Parus nuchalis

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	PARIDAE

Scientific Name:

Parus nuchalis

Species Authority:

Jerdon, 1845

Common Name/s:

English

–

White-naped Tit

Assessment Information [top]

Red List Category & Criteria:

Vulnerable A2ce+3ce+4ce;C2a(i) ver 3.1

Year Published:

2008

Assessor/s:

BirdLife International

Reviewer/s:

Gilroy, J., Butchart, S., Crosby, M.

Contributor/s:

Praveen, J., Subramanya, S.

Justification:
This species is undergoing a rapid population decline, as a result of the loss, degradation and fragmentation of its tropical thorn-scrub habitat. It has a moderately large range, but populations are severely fragmented and low in number. It therefore qualifies as Vulnerable.

History:

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

Geographic Range [top]

Range Description:	Parus nuchalis is endemic to India, where it occurs in two isolated populations in central and southern Rajasthan, Kutch and northern Gujarat in the north-west, and the Eastern Ghats of southern Andhra Pradesh, northern Tamil Nadu and Karnataka in the south. It appears to have declined substantially. Most recent records are from Gujarat and Rajasthan, where it is patchily distributed and found at low densities in Kutch, Palanpur, Pali, Jodhpur, Jalore, Sirohi, Ajmere, Jaipur and Nagaur¹. There are recent records from only one site in Karnataka⁴, and none in Tamil Nadu². There are three recent sightings from Arogyavaram, Chittoor district, Andhra Pradesh⁵, involving a maximum of just two individuals. The South India population may now be very small. Previous reports from Wynaad District, Kerala, are thought to be erroneous³. A recent sighting of the species in Thar Desert of Rajasthan⁶ suggests that a population could persist in extensive Acacia plantations along the Indiar Ghandi Canal Project.
Countries:	Native: India
Range Map:	Click here to open the map viewer and explore range.

Population [top]

Population:	Population estimated from analysis of records in BirdLife International (2001) who concluded that the distribution was very patchy, the species occurred at low densities, and 'overall numbers must be very low' i.e. <10,000
Population Trend:	Decreasing

Habitat and Ecology [top]

Habitat and Ecology:	It inhabits tropical, dry thorn-scrub forests, particularly those dominated by Acacia species, from the lowlands and foothills up to at least 700 m, occasionally straying into gardens, vegetated streambeds and irrigated crop fields during drought years. The southern population also occurs in dry deciduous forest. It breeds in tree cavities, and may be restricted to forest areas with sufficient dead or dying trees¹. It breeds during the monsoon (May-August), some populations then dispersing.
Systems:	Terrestrial

Habitat and Ecology:

It inhabits tropical, dry thorn-scrub forests, particularly those dominated by Acacia species, from the lowlands and foothills up to at least 700 m, occasionally straying into gardens, vegetated streambeds and irrigated crop fields during drought years. The southern population also occurs in dry deciduous forest. It breeds in tree cavities, and may be restricted to forest areas with sufficient dead or dying trees¹. It breeds during the monsoon (May-August), some populations then dispersing.

Systems:

Terrestrial

Threats [top]

Major Threat(s):	The most serious threat is loss, degradation and fragmentation of tropical thorn-scrub forest. This is occurring as a result of lopping and cutting for fuelwood and illegal charcoal making, clearance for agricultural land and settlement construction and over-grazing. In Kutch, an estimated 100 Acacia trees per day are felled for collection of twigs for toothbrush manufacture¹. Remaining areas of suitable habitat are further threatened by proposed cement factories, stone quarrying and gypsum mining, including within existing protected areas. The spread of the non-native shrub Prosopis glandulosa is also having deleterious effects on dry thorn-scrub.

Major Threat(s):

The most serious threat is loss, degradation and fragmentation of tropical thorn-scrub forest. This is occurring as a result of lopping and cutting for fuelwood and illegal charcoal making, clearance for agricultural land and settlement construction and over-grazing. In Kutch, an estimated 100 Acacia trees per day are felled for collection of twigs for toothbrush manufacture¹. Remaining areas of suitable habitat are further threatened by proposed cement factories, stone quarrying and gypsum mining, including within existing protected areas. The spread of the non-native shrub Prosopis glandulosa is also having deleterious effects on dry thorn-scrub.

