Justification This poorly known species is recorded from only a small number of sites, and may have a moderately small range and population size. It is suspected to have declined in some areas as a result of habitat loss, and it is therefore considered Near Threatened.

Family/Sub-family Meliphagidae

Species name author Rand, 1940

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

Identification

Population estimate

Population trend

Range estimate (breeding/resident)

Country endemic?

decreasing

-

Yes

Range & population Philemon brassi is endemic to northern Papua (formerly Irian Jaya), Indonesia. It was discovered in 1939 on a single lagoon on the Idenburg River which may not have been visited subsequently^1,4,6, and has recently been found along the lower Mamberamo River^2,7, the Tirawiwa and Logari rivers, 250 km from the Idenburg site⁵, and probably on the Rouffaer river³. This region is very poorly known and it may be widespread, but perhaps localised, along the huge Mamberamo, Rouffaer and Idenburg rivers.

Ecology: On the Idenburg river, this species was common in small parties in flooded cane grass and dense second growth around a lagoon at c.50 m⁶. On the Tirawiwa and Logari rivers, it was locally common in trees beside the rivers and other disturbed areas at 80-275 m ⁵.

Threats This species may be threatened by various large-scale timber and agricultural schemes and a proposed dam on the Mamberamo gorge⁸, but all the known populations are currently safe, as much lowland forest and floodplains of the Mamberamo and Idenburg rivers is encompassed within the c.10,000 km² Foja Nature Reserve⁷, and the region remains largely inaccessible and undisturbed.

Conservation measures proposed Conduct surveys in areas within and surrounding the range to determine the full extent of distribution and abundance. Monitor occupied sites to determine whether declines are occurring. Conduct ecological studies to improve understanding of its precise habitat requirements, tolerance of secondary habitats and response to fragmentation. Ensure the continued protection of the Foja Nature Reserve.

References 1. Beehler (1985). 2. B. M. Beehler in litt. (1990). 3. K. D. Bishop in litt. (2000). 4. J. M. Diamond in litt (1987). 5. Mack and Alonso (2000). 6. Rand (1940). 7. Stattersfield et al. (1998). 8. Sujatnika et al. (1995).

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), James Gilroy (BirdLife International), Andrew O'Brien (BirdLife International)

Contributors B. M. Beehler (Conservation International), K. David Bishop (VENT Bird Tours), J. M. Diamond

IUCN Red List evaluators Phil Benstead (BirdLife International), Stuart Butchart (BirdLife International), James Gilroy (BirdLife International), Alison Stattersfield (BirdLife International)

Recommended citation BirdLife International (2009) Species factsheet: Philemon brassi. 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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