Justification This species has been retained as Vulnerable despite undergoing a dramatic decline following the 2004 tsunami. The results of ongoing monitoring will indicate whether the population recovers or declines further owing to increased pressure on littoral forests, and this may lead to a category change in the future.

Family/Sub-family Megapodiidae

Species name author Blyth, 1846

Taxonomic source(s) Sibley and Monroe (1990, 1993)

Identification 43 cm. Large, rufous-brown megapode with short crest. Adult has bare, reddish facial skin, lacking in juvenile. Greenish-brown to red legs and feet. Similar spp. None within range. Possibly confusable, if seen poorly, with mainly terrestrial Nicobar Pigeon Caloenas nicobarica, which has darker, metallic plumage and short, white tail. Philippine Scrubfowl M. cumingii (extralimital) is similar in appearance but darker, and greyer below. Voice Male gives loud territorial calls, rising in pitch and grading into a staccato series. Feeding birds give noisy, cackling contact calls. Hints Partly nocturnal, found solitary or in pairs.

Population estimate

Population trend

Range estimate (breeding/resident)

Country endemic?

1,000-2,499

decreasing

1,600 km²

Yes

Range & population Megapodius nicobariensis is endemic to the Nicobar Islands, India, where it occurs as two races on 13 islands: M. n. abbotti on Great Nicobar, Little Nicobar, Kondul, Menchal, Treis, Meroe, and M. n. nicobariensis on Camorta, Trinkat, Nancowry, Katchall, Teressa, Bompoka and Tillanchong islands³. Historical reports from Little Andaman, India, and the Cocos Islands, Myanmar, lack substantiating evidence. In 1994, there were estimated to be 3,190 breeding pairs, but following the tsunami in December 2004 populations disappeared completely from two islands, Trax and Megapode Island, and the total number of breeding pairs was estimated as 788 in 2006, with the majority on Great Nicobar (405) and Little Nicobar (165)³. Preliminary assessments since 2006 indicate that although a major interruption to breeding occurred in 2005 and 2006, a natural recovery is underway and breeding success has improved⁴.

Important Bird Areas Click here to view map showing IBAs where species is recorded and triggers any of the IBA criteria.

Ecology: It inhabits forests and secondary growth, with greatest concentrations in coastal forests. It incubates its eggs in nest-mounds close to the shore which are built from sand, loam and humus. The species is primarily monogamous, although extra-pair copulations have been observed. In a pair, both the male and female contribute to the mound maintenance. Unpaired mature males build and defend mounds to attract a partner¹. Several pairs often share nest-mounds, with a strong hierarchy apparent during egg-laying. Larger mounds tend to have more stable incubation temperatures and the shortest incubation period (c.72 days). Annual hatching success fluctuates widely (e.g. 87% in 1996 cf. 37% in 1997).

Threats The key threat is loss of coastal forest through conversion to agriculture (coconut, banana and cashew plantations and rice-paddy cultivation), road development projects, which threaten to fragment habitat blocks, particularly on Great Nicobar, and settlement expansion. The devastating tsunami of 26th December 2004 is thought to have affected c. 40% of its breeding habitat², and the aftermath of the tsunami has exacerbated the existing pressures on the species and its habitat, with displaced people raising plantation crops to generate revenue and building houses in littoral forests³. Snaring and shooting for food, and egg-collecting are localised problems but are also likely to have increased in frequency following the 2004 tsunami. Invasive species including cats, dogs and domestic fowl are a potential threat¹. The proposal to develop Great Nicobar as a free-trade port, a potentially major threat, appears unlikely to be realised in the near future².

Conservation measures underway It is listed in Schedule I of the Wildlife Protection Act (1972). It occurs in Campbell Bay and Galathea National Parks on Great Nicobar (a Biosphere Reserve), and three wildlife reserves on uninhabited islands. Designation of most of the Nicobars as tribal areas legally prohibits commercial exploitation of natural resources and settlement or ownership of land by non-tribals. Detailed status surveys and ecological studies are ongoing². Permanent monitoring plots have been established to determine population trends³.

Conservation measures proposed Continue to monitor inland and coastal populations following the 2004 tsunami; with the aim of reassessing the medium-term impacts after 10 years. Monitor the regeneration of littoral forests. Initiate a conservation awareness programme to reduce hunting. Empower indigenous people to follow alternative livelihood options such as fishing, handicrafts etc. Eradicate and manage invasive species. Include coastal forests free from human settlement into the existing Protected Areas networks and strictly implement the Indian Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972. Continue to lobby for expansion of the existing protected areas system to encompass wider tracts of coastal forest on Great Nicobar, the Nancowry island group and Little Nicobar.

References Baker et al. (in press). BirdLife International (2001). 1. K. Sivakumar in litt. (2004). 2. K. Sivakumar in litt. (2005). 3. Sivakumar (2007). 4. R. Sankaran in litt. (2008).

Further web sources of information

Fully detailed species accounts from the Threatened birds of Asia: the BirdLife International Red Data Book (BirdLife International 2001), together with new information collated since the publication of the Red Data Book

Text account compilers Phil Benstead (BirdLife International), Jeremy Bird (BirdLife International), Pete Davidson (BirdLife International), Aidan Keane (World Pheasant Association), Simon Mahood (BirdLife International), Nic Peet (BirdLife International), Joe Tobias (BirdLife International)

Contributors Rene Dekker (Megapode Specialist Group), Ravi Sankaran, Kipusumy Sivakumar (Wildlife Institute of India)

IUCN Red List evaluators Jeremy Bird (BirdLife International), Stuart Butchart (BirdLife International), Rene Dekker (Megapode Specialist Group), Phil McGowan (World Pheasant Association)

Recommended citation BirdLife International (2009) Species factsheet: Megapodius nicobariensis. Downloaded from http://www.birdlife.org on 10/2/2010

This information is based upon, and updates, the information published in BirdLife International (2000) Threatened birds of the world. Barcelona and Cambridge, UK: Lynx Edicions and BirdLife International, BirdLife International (2004) Threatened birds of the world 2004 CD-ROM and BirdLife International (2008) Threatened birds of the world 2008 CD-ROM. These sources provide the information for species accounts for the birds on the IUCN Red List.

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