Conservation Actions [top]

Conservation Actions:	Conservation Actions Underway There are records from two protected areas, Mudumalai Wildlife Sanctuary, Tamil Nadu and Anshi National Park, Karnataka. However, recent surveys have failed to find the species in either park, and Anshi apparently does not support any suitable habitat⁷. It may occur at Baludhara Jessore Sloth Bear Sanctuary, Gujarat. Conservation Actions Proposed Monitor sites across the range to determine rates of habitat loss and population decline. Establish a network of protected areas encompassing tracts of dry thorn-scrub forest supporting significant populations. Promote and integrate conservation initiatives within rural development schemes to reduce exploitation of dry thorn-scrub forest (particularly dead and decaying trees), e.g. through the introduction of fuel-efficient stoves and (in Kutch) the provision of toothbrushes and paste/powder. Consolidate knowledge of the status, distribution and movements of this species in Southern India in order to target conservation activities. Survey Acacia plantations along the Indiar Ghandi Canal Project in the Thar Desert, Rajasthan. Conduct molecular analyses to determine the relationship between the two populations.

Conservation Actions:

Conservation Actions Underway
There are records from two protected areas, Mudumalai Wildlife Sanctuary, Tamil Nadu and Anshi National Park, Karnataka. However, recent surveys have failed to find the species in either park, and Anshi apparently does not support any suitable habitat⁷. It may occur at Baludhara Jessore Sloth Bear Sanctuary, Gujarat.

Conservation Actions Proposed
Monitor sites across the range to determine rates of habitat loss and population decline. Establish a network of protected areas encompassing tracts of dry thorn-scrub forest supporting significant populations. Promote and integrate conservation initiatives within rural development schemes to reduce exploitation of dry thorn-scrub forest (particularly dead and decaying trees), e.g. through the introduction of fuel-efficient stoves and (in Kutch) the provision of toothbrushes and paste/powder. Consolidate knowledge of the status, distribution and movements of this species in Southern India in order to target conservation activities. Survey Acacia plantations along the Indiar Ghandi Canal Project in the Thar Desert, Rajasthan. Conduct molecular analyses to determine the relationship between the two populations.

Bibliography [top]

	BirdLife International. 2001. Threatened birds of Asia: the BirdLife International Red Data Book. BirdLife International, Cambridge, U.K. Dookia, S. 2007. First record of Pied Tit Parus nuchalis in Thar Desert of Rajasthan. Indian Birds 3(3): 112-113. Jones, S. 2007. Sightings of White-naped Tit Parus nuchalis in Arogyavaram, Chittoor district, Andhra Pradesh. Indian Birds 3(5): 198-199. Lott, E. J.; Lott, C. 1999. On the occurrence of White-naped Tit (Parus nuchalis) in southern India. Forktail 15: 93-94. Tiwari, J. K. in prep. Status and Distribution of the White-naped Tit Parus nuchalis in Gujarat and Rajasthan. With notes on Green Munia Estrilda formosa.

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

Dookia, S. 2007. First record of Pied Tit Parus nuchalis in Thar Desert of Rajasthan. Indian Birds 3(3): 112-113.

Jones, S. 2007. Sightings of White-naped Tit Parus nuchalis in Arogyavaram, Chittoor district, Andhra Pradesh. Indian Birds 3(5): 198-199.

Lott, E. J.; Lott, C. 1999. On the occurrence of White-naped Tit (Parus nuchalis) in southern India. Forktail 15: 93-94.

Tiwari, J. K. in prep. Status and Distribution of the White-naped Tit Parus nuchalis in Gujarat and Rajasthan. With notes on Green Munia Estrilda formosa.

Citation:	BirdLife International 2008. Parus nuchalis. In: IUCN 2011. IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2011.2. <www.iucnredlist.org>. Downloaded on 22 May 2012.
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