Gallicolumba hoedtii

Taxonomy

Assessment Information

Geographic Range

Population

Habitat and Ecology

Threats

Conservation Actions

Bibliography

View Printer Friendly

Taxonomy [top]

Kingdom	Phylum	Class	Order	Family
ANIMALIA	CHORDATA	AVES	COLUMBIFORMES	COLUMBIDAE

Scientific Name:

Gallicolumba hoedtii

Species Authority:

(Schlegel, 1871)

Common Name/s:

English

–

Wetar Ground-dove, Wetar Ground Dove, Wetar Ground-Dove

Assessment Information [top]

Red List Category & Criteria:

Endangered A2cd+3cd+4cd ver 3.1

Year Published:

2008

Assessor/s:

BirdLife International

Reviewer/s:

Butchart, S. & Gilroy, J.

Contributor/s:

Bishop, K. & Trainor, C.

Justification:
This species qualifies as Endangered because it has suffered a very rapid population decline which is expected to continue as a result of severe lowland habitat loss and hunting. A healthy population may survive on Wetar, but further surveys are required to establish its current status.

History:

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

Geographic Range [top]

Range Description:	Gallicolumba hoedtii occurs in West Timor and Wetar, Nusa Tenggara, Indonesia, and Timor-Leste. On Wetar, it is known by less than 20 specimens collected at unspecified localities around 1900. The fact that a series of eight birds was collected in five days in 1902 suggests that it was fairly common, at least locally. No records were made during a very brief visit to the island in 1990^1,6, but extensive forest apparently remains. It has been recorded at only three localities in West Timor (including only one record during a nine-week survey in 1993), where it is presumably rare, although possibly overlooked. In 2004, a male bird was confiscated from a bird trapper in Dili³. The trapper claimed to have caught his birds on the south coast of Timor-Leste, in the Natarbora region (Manututo District)³. Subsequent surveys in 2005 close to the border with Indonesia, in the vicinity of Desa Foho Lulik (Tilomar sub-district), found at least four, and perhaps five, calling birds³.
Countries:	Native: Indonesia; Timor-Leste
Range Map:	Click here to open the map viewer and explore range.

Population [top]

Population:	Population estimate = 1-2 individuals/km2 x 2,800 km2 (10% EOO) = 2,800-5,600 individuals i.e. best placed in band 2,500-10,000 (density range extrapolated from densities of similar species in BirdLife Population Densities Spreadsheet, taking account of description of status as rare)
Population Trend:	Decreasing

Habitat and Ecology [top]

Habitat and Ecology:	It inhabits lowland monsoon-forest, and possibly woodland, up to 950 m. In West Timor two of the three records have been from "forest near a clearing" and "fairly undisturbed hill forest". Its habitat receives highly seasonal rainfall, but it is not known whether it makes any dispersive movements, e.g. in response to bamboo seeding events, as in several of its congeners⁶. It is possible that this species is associated with bamboo, and thus partly nomadic³. Birds found recently in Timor-Leste were only found within gallery forest and remnant trees bordering a wide stream, suggesting wet forest - possibly even only that associated with flowing water - is important breeding habitat³. It has been presumed to be largely solitary and to forage on the ground like its congeners but it appears to call from, and nest in, the canopy³. It appears to be a dry-season breeder³.
Systems:	Terrestrial

Habitat and Ecology:

It inhabits lowland monsoon-forest, and possibly woodland, up to 950 m. In West Timor two of the three records have been from "forest near a clearing" and "fairly undisturbed hill forest". Its habitat receives highly seasonal rainfall, but it is not known whether it makes any dispersive movements, e.g. in response to bamboo seeding events, as in several of its congeners⁶. It is possible that this species is associated with bamboo, and thus partly nomadic³. Birds found recently in Timor-Leste were only found within gallery forest and remnant trees bordering a wide stream, suggesting wet forest - possibly even only that associated with flowing water - is important breeding habitat³. It has been presumed to be largely solitary and to forage on the ground like its congeners but it appears to call from, and nest in, the canopy³. It appears to be a dry-season breeder³.

Systems:

Terrestrial

Threats [top]

Major Threat(s):	Habitat destruction in West and Timor-Leste has been very extensive, and is presumably the primary threat. Three recently identified IBAs contain much of the remaining tropical monsoon-forest in Timor-Leste (approximately 652 km²)². Tropical forests now only cover an estimated 4% of West Timor, scattered in seven unprotected patches that are continually declining in size due to intensive grazing and burning. Forest cover in Timor-Leste declined by 14% between 1989 and 1999⁵. In addition, pigeons are apparently hunted extensively on Timor, a factor that must have contributed to the decline of this species. The situation on Wetar is poorly known, and although extensive forest remained there until at least 1990⁶, illegal logging and the development of gold mines may threaten the remaining population.

