Perisoreus internigrans

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	PASSERIFORMES	CORVIDAE

Scientific Name:

Perisoreus internigrans

Species Authority:

(Thayer & Bangs, 1912)

Common Name/s:

English

–

Sichuan Grey Jay, Sichuan Jay, Sooty Jay

Assessment Information [top]

Red List Category & Criteria:

Vulnerable C2a(i) ver 3.1

Year Published:

2008

Assessor/s:

BirdLife International

Reviewer/s:

Butchart, S., Bird, J., Crosby, M.

Justification:
This jay qualifies as Vulnerable because it has a small, declining, severely fragmented population as a result of extensive deforestation throughout its range.

History:

2004	–	Vulnerable
2000	–	Vulnerable
1996	–	Vulnerable
1994	–	Vulnerable

Geographic Range [top]

Range Description:	Perisoreus internigrans is endemic to China, where it is known from eastern Tibet, south-east Qinghai, southern Gansu and western Sichuan. Most records have involved a small number of individuals and it has been described as rare. Given the relatively small number of documented localities and its apparently low population density, it could have a small population, which is likely to be declining.
Countries:	Native: China
Range Map:	Click here to open the map viewer and explore range.

Population [top]

Population:	Population estimate <1 individual/km² x 14,300 km² (10% EOO) = <14,300 ie. best placed in the band 2,500-9,999 individuals (density based on description of species's rarity in BirdLife International 2001 and extrapolation from records in BirdLife Population Density Spreadsheet).
Population Trend:	Decreasing

Habitat and Ecology [top]

Habitat and Ecology:	It appears to favour high-altitude (3,000-4,270 m), dry coniferous forest of mature spruce, and mixed fir and rhododendron forest, often with a poorly developed understorey. It forms small flocks in autumn, usually of five or six birds, but sometimes more than 10, and feeds on invertebrates and fruit. Juveniles have been collected between June and September, and a family party was seen in mid-June.
Systems:	Terrestrial

Habitat and Ecology:

It appears to favour high-altitude (3,000-4,270 m), dry coniferous forest of mature spruce, and mixed fir and rhododendron forest, often with a poorly developed understorey. It forms small flocks in autumn, usually of five or six birds, but sometimes more than 10, and feeds on invertebrates and fruit. Juveniles have been collected between June and September, and a family party was seen in mid-June.

Systems:

Terrestrial

Threats [top]

Major Threat(s):	The main threat is likely to be the loss and fragmentation of forest, including substantial areas of the upper temperate and subalpine zone forests in Sichuan, through logging for timber and conversion to agriculture and pasture. Forest cover may also be declining on the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau because the climate is progressively becoming drier.

Major Threat(s):

The main threat is likely to be the loss and fragmentation of forest, including substantial areas of the upper temperate and subalpine zone forests in Sichuan, through logging for timber and conversion to agriculture and pasture. Forest cover may also be declining on the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau because the climate is progressively becoming drier.

Conservation Actions [top]

Conservation Actions:	Conservation Actions Underway A number of protected areas established for giant panda Ailuropoda melanoleuca contain suitable habitat, but the species's distribution and abundance in these is poorly known. It has only been recorded from one protected area, Jiuzhaigou Nature Reserve in Sichuan. This has an area of 200 km², where the natural habitats are apparently in excellent condition, but are under pressure from large-scale tourism. The species was the focus of a study in Jone (Zhouni) County, Gansu in 1999-2002¹. Conservation Actions Proposed Research its habitat requirements, altitudinal range and population status, particularly survey protected areas in or near its known range. Support recommendations to control logging, control fire and restore damaged giant panda habitat where this would benefit this species and other endemic temperate forest bird species. Strengthen protection and control tourism at Jiuzhaigou Nature Reserve and link it to other important protected areas in the Min Shan. List it as a nationally protected species in China.

Conservation Actions:

Conservation Actions Underway
A number of protected areas established for giant panda Ailuropoda melanoleuca contain suitable habitat, but the species's distribution and abundance in these is poorly known. It has only been recorded from one protected area, Jiuzhaigou Nature Reserve in Sichuan. This has an area of 200 km², where the natural habitats are apparently in excellent condition, but are under pressure from large-scale tourism. The species was the focus of a study in Jone (Zhouni) County, Gansu in 1999-2002¹.

Conservation Actions Proposed
Research its habitat requirements, altitudinal range and population status, particularly survey protected areas in or near its known range. Support recommendations to control logging, control fire and restore damaged giant panda habitat where this would benefit this species and other endemic temperate forest bird species. Strengthen protection and control tourism at Jiuzhaigou Nature Reserve and link it to other important protected areas in the Min Shan. List it as a nationally protected species in China.

Citation:	BirdLife International 2008. Perisoreus internigrans. In: IUCN 2011. IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2011.2. <www.iucnredlist.org>. Downloaded on 26 May 2012.
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