6 thoughts on “White-breasted Babbler (Stachyris grammiceps)”
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 until 25 April 2025. We will now analyse and interpret the information, and we will post a preliminary decision on this species’ Red List category on this page on 25 April 2025, when discussions will re-open.
Based on available information, our preliminary proposal for the 2025 Red List would be to adopt the proposed classification outlined in the initial forum discussion.
There is now a period for further comments until the final deadline on 4 May 2025, after which the recommended categorisations will be put forward to IUCN.
The final 2025 Red List categories will be published on the BirdLife and IUCN websites in October 2025, following further checking of information relevant to the assessments by both BirdLife and IUCN.
Still rather common in Gunung Halimun-Salak NP, and I also found them quite common in southern slope of Gunung Sawal WR in 2023. No evidence of concerning threat of habitat lost for most of its known localities as well as new known localities (e.g. Sawal, Petungkriyono), and not targeted for bird trade as well (although by-catch still present in menial numbers in bird market). Therefore I agree for its reclassification to LC
Our survey (Marsden et al., 2023) recorded this species on only 3 out of 12 mountains surveyed in western Java, namely Mount Kencana, Mount Slamet, and the Gunung Papandayan Nature Reserve. Even in these locations, encounters were rare—fewer than three sightings per mountain. This low detection rate is, to some extent, understandable given that many of our survey sites were situated at elevations higher than the species’ typical habitat range. However, several mountains surveyed—such as Mount Malabar, Limbung, Masigit, Simpang, and Guntur—do include elevational zones considered suitable for this species, yet it was not detected there through either line transects or incidental observations.
A brief visit to Mount Sanggabuana (an Important Bird Area) also failed to confirm the presence of the species, despite the area largely falling within its expected elevational range. We suspect that the species may still be relatively common in well-managed protected areas, particularly within national parks such as Gunung Halimun-Salak and Gunung Gede-Pangrango, which have stronger conservation management practices.
In terms of threats, we have found clear evidence that this species is being targeted by bird poachers. Among bird keepers, it is frequently used as a “master bird” to train other birds for song contests. The species was observed being sold in relatively large numbers in bird shops and markets. During a brief visit to Pramuka Bird Market, we recorded more than 50 individuals for sale. Additionally, bird enthusiasts are actively posting content featuring this species on social media, indicating a growing trend in the bird-keeping community. A simple search using the keyword “burung sniper” yields numerous results related to the keeping and trade of this species.
This growing interest in the species as a songbird, combined with its availability in markets and online platforms, suggests that population declines may already be occurring in the wild—declines that are not yet fully captured by existing ecological surveys. Given the apparent increase in demand, there is potential for a more rapid decline in the near future.
In light of these considerations, I recommend that the species should remain listed as Near Threatened.
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 the information, and a final decision on this species’ Red List category will be posted on this page on 12 May 2025.
Recommended categorisation to be put forward to IUCN
We are thankful to all those who have commented on this species, particularly for the helpful information provided by A. R. Junaid. It is apparent given the search effort outlined that the occupancy of this species may be relatively low within its mapped range. Precautionarily, a population size of 5,000-25,000 is suspected, with 500-2,500 in the largest subpopulation. Given concern about the increase of the species in trade, it is precautionarily suspected to be declining. Accordingly, White-breasted Babbler will now be recommended to be listed as Near Threatened approaching thresholds for listing as threatened under Criterion C2a(i). This maintains the species in the extinction risk category it currently occupies.
Many thanks for everyone who contributed to the 2025.2 GTB Forum process. The final Red List categories will be published on the BirdLife and IUCN websites in October 2025, 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 until 25 April 2025. We will now analyse and interpret the information, and we will post a preliminary decision on this species’ Red List category on this page on 25 April 2025, when discussions will re-open.
Preliminary proposal
Based on available information, our preliminary proposal for the 2025 Red List would be to adopt the proposed classification outlined in the initial forum discussion.
There is now a period for further comments until the final deadline on 4 May 2025, after which the recommended categorisations will be put forward to IUCN.
The final 2025 Red List categories will be published on the BirdLife and IUCN websites in October 2025, following further checking of information relevant to the assessments by both BirdLife and IUCN.
Still rather common in Gunung Halimun-Salak NP, and I also found them quite common in southern slope of Gunung Sawal WR in 2023. No evidence of concerning threat of habitat lost for most of its known localities as well as new known localities (e.g. Sawal, Petungkriyono), and not targeted for bird trade as well (although by-catch still present in menial numbers in bird market). Therefore I agree for its reclassification to LC
Our survey (Marsden et al., 2023) recorded this species on only 3 out of 12 mountains surveyed in western Java, namely Mount Kencana, Mount Slamet, and the Gunung Papandayan Nature Reserve. Even in these locations, encounters were rare—fewer than three sightings per mountain. This low detection rate is, to some extent, understandable given that many of our survey sites were situated at elevations higher than the species’ typical habitat range. However, several mountains surveyed—such as Mount Malabar, Limbung, Masigit, Simpang, and Guntur—do include elevational zones considered suitable for this species, yet it was not detected there through either line transects or incidental observations.
A brief visit to Mount Sanggabuana (an Important Bird Area) also failed to confirm the presence of the species, despite the area largely falling within its expected elevational range. We suspect that the species may still be relatively common in well-managed protected areas, particularly within national parks such as Gunung Halimun-Salak and Gunung Gede-Pangrango, which have stronger conservation management practices.
In terms of threats, we have found clear evidence that this species is being targeted by bird poachers. Among bird keepers, it is frequently used as a “master bird” to train other birds for song contests. The species was observed being sold in relatively large numbers in bird shops and markets. During a brief visit to Pramuka Bird Market, we recorded more than 50 individuals for sale. Additionally, bird enthusiasts are actively posting content featuring this species on social media, indicating a growing trend in the bird-keeping community. A simple search using the keyword “burung sniper” yields numerous results related to the keeping and trade of this species.
Examples of such content include:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UU0CDkIHZ6U
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gdAfTpDjaBw
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tI5cOOgGrh4
This growing interest in the species as a songbird, combined with its availability in markets and online platforms, suggests that population declines may already be occurring in the wild—declines that are not yet fully captured by existing ecological surveys. Given the apparent increase in demand, there is potential for a more rapid decline in the near future.
In light of these considerations, I recommend that the species should remain listed as Near Threatened.
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 the information, and a final decision on this species’ Red List category will be posted on this page on 12 May 2025.
Recommended categorisation to be put forward to IUCN
We are thankful to all those who have commented on this species, particularly for the helpful information provided by A. R. Junaid. It is apparent given the search effort outlined that the occupancy of this species may be relatively low within its mapped range. Precautionarily, a population size of 5,000-25,000 is suspected, with 500-2,500 in the largest subpopulation. Given concern about the increase of the species in trade, it is precautionarily suspected to be declining. Accordingly, White-breasted Babbler will now be recommended to be listed as Near Threatened approaching thresholds for listing as threatened under Criterion C2a(i). This maintains the species in the extinction risk category it currently occupies.
Many thanks for everyone who contributed to the 2025.2 GTB Forum process. The final Red List categories will be published on the BirdLife and IUCN websites in October 2025, following further checking of information relevant to the assessments by both BirdLife and IUCN.