Hemiphaga novaeseelandiae

Taxonomy

Assessment Information

Geographic Range

Population

Habitat and Ecology

Threats

Conservation Actions

Bibliography

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Taxonomy [top]

Kingdom	Phylum	Class	Order	Family
ANIMALIA	CHORDATA	AVES	COLUMBIFORMES	COLUMBIDAE

Scientific Name:

Hemiphaga novaeseelandiae

Species Authority:

(Gmelin, 1789)

Common Name/s:

English

–

New Zealand Pigeon

Assessment Information [top]

Red List Category & Criteria:

Near Threatened ver 3.1

Year Published:

2008

Assessor/s:

BirdLife International

Reviewer/s:

Mahood, S., Butchart, S.

Justification:
Introduced predators, hunting and habitat degradation are all taking thier toll on this pigeon which is undergoing a moderately rapid population reduction as a result. It is classified as Near Threatened.

History:

2004

–

Near Threatened

Geographic Range [top]

Range Description:	Hemiphaga novaeseelandiae is a forest pigeon endemic to New Zealand. The nominate subspecies breeds on the North, South and Stewart Islands, and several offshore islands. It is in rapid decline in Northland - a 1993 survey indicated a 50% decline within 14 years⁶. Studies indicate that declines are occurring elsewhere⁵. Subspecies chathamensis is only found in the Chatham Islands.
Countries:	Native: New Zealand
Range Map:	Click here to open the map viewer and explore range.

Population [top]

Population:	The global population size has not been quantified, but the species is described as not uncommon (Gibbs et al. 2001).
Population Trend:	Decreasing

Habitat and Ecology [top]

Habitat and Ecology:	It breeds in native forest, in the non-breeding season birds also utilise exotic plantations and suburban areas.
Systems:	Terrestrial

Threats [top]

Major Threat(s):	Introduced predators are the primary cause of decline nationwide, in particular, brush-tailed possum Trichosurus vulpecula, black rat Rattus rattus, stoat Mustela erminea and cats⁵. T. vulpecula and R. rattus also compete for fruit, reducing the number of breeding attempts, and possibly causing the starvation of adults⁵. Loss of forest habitat through burning and clearance for farmland, removal of firewood and browsing by herbivores is also a threat⁸. Birds are illegally hunted for food, particularly in Northland, with perhaps hundreds being shot each year^2,7.

Major Threat(s):

Introduced predators are the primary cause of decline nationwide, in particular, brush-tailed possum Trichosurus vulpecula, black rat Rattus rattus, stoat Mustela erminea and cats⁵. T. vulpecula and R. rattus also compete for fruit, reducing the number of breeding attempts, and possibly causing the starvation of adults⁵. Loss of forest habitat through burning and clearance for farmland, removal of firewood and browsing by herbivores is also a threat⁸. Birds are illegally hunted for food, particularly in Northland, with perhaps hundreds being shot each year^2,7.

Conservation Actions [top]

Conservation Actions:	Conservation Actions Underway In some small areas, intensive predator control has seen numbers undergo unprecedented increases, while work on the Chatham Islands has reversed the decline of chathamensis, from 40 individuals in the 1980s to c.200 in 1996¹. Conservation Actions Proposed Regularly monitor to determine population trends. Investigate the extent of hunting by local residents. Control hunting where possible, perhaps using awareness campaigns. Protect significant areas of intact native forest throughout its range. Control introduced predators and competitors at key sites.

Conservation Actions:

Conservation Actions Underway
In some small areas, intensive predator control has seen numbers undergo unprecedented increases, while work on the Chatham Islands has reversed the decline of chathamensis, from 40 individuals in the 1980s to c.200 in 1996¹.

Conservation Actions Proposed
Regularly monitor to determine population trends. Investigate the extent of hunting by local residents. Control hunting where possible, perhaps using awareness campaigns. Protect significant areas of intact native forest throughout its range. Control introduced predators and competitors at key sites.

Bibliography [top]

	Aikman, H.; Davis, A.; Miskelly, C.; O'Connor, S.; Taylor, G. 2001. Chatham Islands threatened birds: recovery and management plans. Department of Conservation, Wellington, New Zealand. Grant, A. D.; Powlesland, R. G.; Dilks, P. J.; Flux, I. A.; Tisdall, C. J. 1997. Mortality, distribution, numbers and conservation of the Chatham Island Pigeon Hemiphaga novaeseelandiae chathamensis. Notornis 44: 65-77. Heather, B. D.; Robertson, H. A. 1997. The field guide to the birds of New Zealand. Oxford University Press, Oxford, UK. Higgins, P. J. 1999. Handbook of Australian, New Zealand and Antarctic birds: parrots to dollarbirds. Oxford University Press, Oxford, U.K. Holdaway, R.N. and Christian, M. 2010. Stopping the fourth wave: conservation and restoration of the Norfolk Island ecosystem. Wingspan 20(4 (supplement)): 30-35. Mander, C.; Hay, R.; Powlesland, R. 1998. Monitoring and management of Kereru Hemiphaga novaeseelandiae. Department of Conservation, Wellington. Pierce, R. J.; Atkinson, R.; Smith, E. 1993. Changes in bird numbers in six Northland forests. Notornis 40: 285-293. Pullman, N.; Pullman, M. 1997. Motatau Kukupa: science and tradition join forces to protect a northern forest. Forest and Bird 286: 26-31.

Aikman, H.; Davis, A.; Miskelly, C.; O'Connor, S.; Taylor, G. 2001. Chatham Islands threatened birds: recovery and management plans. Department of Conservation, Wellington, New Zealand.

Grant, A. D.; Powlesland, R. G.; Dilks, P. J.; Flux, I. A.; Tisdall, C. J. 1997. Mortality, distribution, numbers and conservation of the Chatham Island Pigeon Hemiphaga novaeseelandiae chathamensis. Notornis 44: 65-77.

Heather, B. D.; Robertson, H. A. 1997. The field guide to the birds of New Zealand. Oxford University Press, Oxford, UK.

Higgins, P. J. 1999. Handbook of Australian, New Zealand and Antarctic birds: parrots to dollarbirds. Oxford University Press, Oxford, U.K.

Holdaway, R.N. and Christian, M. 2010. Stopping the fourth wave: conservation and restoration of the Norfolk Island ecosystem. Wingspan 20(4 (supplement)): 30-35.

Mander, C.; Hay, R.; Powlesland, R. 1998. Monitoring and management of Kereru Hemiphaga novaeseelandiae. Department of Conservation, Wellington.

Pierce, R. J.; Atkinson, R.; Smith, E. 1993. Changes in bird numbers in six Northland forests. Notornis 40: 285-293.

Pullman, N.; Pullman, M. 1997. Motatau Kukupa: science and tradition join forces to protect a northern forest. Forest and Bird 286: 26-31.

Citation:	BirdLife International 2008. Hemiphaga novaeseelandiae. In: IUCN 2011. IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2011.2. <www.iucnredlist.org>. Downloaded on 21 May 2012.
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