Sturnus vulgaris | UAE National Red List of Birds

Taxa
Sturnus vulgaris | Linnaeus, 1758
Publication
UAE National Red List of Birds
Location
Countries in Assessment
United Arab Emirates
Country ISO code(s)
ARE
Does the assessment cover a marine EEZ area(s)?
Off
Scope (Assessment)
National
Taxon
Taxonomic Group
Vertebrates
Taxonomic Group Level 2
Birds
Assessed taxon level
Species
Taxon distribution as listed in assessment
Occurrences of this species within the UAE are mainly of wintering individuals between November and February. From 1991 on, there has been a small resident population of up to 50 pairs breeding in Ras al-Khaimah Emirate (Jennings 2010). While the persistence of this population has been unclear in recent years, breeding was confirmed again in May 2019 (S. Alam (Dubai Municipality) pers. comm. 2019, R. Khan (Dubai Safari, Dubai Municipality) pers. comm. 2019). Moreover, there is evidence of a new breeding population in Dubai (Pedersen et al. 2017).
Habitats and Ecology
Ecological system type
Terrestrial system
No
Freshwater system
No
Marine system
No
Habitat
Habitat details as listed in assessment
During the non-breeding season, this species occupies a wide variety of habitats, including heavily modified areas like cultivations, garbage dumps, urban gardens, villages and palm groves (Jennings 2010). The breeding population near Hamraniyah (Ras al-Khaimah) inhabited irrigated fodder fields in close proximity to farm buildings and old Ghaf (Prosopis cineraria) trees (Jennings 2010). The species roosts in large flocks, partly together with other species, in large trees close to human settlements (Jennings 2010). It feeds in flocks on the ground. It is omnivorous, taking plant material (grains, grass, fruits and berries) as well as animals (invertebrates and small lizards), but also feeds on food waste and visits bird tables (Snow and Perrins 1998, Jennings 2010). Breeding occurs mostly between March and June. There is no information available on nests or nest sites in the UAE; elsewhere the nest is a bulky structure of dry grasses and leaves, lined with softer materials such as feathers, hair and fibres. It is typically built in a hole in a tree or building. Clutches are normally four to six eggs (Craig and Feare 2015).
Is there a map available in assessment?
Yes
Assessed status
Asessment status in full
Vulnerable
Assessment status abreviation
VU
Assessment status criteria
D1
Assessment rationale/justification
This species's non-breeding population is suspected to be sufficiently large that it would not approach the thresholds for listing as Vulnerable, and so would be listed as Least Concern. However, the breeding population takes precedence here. This species colonised the UAE as a breeding species in the early 1990s, and has increased since. The population size does remain small, low enough that it would trigger a listing as Endangered. However, there is a good likelihood for a rescue effect for this population and so, after regional adjustment, it is listed here as Vulnerable under Criterion D1.
About the assessment
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
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.
Endemism
Endemic to region
Not_assigned
Endemism Notes
Is an endemic?: Not_assigned
Conservation
Threats listed in assessment
No threats are known to be affecting this species in the UAE.
Conservation Measures

Conservation measures:
Conservation measures notes:
Required conservation measures:

Further information
History
Having initially colonised the country as a breeding species in the early 1990's, the population of this species has continued to grow. After taking into account regional adjustments, it is thought that the species would have been assessed as Endangered in 1996, whereas now it is listed as Vulnerable. It has potentially done so as a result of increasing levels of suitable habitat within the country.
Scientific Name Kingdom Phylum Class Order Family Genus
Sturnus vulgaris Animalia Chordata Aves Passeriformes Sturnidae Sturnus