5 thoughts on “White-headed Island-thrush (Turdus pritzbueri)”
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 2 February 2026. 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 2 February 2026, when discussions will re-open.
We have received the following comment from Guy Dutson via email:
(1) Although I noted ‘one recent record’ on Erromango in my book (Dutson 2011), I am unaware of any other records of this taxon and it is plausible that it has recently become extinct.
(2) I’m hoping Mark O’Brien (BL Pacific secretariat) might have some semi-quantitative data fo the taxon on Tanna
(3) Given that the ‘species’ has become extinct on Lifou (maybe 100 years ago) and potentially on Erromango, we could / should be precautionary and assume a significant decline in EOO and qualify the taxon eg B1a+b or A4c
We thank G. Dutson for their helpful comment above. In the absence of information on the current trend or population size, there is no evidence that the species meets the thresholds for listing under Criteria A or C. However, on a precautionary basis, there may be a limited number of locations (where a location is defined as a geographically or ecologically distinct area in which a single threatening event can rapidly affect all individuals of the taxon present). It is extinct on Lifou, where disease, predation and hunting are possible causes, and there appears to be a lack of recent records from Erromango. The most serious plausible threat to the extant population is unclear, particularly as invasive species already occur within the range. Nevertheless, precautionarily, considering its restriction to three small islands, its extinction on Lifou and of congeners on other islands (Grande-Terre, Maré, Lord Howe and Norfolk), the number of locations may be moderately small and plausibly fewer than ten.
Based on available information therefore, our preliminary proposal for the 2026 Red List would be to list White-headed Island-thrush as Vulnerable under Criteria B1ab(iii)+2ab(iii). There is now a period for further comments until the final deadline on 8 February 2026, after which the recommended categorisations will be put forward to IUCN.
The final 2026 Red List categories will be published on the BirdLife and IUCN websites later this year, 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 the information, and a final decision on this species’ Red List category will be posted on this page on 16 February 2026.
Recommended categorisation to be put forward to IUCN
The final categorisation for this species has not changed. White-headed Island-thrush is recommended to be listed as Vulnerable under Criteria B1ab(iii)+2ab(iii).
Many thanks to everyone who contributed to the 2026.1 GTB Forum process. The final Red List categories will be published on the BirdLife and IUCN websites later this year, 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 2 February 2026. 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 2 February 2026, when discussions will re-open.
We have received the following comment from Guy Dutson via email:
(1) Although I noted ‘one recent record’ on Erromango in my book (Dutson 2011), I am unaware of any other records of this taxon and it is plausible that it has recently become extinct.
(2) I’m hoping Mark O’Brien (BL Pacific secretariat) might have some semi-quantitative data fo the taxon on Tanna
(3) Given that the ‘species’ has become extinct on Lifou (maybe 100 years ago) and potentially on Erromango, we could / should be precautionary and assume a significant decline in EOO and qualify the taxon eg B1a+b or A4c
Preliminary proposal
We thank G. Dutson for their helpful comment above. In the absence of information on the current trend or population size, there is no evidence that the species meets the thresholds for listing under Criteria A or C. However, on a precautionary basis, there may be a limited number of locations (where a location is defined as a geographically or ecologically distinct area in which a single threatening event can rapidly affect all individuals of the taxon present). It is extinct on Lifou, where disease, predation and hunting are possible causes, and there appears to be a lack of recent records from Erromango. The most serious plausible threat to the extant population is unclear, particularly as invasive species already occur within the range. Nevertheless, precautionarily, considering its restriction to three small islands, its extinction on Lifou and of congeners on other islands (Grande-Terre, Maré, Lord Howe and Norfolk), the number of locations may be moderately small and plausibly fewer than ten.
Based on available information therefore, our preliminary proposal for the 2026 Red List would be to list White-headed Island-thrush as Vulnerable under Criteria B1ab(iii)+2ab(iii). There is now a period for further comments until the final deadline on 8 February 2026, after which the recommended categorisations will be put forward to IUCN.
The final 2026 Red List categories will be published on the BirdLife and IUCN websites later this year, 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 the information, and a final decision on this species’ Red List category will be posted on this page on 16 February 2026.
Recommended categorisation to be put forward to IUCN
The final categorisation for this species has not changed. White-headed Island-thrush is recommended to be listed as Vulnerable under Criteria B1ab(iii)+2ab(iii).
Many thanks to everyone who contributed to the 2026.1 GTB Forum process. The final Red List categories will be published on the BirdLife and IUCN websites later this year, following further checking of information relevant to the assessments by both BirdLife and IUCN.