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Sitta formosa
– Vulnerable
Taxonomy
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Kingdom:
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ANIMALIA
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Phylum:
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CHORDATA
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Class:
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AVES
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Order:
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PASSERIFORMES
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Family:
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SITTIDAE
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Scientific Name:
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Sitta formosa
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Species Authority:
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Blyth, 1843
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Common Name/s:
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| English | — | BEAUTIFUL NUTHATCH |
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Assessment Information
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Red List Category & Criteria:
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VU C2a(i) ver 3.1 (2001)
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Year Assessed:
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2004
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Assessor/s:
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BirdLife International
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Evaluator/s:
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Tobias, J., Crosby, M., Peet, N., Collar, N. & Benstead, P. (BirdLife International Red List Authority)
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Justification:
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This nuthatch has a small, declining, severely fragmented population as a result of loss, degradation and fragmentation of evergreen and semi-evergreen forest. It therefore qualifies as Vulnerable.
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History:
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| 1988 | - | Threatened (Collar and Andrew 1988) |
| 1994 | - | Vulnerable (Collar, Crosby and Stattersfield 1994) |
| 2000 | - | Vulnerable (BirdLife International 2000) |
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Geographic Range
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Range Description:
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Sitta formosa has a broad range encompassing Bhutan, north-east India, west, north and east Myanmar, south-east Yunnan, China, East1 and West Tonkin, north Vietnam, and north and central Laos, with a few records from extreme north-west Thailand. It is rare and very locally distributed throughout this range. Recent records suggest that Bhutan, Arunachal Pradesh in India, north Myanmar and Laos support the most important populations.
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Range Map:
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 (click for detailed map)
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Countries:
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Native:
Bhutan; China; India; Lao People's Democratic Republic; Myanmar; Thailand; Viet Nam
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Population
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Population Trend:
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Habitat and Ecology
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Habitat and Ecology:
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It occurs in mature broadleaved forests, although it has been reported from open country with scattered trees in Myanmar. It frequents the middle and upper canopies of large trees draped in mosses, lichens, orchids and other epiphytes. In central Laos it appears to be associated with Fokienia trees. It is essentially resident, but occurs from 1,500-2,400 m in the breeding season, descending at other times, generally not below 600 m, although it has been recorded as low as 300 m in the eastern Himalayas.
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System:
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Terrestrial
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Threats
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Threats:
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The main threat is forest loss, degradation and fragmentation, predominantly as a result of shifting cultivation, but more locally large-scale timber extraction (e.g. logging of the valuable Fokienia hodginsii in central Laos and north Vietnam), and overgrazing, burning and wood cutting (north-east India). High hunting pressure in parts of its range is unlikely to be more than a minor threat.
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Conservation Actions
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Conservation Actions:
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Conservation measures underway:
Populations are known to occur in several protected areas, including Thrumshing La National Park (Bhutan), Namdapha National Park and Buxa Tiger Reserve (India), Nakai-Nam Theun, Nam Xam and Phou Louay National Biodiversity Conservation Areas (Laos), and also Huanglianshan Nature Reserve (China).
Conservation measures proposed:
Conduct further surveys for the species in current "gaps" within its broad range to clarify its current distribution and population status. Identify sites supporting key populations of this and other threatened montane species, and make recommendations for their establishment as protected areas, proposing linkage to existing reserves where possible. Campaign against further large-scale montane timber extraction within its range. Promote widespread conservation awareness initiatives in hill and mountain communities aimed at reducing habitat loss and fragmentation resulting from shifting agriculture.
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