Garrulus lidthi

– Vulnerable

Taxonomy

Kingdom:

ANIMALIA

Phylum:

CHORDATA

Class:

AVES

Order:

PASSERIFORMES

Family:

CORVIDAE

Scientific Name:

Garrulus lidthi

Species Authority:

Bonaparte, 1851

Common Name/s:

English

—

AMAMI JAY

Assessment Information

Red List Category & Criteria:

VU C2a(ii) ver 3.1 (2001)

Year Assessed:

2007

Assessor/s:

BirdLife International

Evaluator/s:

Bird, J. & Butchart, S. (BirdLife International Red List Authority)

Justification:

This jay has a small population that is suspected to be declining, possibly as a result of increased levels of predation. It therefore qualifies as Vulnerable.

History:

1988	-	Near-threatened (Collar and Andrew 1988)
1994	-	Vulnerable (Collar, Crosby and Stattersfield 1994)
2000	-	Vulnerable (BirdLife International 2000)
2004	-	Vulnerable (BirdLife International 2004)

Geographic Range

Range Description:	Garrulus lidthi is endemic to the islands of Amami-ooshima and Kakeroma-jima, part of the Nansei Shoto Islands, Japan. It was previously common in the central mountains of Toku-no-shima but is now extinct there. Its population was estimated at c.5,800 birds in the 1970s, and probably declining.
Countries:	Native: Japan

Population

Population Trend:

Habitat and Ecology

Habitat and Ecology:

It occurs from sea-level into the hills, in subtropical evergreen broadleaved forest, coniferous forest, and in woodland around cultivation and human habitation, showing a significant preference for mature forest, where it feeds on Castanopsis cuspidata acorns. Sweet potato, insects and reptiles, including Okinawa pit-viper Trimeresurus flavoviridis, are also included in its diet. It usually forages on the ground amongst leaf-litter. Breeding takes place from late January or early February until May.

System:

Terrestrial

Threats

Threats:

A high proportion of nests are predated by crows and mammals and the Javan mongoose Herpestes javanicus has been reported to prey on young birds. However, it is not known whether this apparently increased predation pressure will have a long-term effect on the population. The numbers of Large-billed Crow Corvus macrorhynchos on Amami-ooshima have recently increased, probably because of increased garbage disposal on the island. The effect of logging on its population is probably relatively small.

Conservation Actions

Conservation Actions:

Conservation measures underway:
It is legally protected in Japan. Yuwangatake on Amami-ooshima was established as a National Wildlife Protection Area, mainly for the conservation of this species and Amami Thrush Zoothera major. Several surveys and ecological studies have been completed.

Conservation measures proposed:
Conserve the remaining areas of mature forest on Amami-ooshima. Provide nest-boxes in areas where there is a shortage of natural nest-holes. Control predators on Amami-ooshima. Survey the central mountains of Tokunoshima, where it was reported in the 1920s. Investigate the potential for reintroduction on Tokunoshima.

Citation:	BirdLife International 2007. Garrulus lidthi. In: IUCN 2007. 2007 IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. <www.iucnredlist.org>. Downloaded on 30 August 2008.
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