Oriolus mellianus

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	PASSERIFORMES	ORIOLIDAE

Scientific Name:

Oriolus mellianus

Species Authority:

Stresemann, 1922

Common Name/s:

English

–

Silver Oriole

Assessment Information [top]

Red List Category & Criteria:

Vulnerable C2a(ii) ver 3.1

Year Published:

2010

Assessor/s:

BirdLife International

Reviewer/s:

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

Contributor/s:

Dowell, S., Lethwaite, R.

Justification:
This oriole qualifies as Vulnerable because it has a small, declining population as a result of loss and fragmentation of forest in its breeding and wintering ranges. However, based on the recent rarity of records, and evidence for potential declines at historically important sites, the global population may now support fewer than 2,500 individuals and the species may warrant uplisting in the future.

History:

2008	–	Vulnerable
2007	–	Vulnerable
2004	–	Vulnerable
2000	–	Vulnerable
1996	–	Vulnerable
1994	–	Vulnerable

Geographic Range [top]

Range Description:	Oriolus mellianus is recorded in summer from south-central Sichuan, Yunnan, Guizhou, northern Guangxi and northern Guangdong, China. Surveys in 1988 found it to be locally common in Sichuan, with a notable record of a flock of 40 birds. However, fieldwork since has encountered fewer individuals and despite repeat visits the last record there is from 2005². It is not certain whether this trend represents a genuine population decline. Small numbers have recently been found at several localities in Guangxi, from Ba Bao Shan/Nanling NNR (peak day counts of 20 in 1998 and 10 in 2001), at Nan Kun Shan, Guangdong³, and Yangsiba near Xining in southern Sichua^4,5. It is a non-breeding visitor to southern Thailand and Cambodia. Records of wintering birds in Thailand have declined through the 1990s although survey effort in the far north of the country has been limited. An increase in ornithological surveys in Cambodia has yielded recent records from the Cardamom Mountains and Bokor¹. Most winter records have involved males, and it may prove to be the case that females winter further north, and possibly occur in southern Myanmar¹. Given the limited area of remaining habitat, it is likely to have a small and declining population.
Countries:	Native: Cambodia; China; Thailand
Range Map:	Click here to open the map viewer and explore range.

Population [top]

Population:	Population estimate = 1.5 individuals/km² x 2,800 km² (10% EOO) =4200 i.e. best placed in the band 2,500-9,999 individuals (density from estimates in primary forest by Dowell et al. [1997]; note that densities in secondary forest were higher [15.6 individuals/km²]).
Population Trend:	Decreasing

Population:

Population estimate = 1.5 individuals/km² x 2,800 km² (10% EOO) =4200 i.e. best placed in the band 2,500-9,999 individuals (density from estimates in primary forest by Dowell et al. [1997]; note that densities in secondary forest were higher [15.6 individuals/km²]).

Population Trend:

Decreasing

Habitat and Ecology [top]

Habitat and Ecology:	It breeds in evergreen broadleaved forest, mainly between c.600-1,700 m. In Sichuan, it was recorded in 1997 in higher densities in secondary and replanted forest than in primary forest. However, these surveys were early in the breeding season, so some records may have involved newly arrived migrants in habitats where they do not breed, and it may be easier to locate in secondary habitats. In Thailand, it frequents evergreen forest between c.600-1,300 m.
Systems:	Terrestrial

Habitat and Ecology:

It breeds in evergreen broadleaved forest, mainly between c.600-1,700 m. In Sichuan, it was recorded in 1997 in higher densities in secondary and replanted forest than in primary forest. However, these surveys were early in the breeding season, so some records may have involved newly arrived migrants in habitats where they do not breed, and it may be easier to locate in secondary habitats. In Thailand, it frequents evergreen forest between c.600-1,300 m.

Systems:

Terrestrial

Threats [top]

Major Threat(s):	The main threat is the loss and fragmentation of forest in its breeding and wintering ranges through timber extraction, conversion to agriculture and uncontrolled fire. Many remaining areas of forest are degraded or under intense pressure. Almost all of the remaining primary forests in southern Sichuan, where it was recently recorded, were scheduled for logging, although a ban on commercial logging in this part of China since 1998 has reduced the pressure from logging in this part of its range.

Major Threat(s):

The main threat is the loss and fragmentation of forest in its breeding and wintering ranges through timber extraction, conversion to agriculture and uncontrolled fire. Many remaining areas of forest are degraded or under intense pressure. Almost all of the remaining primary forests in southern Sichuan, where it was recently recorded, were scheduled for logging, although a ban on commercial logging in this part of China since 1998 has reduced the pressure from logging in this part of its range.

Conservation Actions [top]

Conservation Actions:	Conservation Actions Underway It is legally protected in Thailand. It has been recorded from at least seven protected areas in China and six in Thailand. Some forestry practices, such as leaving strips of primary forest along ridge-tops and replanting with native broadleaved trees, may benefit it. Surveys in southern Sichuan have improved knowledge of its distribution and ecology. Conservation Actions Proposed Conduct surveys to clarify its status, distribution, habitat and conservation requirements. Protect new important sites revealed by surveys. Establish a network of four protected areas in Sichuan, proposed for Sichuan Partridge Arborophila rufipectus, but which would also benefit this species, especially if they include the Erbagou forests in northern Leibo County where there are breeding records. Enforce regulations, link and extend, where possible, protected areas in China where it occurs. Manage protected areas in Thailand and Cambodia, to prevent degradation by the surrounding human population. Encourage beneficial practices in logging areas. List it as a nationally protected species in China.

Conservation Actions:

Conservation Actions Underway
It is legally protected in Thailand. It has been recorded from at least seven protected areas in China and six in Thailand. Some forestry practices, such as leaving strips of primary forest along ridge-tops and replanting with native broadleaved trees, may benefit it. Surveys in southern Sichuan have improved knowledge of its distribution and ecology.

Conservation Actions Proposed
Conduct surveys to clarify its status, distribution, habitat and conservation requirements. Protect new important sites revealed by surveys. Establish a network of four protected areas in Sichuan, proposed for Sichuan Partridge Arborophila rufipectus, but which would also benefit this species, especially if they include the Erbagou forests in northern Leibo County where there are breeding records. Enforce regulations, link and extend, where possible, protected areas in China where it occurs. Manage protected areas in Thailand and Cambodia, to prevent degradation by the surrounding human population. Encourage beneficial practices in logging areas. List it as a nationally protected species in China.

Bibliography [top]

	BirdLife International. 2001. Threatened birds of Asia: the BirdLife International Red Data Book. BirdLife International, Cambridge, U.K. Pilgrim, J.D.; Pierce, A.J. 2006. Some significant bird records from the Cardamom Mountains, Cambodia, including the first recent record of Silver Oriole Oriolus mellianus. Forktail 22: 125-127.

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

Pilgrim, J.D.; Pierce, A.J. 2006. Some significant bird records from the Cardamom Mountains, Cambodia, including the first recent record of Silver Oriole Oriolus mellianus. Forktail 22: 125-127.

Citation:	BirdLife International 2010. Oriolus mellianus. In: IUCN 2011. IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2011.2. <www.iucnredlist.org>. Downloaded on 22 May 2012.
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