IUCN Red List 2012 (1 Viewer)

[njlarsen]

Some of the posts on this thread are somewhat depressing. BirdLife / IUCN categories are not as far as I am aware developed to help birdwatchers tick a bird before it goes or gets rare. Threat categories are about prioritising species that lack protection for conservation measures. This may allow others to see the species in the future, but species should be regarded as having a right to persist regardless of whether they are on your list or not!

I agree even if one of my earlier posts could be read to say otherwise. :eek!: B

Niels

 

[lewis20126]

Some of the posts on this thread are somewhat depressing. BirdLife / IUCN categories are not as far as I am aware developed to help birdwatchers tick a bird before it goes or gets rare. Threat categories are about prioritising species that lack protection for conservation measures. This may allow others to see the species in the future, but species should be regarded as having a right to persist regardless of whether they are on your list or not!

Thomas, you are correct of course. Although given the huge and relentless habitat destruction throughout most regions, it is inevitable that this privileged generation will prioritize their travel choices. We are privileged because travel is still just about affordable for those on average incomes and most birds are still extant. What is depressing is that neither of these circumstances (and especially the latter) will hold for future generations.

cheers (!), alan

 

[Richard Klim]

Final decisions

Final decisions for the 2012 Red List. [21 Feb 2012]

 

[jurek]

I watch IUCN/BirdLife list for several years and it surprisingly poorly predicts future extnctions.

I would lump the lower categories LC, NT and lower part of VU, because most species jump back and forth and not become threatened. There is also simply too many species for conservation there.

Instead I would evaluate good subspecies. They are now often split by conservationists simply to give them conservation attention. Birdlife decision is unique there, because other organisms have separate evaluation of subspecies and populations.

I would also stop the approach that every reason of decline is equal. Habitat destruction, for example, easily produces large population decrease, but if a species has several large reserves within the range it is unlikely to become completely extinct. Introduced predators, in contrast, can multiply and spread by themselves and make the species completely extinct.

best,

 

[RaMa]

It's not the purpose of these lists to literally predict extinctions, but to assess the extinction risks for those species, in order to develop effective conservation measures. Sort of a self-inhibiting prophecy, if it works! This effect must be taken into consideration.

 

[jurek]

It's not the purpose of these lists to literally predict extinctions, but to assess the extinction risks for those species, in order to develop effective conservation measures. Sort of a self-inhibiting prophecy, if it works! This effect must be taken into consideration.

Yes, I mean improving assessing extinction risk!

It is not so nice, that every bird species at risk receives help and as a result, the prediction becomes untrue! It would be very happy world if conservation was so effective.

There are many birds whose conservation, despite best efforts, fails or stays on paper, and they don't so often become extinct. Good example are birds living in politically unstable areas. In sad contrast other species suddenly decline and become extinct. For example ones threatened by introduced predators and diseases.

 

[lewis20126]

I agree with Jurek - The VU/NT cats have become close to meaningless IMO. If data are so poor then they are DD. The recent use of CR (PE) is welcome but you could add another 20 species to that list. The politics of "declaring" final extinctions should also not be underestimated!

cheers, alan

 

[Ilya Maclean]

I agree with Jurek - The VU/NT cats have become close to meaningless IMO. If data are so poor then they are DD. cheers, alan

Its worth bearing in mind that birds are only one of the taxonomic groups for which IUCN Red Listing is performed and it seems logical to maintain consistency across groups. If data quality critera were stricter, it's possible that too many spp. in less studied groups would be classed as DD, potentially undermining the value of the list.

Also it's not just about individual species - the total proportion of species assessed so far that are threatened delivers a pretty poweful message of relevance to e.g. the CBD 2020 Aichi Biodiversity Targets (see particularly target 12). Lumping VU/NT cats could undermine this.

 

[gusasp]

BirdLife taxonomy

On another note, what I find the most bewildering with BirdLife is their taxonomic approach. By and large extremely conservative, omitting hundreds of splits recognized by nearly every other authority, plus a few odd or very recent splits not widely accepted by others. You'd think that when conservation work for some reason almost always is species-based, it would be in BirdLife's interest to be split-friendly, up there with the Dutch.

 

[Melanie]

The updated IUCN Redlist 2012 will be published on 19th June.

 

[Richard Klim]

Edwards's Pheasant

Final decisions for the 2012 Red List. [21 Feb 2012]

Birdwatch news: Is Edward's Pheasant no more?

WPA news: The critical moment: saving a species on the brink of extinction.

BirdLife:

• Species factsheet.
  
• Request for information.

 

[Richard Klim]

2012 IUCN Red List update

The updated IUCN Redlist 2012 will be published on 19th June.

