Dicrurus megarhynchus

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	DICRURIDAE

Scientific Name:

Dicrurus megarhynchus

Species Authority:

(Quoy & Gaimard, 1830)

Common Name/s:

English

–

Ribbon-tailed Drongo

Assessment Information [top]

Red List Category & Criteria:

Near Threatened ver 3.1

Year Published:

2012

Assessor/s:

BirdLife International

Reviewer/s:

Butchart, S. & Symes, A.

Contributor/s:

Beehler, B. & Dutson, G.

Justification:
This species has been uplisted to Near Threatened as it has a moderately small range which is estimated to be declining owing to the impact of logging and clearance for subsistence agriculture, although the range is not yet severely fragmented or restricted to few locations. Should the population be found to be severly fragmented or declining more rapidly, the species would warrant uplisting to a higher threat category.

History:

2009	–	Least Concern
2008	–	Least Concern
2004	–	Least Concern

Geographic Range [top]

Range Description:	Dicrurus megarhynchus is endemic to New Ireland (Papua New Guinea), where it is found in primary lowland forest, hill forest, stunted mossy montane forest and tall secondary growth (del Hoyo et al. 2009, Dutson 2011). It is suggested that >50% of the population occurs in the contiguous tract of montane forest extending down into the lowlands of southern New Ireland (G. Dutson and B. Beehler in litt. 2012).
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 be 'in the hundreds of thousands' (G. Duston in litt. 2012), best placed in the band 100,000-499,999 individuals, based on density estimates and size of remaining suitable habitat.
Population Trend:	Decreasing

Habitat and Ecology [top]

Habitat and Ecology:	It is found in primary lowland forest, hill forest, stunted mossy montane forest and tall secondary growth from sea-level to c.1,800 m (del Hoyo et al. 2009). Fairly shy, but loud and active, often chasing each other, in mid-storey and lower canopy. Usually in pairs (Dutson 2011).
Systems:	Terrestrial

Threats [top]

Major Threat(s):	Logging and clearance of habitat for subsistence agriculture is the primary threat to the species, with c.21% of forest cover having been lost in New Ireland between 1972 and 2002 (Shearman et al. 2009).

Major Threat(s):

Logging and clearance of habitat for subsistence agriculture is the primary threat to the species, with c.21% of forest cover having been lost in New Ireland between 1972 and 2002 (Shearman et al. 2009).

Conservation Actions [top]

Conservation Actions:	Conservation measures underway None is known Conservation measures proposed Continue to monitor trends in forest loss. Conduct surveys to establish estimates of its population size. Research its tolerance of degraded forest. Safeguard the species's habitat.

Conservation Actions:

Conservation measures underway
None is known

Conservation measures proposed
Continue to monitor trends in forest loss. Conduct surveys to establish estimates of its population size. Research its tolerance of degraded forest. Safeguard the species's habitat.

Citation:	BirdLife International 2012. Dicrurus megarhynchus. In: IUCN 2012. IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2012.2. <www.iucnredlist.org>. Downloaded on 20 June 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