7 thoughts on “White-naped Tit (Machlolophus nuchalis)”
This information is based on my personal observation in both southern Rajasthan, North Gujarat and Kachchh, at different year intervals between 1998 to 2024, This species being strictly found in thorn forest, and in both Rajasthan and Gujarat, where ever this species is distributed, the thorn forest are intensively used by livestock livelihood dependent communities. So there is frequent lopping of the thorn trees and also continuous browsing, with in some parts/sites thorn trees being cut and removed. In Kachchh development and associated activities has led to loss of pristine habitat of this species. More over the competition for nesting for this species is very high, as in the thorn forest the natural primary hole nester is only the Yellow-crowned Woodpecker (Dendrocopos mahrattensis), and these holes are occupied not only by this tit species but face competition from starlings, robins, holes being occupied by honey bees, Black Carpenter Ant and larger hole usually occupied by Rose-ringed Parakeet, and Common Myna. Hence, unless information is available on the status of population and its habitat in its discontinuous range, in my opinion it should be retained as Vulnerable. More current information on distribution and status of thorn forest habitat with site and area specific population and threats are made available, for a better insight to make the evaluation before categorizing it as Near Threatened. Some of the observations are from the report: Kala, H., Joshua, J. and Ragunathan, P. 2011. Assessment of the Population of White-naped Tit (Parus nuchalis) and its Thorn Forest Habitat in Southern Aravalli Hills, Rajasthan, India. Final Report. Submitted to Rufford Small Grant Foundation, London.
The State of India’s Birds have only one trend available for this species, and it is the long-term trend from the state of Gujarat, one of the strong-holds of the north-western population. There it is under ‘Rapid Decline’. https://stateofindiasbirds.in/species/gj-whwtit2/ – the confidence interval is fairly tight – with (81-90%) decline since pre-2000 levels (median year 1993). If we were to interpolate to 10 years (3 generation 30%). Current trends for Gujarat are inconclusive but looking at the graph, a decline cannot be inferred. So it is possible that the population decline was historical. Reasons for the decline are not known.
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 28 October 2024. We will now analyse and interpret the information, and we will post a preliminary decision on this species’ Red List status on this page on 28 October 2024, when discussions will re-open.
Downlisting the White naped Tit is a very bad idea without further data. Acacia thorn scrub is hard to quantify in its extent of occurrence from GIS data. In our experience in Rajasthan, the species is absent or patchy in much apparently suitable habitat, and the expansion of quarrying, tree plantations and various other forms of human activity poses a major potential problem. For example, our acoustic studies in 2019 did not find it at former known localities in Jaipur (although it still survives in other areas within that district, based on communications from people in the know).
Downlisting in this manner should not be proposed based on a very tentative extrapolation, as it could do significant damage both to the species and its habitat by implying a false sense of security. The proposal in question should be shelved until someone actually completes more field studies. Every single study on the species indicates ongoing (and potentially rapid) declines. The population may well prove to be larger than previously thought, but there is no data, and given the capricious nature of this species, it is hazardous to assume otherwise.
Based on available information, our preliminary proposal for the 2025 Red List would be to adopt the proposed classifications outlined in the initial forum discussion.
For the species to be retained as Vulnerable, quantitative data on the population trends or rate of thorn-forest loss suggesting >30% reduction in the population over the past ten years are required. Alternatively, more robust data on the population size would be needed to suggest there are fewer than 10,000 mature individuals. As this is information is not currently available, the species qualifies as NT.
There is now a period for further comments until the final deadline on 10 November 2024, after which the recommended categorisations will be put forward to IUCN.
The final Red List categories will be published on the BirdLife and IUCN websites in 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. We will analyse and interpret the information, and a final decision on this species’ Red List category will be posted on this page on 18 November 2024.
Recommended categorisation to be put forward to IUCN
The final categorisation for this species has not changed. White-naped Tit is recommended to be listed as Near Threatened, approaching thresholds under Criteria C1+2a(i).
Many thanks for everyone who contributed to the 2025.1 GTB Forum process. The final Red List categories will be published on the BirdLife and IUCN websites in 2025, following further checking of information relevant to the assessments by both BirdLife and IUCN.
