Justification This species qualifies as Near Threatened because it has a small population. If the population is found to be in decline it might qualify for uplisting to a higher threat category.

Family/Sub-family Burhinidae

Species name author (Wagler, 1829)

Taxonomic source(s) Christidis and Boles (1994), Sibley and Monroe (1990, 1993)

Synonyms Burhinus giganteus Sibley and Monroe (1990, 1993), Esacus magnirostris Christidis and Boles (2008), Esacus magnirostris BirdLife International (2000), Esacus magnirostris BirdLife International (2004)

Taxonomic note The retention of the genus Esacus follows Andrew (1992) contra Sibley and Monroe (1990, 1993), because its merger with Burhinus does not do justice to the highly distinctive nature of Burhinus (=Esacus) giganteus and B. (=E.) recurvirostris, both of which have massive bills, strong black-and-white facial markings, and simplified dorsal patterning, all three of these characters being absent in other burhinids.

Population estimate

Population trend

Range estimate (breeding/resident)

Country endemic?

6,000

unset

2,140,000 km²

No

Range & population Esacus giganteus is widespread around coasts from the Andaman Islands, India, Mergui Archipelago, Myanmar, islands off peninsular Thailand, and Peninsular Malaysia through Indonesia, Brunei, the Philippines, Papua New Guinea, the Solomon Islands, Vanuatu, New Caledonia (to France) and Australia. Its population in Australia may number c.5,000 birds and is probably stable². Its density in Australia may have decreased locally on islands and in areas of the mainland where there are high levels of human disturbance and coastal development, especially around inhabited islands of the Great Barrier Reef and Torres Strait, and the wet tropical coast³. Despite this, between the 1920s and 1970s the eastern part of the species's range appears to have extended south into New South Wales². It is very rare on and around Sumatra, Vanuatu and New Caledonia, where it has not been seen for six years¹.

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

Ecology: Pairs may be found on most beaches within its range; in Australia these include short stretches of muddy sand among mangroves, coralline sands on atolls and prime surf beaches². Beaches associated with estuaries and mangroves are particularly favoured. Adults are sedentary, although the species has a tendency for wide-ranging vagrancy. It lays a single egg in a scrape in the sand at the landward edge of the beach, often using the same area repeatedly. It forages mainly in the intertidal zone on crustaceans and other invertebrates².

Threats The species appears to be threatened by extensive human disturbance of beach habitats in many areas². It is also thought to be sensitive to predation by introduced mammals. Much of the species's habitat in Australia, particularly on islands, is secure. This species occurs at low densities and occupies linear habitats, increasing the potential for local extinctions to become regional ones; however, its apparent range expansion southwards in eastern Australia suggests that such extinctions do not represent genetic barriers².

Conservation measures underway No targeted conservation actions are known for this species.

Conservation measures proposed Maintain a register of inhabited beaches. Monitor population trends, especially where human disturbance is prevalant. If necessary, control the use of beaches by humans and their dogs, particularly during breeding. Determine the relationship between human disturbance and breeding success.

References BirdLife International (2001). 1. N. Barre in litt. (2003). 2. Garnett and Crowley (2000). 3. A. Freeman in litt. (2007).

Further web sources of information

Australian Govt - Action Plan for Australian Birds 2000 - Recovery Outline

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), Nigel Collar (BirdLife International), Stephen Garnett (Charles Darwin University), Matt Harding (BirdLife International), John Pilgrim (BirdLife International), Joe Taylor (BirdLife International), Joe Tobias (BirdLife International)

Contributors Nicholas Barré (Société Calédonienne d’Ornithologie), Amanda Freeman (Centre for Field Studies, Yungaburra, Queensland)

IUCN Red List evaluators Stuart Butchart (BirdLife International), Guy Dutson (Birds Australia), Guy Dutson (Birds Australia), Stephen Garnett (Charles Darwin University), Joe Taylor (BirdLife International)

Recommended citation BirdLife International (2009) Species factsheet: Esacus giganteus. 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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