What's new (2010)
![]() Chris Kelly
Spoon-billed Sandpiper was uplisted to Critically Endangered in the 2008 IUCN Red List update
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BirdLife International’s 2010 update of the IUCN Red List for birds follows the publication in 2008 of Threatened Birds of the World when all the world’s birds were comprehensively assessed against the IUCN Red List criteria. In 2010 a total of 10,027 species are recognised by BirdLife with the status of 113 species discussed on the Globally Threatened Bird discussion forums on BirdLife's website, resulting in the IUCN Red List category being revised for 37 species. In addition, a number of taxonomic changes were incorporated. The table below gives the totals in each IUCN Red List category since 2000. The relatively small net changes to the totals mask the fact that 226 species moved between categories in 2000-2004, 99 species in 2004-2005, 150 in 2005-2006, 81 in 2006-2007, 147 in 2007-2008, 78 in 2008-2009 and 99 in 2009-2010 (see below). These include category revisions owing to improved knowledge and taxonomic changes, as well as genuine changes in status. Therefore, it is difficult to interpret the changes in absolute totals. Instead, it is better to examine trends in the Red List Index, which shows graphically the net changes to the overall projected extinction risk of the world’s birds from 1988 to 2008.
|
Category |
2004 |
2005 |
2006 |
2007 |
2008 |
2009 |
2010 |
|
Extinct |
129 |
131 |
135 |
135 |
134 |
133 |
132 |
|
Extinct in the Wild |
4 |
4 |
4 |
4 |
4 |
4 |
4 |
|
Critically Endangered |
179 |
179 |
181 (16) |
189 (15) |
190 (15) |
192(15) |
190 (14) |
|
Endangered |
345 |
350 |
351 |
356 |
363 |
362 |
372 |
|
Vulnerable |
689 |
679 |
674 |
672 |
669 |
669 |
678 |
|
Total Threatened |
1,217 |
1,212 |
1,210 |
1,221 |
1,226 |
1,227 |
1,240 |
|
Near Threatened |
773 |
788 |
795 |
812 |
835 |
838 |
838 |
|
Least Concern |
7,720 |
7,697 |
7,720 |
7,715 |
7,729 |
7,735 |
7,751 |
|
Data Deficient |
78 |
78 |
74 |
73 |
66 |
65 |
62 |
|
Total |
9,917 |
9,906 |
9,934 |
9,956 |
9,990 |
9,998 |
10,027 |
Species changing IUCN Red List
The table below lists all 99 species whose IUCN Red List category was revised in May 2010 for the 2010 IUCN Red List. An explanation of the category codes and 'Reason for change' terms follows the table. Of the 99 category changes, 9 resulted from a genuine change in the status of species (1 improvement versus 8 deteriorations), 28 were a result of improved knowledge (of the status of species or the threats impacting them) and 61 resulted from taxonomic revisions (either recently published or recently evaluated/re-evaluated by BirdLife). Full explanations for the taxonomic changes are given in the Taxonomic notes field on the species factsheets, which are available through the Datazone.