BirdLife:

• Recently recategorised species.
• Threat to the Amazon’s birds greater than ever, Red List update reveals.

The updated BirdLife Checklist (presumably v5) hasn't been posted yet.

 

[locustella]

IUCN 2012 update - 4 species extinct "2 rediscovered" Food security waning
Wildlife Extra News

and:
http://www.iucnredlist.org/

Birds - comparison of two versions:
2011.2 downloaded 2012-06-04
2012.1 downloaded 2012-06-19

41 not listed previously species

Species ID   Common name                 scientific name    Red List status
ANSERIFORMES - ANATIDAE:
160031681  American Scoter               Melanitta americana      NT
160032254  American White-winged Scoter  Melanitta deglandi       LC
139471541  Velvet Scoter                 Melanitta fusca          EN
139494910  Black Scoter                  Melanitta nigra          LC
139471543  Asian White-winged Scoter     Melanitta stejnegeri     LC
APODIFORMES - APODIDAE:
139540930  Horus Swift                   Apus horus               LC
GALLIFORMES - PHASIANIDAE:
139541085  Great Argus                   Argusianus argus         NT
PICIFORMES - PICIDAE    
139541226  Iberian Green Woodpecker      Picus sharpei            LC
139541304  Eurasian Green Woodpecker     Picus viridis            LC
PSITTACIFORMES - PSITTACIDAE    
139462673  Grey Parrot                   Psittacus erithacus      VU
160032708  Timneh Parrot                 Psittacus timneh         VU

PASSERIFORMES
CISTICOLIDAE:
160031240  Buff-throated Apalis          Apalis rufogularis       LC
CORVIDAE    
139538538  Transvolcanic Jay             Aphelocoma ultramarina   LC
139538584  Mexican Jay                   Aphelocoma wollweberi    LC
139467014  Bornean Green Magpie          Cissa jefferyi           LC
139467000  Javan Green Magpie            Cissa thalassina         CR
COTINGIDAE    
139410085  Palkachupa Cotinga            Phibalura boliviana      EN
139410077  Swallow-tailed Cotinga        Phibalura flavirostris   NT
FORMICARIIDAE    
160032701  Sucre Antpitta                Grallaricula cumanensis  VU
139540174  Slaty-crowned Antpitta        Grallaricula nana        LC
FRINGILLIDAE    
139545398  Common Redpoll, Redpoll       Carduelis flammea        LC
160032308  African Crimson-winged Finch  Rhodopechys alienus      LC
139546827  Asian Crimson-winged Finch    Rhodopechys sanguineus   LC
160031317  Black-throated Canary         Serinus atrogularis      LC
106008777  Kenya Yellow-rumped Seedeater Serinus reichenowi       LC
160031321  Streaky Seedeater             Serinus striolatus       LC
MUSCICAPIDAE    
160031220  Botta's Wheatear              Oenanthe bottae          LC
106006711  Heuglin's Wheatear            Oenanthe heuglini        LC
PARULIDAE    
139461180  Yellow-throated Warbler       Dendroica dominica       LC
139461225  Bahama Warbler                Dendroica flavescens     NT
PASSERIDAE    
160032621  African Desert Sparrow        Passer simplex           LC
160032622  Asian Desert Sparrow          Passer zarudnyi          LC
PLATYSTEIRIDAE    
160032235  Western Black-headed Batis    Batis erlangeri          LC
139554980  Black-headed Batis            Batis minor              LC
THAMNOPHILIDAE    
139484939  Dull-mantled Antbird          Myrmeciza laemosticta    LC
139484941  Magdalena Antbird             Myrmeciza palliata       NT
139535965  Common Scale-backed Antbird   Willisornis poecilinotus LC
139536084  Xingu Scale-backed Antbird    Willisornis vidua        LC
TURDIDAE    
106006458  Fire-crested Alethe           Alethe castanea          LC
160031216  White-tailed Alethe           Alethe diademata         LC
160031211  Abyssinian Ground-thrush      Zoothera piaggiae        LC

