Justification This species qualifies as Vulnerable because it is believed to be undergoing a rapid population decline, primarily as a result of extensive habitat loss and, at least formerly, through trapping for the international bird trade.

Family/Sub-family Estrildidae

Species name author Hachisuka & Delacour, 1937

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

Identification 12-13 cm. Green-and-red finch. Entire plumage green except for bright red uppertail-coverts and tail and darker fringes to the primaries. Long, pointed tail, slightly shorter in female which also shows buff on lower belly and vent. Large, dark bill. Similar spp. Tawny-breasted Parrotfinch E. hyperythra is smaller, has a shorter green tail and buff underparts. Voice Contact call is a short, high-pitched tsit tsit. Song seldom heard. Calls a series of high-pitched, chattering and grating notes.

Population estimate

Population trend

Range estimate (breeding/resident)

Country endemic?

10,000-19,999

decreasing

105,000 km²

Yes

Range & population Erythrura viridifacies is endemic to the Philippines, where it is known chiefly from Luzon and also from two sites on Negros and one on Panay. Since 1980, there have been records from just five localities, four on Luzon and one on Panay, together with a recent report from Cebu¹. Its status is difficult to assess, although it must have declined as a consequence of habitat destruction. It is nomadic and occasionally irruptive and can therefore seem locally common, with flocks numbering over 100 recorded from Luzon. Its status on other islands is unclear and records may relate to immigrants from Luzon.

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

Ecology: It frequents forested habitat mosaics, including degraded areas, forest edge and even savanna, often above 1,000 m, but occasionally irrupting into the lowlands. It is closely associated with flowering or seeding bamboos, which are a key dietary component. Although its exact movements in relation to food supply are unclear, it is probably normally solitary and sedentary, although flocks of up to 35 have been observed at Hamut². It may concentrate in numbers at temporarily rich food patches and suddenly irrupt into new areas when resources are unavailable.

Threats Habitat destruction is the key threat as it is dependent on a spatially and temporally patchy resource (bamboo seeds) within forest. Although it benefits from initial forest disturbance, as this improves conditions for bamboo, subsequent clearance to monocultures removes food sources. Forest cover in the late 1980s was estimated to be as low as 24% on Luzon, 4% on Negros and 8% on Panay. The international bird trade may also have had a serious effect on the population. In 1935, the species was caught in large numbers in many districts of Manila and exported by the hundreds to the USA.

Conservation measures underway It has been recorded from two protected areas, the Northern Sierra Madre Natural Park and Bataan Natural Park/Subic Bay. Given its nomadic habits, occurrence in protected areas does not necessarily confer continual protection.

Conservation measures proposed Conduct regular fieldwork, including mist-netting, in areas where it potentially survives to assess its current status and attempt to understand its movements. Research the ecology and distribution of the bamboos upon which it relies, particularly their response to deforestation. Afford protection to key sites found to support populations and favoured bamboos.

References Collar et al. (1999). 1. D. Allen in litt. (2003). 2. D. Allen in litt. (2007).

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

Contributors D Allen

IUCN Red List evaluators Phil Benstead (BirdLife International), Stuart Butchart (BirdLife International), Nigel Collar (BirdLife International), Mike Crosby (BirdLife International), James Gilroy (BirdLife International), Alison Stattersfield (BirdLife International), Joe Tobias (BirdLife International)

Recommended citation BirdLife International (2009) Species factsheet: Erythrura viridifacies. 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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