Gracula ptilogenys

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	STURNIDAE

Scientific Name:

Gracula ptilogenys

Species Authority:

Blyth, 1846

Common Name/s:

English

–

Ceylon Myna, Sri Lanka Hill Myna, Sri Lanka Myna

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:

Justification:
This species has a moderately small global range, and is likely to be declining as a result of habitat loss. It is able to persist in some degraded habitats, suggesting that it may not be at imminent risk, but the situation requires careful monitoring. It is currently considered Near Threatened.

History:

2008	–	Near Threatened
2004	–	Near Threatened

Geographic Range [top]

Range Description:	Gracula ptilogenys is endemic to the wet zone of Sri Lanka, where it is common to very common in lowlands and hills wherever forest persists.
Countries:	Native: Sri Lanka
Range Map:	Click here to open the map viewer and explore range.

Population [top]

Population:	The population size of this species has not been quantified, but it is described as uncommon and local.
Population Trend:	Decreasing

Habitat and Ecology [top]

Habitat and Ecology:	This species prefers natural forest and well-wooded country, although it also visits gardens and plantations if forest is nearby. It appears to be relatively tolerant of habitat degradation.
Systems:	Terrestrial

Threats [top]

Major Threat(s):	Forest on Sri Lanka has suffered rapid degradation and fragmentation in the past decades through excessive gathering of fuelwood, clearance for permanent agriculture, shifting cultivation, fire, urbanisation and logging. Closed-canopy forest is estimated to have declined from 29,000 km²(44% of the island's area) in 1956 to 12,260 km²in 1983. It is feared that this loss will continue.

Major Threat(s):

Forest on Sri Lanka has suffered rapid degradation and fragmentation in the past decades through excessive gathering of fuelwood, clearance for permanent agriculture, shifting cultivation, fire, urbanisation and logging. Closed-canopy forest is estimated to have declined from 29,000 km²(44% of the island's area) in 1956 to 12,260 km²in 1983. It is feared that this loss will continue.

Conservation Actions [top]

Conservation Actions:	Conservation Actions Underway Conservation Actions Proposed Conduct repeated surveys within the range to determine population trends and rates of habitat loss. Conduct ecological studies to improve understanding of its precise habitat requirements, particularly tolerance of secondary habitats and response to fragmentation. Grant protected status to areas of forest occupied by the species.

Conservation Actions:

Conservation Actions Underway

Conservation Actions Proposed
Conduct repeated surveys within the range to determine population trends and rates of habitat loss. Conduct ecological studies to improve understanding of its precise habitat requirements, particularly tolerance of secondary habitats and response to fragmentation. Grant protected status to areas of forest occupied by the species.

Citation:	BirdLife International 2012. Gracula ptilogenys. In: IUCN 2012. IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2012.2. <www.iucnredlist.org>. Downloaded on 20 May 2013.
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