This information is based on my personal observation in both southern Rajasthan, North Gujarat and Kachchh, at different year intervals between 1998 to 2024, This species being strictly found in thorn forest, and in both Rajasthan and Gujarat, where ever this species is distributed, the thorn forest are intensively used by livestock livelihood dependent communities. So there is frequent lopping of the thorn trees and also continuous browsing, with in some parts/sites thorn trees being cut and removed. In Kachchh development and associated activities has led to loss of pristine habitat of this species. More over the competition for nesting for this species is very high, as in the thorn forest the natural primary hole nester is only the Yellow-crowned Woodpecker (Dendrocopos mahrattensis), and these holes are occupied not only by this tit species but face competition from starlings, robins, holes being occupied by honey bees, Black Carpenter Ant and larger hole usually occupied by Rose-ringed Parakeet, and Common Myna. Hence, unless information is available on the status of population and its habitat in its discontinuous range, in my opinion it should be retained as Vulnerable. More current information on distribution and status of thorn forest habitat with site and area specific population and threats are made available, for a better insight to make the evaluation before categorizing it as Near Threatened. Some of the observations are from the report: Kala, H., Joshua, J. and Ragunathan, P. 2011. Assessment of the Population of White-naped Tit (Parus nuchalis) and its Thorn Forest Habitat in Southern Aravalli Hills, Rajasthan, India. Final Report. Submitted to Rufford Small Grant Foundation, London.
The State of India’s Birds have only one trend available for this species, and it is the long-term trend from the state of Gujarat, one of the strong-holds of the north-western population. There it is under ‘Rapid Decline’. https://stateofindiasbirds.in/species/gj-whwtit2/ – the confidence interval is fairly tight – with (81-90%) decline since pre-2000 levels (median year 1993). If we were to interpolate to 10 years (3 generation 30%). Current trends for Gujarat are inconclusive but looking at the graph, a decline cannot be inferred. So it is possible that the population decline was historical. Reasons for the decline are not known.
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 28 October 2024. We will now analyse and interpret the information, and we will post a preliminary decision on this species’ Red List status on this page on 28 October 2024, when discussions will re-open.
Downlisting the White naped Tit is a very bad idea without further data. Acacia thorn scrub is hard to quantify in its extent of occurrence from GIS data. In our experience in Rajasthan, the species is absent or patchy in much apparently suitable habitat, and the expansion of quarrying, tree plantations and various other forms of human activity poses a major potential problem. For example, our acoustic studies in 2019 did not find it at former known localities in Jaipur (although it still survives in other areas within that district, based on communications from people in the know).
Downlisting in this manner should not be proposed based on a very tentative extrapolation, as it could do significant damage both to the species and its habitat by implying a false sense of security. The proposal in question should be shelved until someone actually completes more field studies. Every single study on the species indicates ongoing (and potentially rapid) declines. The population may well prove to be larger than previously thought, but there is no data, and given the capricious nature of this species, it is hazardous to assume otherwise.
Preliminary proposal
Based on available information, our preliminary proposal for the 2025 Red List would be to adopt the proposed classifications outlined in the initial forum discussion.
For the species to be retained as Vulnerable, quantitative data on the population trends or rate of thorn-forest loss suggesting >30% reduction in the population over the past ten years are required. Alternatively, more robust data on the population size would be needed to suggest there are fewer than 10,000 mature individuals. As this is information is not currently available, the species qualifies as NT.
There is now a period for further comments until the final deadline on 10 November 2024, after which the recommended categorisations will be put forward to IUCN.
The final Red List categories will be published on the BirdLife and IUCN websites in 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. We will analyse and interpret the information, and a final decision on this species’ Red List category will be posted on this page on 18 November 2024.
Recommended categorisation to be put forward to IUCN
The final categorisation for this species has not changed. White-naped Tit is recommended to be listed as Near Threatened, approaching thresholds under Criteria C1+2a(i).
Many thanks for everyone who contributed to the 2025.1 GTB Forum process. The final Red List categories will be published on the BirdLife and IUCN websites in 2025, following further checking of information relevant to the assessments by both BirdLife and IUCN.