|
Common name |
Scientific name |
2009 RL category |
2010 RL category |
Reason for change |
|
Wattled Curassow |
Crax globulosa |
VU |
EN |
Knowledge |
|
Ocellated Quail |
Cyrtonyx ocellatus |
NT |
VU |
Knowledge |
|
Swierstra's Francolin |
Francolinus swierstrai |
VU |
EN |
Knowledge |
|
Japanese Quail |
Coturnix japonica |
LC |
NT |
Knowledge |
|
Elliot's Pheasant |
Syrmaticus ellioti |
VU |
NT |
Knowledge |
|
Hainan Peacock-pheasant |
Polyplectron katsumatae |
NR |
EN |
Taxonomy (newly split) |
|
Andean Teal |
Anas andium |
NR |
LC |
Taxonomy (newly split) |
|
African Penguin |
Spheniscus demersus |
VU |
EN |
Genuine (since first assessment) |
|
Yellow-billed Loon |
Gavia adamsii |
LC |
NT |
Knowledge |
|
Laysan Albatross |
Phoebastria immutabilis |
VU |
NT |
Knowledge |
|
Chatham Albatross |
Thalassarche eremita |
CR |
VU |
Knowledge |
|
White-throated Storm-petrel |
Nesofregetta fuliginosa |
VU |
EN |
Knowledge |
|
Monteiro's Storm-petrel |
Oceanodroma monteiroi |
NR |
VU |
Taxonomy (newly split) |
|
Alaotra Grebe |
Tachybaptus rufolavatus |
CR |
EX |
Knowledge |
|
Tasman Booby |
Sula tasmani |
EX |
NR |
Taxonomy (no longer valid/recognised) |
|
Saker Falcon |
Falco cherrug |
EN |
VU |
Knowledge |
|
Black-eared Kite |
Milvus lineatus |
LC |
NR |
Taxonomy (no longer valid/recognised) |
|
Black-and-chestnut Eagle |
Spizaetus isidori |
NT |
VU |
Knowledge |
|
Ludwig's Bustard |
Neotis ludwigii |
LC |
EN |
Knowledge |
|
Corncrake |
Crex crex |
NT |
LC |
Knowledge |
|
Zapata Rail |
Cyanolimnas cerverai |
EN |
CR |
Genuine (recent) |
|
Tristan Moorhen |
Gallinula comeri |
VU |
NR |
Taxonomy (no longer valid/recognised) |
|
Black Crowned-crane |
Balearica pavonina |
NT |
VU |
Genuine (since first assessment) |
|
Australian Painted Snipe |
Rostratula australis |
NR |
EN |
Taxonomy (newly split) |
|
Madagascar Snipe |
Gallinago macrodactyla |
NT |
VU |
Knowledge |
|
Far Eastern Curlew |
Numenius madagascariensis |
LC |
VU |
Genuine (since first assessment) |
|
Great Knot |
Calidris tenuirostris |
LC |
VU |
Genuine (since first assessment) |
|
Somali Courser |
Cursorius somalensis |
NR |
LC |
Taxonomy (newly split) |
|
Armenian Gull |
Larus armenicus |
LC |
NR |
Taxonomy (no longer valid/recognised) |
|
Yellow-eared Parrot |
Ognorhynchus icterotis |
CR |
EN |
Genuine (since first assessment) |
|
Torotoroka Scops-owl |
Otus madagascariensis |
LC |
NR |
Taxonomy (no longer valid/recognised) |
|
Solomon Islands Frogmouth |
Rigidipenna inexpectata |
NR |
LC |
Taxonomy (newly split) |
|
Mees's Nightjar |
Caprimulgus meesi |
NR |
LC |
Taxonomy (newly split) |
|
Chimney Swift |
Chaetura pelagica |
LC |
NT |
Genuine (since first assessment) |
|
White-tailed Trogon |
Trogon chionurus |
NR |
LC |
Taxonomy (newly split) |
|
Gartered Trogon |
Trogon caligatus |
NR |
LC |
Taxonomy (newly split) |
|
Ecuadorian Trogon |
Trogon mesurus |
NR |
LC |
Taxonomy (newly split) |
|
Kofiau Paradise-kingfisher |
Tanysiptera ellioti |
DD |
EN |
Knowledge |
|
Sao Tome Kingfisher |
Alcedo thomensis |
LC |
NR |
Taxonomy (no longer valid/recognised) |
|
Principe Kingfisher |
Alcedo nais |
LC |
NR |
Taxonomy (no longer valid/recognised) |
|
Southern Ground-hornbill |
Bucorvus cafer |
LC |
VU |
Knowledge |
|
Ochraceous Piculet |
Picumnus limae |
VU |
LC |
Knowledge |
|
Great Slaty Woodpecker |
Mulleripicus pulverulentus |
LC |
VU |
Knowledge |
|
Black-headed Pitta |
Pitta ussheri |
NR |
NT |
Taxonomy (newly split) |
|
Yungas Tyrannulet |
Phyllomyias weedeni |
NR |
VU |
Taxonomy (newly described) |
|
