Justification This species is listed as Vulnerable because it has a small and declining population owing to losses of mature old-growth forest through continuing logging and forest conversion.

Family/Sub-family Monarchidae

Species name author (Layard, 1875)

Taxonomic source(s) Dutson (2006)

Taxonomic note Clytorhynchus nigrogularis (Sibley and Monroe 1990, 1993) has been split into C. nigrogularis and C. sanctaecrucis following Dutson (2006).

Identification 21 cm. Adult male apart, heavy featureless greyish-brown forest bird. Black head and throat of adult male contrasts strongly with grey-white ear-coverts, otherwise, uniform grey-brown plumage. Female and immature more consistently brownish and lack head pattern. Heavy, black bill with horn edgings and tip. Similar spp. Female only safely distinguished from slightly smaller Fiji Shrikebill C. vitiensis by bill size and shape or by presence of male. Females can also be confused with Wattled Honeyeater Foulehaio carunculata (which should be readily distinguished by voice, curved beak and yellow wattle) and female Golden Whistler Pachycephala pectoralis (which has rounder head and flatter bill). Voice Both species of shrikebill have drawn-out, wavering, whistling call with several variations. These are not distinguishable except with considerable experience.

Population estimate

Population trend

Range estimate (breeding/resident)

Country endemic?

2,500-9,999

decreasing

16,900 km²

No

Range & population Clytorhynchus nigrogularis is found on Viti Levu, Vanua Levu, Taveuni, Kadavu and Ovalau in Fiji³. It has been described as fairly common in suitable habitat, but is likely to be rarer than commonly reported because it is usually misidentified and occurs at low population densities^2,5. Recent surveys have generated much more data on this species, showing it to be widespread but at low population densities: c.1 bird/km² on average and it is fairly common at the Garrick and Tomaniivi reserves; one or two can be heard most days in the central hills from Nausori Highlands to Nadrau and Monosavu. The species was recorded at 55% of the sites surveyed (19/34 sites) which were pre-selected to be the densest wettest old-growth forest. Very few were recorded in logged or degraded forest. The total population is likely to be in the range of 2,500-10,000 birds⁸. The species is likely to be declining at the same rate as forest loss and degradation, which is estimated to be about 0.5-0.8 % per year⁹. There are very few recent records from Vanua Levu, Taveuni, Kaduva or Ovalau.

Ecology: It occurs up to 1,200 m in dense, mature, wet forests³. It has also been reported from mangroves and dense bush¹, however, it appears to be absent from extensive areas of degraded forest without scattered remnants of old-growth forest, and has a patchy distribution, probably being more common in mountains^2,7,8.

Threats The main threat is the continuing habitat loss and deterioration from logging and mahogany plantations, with only c.50% of Viti Levu and Vanua Levu remaining forested⁵. However, according to the Department of Forestry, the logging rate is slowing, and there is only one active logging operation on Vanua Levu¹⁰.

Conservation measures underway It is protected by law and is recorded from several protected areas including Tomaniivi and Ravilevu Nature Reserves, the Sovi Basin and the Garrick Memorial Park^6,10. BirdLife Fiji is working towards establishing three new PA (Natewa Peninsula and two sites in Kadavu) with an effective monitoring framework¹⁰.

Conservation measures proposed Develop a monitoring programme for forest birds as declines in population and the initiation of threat processes could well be going unnoticed⁴. Develop in-country training in survey techniques⁴. Survey populations on all five islands. Determine population densities in various forest habitats and altitudes. Monitor populations at well-known sites, e.g. Nausori Highlands. Advocate creation of community-based forest conservation reserves. Initiate management in gazetted nature reserves⁶.

References 1.Clunie (1984). 2. G. Dutson pers. obs. (2000). 3. Pratt et al. (1987). 4. SPREP (2000). 5. Watling (2000). 6. D. Watling in litt. (2000). 7. D. Watling verbally (2000). 8. G. Dutson in litt. (2005). 9. Claasen (1991). 10. V. Masibalavu in litt. (2007).

Text account compilers Guy Dutson (Birds Australia), Simon Mahood (BirdLife International), Andrew O'Brien (BirdLife International), Sue Shutes (BirdLife International), Alison Stattersfield (BirdLife International), Helen Temple (BirdLife International)

Contributors Guy Dutson (Birds Australia), T. Leary, Vilikesa Masibalavu (BirdLife International - Fiji programme), Dick Watling (Environment Consultants Fiji)

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

Recommended citation BirdLife International (2009) Species factsheet: Clytorhynchus nigrogularis. 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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