Aplonis cinerascens

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	STURNIDAE

Scientific Name:

Aplonis cinerascens

Species Authority:

Hartlaub & Finsch, 1871

Common Name/s:

English

–

Rarotonga Starling

Assessment Information [top]

Red List Category & Criteria:

Vulnerable D1+2 ver 3.1

Year Published:

2010

Assessor/s:

BirdLife International

Reviewer/s:

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

Contributor/s:

Dutson, G., Tiraa, A., McCormack, G.

Justification:
This species qualifies as Vulnerable because it is assumed to have a small population and is confined to just one tiny island. Any indication of a decline would result in Critically Endangered status.

History:

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

Geographic Range [top]

Range Description:	This species occurs in the rugged interior of Rarotonga, Cook Islands. It was regarded as abundant early in the 19th century and still not uncommon in 1973, but conservative estimates made in 1984 put the population at 100 birds¹. More recently, this figure has been revised upward but, although it remains widespread, birds occupy relatively large territories, and thus the total population may still be only c.500 individuals³, although some observers consider it may be more than this⁷. It is likely to have been lost from the lowlands in the last 40 years and, although the population is assumed now to be stable, there are currently few data on numbers and distribution and thus it could be declining undetected⁵.
Countries:	Native: Cook Islands
Range Map:	Click here to open the map viewer and explore range.

Population [top]

Population:	McCormack in litt. (2007) guessed that the population was now 500+. Due to uncertainties regarding population size, it seems prudent to place in the band 250-999 mature individuals.
Population Trend:	Stable

Habitat and Ecology [top]

Habitat and Ecology:	This is a shy and inconspicuous inhabitant of undisturbed, native montane forest and fringing disturbed forest⁴ from 150-200 m up to the highest areas of the island at 600 m ². Although a recent survey indicated that they also frequent areas as low as 30 m⁶ they no longer seem to frequent coastal areas as much as they did in the past⁶. It is found either alone or in pairs, foraging in the canopy⁴ and appears to have a varied diet, feeding on nectar, fruit and insects². A nest has been observed in the cavity of an old tree², and birds seem to prefer to nest in native trees such as koka Bischofia javanica, mato Homalium acuminatum and turina Hernandia moerenhoutiana⁸. This bird lays more than one egg per clutch, uses the same nest in subsequent years, breeds between August and December and holds territories⁶.
Systems:	Terrestrial

Habitat and Ecology:

This is a shy and inconspicuous inhabitant of undisturbed, native montane forest and fringing disturbed forest⁴ from 150-200 m up to the highest areas of the island at 600 m ². Although a recent survey indicated that they also frequent areas as low as 30 m⁶ they no longer seem to frequent coastal areas as much as they did in the past⁶. It is found either alone or in pairs, foraging in the canopy⁴ and appears to have a varied diet, feeding on nectar, fruit and insects². A nest has been observed in the cavity of an old tree², and birds seem to prefer to nest in native trees such as koka Bischofia javanica, mato Homalium acuminatum and turina Hernandia moerenhoutiana⁸. This bird lays more than one egg per clutch, uses the same nest in subsequent years, breeds between August and December and holds territories⁶.

Systems:

Terrestrial

Threats [top]

Major Threat(s):	The introduced Common Myna Acridotheres tristis is aggressive and widespread and is often blamed for the demise of the native landbirds³. It may be implicated in the loss of this species from the lowlands, but it is not thought to have penetrated the forested uplands^6,7. Black rats Rattus rattus may reduce nesting success or take incubating birds in the uplands, although their effect is likely to be negligible⁷. The introduction of exotic avian diseases, to which local birds have no immunity, is another possible threat³. Monitoring is required: other Aplonis spp. have become extinct or exceedingly rare for unknown reasons⁹. Having a distribution that is close to the maximum altitude within its range, this species is potentially susceptible to climate change¹⁰.

Major Threat(s):

The introduced Common Myna Acridotheres tristis is aggressive and widespread and is often blamed for the demise of the native landbirds³. It may be implicated in the loss of this species from the lowlands, but it is not thought to have penetrated the forested uplands^6,7. Black rats Rattus rattus may reduce nesting success or take incubating birds in the uplands, although their effect is likely to be negligible⁷. The introduction of exotic avian diseases, to which local birds have no immunity, is another possible threat³. Monitoring is required: other Aplonis spp. have become extinct or exceedingly rare for unknown reasons⁹. Having a distribution that is close to the maximum altitude within its range, this species is potentially susceptible to climate change¹⁰.

Conservation Actions [top]

Conservation Actions:	Conservation Actions Underway The species presumably benefits from conservation measures carried out for the Rarotonga Flycatcher Pomarea dimidiata (classified as Endangered) in the south-east of the island, including intensive rat control. Conservation Actions Proposed Conduct a baseline survey to establish numbers⁵. Investigate possible threats. Ensure the protection of an area of upland forest. Control R. rattus and A. tristis in key sites.

Conservation Actions:

Conservation Actions Underway
The species presumably benefits from conservation measures carried out for the Rarotonga Flycatcher Pomarea dimidiata (classified as Endangered) in the south-east of the island, including intensive rat control.

Conservation Actions Proposed
Conduct a baseline survey to establish numbers⁵. Investigate possible threats. Ensure the protection of an area of upland forest. Control R. rattus and A. tristis in key sites.

Bibliography [top]

	Hay, R. 1986. Bird conservation in the Pacific Islands. International Council for Bird Preservation, Cambridge, U.K. Holyoak, D. T.; Thibault, J. -C. 1984. Contribution à l'étude des oiseaux de Polynésie orientale. Memoires du Museum National d'Histoire Naturelle - Serie A: Zoologie 127: 1-209. McCormack, G. 1997. Cook Islands: an oceanic oasis. World Birdwatch 19: 13-16. Pratt, H. D.; Bruner, P. L.; Berrett, D. G. 1987. A field guide to the birds of Hawaii and the tropical Pacific. Princeton University Press, Princeton. SPREP. 1999. Proceedings of the Polynesian Avifauna Conservation Workshop held in Rarotonga, 26-30 April 1999.

Hay, R. 1986. Bird conservation in the Pacific Islands. International Council for Bird Preservation, Cambridge, U.K.

Holyoak, D. T.; Thibault, J. -C. 1984. Contribution à l'étude des oiseaux de Polynésie orientale. Memoires du Museum National d'Histoire Naturelle - Serie A: Zoologie 127: 1-209.

McCormack, G. 1997. Cook Islands: an oceanic oasis. World Birdwatch 19: 13-16.

Pratt, H. D.; Bruner, P. L.; Berrett, D. G. 1987. A field guide to the birds of Hawaii and the tropical Pacific. Princeton University Press, Princeton.

SPREP. 1999. Proceedings of the Polynesian Avifauna Conservation Workshop held in Rarotonga, 26-30 April 1999.

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