Species

Justification
This species has a moderately small range, confined to two small islands, and is suspected to have a moderately small population as a result. Habitat is declining in extent and quality within this area and population declines are likely; thus, the species qualifies as Near Threatened.

Taxonomic source(s)
Sibley, C. G.; Monroe, B. L. 1990. Distribution and taxonomy of birds of the world. Yale University Press, New Haven, USA.

Distribution and population
Centropus chalybeus is endemic to the twin islands of Biak-Supiori, off Papua (formerly Irian Jaya), Indonesia (Mayr and Meyer de Schauensee 1939, Beehler et al. 1986). Recent observations indicate that it is probably not uncommon in forest and secondary forest, and probably more common on Supiori (Bishop 1982, Gibbs 1993, Eastwood 1996b, B. Beehler and S. van Balen in litt. 2000, K. D. Bishop in litt. 2000, M. Van Beirs in litt. 2000), where there appears to be large areas of forest remaining in the interior (Bishop 1982, K. D. Bishop in litt. 1996, D. Holmes in litt. 2000). It is thought to be widespread, relatively common and tolerant of moderately degraded forest. However, there is very little recent information on the species and especially the status of forest on Biak-Supiori, and further research may show that this species is declining rapidly.

Population justification
Owing to its restricted distribution on just two small islands the species is thought to have a moderately small population, estimated at 10,000-19,999 individuals. This roughly equates to 6,667-13,333 mature individuals, rounded here to 6,000-15,000 mature individuals.

Trend justification
The population is suspected to be in decline owing to on-going habitat destruction and unsustainable levels of hunting.

Ecology
It is an elusive resident of primary and secondary forest where it is more often heard than seen. It feeds on the ground where it hops and takes short flights.

Threats
On Biak, forest is under heavy threat from logging and subsistence farming.

Conservation actions underway
It occurs in the 110 km² Biak-Utara protected area (B. Beehler and S. van Balen in litt. 2000).

Conservation actions proposed
Calculate the area of remaining forest on Biak and Supiori. Estimate rates of decline based on rates of deforestation. Protect areas of remaining forest within its range.

References
Mayr, E.; Meyer de Schauensee, R. 1939. Zoological results of the Denison-Crockett Expedition to the south Pacific for the Academy of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia, 1937-1938. Part 1: the birds of the Island of Biak. Proceedings of the Academy of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia 91: 1-37.

Bishop, K. D. 1982. Endemic birds of Biak Island.

Beehler, B. M.; Pratt, T. K.; Zimmerman, D. A. 1986. Birds of New Guinea. Princeton University Press, Princeton.

Gibbs, D. 1993. Irian Jaya, Indonesia, 21 January--12 March 1991: a site guide for birdwatchers, with brief notes from 1992.

Eastwood, C. 1996. A trip to Irian Jaya. Muruk 8(1): 12-23.

Further web sources of information
Detailed species accounts from the Threatened birds of Asia: the BirdLife International Red Data Book (BirdLife International 2001).

Hear sounds for this species from xeno-canto, the community database of shared bird sounds from around the world.

View photos and videos, and hear sounds of this species from the Internet Bird Collection

Text account compilers
Bird, J., O'Brien, A., Taylor, J.

Contributors
Beehler, B., Bishop, K., Holmes, D., van Balen, B., van Beirs, M.

IUCN Red List evaluators
Butchart, S., Symes, A.

Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2013) Species factsheet: Centropus chalybeus. Downloaded from http://www.birdlife.org on 24/05/2013. Recommended citation for factsheets for more than one species: BirdLife International (2013) IUCN Red List for birds. Downloaded from http://www.birdlife.org on 24/05/2013.

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

To contribute to discussions on the evaluation of the IUCN Red List status of Globally Threatened Birds, please visit BirdLife's Globally Threatened Bird Forums.