Choco Tyrannulet |
Zimmerius albigularis |
NR |
LC |
Taxonomy (newly split) |
|
Brownish-headed Antbird |
Schistocichla brunneiceps |
NR |
LC |
Taxonomy (newly split) |
|
Humaita Antbird |
Schistocichla humaythae |
NR |
LC |
Taxonomy (newly split) |
|
Rufous-faced Antbird |
Schistocichla rufifacies |
NR |
LC |
Taxonomy (newly split) |
|
Patagonian Forest Earthcreeper |
Upucerthia saturatior |
NR |
LC |
Taxonomy (newly split) |
|
Chestnut-winged Cinclodes |
Cinclodes albidiventris |
NR |
LC |
Taxonomy (newly split) |
|
Cream-winged Cinclodes |
Cinclodes albiventris |
NR |
LC |
Taxonomy (newly split) |
|
White-bellied Cinclodes |
Cinclodes palliatus |
EN |
CR |
Knowledge |
|
Carpentarian Grasswren |
Amytornis dorotheae |
NT |
VU |
Knowledge |
|
Black-fronted Bush-shrike |
Telophorus nigrifrons |
NR |
LC |
Taxonomy (newly split) |
|
Mayotte Drongo |
Dicrurus waldenii |
EN |
VU |
Knowledge |
|
Black-backed Monarch |
Monarcha julianae |
DD |
VU |
Knowledge |
|
Somali Crow |
Corvus edithae |
NR |
LC |
Taxonomy (newly split) |
|
Black-bibbed Tit |
Parus hypermelaenus |
NR |
LC |
Taxonomy (newly split) |
|
Black-crested Tit |
Parus melanolophus |
LC |
NR |
Taxonomy (no longer valid/recognised) |
|
Turkestan Tit |
Parus bokharensis |
LC |
NR |
Taxonomy (no longer valid/recognised) |
|
Yellow-breasted Tit |
Parus flavipectus |
LC |
NR |
Taxonomy (no longer valid/recognised) |
|
Black-headed Penduline-tit |
Remiz macronyx |
NR |
LC |
Taxonomy (newly split) |
|
Striated Swallow |
Hirundo striolata |
LC |
NR |
Taxonomy (no longer valid/recognised) |
|
Agulhas Long-billed Lark |
Certhilauda brevirostris |
NT |
NR |
Taxonomy (no longer valid/recognised) |
|
Benguela Long-billed Lark |
Certhilauda benguelensis |
LC |
NR |
Taxonomy (no longer valid/recognised) |
|
Grey-headed Bulbul |
Pycnonotus priocephalus |
LC |
NT |
Knowledge |
|
Bare-faced Bulbul |
Pycnonotus hualon |
NR |
LC |
Taxonomy (newly described) |
|
Hume's Bush-warbler |
Cettia brunnescens |
NR |
LC |
Taxonomy (newly split) |
|
Rusty-faced Babbler |
Robsonius rabori |
NT |
VU |
Taxonomy (newly split) |
|
Grey-banded Babbler |
Robsonius sorsogonensis |
NR |
VU |
Taxonomy (newly split) |
|
Sooty Babbler |
Stachyris herberti |
NT |
LC |
Knowledge |
|
Nonggang Babbler |
Stachyris nonggangensis |
NR |
NT |
Taxonomy (newly described) |
|
Togian White-eye |
Zosterops somadikartai |
NR |
NT |
Taxonomy (newly described) |
|
Corsican Nuthatch |
Sitta whiteheadi |
LC |
VU |
Knowledge |
|
Black-winged Starling |
Sturnus melanopterus |
EN |
CR |
Genuine (since first assessment) |
|
Ecuadorian Thrush |
Turdus maculirostris |
NR |
LC |
Taxonomy (newly split) |
|
White-bellied Blue Robin |
Myiomela albiventris |
NR |
EN |
Taxonomy (newly split) |
|
Nilgiri Blue Robin |
Myiomela major |
VU |
EN |
Taxonomy (newly split) |
|
Taiga Flycatcher |
Ficedula albicilla |
NR |
LC |
Taxonomy (newly split) |
|
Large Blue-flycatcher |
Cyornis magnirostris |
NR |
LC |
Taxonomy (newly split) |
|
Olive-bellied Double-collared Sunbird |
Nectarinia fuelleborni |
NR |
LC |
Taxonomy (newly split) |
|
Kenya Rufous-sparrow |
Passer rufocinctus |
NR |
LC |
Taxonomy (newly split) |
|
Socotra Sparrow |
Passer insularis |
NR |
LC |
Taxonomy (newly split) |
|
Abd 'Al Kuri Sparrow |
Passer hemileucus |
NR |
VU |
Taxonomy (newly split) |
|
Shelley's Rufous-sparrow |
Passer shelleyi |
NR |
LC |
Taxonomy (newly split) |
|
Kordofan Rufous-sparrow |
Passer cordofanicus |
NR |
LC |
Taxonomy (newly split) |
|
Red-billed Quailfinch |
Ortygospiza gabonensis |
LC |
NR |
