Justification This species has a very small population, fragmented into extremely small subpopulations, on tiny wooded islets. Its extinction from several islands indicates an overall decline, which is likely to continue owing to predation by rats and cats, habitat loss and deterioration, and natural disasters such as hurricanes and severe storms. For these reasons it qualifies as Critically Endangered.

Family/Sub-family Columbidae

Species name author (Gmelin, 1789)

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

Identification 25 cm. Medium-sized, short-tailed, ground-dwelling dove. Male of nominate erythroptera mostly dark grey, with white throat, chest, forehead, and eyebrow. Reddish-purple upper back, scapulars and shoulders. Female dark grey with paler grey head, off-white forehead, eyebrow and face and rufous chest with paler feather edges. Male of race pectoralis has entirely white head and neck. Voice Low moan.

Population estimate

Population trend

Range estimate (breeding/resident)

Country endemic?

100 - 200

decreasing

4 km²

Yes

Range & population Gallicolumba erythroptera formerly occurred in the Society Islands and throughout the Tuamotu Archipelago, French Polynesia. There are also fossil records from the Southern Cook Islands⁶. Race erythroptera is known from Tahiti and Moorea in the Society Islands (now extinct) and from the southern Acteon Group in the Tuamotus, while race pectoralis is known from the central and northern Tuamotus (possibly extinct)³. Recent records include Matureivavao (not numerous in 1968, apparently surviving in 1987 according to local people, but not found in 1999)^1,2 and two forested islets in Rangiroa Atoll (12-20 birds in 1990-1991, perhaps a separate subspecies or colour morph of pectoralis⁴). In 2005, a rat eradication was conducted on one of Rangiroa's motus (small islands) and follow-up surveys in 2006 found 9 doves in the atoll, including one male on the rat-free island^8,11. In 2007, another eradication took place on Rangiroa and an additional eradication was planned for another motu in 2008; it is hoped that the species's population occurring on these small islands will begin to expand^10,11. In 1999, a small population (minimum of 16-30 birds) was found on Tenararo, but it was not seen on a further seven islands^1,2. A 2003 expedition to remote islands in the Tuamotu archipelago discovered a new population of the species on Morane, doubling the known global population to around 100-120 birds^7,11. In 2007, three birds were seen on Vahanga (nearest island from Tenararo) but no nests were discovered¹⁰.

Ecology: It favours primary forest of Pandanus tectorius and Pisonia grandis on atolls with herbs, shrubs and ferns or dense shrubs^1,2. It has a varied diet, including caterpillars and other insects, seeds, green leaves, buds and fruit^1,2. Most recently, it was present in dense shrubs under coconut trees (planted in 1977 and never managed or harvested)¹.

Threats It was formerly caught by local people for food but it is more likely that the introduction of cats and rats, particularly black rat Rattus rattus, are the real reasons for its decline^3,10,11,12. Habitat loss is also likely to have been a factor as the largest atolls with the richest vegetation have been cleared for coconut plantations⁴.

Conservation measures underway Expeditions in June and October 1999 surveyed eight islands of Matureivavao and Tenararo. Follow-up work, including further surveys, rat eradication and captive breeding, took place in 2001. Since then, a successful rat eradication was completed on one island of Rangiroa atoll and now others are proposed with planning by the Société d'Ornthologie de Polynésie "Manu". As part of the BirdLife Preventing Extinctions programme Manu are currently¹⁴: working to eradicate rats from a further four motu in the Rangiroa Atoll, enabling the ground-dove to re-colonise from neighbouring islets; revising and updating the Species Action Plan; raising awareness through education and signage and providing support for land owners to manage tourist visits in order to prevent rat re-establishment on the rat-free islets of Rangiroa; supporting and advocating the development of protected areas for Rangiroa, Morane and Tenararo; planning fieldwork to colour-ring the population and undertake enhanced monitoring to assess productivity and adult survival (the Rangiroa population will be monitored annually, whilst the populations on Morane and Tenararo will be visited when transport is available) and continuing genetic studies on all three populations; and raising awareness through educational activities and working to develop a Site Support Group (SSG). Only a single bird remains in captivity in Tahiti. There is a proposed recovery programme for Vahanga including the eradication of Rattus exulans¹⁵.

Conservation measures proposed Conduct further surveys in the central Tuamotus and Acteon group, including showing pictures to local people^1,2,5. Study the remaining wild population on Tenararo, e.g. feeding and breeding behaviour^1,2. Protect Tenararo from the introduction of predators (especially R. rattus) and human disturbance^1,2. Identify suitable islands in the Acteon group for translocation, either rat- and cat-free or where eradication is possible, and support similar initiatives in Rangiroa atoll^1,2,5.

References 1. C. Blanvillain in litt. (1999). 2. Blanvillain et al. (2002). 3. Holyoak and Thibault (1984). 4. Monnet et al. (1993a). 5. SPREP (1999). 6. Steadman (1989). 7. Pierce et al. (2003). 8. Raust et al. (2006). 9. Salducci et al. (2003). 10. Gouni et al. (2007). 11. Gouni et al. (2005). 12. Gouni et al. (2004). 13. Gouni and Zysman (2007). 14. BirdLife International (2008). 15. Pierce et al. (2006).

Further web sources of information

Alliance for Zero Extinction (AZE) species/site profile. This species has been identified as an AZE trigger due to its IUCN Red List status and limited range.

Species Guardian Action Update November 2008

Text account compilers Jeremy Bird (BirdLife International), Stuart Butchart (BirdLife International), Matt Harding (BirdLife International), Andrew O'Brien (BirdLife International), Tim O'Brien, Sue Shutes (BirdLife International), Alison Stattersfield (BirdLife International), Andy Symes (BirdLife International)

Contributors C. Blanvillain, Anne Gouni (Société d'Ornithologie de Polynésie "Manu"), Philippe Raust (Société d'Ornithologie de Polynésie "Manu")

IUCN Red List evaluators Jeremy Bird (BirdLife International), Stuart Butchart (BirdLife International), Andy Symes (BirdLife International)

Recommended citation BirdLife International (2009) Species factsheet: Gallicolumba erythroptera. 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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