During 2007-2008, the status of all 9,990 species of bird recognised by BirdLife International was checked against the IUCN Red List criteria. This led to 166 species having their status actively reviewed and discussed in the Globally Threatened Bird discussion forums on BirdLife's website, resulting in the IUCN Red List category being revised for a number of these. In addition, a number of taxonomic changes were incorporated. In total, 107 species have changed category. The table below gives the totals in each IUCN Red List category since 2000. The relatively small net changes to the totals mask the fact that 226 species moved between categories in 2000-2004, 99 species in 2004-2005, 150 in 2005-2006, 81 in 2006-2007 and 107 in 2007-2008 (see below). These include category revisions owing to improved knowledge and taxonomic changes, as well as genuine changes in status. Therefore, it is difficult to interpret the changes in absolute totals. Instead, it is better to examine trends in the Red List Index, which shows graphically the net changes to the overall projected extinction risk of the world’s birds from 1988 to 2008.
Category |
2000 |
2004 |
2005 |
2006 |
2007 |
2008 |
Extinct |
128 |
129 |
131 |
135 |
135 |
135 |
Extinct in the Wild |
3 |
4 |
4 |
4 |
4 |
4 |
Critically Endangered
(incl. Possibly Extinct) |
182
(n/a) |
179
(18) |
179
(17) |
181 (16) |
189 (15) |
190 (15) |
Endangered |
321 |
345 |
350 |
351 |
356 |
363 |
Vulnerable |
680 |
689 |
679 |
674 |
672 |
669 |
Total Threatened |
1,186 |
1,217 |
1,212 |
1,210 |
1,221 |
1,226 |
Near Threatened
(incl. Conservation Dependent in 2000) |
730 |
773 |
788 |
795 |
812 |
835 |
Least Concern |
7,755 |
7,720 |
7,697 |
7,720 |
7,715 |
7,729 |
Data Deficient |
79 |
78 |
78 |
74 |
73 |
66 |
Total |
9,878 |
9,917 |
9,906 |
9,934 |
9,956 |
9,990 |
Species changing IUCN Red List
The table below lists all 107 species whose IUCN Red List category was revised in May 2008 for the 2008 IUCN Red List. An explanation of the category codes and 'Reason for change' terms follows the table. Of the 107 category changes, 26 resulted from a genuine change in the status of species (2 improvements versus 24 deteriorations), 42 were a result of improved knowledge (of the status of species or the threats impacting them) and 38 resulted from taxonomic revisions (either recently published or recently evaluated/re-evaluated by BirdLife). Full explanations for the taxonomic changes are given in the Taxonomic notes field on the species factsheets, which are available through the Datazone.
| Common name |
Scientific name |
2007 |
2008 |
Reason for change |
| Little Spotted Kiwi |
Apteryx owenii |
VU |
NT |
Genuine (since first assessment) |
| Bruijn’s Brush-turkey |
Aepypodius bruijnii |
VU |
EN |
Knowledge |
| Helmeted Curassow |
Pauxi pauxi |
VU |
EN |
Genuine (recent) |
| Gorgeted Wood-quail |
Odontophorus strophium |
CR |
EN |
Knowledge |
| Caucasian Grouse |
Tetrao mlokosiewiczi |
DD |
NT |
Genuine (recent) |
| Swan Goose |
Anser cygnoides |
EN |
VU |
Knowledge |
| Blue-winged Goose |
Cyanochen cyanoptera |
NT |
VU |
Knowledge |
| Baer's Pochard |
Aythya baeri |
VU |
EN |
Genuine (recent) |
| Southern Rockhopper Penguin |
Eudyptes chrysocome |
NR |
VU |
Taxonomy (newly split) |
