Justification This species has a small, declining population as a result of historical clearance of primary forest and continued threats to secondary forest from tourism and infrastructure developments, as well as potentially from introduced pest species. It therefore qualifies as Vulnerable.

Family/Sub-family Zosteropidae

Species name author (Kittlitz, 1831)

Taxonomic source(s) Sibley and Monroe (1990, 1993)

Identification 13.5 cm. Small, yellow and olive-green honeyeater with a distinctive facial pattern. Mainly olive-green upperparts with yellowish tinge, pale yellow below with grey on flanks. Black patch extends from above to below eye and joins black line across forehead. White eye-ring. Black legs. Voice Various whistling calls.

Population estimate

Population trend

Range estimate (breeding/resident)

Country endemic?

2,500-9,999

decreasing

24 km²

Yes

Range & population Apalopteron familiare is endemic to the Ogasawara Islands, Japan, where it has been recorded from all three island groups, the Muko-jima, Chichi-jima and Haha-jima Islands, but is now extinct in the first two³.

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

Ecology: It inhabits low secondary forest, forest edge, bushes, plantations and gardens. On Haha-jima, it favours forest with well-developed undergrowth, feeding mainly 2-6 m above the ground, on the fruit of papaya Acacia farnesiana, bananas, and other fruit and flowers. Nests are situated in tree forks and occasionally in tree cavities².

Threats Virtually all the original subtropical forest has already been cleared from the Ogasawara Islands, leading to extinction on several islands, presumably as a result of the wholesale loss of its habitat. Economic development on Haha-jima Island, including developments for tourism, and a consequent reduction in forest cover is an important threat. Plans to construct a new airport within the islands would cause habitat loss, if sited within the Haha-jima group. Further invasions by exotic species remain a threat. Predation by domestic and feral cats may pose a minor threat¹. Competition with introduced Japanese White-eye Zosterops japonicus was found to have little or no negative effect on this species⁴.

Conservation measures underway It is legally protected in Japan. The Ogasawara Islands are a National Wildlife Protection Area, established primarily for this species. An active conservation programme is underway there, including the propagation and reintroduction of threatened native plants.

Conservation measures proposed Continue to survey islands in its range to determine population trends and identify islands that still support populations. Establish a monitoring programme on Haha-jima Island. Promote habitat protection and restoration of forest with well-developed undergrowth on Haha-jima Island and other smaller islands where populations persist. Study the reasons for its extinction on previously occupied islands, and evaluate current threats to extant populations. Study the feasibility of reintroduction to other islands in Ogasawara.

References BirdLife International (2001). 1. Kawakami and Higuchi (2002a). 2. Kawakami and Higuchi (2002b). 3. Suzuki and Morioka (2005). 4. Kawakami and Higuchi (2003).

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), James Gilroy (BirdLife International), Nic Peet (BirdLife International)

IUCN Red List evaluators Phil Benstead (BirdLife International), Stuart Butchart (BirdLife International), Simba Chan (Wild Bird Society of Japan), Nigel Collar (BirdLife International), Mike Crosby (BirdLife International), James Gilroy (BirdLife International), Nic Peet (BirdLife International)

Recommended citation BirdLife International (2009) Species factsheet: Apalopteron familiare. 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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