Amami Thrush (Zoothera major)
Justification This thrush qualifies as Critical because it has a single, tiny, declining population as a result of deforestation for timber, perhaps compounded through predation by an introduced mongoose.
Identification 30 cm. Large, heavily patterned thrush. Warm olive-brown to buff upperparts and whitish underparts with heavy black scaling. Twelve tail feathers. Similar spp. White's Thrush Z. dauma is smaller and has 14 tail feathers. Voice Cheerful song, mostly delivered in morning and similar to Siberian Thrush Z. sibirica. Z. dauma has more mournful song, often delivered at night.
Population estimate 58
Range & Population Zoothera major is endemic to the islands of Amami-ooshima and Kakeroma-jima in the northern Nansei Shoto Islands, Japan. On Amami-ooshima, it has only been recorded from the central and western parts of the island and it may be extinct on Kakeroma-jima. It has evidently always been rare and, in 1996, the breeding population was estimated at c.58 birds, with indications of a serious decline during the 1990s.
Ecology It is confined to mature (over 60 years old) subtropical broadleaved evergreen forest around humid valleys at altitudes of 100-400 m. A shy bird, it is often found near moss-covered rocks by forest streams. The diet includes invertebrates and fruit. Breeding is in May and June, when it nests on low branches c.1.5-3 m above the ground, laying clutches of 3-4 eggs.
</STRONG>Threats The main threat is the clearance of the mature broadleaved forest which only covers 10-15 km2 of Amami-ooshima, less than 5% of the island's area. The apparent population declines during the 1990s are thought to have been caused by clear-felling of forest. Predation by the Javan mongoose Herpestes javanicus, which was introduced for snake control, may also have contributed to its decline.
Action It is legally protected in Japan. Yuwanga-take National Wildlife Protection Area, on Amami-ooshima, was established primarily for the conservation of this species and Lidth's Jay Garrulus lidthi. Two prefecture protected areas, Kanengo-take and Kinsaku-baru, have also been established on Amami-ooshima.
