Gallicolumba rubescens

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	COLUMBIFORMES	COLUMBIDAE

Scientific Name:

Gallicolumba rubescens

Species Authority:

(Vieillot, 1818)

Common Name/s:

English

–

Marquesan Ground-dove, Marquesan Ground Dove, Marquesan Ground-Dove

Assessment Information [top]

Red List Category & Criteria:

Vulnerable D2 ver 3.1

Year Assessed:

2008

Assessor/s:

BirdLife International

Reviewer/s:

Mahood, S., Butchart, S.

Contributor/s:

Gouni, A., Raust, P.

Justification:
This ground-dove is among the least studied of the Polynesian columbids. However survey work has revealed that it is considerably more abundant than previously thought and, although the population is still at risk from the introduction of predators, especially cats, to the two small islands where it continues to survive, it has been downlisted to Vulnerable.

History:

2006	–	Endangered
2004	–	Endangered
2000	–	Endangered
1996	–	Endangered
1994	–	Endangered

Geographic Range [top]

Range Description:	Gallicolumba rubescens is restricted to two uninhabited and cat-free islets in the Marquesas Islands, French Polynesia. On Hatuta`a, the population was estimated at c.225 birds in 1975 and although it was thought to be similar in 1987, in 2007 it was estimated at c.1,000 individuals, this is unlikely to be a genuine increase, but is instead thought to be a result of more accurate survey methods^6,7,8. On Fatu Huku, the population was estimated at 10-100 in the 1990s, and it was thought to be similar in 2002^3,8. It probably formerly occurred on Nuku Hiva, where the type-specimen is reputed to have been collected, and subfossils are known from three other islets, suggesting that it was originally distributed throughout the entire group⁵.
Countries:	Native: French Polynesia
Range Map:	Click here to open the map viewer and explore range.

Population [top]

Population:	Better survey methods in 2007 lead to an estimate of c. 1,000 on Hatuta'a, it is thought that less than 100 persist on Fatu Huku.
Population Trend:	Stable

Habitat and Ecology [top]

Habitat and Ecology:	It inhabits wooded regions, groves of Pisonia grandis and shrubby vegetationfeeding primarily on seeds¹. On Hatuta`a, the birds prefer the plateau, rarely descending to vegetation near the sea¹.
Systems:	Terrestrial

Threats [top]

Major Threat(s):	Predation by cats has probably caused its disappearance from other islets in the group.

Major Threat(s):

Predation by cats has probably caused its disappearance from other islets in the group.

Conservation Actions [top]

Conservation Actions:	Conservation Actions Underway Hatuta`a is a protected area but there is no active management. Conservation Actions Proposed Survey and monitor its population on both islands. Take measures to ensure that the islands remain cat-free. Effectively manage Hatuta`a². Investigate the possibility of translocation to the nearby island of Mohotani if cats are eradicated from that island⁴.

Conservation Actions:

Conservation Actions Underway
Hatuta`a is a protected area but there is no active management.

Conservation Actions Proposed
Survey and monitor its population on both islands. Take measures to ensure that the islands remain cat-free. Effectively manage Hatuta`a². Investigate the possibility of translocation to the nearby island of Mohotani if cats are eradicated from that island⁴.

Citation:	BirdLife International 2008. Gallicolumba rubescens. In: IUCN 2011. IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2011.2. <www.iucnredlist.org>. Downloaded on 09 February 2012.
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