Nycticorax nycticorax | UAE National Red List of Birds
Taxa
Nycticorax nycticorax | (Linnaeus, 1758)
Publication
Asessment status in full
Endangered
Assessment status abreviation
EN
Assessment status criteria
D
Assessment rationale/justification
This species has a tiny breeding and non-breeding population, both of which are thought to be increasing within the UAE. The breeding population size is low enough that it would trigger listing as Critically Endangered under Criterion D, while the non-breeding population size would trigger a listing as Endangered. Based on the regional criteria, however, the breeding population warrants a regional adjustment due to the likelihood of a rescue effect. The non-breeding population is precautionarily not thought to warrant such a change. The breeding status takes precedence and so the species is listed as Endangered under Criterion D.
Assessment year
2019
Assessors/contributors/reviewers listed
UAE National Red List Workshop
Affliation of assessor(s)/contributors/reviewers listed on assessment
Government
IGO
Assessor affiliation specific
Government|IGO
Criteria system specifics
IUCN v3.1 + Regional Guidelines v4.0
Criteria system used
IUCN
Criteria Citation
IUCN. 2012. IUCN Red List Categories and Criteria: Version 3.1, Second edition. IUCN, Gland, Switzerland and Cambridge, UK. iv + 32pp pp. And IUCN. 2012. Guidelines for Application of IUCN Red List Criteria at Regional and National Levels: Version 4.0. Gland, Switzerland and Cambridge, UK: IUCN. iii + 41pp.
Endemic to region
Not_assigned
Endemism Notes
Is an endemic?: Not_assigned
Threats listed in assessment
The most relevant threats within UAE are changes in coastal land-use and the possibility of oil pollution, but the severity of these threats towards this species is unknown.Individuals of this species that visit UAE are also potentially threatened by a range of threats that operate outside of the country. The species is threatened by wetland drainage and destruction (del Hoyo et al. 1992, Kushlan and Hancock 2005) and by droughts in wintering areas (Hafner and Kushlan 2002). It is highly susceptible to pesticides (del Hoyo et al. 1992, Kwon et al. 2004, Kushlan and Hancock 2005) such as organophosphates, carbamates (Kwon et al. 2004) and DDE (a breakdown product of DDT), which negatively affect hatching success (Kushlan and Hancock 2005). There are also cases of genetic damage to chicks as a result of petroleum contamination (Custer 2000). The species is susceptible to avian influenza (Melville and Shortridge 2006) and Newcastle disease so may be threatened by future outbreaks (Kuiken et al. 2006). It is also persecuted (anti-predation killing) at aquaculture facilities due to its depredation on fish stocks (Kushlan and Hancock 2005), and has suffered declines due to the exploitation of chicks from nesting colonies in the past (del Hoyo et al. 1992).
Conservation Measures
Conservation measures:
Conservation measures notes:
Required conservation measures:
History
The species first bred in the UAE in 1992. The species would have qualified as CR (D) under its breeding population, but without rescue effect since it was just becoming established. Its successful colonisation of the country is likely related to increases in suitable artificial habitats.
Scientific Name | Kingdom | Phylum | Class | Order | Family | Genus |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Nycticorax nycticorax | Animalia | Chordata | Aves | Pelecaniformes | Ardeidae | Nycticorax |