The species is common and easily found in certain pockets of Namdapha NP. However, it also is absent in other parts. There is a strong association to certain type of bamboo, that seems to be limited by altitude barriers. It is present in Kamlang in addition, again in its typical habitat. While surveys inside the national park is very limited, the extent of bamboo habitat should be used for population estimation (not 2,000 sq. km.). I have no comments on the population of this species being more than 10,000 individuals (or 5,000 on Indian side assuming a clean division) – but the means that BLI used to estimate the population should consider this limited range and occupancy.
There are some sightings but most were from certain easily accessible pockets of Namdapha National Park where birding tourists visit. Also occurs in suitable habitat in Patkai Range including Kamlang Sanctuary and Reserved Forest. The habitat shown for Myanmar is also remote and little explored. Hence, I think change of status with current knowledge base would be premature.
Many thanks to everyone who has contributed to this discussion. We greatly appreciate the time and effort invested in commenting. The window for consultation is now temporarily closed and we are unable to accept any more comments until 6 February 2023. We will now analyse and interpret new information, and we will post a preliminary decision on this species’ Red List status on this page on 6 February 2023, when discussions will re-open.
In response to a comment made by Praveen J, that ‘the means that BLI used to estimate the population’, it should be noted that the Population Size field for this species is left ‘Unknown’ for this reason, since the area of suitable habitat is ultimately unknown. Nonetheless, that there is 2,000 km2 of forest in Namdapha NP remains valuable information, even if it does not translate directly into a population estimate. Ultimately, although there are substantial unknowns with this species, the global extinction risk is, for now at least, low, with very slow rates of forest loss and little indication bamboo is being removed from protected areas. Should any of these scenarios change, then the species may qualify for uplisting to a higher threat category in the future. However, based on available information, our preliminary proposal for the 2023 Red List would be to adopt the proposed classifications outlined in the initial forum discussion.
There is now a period for further comments until the final deadline on 12 February 2023, after which the recommended categorisations will be put forward to IUCN.
The final 2023 Red List categories will be published on the BirdLife and IUCN websites in December 2023, following further checking of information relevant to the assessments by both BirdLife and IUCN.
Many thanks to everyone who has contributed to this discussion. We greatly appreciate the time and effort invested in commenting. The window for consultation is now closed and we are unable to accept any more comments. We will analyse and interpret available information, and we will post a final decision on this species’ Red List status on this page on 20 February 2023.
Recommended categorisation to be put forward to IUCN
The final categorisation for this species has not changed. Snowy-throated Babbler is recommended to be listed as Near Threatened, approaching the threshold for listing as threatened under Criterion B1b(iii).
Many thanks for everyone who contributed to the 2023.1 GTB Forum process. The final 2023 Red List categories will be published on the BirdLife and IUCN websites in December 2023, following further checking of information relevant to the assessments by both BirdLife and IUCN.
The range map included on the Indian side is over-optimistic.
Here is the list of records in the last 7 years in eBird
https://ebird.org/india/map/sntbab1?neg=true&env.minX=93.02919072925057&env.minY=25.958116765809265&env.maxX=98.65419072925057&env.maxY=28.1398866168617&zh=true&gp=true&ev=Z&excludeEx=&mr=1-12&bmo=1&emo=12&yr=range&byr=2016&eyr=2023
The species is common and easily found in certain pockets of Namdapha NP. However, it also is absent in other parts. There is a strong association to certain type of bamboo, that seems to be limited by altitude barriers. It is present in Kamlang in addition, again in its typical habitat. While surveys inside the national park is very limited, the extent of bamboo habitat should be used for population estimation (not 2,000 sq. km.). I have no comments on the population of this species being more than 10,000 individuals (or 5,000 on Indian side assuming a clean division) – but the means that BLI used to estimate the population should consider this limited range and occupancy.
There are some sightings but most were from certain easily accessible pockets of Namdapha National Park where birding tourists visit. Also occurs in suitable habitat in Patkai Range including Kamlang Sanctuary and Reserved Forest. The habitat shown for Myanmar is also remote and little explored. Hence, I think change of status with current knowledge base would be premature.
Many thanks to everyone who has contributed to this discussion. We greatly appreciate the time and effort invested in commenting. The window for consultation is now temporarily closed and we are unable to accept any more comments until 6 February 2023. We will now analyse and interpret new information, and we will post a preliminary decision on this species’ Red List status on this page on 6 February 2023, when discussions will re-open.
Preliminary proposal
In response to a comment made by Praveen J, that ‘the means that BLI used to estimate the population’, it should be noted that the Population Size field for this species is left ‘Unknown’ for this reason, since the area of suitable habitat is ultimately unknown. Nonetheless, that there is 2,000 km2 of forest in Namdapha NP remains valuable information, even if it does not translate directly into a population estimate. Ultimately, although there are substantial unknowns with this species, the global extinction risk is, for now at least, low, with very slow rates of forest loss and little indication bamboo is being removed from protected areas. Should any of these scenarios change, then the species may qualify for uplisting to a higher threat category in the future. However, based on available information, our preliminary proposal for the 2023 Red List would be to adopt the proposed classifications outlined in the initial forum discussion.
There is now a period for further comments until the final deadline on 12 February 2023, after which the recommended categorisations will be put forward to IUCN.
The final 2023 Red List categories will be published on the BirdLife and IUCN websites in December 2023, following further checking of information relevant to the assessments by both BirdLife and IUCN.
Many thanks to everyone who has contributed to this discussion. We greatly appreciate the time and effort invested in commenting. The window for consultation is now closed and we are unable to accept any more comments. We will analyse and interpret available information, and we will post a final decision on this species’ Red List status on this page on 20 February 2023.
Recommended categorisation to be put forward to IUCN
The final categorisation for this species has not changed. Snowy-throated Babbler is recommended to be listed as Near Threatened, approaching the threshold for listing as threatened under Criterion B1b(iii).
Many thanks for everyone who contributed to the 2023.1 GTB Forum process. The final 2023 Red List categories will be published on the BirdLife and IUCN websites in December 2023, following further checking of information relevant to the assessments by both BirdLife and IUCN.