Justification Although this species may have a restricted range, it is not believed to approach the thresholds for Vulnerable under the range size criterion (Extent of Occurrence <20,000 km2 combined with a declining or fluctuating range size, habitat extent/quality, or population size and a small number of locations or severe fragmentation). Despite the fact that the population trend appears to be decreasing, the decline is not believed to be sufficiently rapid to approach the thresholds for Vulnerable under the population trend criterion (>30% decline over ten years or three generations). The population size has not been quantified, but it is not believed to approach the thresholds for Vulnerable under the population size criterion (<10,000 mature individuals with a continuing decline estimated to be >10% in ten years or three generations, or with a specified population structure). For these reasons the species is evaluated as Least Concern.

Family/Sub-family Dasyornithidae

Species name author (Milligan, 1902)

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

Identification

Population estimate

Population trend

Range estimate (breeding/resident)

Country endemic?

4,000 - 28,000

unset

26,800 km²

Yes

Range & population This taxon is endemic to Australia. Nominate broadbenti occurs in near-coastal environments from Port Fairy, Victoria, to the mouth of the Murray River, South Australia. Subspecies caryochrous was thought to be largely confined to the coast between Peterborough and Point Addis east of Anglesea, Western Victoria, but is now known to occur extensively within the Otway Range. Subspecies litoralis, endemic to Western Australia, is extinct, probably as a result of fire, and was last seen in 1906.

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

Ecology: The species occurs in scrub, heathland and forest.

Threats Historically, the range of the species has declined as a result of clearance for agriculture; habitat fragmentation has already resulted in the isolation of some subpopulations of broadbenti. On top of this, grazing by rabbits and modification by exotic weeds could have long-term effects for broadbenti, and concern has been expressed about its rates of infertility. Coastal urban development has also destroyed habitat, and is the greatest threat facing caryochrous, which, given its essentially linear distribution, is particularly vulnerable to fragmentation. For caryochrous, effects of fragmentation are likely to be exacerbated by periodic wildfire from which the habitat takes at least six years to become suitable again. The species may also be vulnerable to cat and fox predation (Garnett and Crowley 2000, Seymour et al. 2003).

References Garnett and Crowley 2000, Seymour et al. 2003, del Hoyo et al. 2007.

Text account compilers Phil Benstead (BirdLife International), Stuart Butchart (BirdLife International), Jonathan Ekstrom (BirdLife International), Sally Fisher (BirdLife International), Matt Harding (BirdLife International)

IUCN Red List evaluators Jeremy Bird (BirdLife International), Stuart Butchart (BirdLife International)

Recommended citation BirdLife International (2009) Species factsheet: Dasyornis broadbenti. 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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