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

Taxonomic Notes:

The BirdLife Taxonomic Working Group is aware that phylogenetic analyses have been published which have proposed generic rearrangements which may affect this species, but prefers to wait until work by other taxonomists reveals how these changes affect the entire groups involved.

Assessment Information [top]

Red List Category & Criteria:

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

Year Published:

2012

Assessor/s:

BirdLife International

Reviewer/s:

Butchart, S. & Symes, A.

Contributor/s:

Praveen, J. & Subramanya, S.

Justification:
This species has a small population that is thought to be 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:

2008	–	Vulnerable
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: one in central and southern Rajasthan, Kutch and northern Gujarat in the north-west, and the other in the Eastern Ghats of southern Andhra Pradesh, northern Tamil Nadu and Karnataka in the south. It is a rare species, with a maximum of 165 records pertaining to 250 individuals over the last 150 years (Trivedi 2009). 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 Nagaur (Tiwari 2001). There are recent records from only one site in Karnataka (Lott and Lott 1999), and none in Tamil Nadu (Sumbramanya et al. undated). There are three recent sightings from Arogyavaram, Chittoor district, Andhra Pradesh (Jones 2007), 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 erroneous (J. Praveen in litt. 2007). A recent sighting of the species in Thar Desert of Rajasthan (Dookia 2007) suggests that a population could persist in extensive Acacia plantations along the Indira Gandhi Canal Project.
Countries:	Native: India
Range Map:	Click here to open the map viewer and explore range.

Population [top]

Population:	The population is estimated to number 2,500-9,999 mature individuals, 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. fewer than 10,000. This estimate equates to 3,750-14,999 individuals, rounded here to 3,500-15,000 individuals.
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 species has been observed to feed on the fruits of Capparis decidua, although it is unclear whether this is because of the fruits themselves or the insects that live within them (Joshua et al. 2007). It has elsewhere been observed to take insects, the fruits of Maytenus emarginatus and inflorescences of Butea monosperma (Trivedi 2009). 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 trees (Tiwari 2001). 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 species has been observed to feed on the fruits of Capparis decidua, although it is unclear whether this is because of the fruits themselves or the insects that live within them (Joshua et al. 2007). It has elsewhere been observed to take insects, the fruits of Maytenus emarginatus and inflorescences of Butea monosperma (Trivedi 2009). 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 trees (Tiwari 2001). It breeds during the monsoon (May-August), some populations then dispersing.

Systems:

Terrestrial

Threats [top]

Major Threat(s):	The most serious threats are those driving the loss, degradation and fragmentation of tropical thorn-scrub forest, such as lopping and cutting for fuelwood and illegal charcoal making, clearance for agricultural land and settlement construction, and over-grazing. The species nests in cavities in old trees, many of which are now felled, leading to nesting failure; it often uses old nest holes made by Yellow-crowned Woodpecker Dendrocopos mahrattensis, and the low abundance of this species at some sites may be limiting the population (Trivedi 2009). In Kutch, an estimated 100 Acacia trees per day are felled for the collection of twigs for toothbrush manufacture (Tiwari 2001). 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 shrubs Prosopis glandulosa and P. chilensis is also having deleterious effects on dry thorn-scrub. There is a lack of awareness of these threats among enforcement staff (Trivedi 2009).

Major Threat(s):

The most serious threats are those driving the loss, degradation and fragmentation of tropical thorn-scrub forest, such as lopping and cutting for fuelwood and illegal charcoal making, clearance for agricultural land and settlement construction, and over-grazing. The species nests in cavities in old trees, many of which are now felled, leading to nesting failure; it often uses old nest holes made by Yellow-crowned Woodpecker Dendrocopos mahrattensis, and the low abundance of this species at some sites may be limiting the population (Trivedi 2009). In Kutch, an estimated 100 Acacia trees per day are felled for the collection of twigs for toothbrush manufacture (Tiwari 2001). 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 shrubs Prosopis glandulosa and P. chilensis is also having deleterious effects on dry thorn-scrub. There is a lack of awareness of these threats among enforcement staff (Trivedi 2009).

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 habitat (S. Subramanya in litt. 2007). It may occur at Baludhara Jessore Sloth Bear Sanctuary, Gujarat. Conservation Actions Proposed Monitor sites across the species's 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 the 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 Indira Gandhi 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 habitat (S. Subramanya in litt. 2007). It may occur at Baludhara Jessore Sloth Bear Sanctuary, Gujarat.

Conservation Actions Proposed
Monitor sites across the species's 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 the 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 Indira Gandhi 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. IUCN. 2012. IUCN Red List of Threatened Species (ver. 2012.1). Available at: http://www.iucnredlist.org. (Accessed: 19 June 2012). Jones, S. 2007. Sightings of White-naped Tit Parus nuchalis in Arogyavaram, Chittoor district, Andhra Pradesh. Indian Birds 3(5): 198-199. Joshua, J.; Gokula, V.; Sunderraj, W. 2007. Status of Pied Tit Parus nuchalis in Narayan Sarovar Sanctuary, Gujarat, India. Indian Birds 3(3): 91-93. 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. 2001. Status and distribution of the White-naped Tit Parus nuchalis in Gujarat and Rajasthan. Journal of the Bombay Natural History Society 98(1): 26-30. Trivedi, P. 2009. Observations on the globally threatened Pied Tit Parus nuchalis. Indian Birds 5(1): 7-10.

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.

IUCN. 2012. IUCN Red List of Threatened Species (ver. 2012.1). Available at: http://www.iucnredlist.org. (Accessed: 19 June 2012).

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

Joshua, J.; Gokula, V.; Sunderraj, W. 2007. Status of Pied Tit Parus nuchalis in Narayan Sarovar Sanctuary, Gujarat, India. Indian Birds 3(3): 91-93.

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. 2001. Status and distribution of the White-naped Tit Parus nuchalis in Gujarat and Rajasthan. Journal of the Bombay Natural History Society 98(1): 26-30.

Trivedi, P. 2009. Observations on the globally threatened Pied Tit Parus nuchalis. Indian Birds 5(1): 7-10.

Citation:	BirdLife International 2012. Parus nuchalis. In: IUCN 2012. IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2012.2. <www.iucnredlist.org>. Downloaded on 26 May 2013.
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