Justification This little-known megapode is classified as Vulnerable owing to its small population which continues to decline from a variety of possible threats. However, further research may show that the habitat is severely fragmented and hence that the species qualifies as Endangered, or that trends are stable and hence that it should be downlisted to Near Threatened.

Family/Sub-family Megapodiidae

Species name author Meyer, 1874

Taxonomic source(s) Jones et al. (1995)

Taxonomic note Megapodius freycinet (Sibley and Monroe 1990, 1993) has been split into M. freycinet and M. geelvinkianus following Jones et al. (1995).

Identification 36 cm. Medium-sized, all-brown megapode. Plumage largely dark grey with slight crest. Reddish or bluish face. Red or dark grey legs. Similar spp. No other gamebirds occur on these islands. Differs from rails such as Rufous-tailed Bush-hen Amaurornis moluccanus by crest, short bill and leg colour. Voice Various crowing and clucking calls. Hints Commonly heard and seen in Biak Utara Reserve.

Population estimate

Population trend

Range estimate (breeding/resident)

Country endemic?

2,500-9,999

decreasing

3,000 km²

Yes

Range & population Megapodius geelvinkianus is endemic to Biak-Supiori in Papua (formerly Irian Jaya), Indonesia, and its satellite islands, Mios Korwar, Numfor, Manim and Mios Num⁹. It is not clear whether one specimen, apparently from Manokwari on mainland Papua, represents a straggler from a nearby island or a mislabelled specimen⁹. Its population size is unknown, but is believed to be small and declining. It was formerly common on Biak¹⁰ and it was heard regularly during the course of field visits to Biak between 1983 and 1997¹², but only "small numbers" were seen during the 1990s on Owi (a satellite of Biak) and Supiori⁷. It was recorded daily in and around Biak-Utara Reserve in 1997¹. Overall, the population is thought to be in decline owing to a number of pressures on habitat within its range.

Ecology: It is apparently shy and wary but has been recorded in forest, logged forest, secondary growth, dry scrub and scrub near a river. However, there is no information on its habitat preferences, general habits, food or breeding biology, although these are probably broadly similar to other Megapodius spp. It presumably builds nest-mounds or buries its eggs between decaying roots of trees⁹.

Threats Specific threats are undocumented, but are likely to include egg-collecting (although its widely spaced nest-mounds may reduce this risk¹), hunting (which is a documented threat to other species on the islands) and perhaps predation by introduced mammals⁴. Much forest on Biak (particularly the southern plains) and Numfor has been destroyed or damaged by logging and subsistence farming, and the remainder is under pressure^2,3,8. Much of Supiori comprises virtually impenetrable forested limestone mountains, which is likely to be safe from habitat degradation. A proposal to develop Biak as a tourist resort could have negative impacts on the species if not carefully planned.

Conservation measures underway There are two protected areas on the islands, Biak-Utara and Pulau Supiori Nature Reserves, which cover substantial areas of lowland and hill forest on Biak and Supiori¹¹. A further reserve has been proposed for Numfor⁵.

Conservation measures proposed Conduct surveys on all known islands of occurrence to assess fully its distribution and current population status. Devise a list of management recommendations, including ensuring adequate protection of nesting areas if different from non-breeding habitats. Assess habitat requirements and threats. Conduct research into its breeding biology. Assess status of forest on Biak-Supiori. Prevent potential introduction of ground predators. Should the proposal for a tourist resort on Biak be developed, engage in the planning process to ensure the development is sensitive to this species and any detrimental impacts are minimised.

References Baker et al. (in press). 1. S. van Balen and B. Beehler in litt. (2000). 2. Bishop (1982). 3. K. D. Bishop in litt. (1996). 4. Dekker and McGowan (1995). 5. Diamond (1986). 6. Dekker et al. (2000). 7. D. Gibbs in litt. in Jones et al. (1995). 8. D. Holmes in litt. (2000). 9. Jones et al. (1995). 10. Mayr and Meyer de Schauensee (1939). 11. Sujatnika et al. (1995). 12. K. D. Bishop in litt. (2007).

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)

Contributors B. M. Beehler (Conservation International), K. David Bishop, Rene Dekker (Megapode Specialist Group), Derek Holmes (Indonesian Ornithological Society), S. van Balen

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 geelvinkianus. 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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