Species

Justification
This species has a small, declining population as a result of the historical clearance of primary forest and continued threats to secondary forest from tourism and infrastructure developments, as well as potentially from introduced pest species. It therefore qualifies as Vulnerable. Following considerable historical losses, the range and population are may now be stable and the species could qualify for a category chance in the near future.

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

Identification
13.5 cm. Small, yellow and olive-green honeyeater with a distinctive facial pattern. Mainly olive-green upperparts with yellowish tinge, pale yellow below with grey on flanks. Black patch extends from above to below eye and joins black line across forehead. White eye-ring. Black legs. Voice Various whistling calls.

Distribution and population
Apalopteron familiare is endemic to the Ogasawara Islands, Japan, where it has been recorded from all three island groups, the Muko-jima, Chichi-jima and Haha-jima Islands. The nominate subspecies is now probably extinct, having been confined to Muko-jima and not observed since the 1930s (del Hoyo et al. 2008). The species has also been extirpated from Chichi-jima (Suzuki and Morioka 2005). On Hahajima, it occurs on the main island and two small satellite islands—Imotojima and Mukohjima (Kawakami et al. 2008). The majority of the population is found on the main island with only a few hundred individuals present on the two satellite islands. Analysis of DNA reveals that dispersal between the islands is very rare and that they should be regarded as three distinct populations (Kawakami et al. 2008). Recent estimates, based on quantitative methods, suggest that the total population numbers 10,000-15,000 mature individuals (Kawakami in litt. 2012). Following considerable historical losses, the range and population are now thought to be stable.


Population justification
The global population is estimated to number c.2,500-9,999 mature individuals (based on estimate of 3,000-4,000 individuals on Haha-jima island [Kato et al. 1995], plus information from the other islands [BirdLife International 2001]). This equates to 3,750-14,999 individuals, rounded here to 3,500-15,000 individuals. In contrast, Brazil (2009) estimates the population in Japan at c.10,000-100,000 breeding pairs.

Trend justification
A moderate population decline is suspected to be occurring, owing to continuing human pressure on habitats within occupied islands, plus potentially the effects of introduced pest species. However, this is precautionary, as the range and population are may now be stable.

Ecology
It inhabits low secondary forest, forest edge, bushes, plantations and gardens. On Haha-jima, it favours forest with well-developed undergrowth, feeding mainly 2-6 m above the ground, mostly on invertebrates. Nests are situated in tree forks and occasionally in tree cavities (Kawakami and Higuchi 2002b).

Threats
Virtually all the original subtropical forest has already been cleared from the Ogasawara Islands, leading to extinction on several islands, presumably as a result of the wholesale destruction of its habitat. Economic development on Haha-jima Island, including developments for tourism, and a consequent reduction in forest cover is an important threat. Further invasions by exotic species remain a threat. Predation by domestic and feral cats may pose a minor threat (Kawakami and Higuchi 2002a). Nest predation by introduced black rat is probably a threat (Kawakami in litt. 2012). Competition with introduced Japanese White-eye Zosterops japonicus was found to have little or no negative effect on this species (Kawakami and Higuchi 2003).

Conservation actions underway
It is legally protected in Japan. The Ogasawara Islands are a National Wildlife Protection Area, established primarily for this species. An active conservation programme is underway there, including the propagation and reintroduction of threatened native plants. Feral cat eradication is on-going on Haha-jima. Invasive trees are being removed from Haha-jima and its satellites. Rat eradication is planned for Imotojima and Mukohjima.

Conservation actions proposed
Continue to survey islands in its range to determine population trends and identify islands that still support populations. Establish a monitoring programme on Haha-jima Island. Promote habitat protection and restoration of forest with well-developed undergrowth on Haha-jima Island and other smaller islands where populations persist. Study the reasons for its extinction on previously occupied islands, and evaluate current threats to extant populations. Study the feasibility of reintroduction to other islands in Ogasawara.

References
Suzuki, T.; Morioka, H. 2005. Distribution and extinction of the Ogasawara Islands Honeyeater Apalopteron familiare on Chichijima, Ogasawara Islands. Journal of the Yamashina Institute for Ornithology 37: 45-49.

BirdLife International. 2001. Threatened birds of Asia: the BirdLife International Red Data Book. BirdLife International, Cambridge, U.K.

Kawakami, K.; Higuchi, H. 2002. The first record of cavity nesting in the Ogasawara Islands Honeyeater Apalopteron familiare on Hahajima, Bonin Islands, Japan. Ornithological Science 1(2): 153-154.

Kawakami, K.; Higuchi, H. 2002. Bird predation by domestic cats on Hahajima Island, Bonin Islands, Japan. Ornithological Science 143: 143-144.

Kawakami, K.; Higuchi, H. 2003. Interspecific interactions between the native and introduced White-eyes in the Bonin Islands. Ibis 145: 583-592.

del Hoyo, J.; Elliott, A.; Christie, D. 2008. Handbook of the Birds of the World, vol. 13: Penduline-tits to Shrikes. Lynx Edicions, Barcelona, Spain.

Kawakami, K.; Harada, S.; Suzuki, T.; Higuchi, H. 2008. Genetic and Morphological Differences Among Populationsof the Bonin Islands White-eye in Japan. Zoological Science 25: 882–887.

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

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

Text account compilers
Allinson, T, Benstead, P., Gilroy, J., Khwaja, N., Taylor, J.

Contributors
Kawakami, K., Suzuki, T.

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

Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2013) Species factsheet: Apalopteron familiare. Downloaded from http://www.birdlife.org on 26/05/2013. Recommended citation for factsheets for more than one species: BirdLife International (2013) IUCN Red List for birds. Downloaded from http://www.birdlife.org on 26/05/2013.

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

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Additional resources for this species

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