Paradoxornis przewalskii

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	TIMALIIDAE

Scientific Name:

Paradoxornis przewalskii

Species Authority:

(Berezowski & Bianchi, 1891)

Common Name/s:

English

–

Przevalski's Parrotbill, Przewalski's Parrotbill, Rusty-throated Parrotbill

Assessment Information [top]

Red List Category & Criteria:

Vulnerable C2a(i) ver 3.1

Year Published:

2008

Assessor/s:

BirdLife International

Reviewer/s:

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

Justification:
This species has a small, declining, severely fragmented population, primarily as a result of destruction of temperate forest for timber and conversion to cultivation and pasture. It therefore qualifies as Vulnerable.

History:

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

Geographic Range [top]

Range Description:	Paradoxornis przewalskii is endemic to China, where it has been recorded from only four localities in the Min Shan mountains in southern Gansu province and adjacent parts of north-central Sichuan province. In Gansu, it was described as rare in the late 19th century. The only recent records (none since 1988) are from Jiuzhaigou National Park, where up to 15 have been seen, indicating that it may be rather numerous in suitable habitat. However, the paucity of records suggests it probably has a localised distribution and a small population, which is likely to be declining given the potential threats to it.
Countries:	Native: China
Range Map:	Click here to open the map viewer and explore range.

Population [top]

Population:	Population estimate = 1-10 individuals/km² x 3,300 (10% EOO) = 3,300-33,000 individuals i.e. perhaps best placed precautionarily in band 2,500-9,999 individuals (density range extrapolated from similar species in the BirdLife Population Density Spreadsheet; analysis of records in BirdLife International [2001] suggests that locally it may occur at higher densities, but it may be highly locally distributed).
Population Trend:	Decreasing

Population:

Population estimate = 1-10 individuals/km² x 3,300 (10% EOO) = 3,300-33,000 individuals i.e. perhaps best placed precautionarily in band 2,500-9,999 individuals (density range extrapolated from similar species in the BirdLife Population Density Spreadsheet; analysis of records in BirdLife International [2001] suggests that locally it may occur at higher densities, but it may be highly locally distributed).

Population Trend:

Decreasing

Habitat and Ecology [top]

Habitat and Ecology:	Its ecology is poorly known. Historical records are from sparse larch woods, tussocks on a steep hillside and a bamboo thicket, at c.2,440-3,050 m. Recent records are from dense bamboo undergrowth in mixed coniferous forest and a bamboo thicket at 2,800 m. Its diet is mainly insects. Given that it appears to be particularly associated with bamboo, it may be forced to move in response to periodic bamboo flowering and die-off.
Systems:	Terrestrial

Habitat and Ecology:

Its ecology is poorly known. Historical records are from sparse larch woods, tussocks on a steep hillside and a bamboo thicket, at c.2,440-3,050 m. Recent records are from dense bamboo undergrowth in mixed coniferous forest and a bamboo thicket at 2,800 m. Its diet is mainly insects. Given that it appears to be particularly associated with bamboo, it may be forced to move in response to periodic bamboo flowering and die-off.

Systems:

Terrestrial

Threats [top]

Major Threat(s):	The main threat is likely to be the loss and fragmentation of forest. Forest cover has declined rapidly in Sichuan since the late 1960s, as a result of exploitation for timber and clearance for cultivation and pasture. Substantial areas of the temperate zone forests have been lost. It is possible that the periodic flowering and die-off of the bamboo, in combination with the fragmentation of temperate zone forests, may affect its population.

Major Threat(s):

The main threat is likely to be the loss and fragmentation of forest. Forest cover has declined rapidly in Sichuan since the late 1960s, as a result of exploitation for timber and clearance for cultivation and pasture. Substantial areas of the temperate zone forests have been lost. It is possible that the periodic flowering and die-off of the bamboo, in combination with the fragmentation of temperate zone forests, may affect its population.

Conservation Actions [top]

Conservation Actions:	Conservation Actions Underway A number of protected areas established for the 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. Conservation Actions Proposed Survey protected areas in or near to its known range. Research its habitat requirements, altitudinal range and population status. Strengthen protection and link, where possible, protected areas where it occurs and where new populations are discovered. Support recommendations to control logging and fire and restore damaged giant panda habitat where this would benefit this species and other endemic temperate forest bird species. Control tourism in Jiuzhaigou Nature Reserve. List it as a nationally protected species in China.

Conservation Actions:

Conservation Actions Underway
A number of protected areas established for the 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.

Conservation Actions Proposed
Survey protected areas in or near to its known range. Research its habitat requirements, altitudinal range and population status. Strengthen protection and link, where possible, protected areas where it occurs and where new populations are discovered. Support recommendations to control logging and fire and restore damaged giant panda habitat where this would benefit this species and other endemic temperate forest bird species. Control tourism in Jiuzhaigou Nature Reserve. List it as a nationally protected species in China.

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