Recently recategorised species
![]() Chris Kelly
Spoon-billed Sandpiper was uplisted to Critically Endangered in the 2008 IUCN Red List update
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BirdLife International’s 2011 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 2011, a total of 10,052 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 41 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, 99 in 2009-2010 and 67 in 2010-2011 (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 |
2011 |
|
Extinct |
129 |
131 |
135 |
135 |
134 |
133 |
132 |
132 |
|
Extinct in the Wild |
4 |
4 |
4 |
4 |
4 |
4 |
4 |
4 |
|
Critically Endangered |
179 |
179 |
181 (16) |
189 (15) |
190 (15) |
192(15) |
190 (14) |
189 (14) |
|
Endangered |
345 |
350 |
351 |
356 |
363 |
362 |
372 |
381 |
|
Vulnerable |
689 |
679 |
674 |
672 |
669 |
669 |
678 |
683 |
|
Total Threatened |
1,217 |
1,212 |
1,210 |
1,221 |
1,226 |
1,227 |
1,240 |
1,253 |
|
Near Threatened |
773 |
788 |
795 |
812 |
835 |
838 |
838 |
843 |
|
Least Concern |
7,720 |
7,697 |
7,720 |
7,715 |
7,729 |
7,735 |
7,751 |
7,758 |
|
Data Deficient |
78 |
78 |
74 |
73 |
66 |
65 |
62 |
62 |
|
Total |
9,917 |
9,906 |
9,934 |
9,956 |
9,990 |
9,998 |
10,027 |
10,052 |
Species changing IUCN Red List status
The table below lists all 67 species whose IUCN Red List category was revised in June 2011 for the 2011 IUCN Red List. An explanation of the category codes and 'Reason for change' terms follows the table. Of the 67 category changes, 7 resulted from a genuine change in the status of species (6 improvements versus 1 deteriorations), 34 were a result of improved knowledge (of the status of species or the threats impacting them) and 26 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 |
2010 RL |
2011 RL |
Reason for change |
|
Sula Megapode |
Megapodius bernsteinii
|
NT
|
VU |
Knowledge |
|
Colombian Chachalaca |
Ortalis columbiana |
NR |
LC |
Taxonomy (newly split) |
|
Siamese Fireback |
Lophura diardi |
NT |
LC |
Knowledge |
|
Eastern Spot-billed Duck |
Anas zonorhyncha |
NR |
LC |
Taxonomy (newly split) |
|
Campbell Islands Teal |
Anas nesiotis |
CR |
EN |
Genuine (since first assessment) |
|
Baikal Teal |
Anas formosa |
VU |
LC |
Knowledge |
|
Collared Petrel |
Pterodroma brevipes |
NT |
VU |
Knowledge |
|
Flightless Cormorant |
Phalacrocorax harrisi |
EN |
VU |
Knowledge |
|
Lesser Kestrel |
Falco naumanni |
VU |
LC |
Knowledge |
|
Secretarybird |
Sagittarius serpentarius |
LC |
VU |
Knowledge |
|
Hooded Vulture |
Necrosyrtes monachus |
LC |
EN |
Knowledge |
|
Socotra Buzzard |
Buteo socotraensis |
NR |
VU |
Taxonomy (newly split) |
|
Great Indian Bustard |
Ardeotis nigriceps |
EN |
CR |
Genuine (since first assessment) |
|
Noble Snipe |
Gallinago nobilis |
LC |
NT |
Knowledge |
|
Madeira Laurel Pigeon |
Columba trocaz |
NT |
LC |
Genuine (since first assessment) |
|
Dark-tailed Laurel Pigeon |
Columba bollii |
NT |
LC |
Genuine (since first assessment) |
|
White-tailed Laurel Pigeon |
Columba junoniae |
EN |
NT |
Genuine (since first assessment) |
|
Sao Tome Green-pigeon |
Treron sanctithomae |
LC |
VU |
Knowledge |
|
Pohnpei Lorikeet |
Trichoglossus rubiginosus |
LC |
NT |
Knowledge |
|
Derbyan Parakeet |
Psittacula derbiana |
LC |
NT |
Knowledge |
|
Maroon-fronted Parrot |
Rhynchopsitta terrisi |
VU |
EN |
Knowledge |
|
Tucuman Amazon |
Amazona tucumana |
NT |
VU |
Knowledge |
|
Rufous Fishing-owl |
Scotopelia ussheri |
EN |
VU |
Knowledge |
|