Major Threat(s):

Habitat destruction in West and Timor-Leste has been very extensive, and is presumably the primary threat. Three recently identified IBAs contain much of the remaining tropical monsoon-forest in Timor-Leste (approximately 652 km²)². Tropical forests now only cover an estimated 4% of West Timor, scattered in seven unprotected patches that are continually declining in size due to intensive grazing and burning. Forest cover in Timor-Leste declined by 14% between 1989 and 1999⁵. In addition, pigeons are apparently hunted extensively on Timor, a factor that must have contributed to the decline of this species. The situation on Wetar is poorly known, and although extensive forest remained there until at least 1990⁶, illegal logging and the development of gold mines may threaten the remaining population.

Conservation Actions [top]

Conservation Actions:	Conservation Actions Underway Several protected areas have been proposed in West Timor and another (Gunung Arnau) on Wetar. Recent surveys have identified four further areas in West Timor to be of importance to the islands' endemic avifauna, two of which, Camplong and Soe are known localities for G. hoedtii. Another site, Gunung Timau, is currently subject to an initiative to include it within the Gunung Mutis protected area. Conservation Actions Proposed Conduct further surveys in suitable remaining forest on Wetar, West Timor, and Timor-Leste to establish its current distribution, population status, seasonal movements, ecological constraints and main threats. Propose key sites supporting populations of this, and other threatened species, for establishment as strict protected areas. Strongly support initiatives to protect Gunung Timau.

Conservation Actions:

Conservation Actions Underway
Several protected areas have been proposed in West Timor and another (Gunung Arnau) on Wetar. Recent surveys have identified four further areas in West Timor to be of importance to the islands' endemic avifauna, two of which, Camplong and Soe are known localities for G. hoedtii. Another site, Gunung Timau, is currently subject to an initiative to include it within the Gunung Mutis protected area.

Conservation Actions Proposed
Conduct further surveys in suitable remaining forest on Wetar, West Timor, and Timor-Leste to establish its current distribution, population status, seasonal movements, ecological constraints and main threats. Propose key sites supporting populations of this, and other threatened species, for establishment as strict protected areas. Strongly support initiatives to protect Gunung Timau.

Bibliography [top]

	BirdLife International. 2001. Threatened birds of Asia: the BirdLife International Red Data Book. BirdLife International, Cambridge, U.K. Bouma, G. A.; Kobryn, H. T. 2004. Change in venetation cover in East Timor. Natural Resources Forum 28: 1-12. Lambert, F. R.; Trainor, C. R.; Xavier, A.F. 2006. Observations of Wetar Ground Dove Gallicolumba hoedtii from Timor-Leste (East Timor). Forktail 22: 165-170. Trainor, C. 2002. An expedition to Damar Island, south-west Maluku, Indonesia. Oriental Bird Club Bulletin 36: 18-23. Trainor, C.R., Imanuddin, Aldy, F., Verbelen, P. and Walker, J.S. 2009. The birds of Wetar (Banda Sea): one of Indonesia's forgotten islands. Birding Asia 12: 78-93.

BirdLife International. 2001. Threatened birds of Asia: the BirdLife International Red Data Book. BirdLife International, Cambridge, U.K.

Bouma, G. A.; Kobryn, H. T. 2004. Change in venetation cover in East Timor. Natural Resources Forum 28: 1-12.

Lambert, F. R.; Trainor, C. R.; Xavier, A.F. 2006. Observations of Wetar Ground Dove Gallicolumba hoedtii from Timor-Leste (East Timor). Forktail 22: 165-170.

Trainor, C. 2002. An expedition to Damar Island, south-west Maluku, Indonesia. Oriental Bird Club Bulletin 36: 18-23.

Trainor, C.R., Imanuddin, Aldy, F., Verbelen, P. and Walker, J.S. 2009. The birds of Wetar (Banda Sea): one of Indonesia's forgotten islands. Birding Asia 12: 78-93.

Citation:	BirdLife International 2008. Gallicolumba hoedtii. In: IUCN 2011. IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2011.2. <www.iucnredlist.org>. Downloaded on 21 May 2012.
Disclaimer:	To make use of this information, please check the <Terms of Use>.
Feedback:	If you see any errors or have any questions or suggestions on what is shown on this page, please fill in the feedback form so that we can correct or extend the information provided