Species

Justification
This species is considered Near Threatened as it has a moderately small global range and population size, and is suspected to be declining as a result of habitat loss. It remains fairly common in suitable habitats, and may be tolerant of secondary habitats suggesting that it is not at imminent risk. However, further data on its habitat requirements are urgently needed.

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
Malacopteron palawanense is endemic to Palawan and Balabac in the Philippines, with records on Palawan (including from Tanabag, Iwahig Penal Colony and Puerto Princesa), Inagauan, Quezon (including from Tabon and Bungalon), Taguso, Pulot, Brooke's Point, Singnapan, and adjacent areas. It is described as uncommon, although surveys in the 1990s found it to occur at good densities in remaining pockets of suitable habitat. It is apparently absent from St Paul's Subterranean River National Park, despite the presence of apparently suitable habitat, and currently the best protection appears to be afforded by the Iwahig Penal Colony.

Population justification
The global population size has not been quantified, but the species is described as uncommon (del Hoyo et al. 2007).

Trend justification
This species is suspected to be declining at a moderate rate, owing to high rates of forest clearance on Palawan.

Ecology
This species occurs in primary and old secondary lowland evergreen forest, bamboo and forest edge. It may be an extreme lowland specialist, and its absence from apparently suitable areas in St Paul's Subterranean River National Park suggest that an unidentified habitat specialisation may influence its distribution. It is recorded most frequently in vine tangles within the middle and upper strata of low trees (del Hoyo et al. 2007).

Threats
Lowland forest loss, degradation and fragmentation are the major threats. Deforestation in lowland Palawan has been extensive and logging and mining concessions have been granted for almost all remaining forests on the island. Illegal logging is thought to persist in the remaining extensive forest of the south. Forest at Iwahig Penal Colony, a key site, may be threatened by plans to mine chromite.

Conservation actions underway

Conservation actions proposed
Conduct repeated surveys within the range to determine current distribution and abundance, as well as assess population trends and rates of habitat loss. Conduct ecological studies to improve understanding of its precise habitat requirements, tolerance of secondary habitats and response to fragmentation. Campaign for the protection of remaining tracts of lowland woodland on Palawan.

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.

del Hoyo, J.; Elliott, A.; Christie, D. 2007. Handbook of the Birds of the World, vol. 12: Picathartes to Tits and Chickadees. Lynx Edicions, Barcelona, Spain.

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., Gilroy, J., Khwaja, N.

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

Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2013) Species factsheet: Malacopteron palawanense. Downloaded from http://www.birdlife.org on 21/05/2013. Recommended citation for factsheets for more than one species: BirdLife International (2013) IUCN Red List for birds. Downloaded from http://www.birdlife.org on 21/05/2013.

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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