
Recent surveys have found the species to be scarce across its range, and absent from many intervening areas between known sites (Tiwari 2001). It is therefore suspected to be declining rapidly in association with the loss and degradation of its habitat.

This species is endemic to India, where it occurs in two isolated populations: one in central and southern Rajasthan, Kutch and northern Gujarat in the north-west, and the other in the Eastern Ghats of southern Andhra Pradesh, northern Tamil Nadu and Karnataka in the south. It is a rare species, with a maximum of 165 records pertaining to 250 individuals over the last 150 years (Trivedi 2009). It appears to have declined substantially. Most recent records are from Gujarat and Rajasthan, where it is patchily distributed and found at low densities in Udaipur district, Kutch, Palanpur, Pali, Jodhpur, Jalore, Sirohi, Ajmere, Jaipur and Nagaur (Tiwari and Rahmani 1996, Tiwari 2001, Mehra 2004, Sharma 2004, Tehsin et al. 2005, Sharma 2014, Sharma and Kohli 2014). There are recent records from the South-eastern Ghats near the Karnataka-Tamil Nadu border (Lott and Lott 1999, Sadananda et al. 2010, Praveen J. in litt. 2012, S. Subramanya in litt. 2016), though possibly none in Tamil Nadu itself (Subramanya et al. undated). There are three recent sightings from Arogyavaram, Chittoor district, Andhra Pradesh (Jones 2007), involving a maximum of just two individuals. The South Indian population may now be very small. Previous reports from Wynaad District, Kerala, are thought to be erroneous (J. Praveen in litt. 2007). A recent sighting of the species in Thar Desert of Rajasthan (Dookia 2007) suggests that a population could persist in the extensive Acacia plantations along the Indira Gandhi Canal Project. Similarly, a more fragmented and sparse population could exist in the open Albizia amara scrub in eastern Karnataka, previously a pastoral grazing area (S. Subramanya in litt. 2016)

It inhabits tropical, dry thorn-scrub forests, particularly those dominated by Acacia species, from the lowlands and foothills up to at least 750 m, occasionally straying into gardens, vegetated streambeds and irrigated crop fields during drought years. The species has been observed to feed on the fruits of Commiphora roxburghi (J. Tiwari in litt. 2016), and Capparis decidua, although it is unclear whether this is because of the fruits themselves or the insects that live within them (Joshua et al. 2007). It has elsewhere been observed to take insects, the fruits of Maytenus emarginatus and inflorescences of Butea monosperma (Trivedi 2009).  The southern population also occurs in dry deciduous forest dominated by Albizia amara (S. Subramanya in litt. 2016). It breeds in tree cavities up to 750 m, and may be restricted to forest areas with sufficient dead or dying trees (Tiwari 2001); and when holes are scarce in thorny jungle (in Sajjangarh Wildlife Sanctuary) it has been reported to nest in Boswellia serreta (Sharma and Kohli 2014, S. Sharma in litt. 2016). It breeds during the monsoon (May-August), some populations then dispersing.

The most serious threats are those driving the loss, degradation and fragmentation of tropical thorn-scrub forest, such as lopping and cutting for fuelwood and illegal charcoal making, clearance for agricultural land and settlement construction, and over-grazing. The species nests in cavities in old trees, many of which are now felled, leading to nesting failure; it often uses old nest holes made by Yellow-crowned Woodpecker Dendrocopos mahrattensis, and the low abundance of this species at some sites may be limiting the population (Trivedi 2009). In Kutch, an estimated 100 Acacia trees per day are felled for the collection of twigs for toothbrush manufacture (Tiwari 2001). Remaining areas of suitable habitat are further threatened by proposed cement factories, stone quarrying and gypsum mining, including within existing protected areas, as well as by the construction of wind farms (J. Tiwari in litt. 2016). The spread of the non-native shrubs Prosopis glandulosa and P. chilensis is also having deleterious effects on dry thorn-scrub. There is a lack of awareness of these threats among enforcement staff (Trivedi 2009). In Karnataka, one of the localities where the species is found is under the threat of possible submergence due to a proposed dam in the Cauvery riverine area, and a locality in Chitradurga district may be threatened by development and invasive non-native shrubs (S. Subramanya in litt. 2016).

Conservation Actions Underway
There are records from several protected areas. However, recent surveys have failed to find the species in Mudumalai Wildlife Sanctuary, Tamil Nadu and Anshi National Park, Karnataka, and Anshi apparently does not support any suitable habitat (S. Subramanya in litt. 2007). It may occur at Baludhara Jessore Sloth Bear Sanctuary, Gujarat and Satyamangalam Wildlife Sanctuary in Tamil Nadu (Praveen J. in litt. 2012).

Conservation Actions Proposed
Monitor sites across the species's range to determine rates of habitat loss and population decline. Establish a network of protected areas encompassing tracts of dry thorn-scrub forest supporting significant populations, and make sure that protection within existing Protected Areas is effective. Promote and integrate conservation initiatives within rural development schemes to reduce the exploitation of dry thorn-scrub forest (particularly dead and decaying trees), e.g. through the introduction of fuel-efficient stoves and (in Kutch) the provision of toothbrushes and paste/powder, and introducing cooking gas to villages to reduce dependence on fuel wood from around areas where the species is known to occur (S. Subramanya in litt. 2016). Consolidate knowledge of the status, distribution and movements of this species in southern India in order to target conservation activities. Survey Acacia plantations along the Indira Gandhi Canal Project in the Thar Desert, Rajasthan, and Albizia amara dominated scrub areas in eastern Karnataka (S. Subramanya in litt. 2016). Conduct molecular analyses to determine the relationship between the two populations.

12 cm. Robust, strongly patterned, mainly black-and-white tit. Black mantle, scapulars and wing-coverts, black-and-white, boldly patterned, tertials, secondaries and primaries. Yellowish wash to flanks and sides of breast. Voice Song a loud pee-pee-pee-pee-pee. Other calls include scolding tchrrr, mellow pit, abrupt tink and thin tip-it.

Text account compilers
Martin, R, Benstead, P., Westrip, J., Khwaja, N., Taylor, J., Gilroy, J.

Contributors
Tiwari, J., Sharma, S., Subramanya, S., Trivedi, P., Kumar, V., Praveen, J.

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Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Species factsheet: White-naped Tit Machlolophus nuchalis. Downloaded from https://datazone.birdlife.org/species/factsheet/white-naped-tit-machlolophus-nuchalis on 23/12/2024.
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 23/12/2024.