| Northern Rockhopper Penguin |
Eudyptes moseleyi |
NR |
EN |
Taxonomy (newly split) |
| Tristan Albatross |
Diomedea dabbenena |
EN |
CR |
Genuine (since first assessment) |
| Buller’s Albatross |
Thalassarche bulleri |
VU |
NT |
Knowledge |
| Atlantic Petrel |
Pterodroma incerta |
VU |
EN |
Knowledge |
| Yelkouan Shearwater |
Puffinus yelkouan |
LC |
NT |
Knowledge |
| Peruvian Pelican |
Pelecanus thagus |
NR |
NT |
Taxonomy (newly split) |
| Sooty Falcon |
Falco concolor |
LC |
NT |
Knowledge |
| New Britain Goshawk |
Accipiter princeps |
NT |
VU |
Genuine (since first assessment) |
| Cuban Black-hawk |
Buteogallus gundlachii |
NR |
NT |
Taxonomy (newly split) |
| Ferruginous Hawk |
Buteo regalis |
NT |
LC |
Knowledge |
| Andaman Crake |
Rallina canningi |
DD |
NT |
Knowledge |
| Mountain Plover |
Charadrius montanus |
VU |
NT |
Knowledge |
| Eurasian Curlew |
Numenius arquata |
LC |
NT |
Genuine (since first assessment) |
| Long-billed Curlew |
Numenius americanus |
NT |
LC |
Knowledge |
| Spoon-billed Sandpiper |
Eurynorhynchus pygmeus |
EN |
CR |
Genuine (recent) |
| Fairy Tern |
Sterna nereis |
LC |
VU |
Genuine (recent) |
| Yellow-legged Pigeon |
Columba pallidiceps |
EN |
VU |
Knowledge |
| Pied Cuckoo-Dove |
Reinwardtoena browni |
LC |
NT |
Genuine (since first assessment) |
| Liverpool Pigeon |
Caloenas maculata |
NR |
EX |
Other |
| Marquesan Ground-dove |
Gallicolumba rubescens |
EN |
VU |
Knowledge |
| Mindoro Imperial-pigeon |
Ducula mindorensis |
VU |
EN |
Knowledge |
| Marquesan Imperial-pigeon |
Ducula galeata |
CR |
EN |
Genuine (since first assessment) |
| Red-knobbed Imperial-pigeon |
Ducula rubricera |
LC |
NT |
Genuine (since first assessment) |
| Finsch's Imperial-pigeon |
Ducula finschii |
LC |
NT |
Genuine (since first assessment) |
| Blue-eyed Cockatoo |
Cacatua ophthalmica |
LC |
VU |
Genuine (since first assessment) |
| Sun Parakeet |
Aratinga solstitialis |
LC |
EN |
Knowledge |
| Violaceous Coucal |
Centropus violaceus |
LC |
NT |
Genuine (since first assessment) |
| Bismarck Masked-owl |
Tyto aurantia |
DD |
VU |
Genuine (since first assessment) |
| Russet Hawk-owl |
Ninox odiosa |
LC |
VU |
Genuine (since first assessment) |
| Escudo Hummingbird |
Amazilia handleyi |
VU |
NR |
Taxonomy (no longer recognised) |
| Scissor-tailed Hummingbird |
Hylonympha macrocerca |
VU |
EN |
Knowledge |
| Purple-backed Sunbeam |
Aglaeactis aliciae |
CR |
EN |
Knowledge |
| Black Inca |
Coeligena prunellei |
EN |
VU |
Knowledge |
| Zambian Barbet |
Lybius chaplini |
NT |
VU |
Knowledge |
| Gurney's Pitta |
Pitta gurneyi |
CR |
EN |
Knowledge |
| Rufous Flycatcher |
Myiarchus semirufus |
LC |
EN |
Knowledge |
| Rondonia Bushbird |
Clytoctantes atrogularis |
CR |
VU |
Knowledge |
| Ashy Antwren |
Myrmotherula grisea |
VU |
NT |
Knowledge |
| Rio Branco Antbird |
Cercomacra carbonaria |
VU |
NT |
Knowledge |
| White-masked Antbird |
Pithys castaneus |
DD |
NT |
Knowledge |
| Tachira Antpitta |
Grallaria chthonia |
EN |
CR |
Knowledge |
| Hoary-throated Spinetail |
Synallaxis kollari |
VU |
EN |
Knowledge |
| Bolivian Recurvebill |
Simoxenops striatus |
VU |
NT |
Knowledge |
| Rufous Scrub-bird |
Atrichornis rufescens |
NT |
VU |
Genuine (recent) |
| Mallee Emu-wren |
Stipiturus mallee |
VU |