Taxonomy (no longer valid/recognised) |
|
Cameroon Indigobird |
Vidua camerunensis |
NR |
LC |
Taxonomy (newly split) |
|
Quailfinch Indigobird |
Vidua nigeriae |
NR |
LC |
Taxonomy (newly split) |
|
Yellow-crowned Canary |
Serinus flavivertex |
NR |
LC |
Taxonomy (newly split) |
|
Scottish Crossbill |
Loxia scotica |
DD |
LC |
Knowledge |
|
Azores Bullfinch |
Pyrrhula murina |
CR |
EN |
Knowledge |
|
Baudo Oropendola |
Psarocolius cassini |
VU |
EN |
Mistake |
|
Rufous-backed Bunting |
Emberiza jankowskii |
VU |
EN |
Genuine (since first assessment) |
|
Wilkins's Bunting |
Nesospiza wilkinsi |
NR |
EN |
Taxonomy (newly split) |
|
Nightingale Bunting |
Nesospiza questi |
NR |
VU |
Taxonomy (newly split) |
|
Grey-throated Warbling-finch |
Poospiza cabanisi |
NR |
LC |
Taxonomy (newly split) |
|
Entre Rios Seedeater |
Sporophila zelichi |
CR |
NR |
Taxonomy (no longer valid/recognised) |
IUCN Red List categories
Reason for change
This is a code assigned by BirdLife whenever a species's IUCN Red List Category is changed. The codes are:
Genuine (recent)
The change in category is the result of a genuine status change that has taken place since the last complete assessment. For example, the change is due to an increase in the rate of decline, a decrease in population or range size or habitat, or declines in these for the first time (owing to increasing/new threats) and therefore new thresholds are met relating to the IUCN Red List criteria.
Genuine (since first assessment)
The change in category is the result of a genuine status change that took place prior to the last complete assessment, but since the first complete assessment (1988) and that has only just been detected owing to new information/ documentation. If this new information had been available earlier, the new category would have been assigned during the previous assessment(s).
Criteria revision
The change in category is the result of the revision of the IUCN Red List Criteria (currently 1994 v. 2001 versions). These largely relate to criteria A2, A3, A4, D2 and the removal of the 'Conservation Dependent' category.
Knowledge
The change in category is the result of better knowledge, e.g. owing to new or newly synthesised information or better understanding of application of the IUCN Red List criteria.
Taxonomy
The new category is different from the previous one (which may be 'Not Recognised') owing to a taxonomic change adopted during the period since the previous assessment. Such changes include: newly split (the taxon is newly elevated to species level), newly described (the taxon is newly described as a species), newly lumped (the taxon is newly lumped with another species) and no longer valid/recognised (either the taxon is no longer valid e.g. because it is now considered to be a hybrid or variant, form or subspecies of another species, or the previously recognised taxon differs from a currently recognised one as a result of a split or lump).
Mistake
The previous category was applied in error (excluding those cases covered under Knowledge).
Other
The change in category is the result of other reasons not easily covered by the above, and/or requires further explanation.
Related Links
- 2010 Red List category changes (.xls, 27 KB)
- 2009 Red List category changes (.xls, 55 KB)
- 2008 Red List category changes (.xls, 55 KB)
- 2007 Red List category changes (.xls, 57 KB)
- 2006 Red List category changes (.xls, 29 KB)
- 2005 Red List category changes (.xls, 33 KB)
- 2000-2004 Red List category changes (Word doc, 254 KB)

