Heteroglaux blewitti

Taxonomy

Assessment Information

Geographic Range

Population

Habitat and Ecology

Threats

Conservation Actions

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Taxonomy [top]

Kingdom	Phylum	Class	Order	Family
ANIMALIA	CHORDATA	AVES	STRIGIFORMES	STRIGIDAE

Scientific Name:

Heteroglaux blewitti

Species Authority:

(Hume, 1873)

Common Name/s:

English	–	Forest Little Owl, Forest Owlet, Forest Spotted Owlet
Spanish	–	Mochuelo de Blewitt, Mochuelo Forestal

Assessment Information [top]

Red List Category & Criteria:

Critically Endangered C2a(i) ver 3.1

Year Published:

2010

Assessor/s:

BirdLife International

Reviewer/s:

Calvert, R., Symes, A., Butchart, S.

Contributor/s:

Jathar, G., Mehta, P., Ishtiag, F., Kasambe, R.

Justification:
This species has a tiny, severely fragmented population, known from less than ten recent locations. It is likely to be declining as a result of loss of its deciduous forest habitat. Although surveys continue to discover more individuals, these factors lead to its present classification as Critically Endangered. Further information may warrant its downlisting to a lower category of threat in future.

History:

2009	–	Critically Endangered
2008	–	Critically Endangered
2004	–	Critically Endangered
2000	–	Critically Endangered
1996	–	Critically Endangered
1994	–	Critically Endangered

Geographic Range [top]

Range Description:	Heteroglaux blewitti is endemic to central India. Until its rediscovery in 1997, it was known from seven specimens collected during the 19th century at four localities in two widely separated areas, northern Maharashtra, and south-east Madhya Pradesh/western Orissa. In 2000, a survey of 14 forest areas across its former range located 25 birds at four sites in northern Maharashtra and south-western Madhya Pradesh, including three pairs at Taloda Forest Range and seven pairs at Toranmal Forest Range. Further surveys on the Toranmal Forest Range in November 2009 revealed that only two of the seven territories remain¹⁰. No birds were found in a brief survey of its former eastern range in Orissa, or in north east Andhra Pradesh^7,9. More recently, survey effort in the Satpura Range (Maharashtra) has located another five sites¹, indicating that the species may prove to be widespread but previously overlooked in the western Satpuda Mountains, and in 2006 birds were found in Burhanpur and Khandawa⁷. By 2005, over 100 individuals had been recorded in Melghat Tiger Reserve, Maharashtra², which is now recognised as the species's stronghold. The species has also been found breeding nearby at Yawal Wildlife Sanctuary¹². Modelling suggests that its remaining range is severely fragmented, and only c.10% is protected¹⁰. Although there is some confusion over its former abundance, evidence strongly suggests it has always been scarce.
Countries:	Native: India
Range Map:	Click here to open the map viewer and explore range.

Population [top]

Population:	Estimated based on the number of records from known sites, with c. 100 individuals now recorded from Melghat Tiger Reserve. Given the increasing number of records and sites known within its range it may prove to be more common than previous evidence has suggested.
Population Trend:	Decreasing

Population:

Estimated based on the number of records from known sites, with c. 100 individuals now recorded from Melghat Tiger Reserve. Given the increasing number of records and sites known within its range it may prove to be more common than previous evidence has suggested.

Population Trend:

Decreasing

Habitat and Ecology [top]

Habitat and Ecology:	It appears to be a sedentary resident with recent sightings from fairly open dry deciduous forest dominated by teak Tectona grandis¹¹. It was rediscovered at 460 m and other known locations are at 400-650 m. Most historical records came from moist deciduous forest or dense jungle, the altitudinal range of which is unclear, although most specimens were collected in plains forest. This suggests that the recent observations from hill slopes may represent birds in suboptimal habitat. It appears to be quite strongly diurnal and fairly easy to detect, frequently perching on prominent bare branches. Lizards, small rodents, nestlings of other birds, grasshoppers, frogs and caterpillars are all prey items^2,11, which are often cached in hollow tree trunks¹¹. It appears to partition resources with the similar and widespread Spotted Owlet Athene brama². It breeds between October and May, laying a brood of two eggs⁵ in a hole in a softwood tree, and can re-lay if its first nesting attempt fails. At one nest, the young fledged at 30-32 days, after which they were dependent on the parents for at least another 40-45 days¹¹.
Systems:	Terrestrial

Habitat and Ecology:

It appears to be a sedentary resident with recent sightings from fairly open dry deciduous forest dominated by teak Tectona grandis¹¹. It was rediscovered at 460 m and other known locations are at 400-650 m. Most historical records came from moist deciduous forest or dense jungle, the altitudinal range of which is unclear, although most specimens were collected in plains forest. This suggests that the recent observations from hill slopes may represent birds in suboptimal habitat. It appears to be quite strongly diurnal and fairly easy to detect, frequently perching on prominent bare branches. Lizards, small rodents, nestlings of other birds, grasshoppers, frogs and caterpillars are all prey items^2,11, which are often cached in hollow tree trunks¹¹. It appears to partition resources with the similar and widespread Spotted Owlet Athene brama². It breeds between October and May, laying a brood of two eggs⁵ in a hole in a softwood tree, and can re-lay if its first nesting attempt fails. At one nest, the young fledged at 30-32 days, after which they were dependent on the parents for at least another 40-45 days¹¹.

