Justification This beautiful species has a moderately small range in which it is locally quite common, however it may decline moderately rapidly in the future if trade levels are allowed to increase. It therefore qualifies as Near Threatened.

Family/Sub-family Psittacidae

Species name author Tristram, 1879

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

Identification

Population estimate

Population trend

Range estimate (breeding/resident)

Country endemic?

unknown

decreasing

-

No

Range & population Charmosyna margarethae is endemic to Bougainville in Papua New Guinea and six islands in the Solomon Islands. It is a scarce and localised species which appears to be absent from large areas of potentially suitable habitat^1,4,9. It is most common on Makira (= San Cristobal) where up to 70 have been seen in a day, perhaps owing to the absence of Meek's Lorikeet C. meeki from this island^1,2,4,6; the overall population is believed to be small.

Ecology: It is usually found in lower montane forest, it occurs from sea-level to 1,350 m and in coconut plantations^1,2,3,4,7. It may be nomadic and reliant on a combination of habitats at different altitudes. It feeds on pollen, nectar and some small fruits such as Schefflera.

Threats Much of the lowland forest in its range has been or is scheduled to be logged, but this species is probably safe at higher altitudes. There is one licensed export quota for 60 birds, the proceeds to be used to fund conservation programmes⁸; however, this species could be threatened by any large-scale trade⁵. In 2002, 200 birds were imported to Singapore with CITES permits¹⁰.

Conservation measures underway CITES Appendix II.

Conservation measures proposed Monitor populations on all the islands where the species occurs. Ensure the protection of significant areas of forest to provide suitable trees for nesting. Continue to control trade.

References 1. Buckingham et al. (1995). 2. Cain and Galbraith (1956). 3. Diamond (1975b). 4. G. Dutson pers. obs. (1997-1998). 5. T. Leary in litt. (2000). 6. G. Richards in litt. (1999). 7. Schodde (1977). 8. J. R. van Oosten in litt. (1999). 9. Webb (1992). 10. UNEP-WCMC CITES Trade Database, January 2005.

Text account compilers Phil Benstead (BirdLife International), Guy Dutson (Birds Australia), Simon Mahood (BirdLife International), Andrew O'Brien (BirdLife International), Mark O'Brien (Royal Society for the Protection of Birds), Alison Stattersfield (BirdLife International)

Contributors Guy Dutson (Birds Australia), T. Leary, G. Richards, J. R. van Oosten

IUCN Red List evaluators Stuart Butchart (BirdLife International), Simon Mahood (BirdLife International)

Recommended citation BirdLife International (2009) Species factsheet: Charmosyna margarethae. 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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