Justification This widespread species has declined in the southern parts of its range, primarily owing to the destruction and degradation of its preferred woodland habitat, predation by introduced foxes and interactions with habitat loss. These threats remain and current moderately rapid overall population declines are likely to continue into the future. For this reason, the species is listed as Near Threatened.

Family/Sub-family Burhinidae

Species name author (Latham, 1801)

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

Identification 54-59cm. A slim, long-legged and long-tailed thick-knee. Has a grey and rufous morph. Cryptic plumage typical of the genus. Has long wings with rather broad, square, fingered tips. Large pale eyes in its big round head with a relatively fine dark bill. Similar spp. Generally unmistakeable but could be confused with beach thick-knee Esacus magnirostris which has a much larger bill and strictly inhabits coastal areas. Could also be confused with nightjars Caprimulgus but these have a very different flight pattern and are considerably smaller in size. Voice Nocturnal wailing call.

Population estimate

Population trend

Range estimate (breeding/resident)

Country endemic?

10,000-19,999

decreasing

2,570,000 km²

No

Range & population Burhinus grallarius has been recorded from all but the most arid parts of mainland Australia, and many offshore islands. A tiny breeding population is also found in southern New Guinea (Papua, formerly Irian Jaya, Indonesia, and Papua New Guinea). In Australia, it is now largely absent south and east of the Great Dividing Range, and is scarce elsewhere in southern Australia. Estimates of the population in New South Wales are around 1,000 pairs, with scattered records in coastal areas north of Sydney and west of the divide⁹. The northern Victorian population is apparently declining with counts of 328 birds in 1985 and 141 in 1991. It appears to have disappeared from 90% of its mainland range in South Australia⁷, and the only secure populations that remain occur on islands⁸. It has been declining in south-western Australia since the 1920s. It remains common in northern Australia and on many continental islands, even within towns¹, although it has declined in southern Queensland. Island populations may be isolated. The total Australian population has been estimated at 15,000 individuals². The long-term viability of most of the populations that are being monitored and surveyed remains unclear⁹.

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

Ecology: It is a resident of open forest and woodland, preferring a scattering of fallen timber and ground carpeted with dead leaves. The species feeds nocturnally on insects taken from the ground and is thought to forage primarily in open country, including paddocks and stubble in agricultural areas^5,8 (in urban coastal areas birds forage on ovals, mudflats and saltmarsh)⁹. Pairs occupy stable territories and display long-term site fidelity⁸. During the non-breeding season, individuals may gather in small flocks⁸.

Threats Its continuing decline in its southern range has been attributed to predation by the introduced Red Fox Vulpes vulpes, habitat clearance for agriculture and urban development, habitat degradation by pastoralism, and removal of fallen timber from habitat remnants. Other threats include poisoning from pesticides or insecticides and in urban areas, road mortalities and predation by cats and domestic dogs^6,8. Population monitoring in south-eastern South Australia suggests that poor nesting success and a lack of juvenile recruitment are significant factors limiting populations⁸. Nestling mortality, probably owing to predation, appears to be the main cause of nesting failure⁸. Hunting of the species is illegal.

Conservation measures underway Fox control has been trialled in Victoria in an attempt to reduce predation of adults and chicks^3,8. A post-graduate study into the demography and ecology of the species in New South Wales and Victoria has recently been completed⁴. Currently, nine conservation projects are underway for the species in south-eastern Australia, in Victoria (3), South Australia (2) and New South Wales (4)^7,8,9. Better estimates of the size of populations in different parts of New South Wales are now being obtained, along with mostly anecdotal information on the effect of management programmes such as fox control and nest-site protection on recruitment⁹. In addition, the habitat requirements of the species in different areas are becoming better understood. Community involvement and support for projects are increasing, and the profile of the species has been raised in many areas⁹. Molecular studies at the Australian Museum were underway and expected to be completed in 2007, with the aim of clarifying whether genetic differentiation is evident between populations in northern and southern Australia^8,9. A translocation of captive-bred birds into the wild is likely to be carried out within the next two years⁹.

Conservation measures proposed Improve fox control. Improve understanding of threatening processes, particularly pertaining to juvenile recruitment⁹. Increase the rate of juvenile recruitment (which may necessitate large-scale fox control)⁸. Develop standardised techniques for surveying distribution and monitoring abundance⁸. Develop agreement with landholders to maintain litter layer and fallen timber in remnant woodland. Determine the minimum area of woodland needed to maintain sub-populations and incorporate where necessary into land-clearing guidelines. Promote the iconic status of the species amongst regional farming communities⁸. Increase understanding about its habitat requirements⁸.

References Marchant and Higgins (1993). Garnett and Crowley (2000). 1. S. Garnett in litt. (2006). 2. Watkins (1993). 3. D. Robinson and G. Johnson in litt. (2006). 4. E. Tack in litt. (2006). 5. D. Watson in litt. (2006). 6. T. Holmes in litt. (2006). 7. D. Harley in litt. (2006). 8. D. Harley in litt. (2007). 9. C. Price 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), Jeremy Bird (BirdLife International), Stuart Butchart (BirdLife International), Stephen Garnett (Charles Darwin University), Joe Taylor (BirdLife International)

Contributors Andrew Carter (Charles Sturt University), Les Christidis (Museum Victoria), Hugh Ford (Dept of Zoology, University of New England), Stephen Garnett (Charles Darwin University), Dan Harley (Dept for Environment and Heritage), Tim Holmes, Catherine Price (Department of Environment & Climate Change), Elisa Tack (Charles Sturt University), Michael A. Weston (Birds Australia), John Woinarski (Conservation Committee of the Northern Territory)

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

Recommended citation BirdLife International (2009) Species factsheet: Burhinus grallarius. 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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