Justification This species is classified as Near Threatened because it is suspected to have undergone a moderately rapid decline over the last ten years as a result of the conversion and degradation of its mature coniferous forest habitats.

Family/Sub-family Sittidae

Species name author Pelzeln, 1863

Taxonomic source(s) AERC TAC (2003), Cramp and Simmons (1977-1994), Sibley and Monroe (1990, 1993)

Population estimate

Population trend

Range estimate (breeding/resident)

Country endemic?

240,000 - 510,000

decreasing

250,000 km²

No

Range & population Sitta krueperi is endemic to Europe, where it is found in southernmost European Russia, Georgia, Turkey and the island of Lesbos, Greece. Its breeding population is estimated to be 80,000-170,000 pairs, with the majority - an estimated 60,000-120,000 breeding pairs - in Turkey⁵. Although the small population in Greece is believed to have remained stable (at c.700-1000 individuals⁸), the populations in Turkey and Russia - which together constitute over 95% of the known global population - both declined during 1990-2000⁵. In Russia, significant declines have been observed in the Karachay-Cherkessia, whereas numbers in the Krasnodar region appear to be stable⁷.

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

Ecology: The species inhabits temperate coniferous forest, from sea-level up to c.2,400 m. In Turkey, it occurs mostly between 1,000-1,600 m, mainly in forests of black pine Pinus nigra (average density: 12.7 individuals/km²), fir Abies cilicica (11.6 ind./km²), cedar Cedrus libani (8.5 ind./km²), red pine Pinus brutia (7.8 ind./km²) and juniper Juniperus spp.^3,4. In the Caucasus, it occurs mainly in the zone of spruce Picea forests between 1,000 and 2,000 m, mostly in old stands of Caucasian fir Abies nordmanniana, but also in pine Pinus forest. Nests in Antalya, south-western Turkey, were found in slightly decayed old tree trunks or cavities already excavated by woodpeckers in natural (non-planted) middle- or old-aged conifer forest^1,2. The most significant factors limiting breeding success were the felling of dead trees and the occupation of nest sites by forest dormouse Dryomys nitedula, bats, bees and other insects¹.

Threats In Turkey, forestry is placing considerable pressure on the species's mature coniferous forest habitats⁴. Development for tourism is also a threat, particularly in coastal areas where the species was once numerous⁶. A law for the promotion of tourism came into force in Turkey in 2003, further exacerbating the threat from habitat loss⁶. Urbanisation and the construction of summer houses is also a growing problem in the Mediterranean part of its range⁶.

Conservation measures underway EU Birds Directive Annex I.

Conservation measures proposed Develop a Species Action Plan. Develop a monitoring programme to assess population trends. Assess threats to the species and develop appropriate responses. Follow up on ongoing research work and adopt recommendations as appropriate.

References Cramp and Perrins (1993). Matthysen (1998). 1. Albayrak and Erdogan (2005a). 2. Albayrak and Erdogan (2005b). 3. Albayrak et al. (2006). 4. T. Albayrak in litt. (2007). 5. BirdLife International (2004). 6. S. Isfendiyaroglu in litt. (2005). 7. A. Mischenko in litt. (2005). 8. HOS in litt. (2008).

Further web sources of information

Detailed species account from Birds in Europe: population estimates, trends and conservation status (BirdLife International 2004)

Text account compilers Stuart Butchart (BirdLife International), Jonathan Ekstrom (BirdLife International), Matt Harding (BirdLife International), Rob Pople (BirdLife International - European Division)

Contributors Tamer Albayrak (Akdeniz University), Süreyya Isfendiyaroglu (Doga Dernegi), Alexander L. Mischenko (Russian Bird Conservation Union/BirdLife in Russia), Jevgeni Shergalin

IUCN Red List evaluators Ian Burfield (BirdLife International - European Division), Stuart Butchart (BirdLife International), Rob Pople (BirdLife International - European Division)

Recommended citation BirdLife International (2009) Species factsheet: Sitta krueperi. 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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