EN |
Genuine (recent) |
| Bismarck Melidectes |
Melidectes whitemanensis |
LC |
NT |
Genuine (since first assessment) |
| Reunion Cuckooshrike |
Coracina newtoni |
EN |
CR |
Genuine (since first assessment) |
| Santa Cruz Shrikebill |
Clytorhynchus sanctaecrucis |
NR |
EN |
Taxonomy (newly split) |
| Mariana Crow |
Corvus kubaryi |
EN |
CR |
Genuine (since first assessment) |
| Cuban Crow |
Corvus nasicus |
EN |
NR |
Taxonomy (no longer recognised) |
| Collared Crow |
Corvus torquatus |
LC |
NT |
Knowledge |
| Brazza’s Martin |
Phedina brazzae |
DD |
LC |
Knowledge |
| Dorst’s Cisticola |
Cisticola guinea |
DD |
LC |
Knowledge |
| Kabobo Apalis |
Apalis kaboboensis |
DD |
NR |
Taxonomy (no longer recognised) |
| Baumann’s Greenbul |
Phyllastrephus baumanni |
DD |
LC |
Knowledge |
| Sassi's Olive Greenbul |
Phyllastrephus lorenzi |
NT |
NR |
Taxonomy (no longer recognised) |
| Bismarck Thicketbird |
Megalurulus grosvenori |
DD |
VU |
Genuine (since first assessment) |
| Bougainville Bush-warbler |
Cettia haddeni |
NR |
NT |
Taxonomy (newly described) |
| Timor Bush-warbler |
Bradypterus timorensis |
NR |
NT |
Taxonomy (newly split) |
| Tahiti Reed-warbler |
Acrocephalus caffer |
VU |
EN |
Knowledge |
| Pitcairn Reed-warbler |
Acrocephalus vaughani |
VU |
EN |
Knowledge |
| Dartford Warbler |
Sylvia undata |
LC |
NT |
Genuine (since first assessment) |
| Mindanao Pygmy-babbler |
Stachyris plateni |
NR |
NT |
Taxonomy (newly split) |
| Visayan Miniature-babbler |
Micromacronus leytensis |
NR |
DD |
Taxonomy (newly split) |
| Naga Wren-babbler |
Spelaeornis chocolatinus |
NR |
NT |
Taxonomy (newly split) |
| Black-browed babbler |
Malacocincla perspicillata |
VU |
DD |
Knowledge |
| Sumatran Wren-babbler |
Rimator albostriatus |
NR |
LC |
Taxonomy (newly split) |
| Grey-bellied Wren-babbler |
Spelaeornis reptatus |
NR |
LC |
Taxonomy (newly split) |
| Chin Hills Wren-babbler |
Spelaeornis oatesi |
NR |
LC |
Taxonomy (newly split) |
| Chevron-breasted Babbler |
Sphenocichla roberti |
NR |
NT |
Taxonomy (newly split) |
| Visayan Pygmy-babbler |
Stachyris pygmaea |
NR |
NT |
Taxonomy (newly split) |
| Mindanao Miniature-babbler |
Micromacronus sordidus |
NR |
DD |
Taxonomy (newly split) |
| Rufous-crowned Laughingthrush |
Garrulax ruficeps |
NR |
LC |
Taxonomy (newly split) |
| Cambodian Laughingthrush |
Garrulax ferrarius |
NR |
NT |
Taxonomy (newly split) |
| Orange-breasted Laughingthrush |
Garrulax annamensis |
NR |
LC |
Taxonomy (newly split) |
| Taiwan Hwamei |
Garrulax taewanus |
NR |
NT |
Taxonomy (newly split) |
| Vietnamese Cutia |
Cutia legalleni |
NR |
NT |
Taxonomy (newly split) |
| Black-crowned Fulvetta |
Alcippe klossi |
NR |
LC |
Taxonomy (newly split) |
| Black-headed Parrotbill |
Paradoxornis margaritae |
NR |
NT |
Taxonomy (newly split) |
| Sichuan Treecreeper |
Certhia tianquanensis |
VU |
NT |
Knowledge |
| Floreana Mockingbird |
Mimus trifasciatus |
EN |
CR |
Genuine (recent) |
| Chestnut-capped Thrush |
Zoothera interpres |
LC |
NT |
Knowledge |
| Somali Thrush |
Turdus ludoviciae |
CR |
VU |
Knowledge |
| Rubeho Akalat |
Sheppardia aurantiithorax |
NR |
EN |
taxonomy (newly described) |
| Benson's Rock-thrush |
Monticola bensoni |
NT |
NR |
Taxonomy (no longer recognised) |
