Justification This recently recognised species is believed to have a small population, although not as small as recently reported. Increased settlement has led to increased pressure on natural resources, and planned development projects could severely affect its habitat, resulting in declines, hence its classification as Near Threatened.

Family/Sub-family Accipitridae

Species name author Richmond, 1902

Taxonomic source(s) Rasmussen and Anderton (2005)

Taxonomic note Spilornis minimus (Sibley and Monroe 1990, 1993) has been split into S. klossi with the remainder (i.e. nominate minimus) lumped with S. cheela (Sibley and Monroe 1990, 1993) following Rasmussen and Anderton (2005).

Population estimate

Population trend

Range estimate (breeding/resident)

Country endemic?

unknown

decreasing

-

Yes

Range & population Spilornis klossi is endemic to the islands of Great Nicobar (including Pulo Kunji), Little Nicobar and Menchal in the South Nicobar island group, Nicobar islands, India. There is some confusion over records in 1993, when it was reported to be "probably one of the rarest raptors in the country" and "rarely seen in the Great Nicobar island", because this has not been the impression of other fieldworkers.

Ecology: It is found in forest, and is seen most frequently found in the canopy.

Threats Increased settlement of the islands has led to increased pressure on natural resources, and planned development projects could severely affect the habitat of this species.

Conservation measures underway None is known.

Conservation measures proposed Survey to assess the size of the population. Regularly monitor the population at selected sites across its range. Investigate its abundance in forest at different levels of perturbation. Protect significant areas of intact forest in the Nicobar islands. Fully investigate the possible impact of development programs and mitigate against thier impacts.

References BirdLife International (2001).

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), Mike Crosby (BirdLife International), Simon Mahood (BirdLife International)

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

Recommended citation BirdLife International (2009) Species factsheet: Spilornis klossi. Downloaded from http://www.birdlife.org on 9/2/2010

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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