Justification This species is listed as Near Threatened because it is thought to have a moderately small population, which may be undergoing a continuing decline owing to forest loss. However, little is currently known about the population size of and threats to this species. Further information may indicate its status warrants revision.

Family/Sub-family Muscicapidae

Species name author (Przewalski, 1876)

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

Identification

Population estimate

Population trend

Range estimate (breeding/resident)

Country endemic?

10,000-19,999

decreasing

683,000 km²

Yes

Range & population Phoenicurus alaschanicus is known from Qinghai, Gansu and Ningxia, China, with presumed non-breeding records from Shaanxi, Shanxi, Hebei and Beijing. Its breeding range and habitat requirements remain poorly understood because of the sparse ornithological coverage of much of its range.

Ecology: It breeds on dense scrub-covered hillsides with loose rocks, in bush-dotted riverine plains in the upper coniferous montane forest belt from c.3,300 m to the treeline, and it makes a short distance altitudinal migration, wintering down to 2,000 m. It apparently feeds extensively on berries in the autumn.

Threats It has presumably been affected by habitat loss.

Conservation measures underway It has been recorded in the Helan Mountain Nature Reserve, and in or near to Yanchiwan Nature Reserve.

Conservation measures proposed Improve knowledge of its habitat requirements and life history and use this information to delimit its geographic range. Calculate density estimates within suitable habitat and generate a global population estimate. Assess the threats to the species and if appropriate examine the rate and impact of forest loss within its altitudinal and geographic range. Effectively protect significant areas of suitable habitat at key sites, in both strictly protected areas and community-led multiple use areas.

References BirdLife International (2001). Collar (2005).

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), Jeremy Bird (BirdLife International), Stuart Butchart (BirdLife International)

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

Recommended citation BirdLife International (2009) Species factsheet: Phoenicurus alaschanicus. 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.

To provide new information to update this factsheet or to correct any errors, please email BirdLife

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