• 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 size has not been quantified, and as such it 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). Despite the fact that the population trend may 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). For these reasons the species is evaluated as Least Concern.

Population justification
This species is described as uncommon (Pratt and Beehler 2015) although is poorly known and no population estimates are available. It has a scattered distribution within the range and is known only from several localities, but may have been overlooked in some areas due to its similarity to A. metallica with which it sometimes associates. It therefore may prove to be more widespread (Beehler et al. 1986, Coates 1990, Burrows 1993, Beehler and Bino 1995, Beehler and Pratt 2016).

Trend justification
There are no data on population trends; however, the species may be locally under threat from logging and clearance for agriculture. Remote sensing data (Global Forest Watch 2023, using Hansen et al. [2013] data and methods disclosed therein) indicate that forest loss in this species' range has been low in the three generations to 2021 (equivalent to c.1%), however the species is restricted to lowland forest and this figure does not take into account the additional impacts of degradation. Precautionarily therefore, given also evidence that the species may be hunted (Safford 1996), the species suspected to be declining slowly overall.

Aplonis mystacea has a scattered range between west and south-east New Guinea (Indonesia and Papua New Guinea).

It is a species of lowland forest, usually in riverine or alluvial lowlands, but also occurs in the hills to 580 m (Beehler and Bino 1995). It is a colonial nester, often with A. metallica (Pratt and Beehler 2015). It is presumed resident but possibly nomadic (Craig and Feare 2020).

This species may have a naturally small and scattered population that is locally under threat from logging and clearance for agriculture, as well as hunting. The one known breeding colony (of c.200 birds) was in a single large tree in a sparsely populated area; this was later cut down with villagers reporting that such colonies are sometimes destroyed by local human inhabitants, who collect adults, young and eggs for food (Safford 1996).

Conservation Actions Underway
None is known.

Conservation Actions Proposed
Regularly monitor the population at selected sites. Attempt to study movement patterns of individuals to better understand movements and habitat requirements. Research its tolerance of logged and degraded forest. Protect significant areas of primary riverine and alluvial lowland forest, both at sites where it is known to occur, and more extensively within its known range. Raise awareness of the scarcity of this species locally and find ways to prevent the felling of nesting trees.

Text account compilers
Vine, J.

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Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Species factsheet: Yellow-eyed Starling Aplonis mystacea. Downloaded from https://datazone.birdlife.org/species/factsheet/yellow-eyed-starling-aplonis-mystacea on 20/12/2024.
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 20/12/2024.