Pitta superba

Taxonomy

Assessment Information

Geographic Range

Population

Habitat and Ecology

Threats

Conservation Actions

View Printer Friendly

Taxonomy [top]

Kingdom	Phylum	Class	Order	Family
ANIMALIA	CHORDATA	AVES	PASSERIFORMES	PITTIDAE

Scientific Name:

Pitta superba

Species Authority:

Rothschild & Hartert, 1914

Common Name/s:

English

–

Black-backed Pitta, Superb Pitta

Assessment Information [top]

Red List Category & Criteria:

Vulnerable D1 ver 3.1

Year Published:

2012

Assessor/s:

BirdLife International

Reviewer/s:

Butchart, S. & Symes, A.

Contributor/s:

Beck, R., Burrows, I., Dutson, G., Gibbs, D., Gregory, P., Mack, A. & Williams, A.

Justification:
The known population of this aptly named species is very small, leading to a classification as Vulnerable. The species may be declining owing to habitat degradation, and should this be confirmed, the species would warrant uplisting to a higher threat category.

History:

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

Geographic Range [top]

Range Description:	Pitta superba is endemic to Manus in the Admiralty Islands of Papua New Guinea. It has an enigmatically patchy distribution and probably occurs at low population densities. Four pairs have been found in recent years around Rossun village, whilst in 2002 three birds were heard within a small area of forest 10 km inland from the north-western coast (Williams in litt. 2002), however by 2007 only one bird could be located(G. Dutson in litt. 2007). Whilst most of Manus remains unsurveyed and this bird may be largely silent and thus overlooked, it is absent from several seemingly suitable areas (Dutson and Newman 1991, D. Gibbs in litt. 1994, G. Dutson pers. obs. 1997, A. Mack in litt. 2012). During eight visits to Manus between 2002 and 2005, the birds were found to be absent from areas close to where they had previously been recorded and at most sites the birds were either absent or present at very low densities (A. Mack in litt. 2012). Interviews with local people during these visits also found that many local people were unfamiliar with the species (A. Mack in litt. 2012), although such interviews should be interpreted with caution. A total of 29 specimens were collected in two months in 1913 (Rothschild and Hartert 1914), suggesting either that this species's favoured haunts have not been rediscovered or that it has undergone a steep decline.
Countries:	Native: Papua New Guinea
Range Map:	Click here to open the map viewer and explore range.

Population [top]

Population:	The population is estimated to number 250-999 mature individuals based on an assessment of known records, descriptions of abundance and range size. This is consistent with recorded population density estimates for congeners or close relatives with a similar body size, and the fact that only a proportion of the estimated Extent of Occurrence is likely to be occupied. This estimate is equivalent to 375-1,499 individuals in total, rounded here to 350-1,500 individuals.
Population Trend:	Unknown

Population:

The population is estimated to number 250-999 mature individuals based on an assessment of known records, descriptions of abundance and range size. This is consistent with recorded population density estimates for congeners or close relatives with a similar body size, and the fact that only a proportion of the estimated Extent of Occurrence is likely to be occupied. This estimate is equivalent to 375-1,499 individuals in total, rounded here to 350-1,500 individuals.

Population Trend:

Unknown

Habitat and Ecology [top]

Habitat and Ecology:	Virtually all recent records of this very shy species are of calling birds. Records are from primary forest and patchy forest with areas of secondary forest and garden regrowth at 100-200 m. It has not been recorded on steep slopes or in the slightly submontane forest of interior Manus. Possible habitat preferences which have been suggested include bamboo thickets or open hilltop forest near a reasonably large river with stones, which are used as anvils to break mollusc shells (Dutson and Newman 1991, D. Gibbs in litt. 1994, G. Dutson pers. obs. 1997).
Systems:	Terrestrial

Habitat and Ecology:

Virtually all recent records of this very shy species are of calling birds. Records are from primary forest and patchy forest with areas of secondary forest and garden regrowth at 100-200 m. It has not been recorded on steep slopes or in the slightly submontane forest of interior Manus. Possible habitat preferences which have been suggested include bamboo thickets or open hilltop forest near a reasonably large river with stones, which are used as anvils to break mollusc shells (Dutson and Newman 1991, D. Gibbs in litt. 1994, G. Dutson pers. obs. 1997).

Systems:

Terrestrial

Threats [top]

Major Threat(s):	Large areas of Manus have been logged or are under logging concessions. However, as its habitat requirements are unclear, it is not known whether this species is threatened by habitat degradation (Dutson and Newman 1991, D. Gibbs in litt. 1994). Its habitat is also suffering from intense pressure from a growing human population (A. Mack in litt. 2012. It is possibly threatened by introduced species such as cats and dogs but the brown tree snake Boiga irregularis, which has decimated birds on Guam, is thought to be native to Manus (Dutson and Newman 1991, R. E. Beck in litt. 1992). A proposal to build a space station on Manus is currently shelved (I. Burrows in litt. 1994, P. Gregory in litt. 1994).

Major Threat(s):

Large areas of Manus have been logged or are under logging concessions. However, as its habitat requirements are unclear, it is not known whether this species is threatened by habitat degradation (Dutson and Newman 1991, D. Gibbs in litt. 1994). Its habitat is also suffering from intense pressure from a growing human population (A. Mack in litt. 2012. It is possibly threatened by introduced species such as cats and dogs but the brown tree snake Boiga irregularis, which has decimated birds on Guam, is thought to be native to Manus (Dutson and Newman 1991, R. E. Beck in litt. 1992). A proposal to build a space station on Manus is currently shelved (I. Burrows in litt. 1994, P. Gregory in litt. 1994).

Conservation Actions [top]

Conservation Actions:	Conservation Actions Underway None is known. Conservation Actions Proposed Survey elsewhere on Manus. Interview local villagers about this species's distribution and population trends. Map territories around Rossun and relate to habitat types. Investigate feeding and breeding ecology around Rossun. Investigate impact of introduced predatory species. Monitor numbers calling around Rossun. Encourage designation of large community-based conservation areas. Use as a flagship species in encouraging ecotourism initiatives with local landowners. Use as a flagship species in general provincial conservation awareness programmes.

Conservation Actions:

Conservation Actions Underway
None is known.

Conservation Actions Proposed
Survey elsewhere on Manus. Interview local villagers about this species's distribution and population trends. Map territories around Rossun and relate to habitat types. Investigate feeding and breeding ecology around Rossun. Investigate impact of introduced predatory species. Monitor numbers calling around Rossun. Encourage designation of large community-based conservation areas. Use as a flagship species in encouraging ecotourism initiatives with local landowners. Use as a flagship species in general provincial conservation awareness programmes.

Citation:	BirdLife International 2012. Pitta superba. In: IUCN 2012. IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2012.2. <www.iucnredlist.org>. Downloaded on 21 May 2013.
Disclaimer:	To make use of this information, please check the <Terms of Use>.
Feedback:	If you see any errors or have any questions or suggestions on what is shown on this page, please fill in the feedback form so that we can correct or extend the information provided