Systems:

Terrestrial

Threats [top]

Major Threat(s):	Given its rarity, identification of threats is difficult. However, deciduous forest has been severely depleted at the site of its rediscovery, including total clearance of plains-level forest, and there is intense pressure from local people on the remaining forest resources in the area. It is likely that other forest areas where it occurs are under similarly intense pressure. Forest in its range is being lost and degraded by illegal tree cutting for firewood and timber, and encroachment for cultivation, grazing and settlements^11,12, as well as forest fires and minor irrigation dams¹². Overgrazing by cattle may reduce habitat suitability⁴. The proposed Upper Tapi Irrigation Project threatens 244 ha of prime habitat used by the species³. It suffers predation from a number of native raptors, limiting productivity, and it faces competition for a limited number of nesting cavities^4,5. The species is hunted by local people and body parts and eggs are used for local customs, such as the making of drums^4,8. Pesticides and rodenticides are used to an unknown degree within its range and may pose an additional threat⁴.

Major Threat(s):

Given its rarity, identification of threats is difficult. However, deciduous forest has been severely depleted at the site of its rediscovery, including total clearance of plains-level forest, and there is intense pressure from local people on the remaining forest resources in the area. It is likely that other forest areas where it occurs are under similarly intense pressure. Forest in its range is being lost and degraded by illegal tree cutting for firewood and timber, and encroachment for cultivation, grazing and settlements^11,12, as well as forest fires and minor irrigation dams¹². Overgrazing by cattle may reduce habitat suitability⁴. The proposed Upper Tapi Irrigation Project threatens 244 ha of prime habitat used by the species³. It suffers predation from a number of native raptors, limiting productivity, and it faces competition for a limited number of nesting cavities^4,5. The species is hunted by local people and body parts and eggs are used for local customs, such as the making of drums^4,8. Pesticides and rodenticides are used to an unknown degree within its range and may pose an additional threat⁴.

Conservation Actions [top]

Conservation Actions:	Conservation Actions Underway CITES Appendix I and II. Since its rediscovery in 1997, fieldwork has been conducted to study its status, ecology and threats. Interventions have been made to seek the prevention of further forest losses at the site of rediscovery. Over 100 individuals have been seen in the protected Melghat Tiger Reserve, Maharashtra², and it has been recorded in Toranmal Reserve Forest, Khaknar Reserve Forest and Yawal Wildlife Sanctuary. Further surveys in 2009 in the Melghat Tiger Reserve indicate that the park is well protected¹⁰. An education and awareness programme has been initiated. Conservation Actions Proposed Prevent illicit wood-cutting and hunting of wildlife in forests within the species's range⁵. Conduct surveys in remaining suitable habitat, particularly sites not surveyed in 2000, in the 800 km gap between the east/west limits of the historical records, to establish its total range, current distribution and population status, habitat use, and to assess its main threats. Provide support to the education and awareness-raising programme among local communities to promote the value and importance of this species and convey its potential benefits. Control the use of pesticides and rodenticides. Use nest site protection to avoid destruction of nests. Initiate a number of forest management measures and establish protected areas within its range⁶.

Conservation Actions:

Conservation Actions Underway
CITES Appendix I and II. Since its rediscovery in 1997, fieldwork has been conducted to study its status, ecology and threats. Interventions have been made to seek the prevention of further forest losses at the site of rediscovery. Over 100 individuals have been seen in the protected Melghat Tiger Reserve, Maharashtra², and it has been recorded in Toranmal Reserve Forest, Khaknar Reserve Forest and Yawal Wildlife Sanctuary. Further surveys in 2009 in the Melghat Tiger Reserve indicate that the park is well protected¹⁰. An education and awareness programme has been initiated.

Conservation Actions Proposed
Prevent illicit wood-cutting and hunting of wildlife in forests within the species's range⁵. Conduct surveys in remaining suitable habitat, particularly sites not surveyed in 2000, in the 800 km gap between the east/west limits of the historical records, to establish its total range, current distribution and population status, habitat use, and to assess its main threats. Provide support to the education and awareness-raising programme among local communities to promote the value and importance of this species and convey its potential benefits. Control the use of pesticides and rodenticides. Use nest site protection to avoid destruction of nests. Initiate a number of forest management measures and establish protected areas within its range⁶.

Citation:	BirdLife International 2010. Heteroglaux blewitti. In: IUCN 2011. IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2011.2. <www.iucnredlist.org>. Downloaded on 26 May 2012.
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