Species

Justification
This species is listed as Vulnerable because it is now suspected to be in rapid decline, owing to continuing deforestation in the lowlands to which the species appears to be restricted. This decline is projected to continue.

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
22 cm. A medium-sized rather inconspicuous cuckoo-shrike that inhabits the canopy and middle storey of forest and second growth. Males are black-faced, with the black extending down onto the lower breast. The primaries are also black as are the outer tail feathers, which have large pale tips; much of the remaining plumage is pale grey. Females are largely pale grey, with black remiges and tail feathers, which have large pale tips. Similar spp. Blackish Cuckoo-shrike C. coerulescens has uniform colouration and sympatric races of Bar-bellied Cuckoo-shrike lack extensive black in the underparts (males) and have barred bellies (females). Voice Not adequately documented.

Distribution and population
Coracina mindanensis is endemic to the Philippines (Collar et al. 1999). Five subspecies occur: lecroyae on Luzon (considered very rare), elusa on Mindoro, ripleyi on Samar (rare), Biliran, Leyte and Bohol (rarely recorded in Rajah Sikatuna National Park), nominate mindanensis on Mindanao (formerly fairly common at the PICOP concession, Bislig, but has declined since 2007 [R. Hutchinson in litt. 2012]) and Basilan, and everetti on Jolo, Lapac, Tawitawi and Bongao. There has been uncertainty over its status because, although it is generally rare, it is widespread and elusive, and may be overlooked in the forest canopy.

Population justification
The population size is preliminarily estimated to fall into the band 2,500-9,999 mature individuals. This equates to 3,750-14,999 individuals in total, rounded here to 3,500-15,000 individuals.

Trend justification
The extent of habitat loss within the species's altitudinal range suggests that the population is declining rapidly.

Ecology
It is probably highly elusive, sitting singly and silently in the forest canopy, but on Mt Malindang in 1956 it seemed to prefer forests of lower elevation, down to the lowlands, and indeed throughout its range the great majority of records are from well below 1,000 m. It is known from secondary growth but its degree of tolerance of such habitats is unclear.

Threats
Its preference for low altitudes suggests that it must have suffered population losses with the loss of lowland forest in the Philippines through logging, agricultural encroachment, urban development, and conversion to oil-palm or wood pulp plantations.

Conservation actions underway
Its occurrence in protected areas has not yet been analysed. No species-specific conservation actions are in place at present.

Conservation actions proposed
Tape-record its vocalisations and use playback to establish its current distribution and population status in remnant lowland forest tracts. Campaign for the effective protection of important sites and propose further key sites found to support populations for formal protection.

References
Collar, N. J.; Mallari, N. A. D.; Tabaranza, B. R. J. 1999. Threatened birds of the Philippines: the Haribon Foundation/BirdLife International Red Data Book. Bookmark, Makati City.

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
Benstead, P., Bird, J., Ekstrom, J., Taylor, J.

Contributors
Allen, D., Hutchinson, R.

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

Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2013) Species factsheet: Coracina mindanensis. Downloaded from http://www.birdlife.org on 22/05/2013. Recommended citation for factsheets for more than one species: BirdLife International (2013) IUCN Red List for birds. Downloaded from http://www.birdlife.org on 22/05/2013.

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.

Additional resources for this species

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