Data Zone
Justification of Red List category
This species is very poorly known, with habitat requirements that remain not well understood. It is suspected to be declining moderately rapidly (10-29% over 12 years) in response to habitat loss and degradation, particularly the widespread clearance of lowland dipterocarp forests in southern Indochina (this species' stronghold). Accordingly it listed as Near Threatened. However its abundance is poorly known and survey work is required to determine levels of occupancy over much of its range.
Population justification
The global population size of this species has not been quantified, an exercise that is rendered very difficult by its peculiarly unpredictable abundance. In Myanmar, survey coverage is low but it appears to be somewhat localised (eBird 2023). In Thailand, mostly occurs in the west where it has evidently always been rather scarce (Deignan 1945, Lekagul and Round 1991, Treesucon and Limparungpatthanakij 2018, eBird 2023). In Lao PDR, perhaps surprisingly scarce with very few records despite, at least historically, ample suitable habitat and reasonable survey effort (reviewed in Duckworth et al. 1999, Timmins et al. in press). In Viet Nam, has likely always been localised, but birds remain common and frequently encountered at some sites (e.g. Yok Don National Park: eBird 2023). In Cambodia, the most comprehensive review of its distribution and occurrence was undertaken by Goes (2013), who summarised it as being 'widespread and not uncommon across the northern half [of Cambodia], but scarce and local in the southwest'. This pattern of records is consistent with recent observations (eBird 2023), which indicate the species' tolerance of some very heavily degraded forest. It is likely that Cambodia is a stronghold for this species.
Evaluating national descriptions of abundance, it is impossible to accurately quantify the population size of this species but it remains at least locally quite common, and is therefore not believed to have a very small population size. More comprehensive surveys of abundance (especially away from Cambodia), should be considered a priority.
Trend justification
Inferred to be declining moderately rapidly in response to forest loss and, locally, hunting (BirdLife International 2001, Goes 2013, Timmins et al. in press). This species has somewhat obscure habitat needs and use (being common in some parts of its range, even in heavily degraded habitat, and unexpectedly scarce in others), rendering an accurate appraisal of rates of decline difficult to accomplish. Throughout its range it has a clear affinity for dry, typically lowland, dipterocarp forest, which over the past 20 years has been extensively cleared, chiefly for agriculture. While empirical evidence are few, the global rate of decline is suspected of having been moderately rapid over the past three generations (12 years: 2011-2023). Remote sensing data indicate that in this time window, 15-20% of forest cover within this species' range has been lost (Global Forest Watch 2023, based on data from Hansen et al. (2013) and methods disclosed therein) but there are several assumptions to be considered when converting this to a rate of population decline. First, in parts of its range, it is evidently tolerant of habitat degradation, although even in its strongholds (e.g. north Cambodia) there is suggestion that fragmentation and severe degradation may still prove a threat (Goes 2013). Second, to convert the rate of forest cover loss to population reduction assumes that the species is evenly distributed across its mapped range. For this species in particular, this is not a fair assumption. It is likely that Cambodia hosts a significant minority, or perhaps even a majority, of the species' global population (despite being only a small proportion of the mapped range), although even here it ranges from locally common in the north to very scarce and local in the south (Goes 2013). Forest loss in this part of the world has been especially rapid (Global Forest Watch 2023) and therefore rates of population decline may be steeper than if an even density is assumed. Finally, in parts of its range localised hunting may be a threat (especially in Lao PDR and Myanmar), contributing an unknown amount to declines.
Accounting for the range of scenarios, and the acceptance that in the absence of robust monitoring schemes any estimation of the rate of decline of this species is highly speculative, it is suspected that it has declined by 10-29% over the past three generations. There is no indication that the threats have either slowed or ceased, and this same rate is therefore projected also into the future.
Endemic to South-East Asia, with its highest abundance apparently in southern Indochina. Occurs in Myanmar, Thailand, Lao PDR, Cambodia and Viet Nam. In all countries (perhaps excluding Cambodia, where remains common) it is almost certainly much declined on its former abundance and distribution.
It is resident in wooded grasslands and open forest, chiefly deciduous dipterocarp and mixed deciduous forest. Exceptionally it may occur to c.1,000 m, but it is more typically found (and certainly in greater abundance) in lowland forests below c.600 m. It uses tree hollows for nesting and roosting.
The principal threat to this species is forest loss, which has been moderately rapid in its range over the past two decades (Global Forest Watch 2023). Lowland dipterocarp forest, this species' favoured habitat, has been especially vulnerable to the expansion of agriculture (including, locally, plantations) and the extraction of timber for firewood. The severity of hunting as a threat is not known, however as a large-bodied bird with populations in countries known to have especially high hunting rates (especially Lao PDR and Myanmar), it is difficult to imagine that this species is not at least occasionally hunted.
Conservation Actions Underway
Listed in CITES Appendix II, although there is little evidence this species is traded on a scale likely to be contributing to declines. Occurs in numerous protected areas throughout its range which likely confers some protection, especially in Cambodia, where rates of forest loss in several wildlife sanctuaries, for example, have been substantially lower than in neighbouring areas of northern Cambodia (Global Forest Watch 2023).
Text account compilers
Berryman, A.
Contributors
Eaton, J., Benstead, P., Mahood, S., Westrip, J.R.S. & Taylor, J.
Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Species factsheet: White-rumped Pygmy-falcon Neohierax insignis. Downloaded from
https://datazone.birdlife.org/species/factsheet/white-rumped-pygmy-falcon-neohierax-insignis 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.