| Red-fronted Antpecker |
Parmoptila rubrifrons |
NR |
NT |
Taxonomy (newly split) |
| Somali Grosbeak |
Rhynchostruthus louisae |
NR |
NT |
Taxonomy (newly split) |
| Arabian Grosbeak |
Rhynchostruthus percivali |
NR |
NT |
Taxonomy (newly split) |
| Oahu Akialoa |
Akialoa ellisiana |
EX |
NR |
Taxonomy (no longer recognised) |
| Maui Nui Akialoa |
Akialoa lanaiensis |
EX |
NR |
Taxonomy (no longer recognised) |
| Kauai Akialoa |
Akialoa stejnegeri |
EX |
NR |
Taxonomy (no longer recognised) |
| Akekee |
Loxops caeruleirostris |
EN |
CR |
Genuine (recent) |
| Iiwi |
Vestiaria coccinea |
NT |
VU |
Knowledge |
| Yellow-breasted Bunting |
Emberiza aureola |
NT |
VU |
Knowledge |
| Guadalupe Junco |
Junco insularis |
CR |
NR |
Taxonomy (no longer recognised) |
| Brewer’s Sparrow |
Spizella breweri |
NR |
LC |
Taxonomy (newly lumped) |
| Gough Bunting |
Rowettia goughensis |
VU |
CR |
Knowledge |
| Wing-barred Seedeater |
Sporophila americana |
NR |
LC |
Taxonomy (newly split) |
IUCN Red List categories
Reason for change
This is a code assigned by BirdLife whenever a species's IUCN Red List Category is changed. The codes are:
Genuine (recent)
The change in category is the result of a genuine status change that has taken place since the last complete assessment. For example, the change is due to an increase in the rate of decline, a decrease in population or range size or habitat, or declines in these for the first time (owing to increasing/new threats) and therefore new thresholds are met relating to the IUCN Red List criteria.
Genuine (since first assessment)
The change in category is the result of a genuine status change that took place prior to the last complete assessment, but since the first complete assessment (1988) and that has only just been detected owing to new information/ documentation. If this new information had been available earlier, the new category would have been assigned during the previous assessment(s).
Criteria revision
The change in category is the result of the revision of the IUCN Red List Criteria (currently 1994 v. 2001 versions). These largely relate to criteria A2, A3, A4, D2 and the removal of the 'Conservation Dependent' category.
Knowledge
The change in category is the result of better knowledge, e.g. owing to new or newly synthesised information or better understanding of application of the IUCN Red List criteria.
Taxonomy
The new category is different from the previous one (which may be 'Not Recognised') owing to a taxonomic change adopted during the period since the previous assessment. Such changes include: newly split (the taxon is newly elevated to species level), newly described (the taxon is newly described as a species), newly lumped (the taxon is newly lumped with another species) and no longer valid/recognised (either the taxon is no longer valid e.g. because it is now considered to be a hybrid or variant, form or subspecies of another species, or the previously recognised taxon differs from a currently recognised one as a result of a split or lump).
Mistake
The previous category was applied in error (excluding those cases covered under Knowledge).
Other
The change in category is the result of other reasons not easily covered by the above, and/or requires further explanation.