They have changed latin names some of species:
Catharacta antarctica --> Stercorarius antarcticus (Brown Skua)
Catharacta chilensis --> Stercorarius chilensis (Chilean Skua)
Catharacta lonnbergi --> Stercorarius lonnbergi (Brown Skua)
Catharacta maccormicki --> Stercorarius maccormicki (South Polar Skua)
Catharacta skua --> Stercorarius skua (Great Skua)
Claravis godefrida --> Claravis geoffroyi (Purple-barred Ground-dove)
Grus paradisea --> Anthropoides paradiseus (Blue Crane)
Grus virgo --> Anthropoides virgo (Demoiselle Crane)
Grus carunculatus --> Bugeranus carunculatus (Wattled Crane)
Grus leucogeranus --> Leucogeranus leucogeranus (Siberian Crane)
Aramides cajanea --> Aramides cajaneus (Gray-necked Wood-Rail)
Porphyrio martinica --> Porphyrio martinicus (American Purple Gallinule)
Amazona mercenaria --> Amazona mercenarius (Scaly-naped Amazon)
Mimizuku gurneyi --> Otus gurneyi (Giant Scops-owl)
PASSERIFORMES:
Xenops milleri --> Microxenops milleri (Rufous-tailed Xenops)
Premnornis guttuligera --> Premnornis guttuliger (Rusty-winged Barbtail)
Myrmecocichla semirufa --> Monticola semirufus (White-winged Cliff-chat)
Myrmecocichla cinnamomeiventris --> Thamnolaea cinnamomeiventris (Mocking Chat)
Colluricincla tenebrosa --> Pachycephala tenebrosa (Morningbird)
Frederickena unduligera --> Frederickena unduliger (Undulated Antshrike)

They also changed Red List status of 181 species

132 upgraded:
103 from LC to VU, NT or even to EN in 3 cases
20 from VU to EN, NT and CR in one case
3 from CR to EN
4 from NT to EN or CR in one case
2 from DD to NT or VU

48 downgraded:
14 from EN to CR, NT or VU
33 from NT to LC or VU
1 from VU to LC

Ua Pou Monarch Pomarea mira (PASSERIFORMES - MONARCHIDAE)
from EX to CR !!
("rediscovered" species)
Two other rediscovered ones, but not birds, also changed from EX to CR are:
Hula Painted Frog Discoglossus nigriventer
Wicker Ancylid Rhodacmea filosa (GASTROPODA - HYGROPHILA - PLANORBIDAE)

No one bird species extinct ...
Extinct only
Ovate Clubshell Pleurobema perovatum (BIVALVIA - UNIONOIDA - UNIONIDAE)

 

[Richard Klim]

41 not listed previously species

This list reflects the 18 newly split species and 6 deleted species (5 lumped, 1 no longer recognised), as listed by BirdLife on 7 June (Recently recategorised species).

The total of 41 includes the original parent species for the taxonomic changes concerned.

PS. Particularly interesting is the lump of Hoary (Arctic) Redpoll Carduelis (Acanthis) hornemanni into Redpoll C flammea. Will other authorities follow...?

 

[madpitta]

Still no update on the grassland birds of north-east India. The Black-breasted Parrotbill & Marsh Babbler have less than 1500 sq kms of suitable habitat left across their entire range. Even within areas of suitable habitat, they are mostly absent and highly localized. One of their only three viable populations (Dibru Saikhowa area) is severely threatened by grass collecters and illegal grazing. Yet they are rated only as VU.

 

[dnsallen]

Still no update on the grassland birds of north-east India. The Black-breasted Parrotbill & Marsh Babbler have less than 1500 sq kms of suitable habitat left across their entire range. Even within areas of suitable habitat, they are mostly absent and highly localized. One of their only three viable populations (Dibru Saikhowa area) is severely threatened by grass collecters and illegal grazing. Yet they are rated only as VU.

and Dibru-Saikhowa was created fairly recently by an earthquake that dropped the ground level. One wonders whether another earthquake would necessarily be as helpful.

 

[dnsallen]

and someone deserves congratulations IMO for the name Transvolcanic Jay. Highly memorable.

 

[Richard Klim]

Transvolcanic Jay

and someone deserves congratulations IMO for the name Transvolcanic Jay. Highly memorable.

Although AOU's names (reassigning the name Mexican Jay from Aphelocoma ultramarina to the newly split A wollweberi, and renaming A ultramarina as Transvolcanic Jay) predictably result in a degree of confusion. eg, BirdLife has listed A ultramarina (but not A wollweberi) as a newly split species, previously not recognised (NR).

PS. And anyway both species are 'Mexican' (A ultramarina, the ex-Mexican Jay, is endemic to Mexico!) - but AOU probably wanted to avoid changing the English name of the US birds.

 

[madpitta]

and Dibru-Saikhowa was created fairly recently by an earthquake that dropped the ground level. One wonders whether another earthquake would necessarily be as helpful.

Kaziranga NP which is the last stronghold for several charismatic species of birds & mammals, is at equal risk from a major earthquake since it is cradled by a scary looking curve of the Brahmaputra river. In a region that has seen two 8+ earthquakes in 100 years that is a very real possibility.

 

[birdboybowley]

Catharacta skuas now merged into as Stercorarius....really??!?? Well, they are very confusable with Poms and Arctics...oh wait a minute, no they're not....odd