Solomon Islands Frogmouth |
Rigidipenna inexpectata |
LC |
NT |
Knowledge |
|
Mexican Whip-poor-will |
Caprimulgus arizonae |
NR |
LC |
Taxonomy (newly split) |
|
Puerto Rican Nightjar |
Caprimulgus noctitherus |
CR |
EN |
Knowledge |
|
Tapajos Hermit |
Phaethornis aethopyga |
NR |
NT |
Taxonomy (newly split) |
|
Honduran Emerald |
Amazilia luciae |
CR |
EN |
Knowledge |
|
Black-backed Thornbill |
Ramphomicron dorsale |
LC |
EN |
Knowledge |
|
Amazonian Trogon |
Trogon ramonianus |
NR |
LC |
Taxonomy (newly split) |
|
Blue-moustached Bee-eater |
Merops mentalis |
NR |
LC |
Taxonomy (newly split) |
|
Kaempfer's Woodpecker |
Celeus obrieni |
CR |
EN |
Knowledge |
|
Malayan Banded Pitta |
Pitta irena |
NR |
NT |
Taxonomy (newly split) |
|
Bornean Banded Pitta |
Pitta schwaneri |
NR |
LC |
Taxonomy (newly split) |
|
Foothill Elaenia |
Myiopagis olallai |
NT |
VU |
Knowledge |
|
Grey-backed Tachuri |
Polystictus superciliaris |
NT |
LC |
Knowledge |
|
Ticking Doradito |
Pseudocolopteryx citreola |
NR |
LC |
Taxonomy (newly split) |
|
Caatinga Antwren |
Herpsilochmus sellowi |
NT |
LC |
Knowledge |
|
Sincora Antwren |
Formicivora grantsaui |
NR |
NT |
Taxonomy (newly described) |
|
Antioquia Antpitta |
Grallaria fenwickorum |
NR |
CR |
Taxonomy (newly described) |
|
Diamantina Tapaculo |
Scytalopus diamantinensis |
NR |
NT |
Taxonomy (newly described) |
|
Paramillo Tapaculo |
Scytalopus canus |
NR |
EN |
Taxonomy (newly split) |
|
Paramo Tapaculo |
Scytalopus opaca |
NR |
LC |
Taxonomy (newly split) |
|
Elusive Antpitta |
Grallaria eludens |
NT |
LC |
Knowledge |
|
Cundinamarca Antpitta |
Grallaria kaestneri |
VU |
EN |
Knowledge |
|
Cipo Canastero |
Asthenes luizae |
VU |
NT |
Knowledge |
|
Hudson's Canastero |
Asthenes hudsoni |
LC |
NT |
Knowledge |
|
Rio Orinoco Spinetail |
Synallaxis beverlyae |
NR |
NT |
Taxonomy (newly described) |
|
Santa Marta Foliage-gleaner |
Automolus rufipectus |
NR |
NT |
Taxonomy (newly split) |
|
Tablas Drongo |
Dicrurus menagei |
NR |
EN |
Taxonomy (newly split) |
|
Kauai Elepaio |
Chasiempis sclateri |
NR |
VU |
Taxonomy (newly split) |
|
Oahu Elepaio |
Chasiempis ibidis |
NR |
EN |
Taxonomy (newly split) |
|
Samoan Flycatcher |
Myiagra albiventris |
VU |
NT |
Genuine (since first assessment) |
|
White-throated Wren-babbler |
Rimator pasquieri |
LC |
EN |
Knowledge |
|
Pale-throated Wren-babbler |
Spelaeornis kinneari |
LC |
VU |
Knowledge |
|
Santa Marta Wren |
Troglodytes monticola |
VU |
CR |
Knowledge |
|
Malaysian Whistling-thrush |
Myophonus robinsoni |
LC |
NT |
Knowledge |
|
Principe Thrush |
Turdus xanthorhynchus |
NR |
CR |
Taxonomy (newly split) |
|
Fuerteventura Stonechat |
Saxicola dacotiae |
EN |
NT |
Knowledge |
| Nilgiri Pipit |
Anthus nilghiriensis |
NT |
VU |
Knowledge |
|
Belding's Yellowthroat |
Geothlypis beldingi |
CR |
EN |
Knowledge |
|
Variable Oriole |
Icterus pyrrhopterus |
NR |
LC |
Taxonomy (newly split) |
|
Bahama Oriole |
Icterus northropi |
NR |
CR |
Taxonomy (newly split) |
|
Cuban Oriole |
Icterus melanopsis |
NR |
LC |
Taxonomy (newly split) |
|
Puerto Rican Oriole |
Icterus portoricensis |
NR |
LC |
Taxonomy (newly split) |
|
Pale-headed Brush-finch |
Atlapetes pallidiceps |
CR |
EN |
Genuine (since first assessment) |
|
Masked Cardinal |
Paroaria nigrogenis |
NR |
LC |
Taxonomy (newly split) |
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
- 2011 Red List category changes (.xls, 32 KB)
- 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)

