You are here
Species
Pitta superba Rothschild & Hartert, 1914
EOL Text
Threats:
Major Threats
The species's habitat is suffering intense pressure from a growing human population (A. Mack in litt. 2012). Large areas of Manus have been logged or are under logging concessions. However, its exact habitat requirements are unclear, so it is not known whether this species is threatened by habitat degradation (Dutson and Newman 1991, D. Gibbs in litt. 1994). It is possibly threatened by introduced species such as cats and dogs, but the brown tree snake Boiga irregularis, which has decimated birds on Guam, is thought to be native to Manus (Dutson and Newman 1991, R. E. Beck in litt. 1992). A proposal to build a space centre on Manus is currently shelved (I. Burrows in litt. 1994, P. Gregory in litt. 1994).
| License | http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0/ |
| Rights holder/Author | International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources |
| Source | http://www.iucnredlist.org/apps/redlist/details/22698640 |
Conservation Actions:
Conservation Actions
Conservation Actions Underway
No targeted conservation actions are known for this species.
Conservation Actions Proposed
Conduct surveys for the species elsewhere on Manus, and carry out further interviews with local villagers regarding this species's distribution and population trends. Investigate feeding and breeding ecology around Rossun, including the mapping of territories in relation to habitat types. Investigate the impact of introduced predatory species. Monitor numbers of birds calling around Rossun. Encourage the designation of large community-based conservation areas. Use the species as a flagship for encouraging ecotourism initiatives with local landowners. Use the species as a flagship in general provincial conservation awareness programmes.
No targeted conservation actions are known for this species.
Conservation Actions Proposed
Conduct surveys for the species elsewhere on Manus, and carry out further interviews with local villagers regarding this species's distribution and population trends. Investigate feeding and breeding ecology around Rossun, including the mapping of territories in relation to habitat types. Investigate the impact of introduced predatory species. Monitor numbers of birds calling around Rossun. Encourage the designation of large community-based conservation areas. Use the species as a flagship for encouraging ecotourism initiatives with local landowners. Use the species as a flagship in general provincial conservation awareness programmes.
| License | http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0/ |
| Rights holder/Author | International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources |
| Source | http://www.iucnredlist.org/apps/redlist/details/22698640 |
Range:
Manus I. (Admiralty Islands).
- Clements, J. F., T. S. Schulenberg, M. J. Iliff, D. Roberson, T. A. Fredericks, B. L. Sullivan, and C. L. Wood. 2014. The eBird/Clements checklist of birds of the world: Version 6.9. Downloaded from http://www.birds.cornell.edu/clementschecklist/download/
| License | http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/3.0/ |
| Rights holder/Author | Cornell Laboratory of Ornithology |
| Source | No source database. |
Range:
Manus I. (Admiralty Islands).
- Clements, J. F., T. S. Schulenberg, M. J. Iliff, B.L. Sullivan, C. L. Wood, and D. Roberson. 2012. The eBird/Clements checklist of birds of the world: Version 6.7. Downloaded from http://www.birds.cornell.edu/clementschecklist/downloadable-clements-checklist
| License | http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/3.0/ |
| Rights holder/Author | Cornell Laboratory of Ornithology |
| Source | No source database. |
Range Description:
Pitta superba is endemic to Manus in the Admiralty Islands of Papua New Guinea. It has an enigmatically patchy distribution and probably occurs at low population densities. Four pairs have been found in recent years around Rossun village, whilst in 2002 three birds were heard within a small area of forest 10 km inland from the north-western coast8, however by 2007 only one bird could be located9. Whilst most of Manus remains unsurveyed and this bird may be largely silent and thus overlooked, it is absent from several seemingly suitable areas3,4,5. A total of 29 specimens were collected in two months in 19137, suggesting either that this species's favoured haunts have not been rediscovered or that it has undergone a steep decline.
| License | http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0/ |
| Rights holder/Author | © International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources |
| Source | http://www.iucnredlist.org/apps/redlist/details/106004007 |
Habitat and Ecology:
Habitat and Ecology
Virtually all recent records of this very shy species are of calling birds. Records are from primary forest and patchy forest with areas of secondary forest and garden regrowth at 100-200 m. It has not been recorded on steep slopes or in the slightly submontane forest of interior Manus. Possible habitat preferences which have been suggested include bamboo thickets or open hilltop forest near a reasonably large river with stones, which are used as anvils to break mollusc shells3,4,5.
Systems
- Terrestrial
| License | http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0/ |
| Rights holder/Author | © International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources |
| Source | http://www.iucnredlist.org/apps/redlist/details/106004007 |
IUCN Red List Assessment:
Red List Category
VU
Vulnerable
Red List Criteria
D1
Version
3.1
Year Assessed
2008
Assessor/s
BirdLife International
Reviewer/s
Mahood, S., Butchart, S.
Contributor/s
Gregory, P., Williams, A., Gibbs, D., Dutson, G., Beck, R., Burrows, I.
Justification
The known population of this aptly named species is very small, leading to a classification as Vulnerable. If it is found to be declining, then it may be recategorised as Endangered. However, it may prove to be more common than currently estimated.
History
-
2004Vulnerable
-
2000Vulnerable
-
1996Vulnerable
-
1994Vulnerable
| License | http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0/ |
| Rights holder/Author | © International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources |
| Source | http://www.iucnredlist.org/apps/redlist/details/106004007 |
Population:
Population
Population estimate = 2.8 individuals/km2 x 368 km2 (20% EOO) = 1,030, but probably best placed precautionarily in the band 250-999 individuals, on basis that it probably "occurs at low population densities" (density lowest of nine estimates for six congeners in the BirdLife Population Density Spreadsheet).
Population Trend
Unknown
| License | http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0/ |
| Rights holder/Author | © International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources |
| Source | http://www.iucnredlist.org/apps/redlist/details/106004007 |
Threats:
Major Threats
Large areas of Manus have been logged or are under logging concessions. However, as its habitat requirements are unclear, it is not known whether this species is threatened by habitat degradation3,5. It is possibly threatened by introduced species such as cats and dogs but the brown tree snake Boiga irregularis, which has decimated birds on Guam, is thought to be native to Manus1,3. A proposal to build a space station on Manus is currently shelved2,6.
| License | http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0/ |
| Rights holder/Author | © International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources |
| Source | http://www.iucnredlist.org/apps/redlist/details/106004007 |
Conservation Actions:
Conservation Actions
Conservation Actions Underway
None is known.
Conservation Actions Proposed
Survey elsewhere on Manus. Interview local villagers about this species's distribution and population trends. Map territories around Rossun and relate to habitat types. Investigate feeding and breeding ecology around Rossun. Investigate impact of introduced predatory species. Monitor numbers calling around Rossun. Encourage designation of large community-based conservation areas. Use as a flagship species in encouraging ecotourism initiatives with local landowners. Use as a flagship species in general provincial conservation awareness programmes.
None is known.
Conservation Actions Proposed
Survey elsewhere on Manus. Interview local villagers about this species's distribution and population trends. Map territories around Rossun and relate to habitat types. Investigate feeding and breeding ecology around Rossun. Investigate impact of introduced predatory species. Monitor numbers calling around Rossun. Encourage designation of large community-based conservation areas. Use as a flagship species in encouraging ecotourism initiatives with local landowners. Use as a flagship species in general provincial conservation awareness programmes.
| License | http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0/ |
| Rights holder/Author | © International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources |
| Source | http://www.iucnredlist.org/apps/redlist/details/106004007 |