|BirdLife Species Champion||Become a BirdLife Preventing Extinctions Programme Supporter|
|For information about BirdLife Species Champions and Species Guardians visit the BirdLife Preventing Extinctions Programme.|
In 1980, this robin had the smallest population of any bird species for which precise figures were known and it seemed doomed to extinction. Its spectacular recovery, following intensive management, is a renowned conservation success worldwide. Although numbers continue to increase, it still has a very small population and is therefore classified as Endangered.
Turbott, E. G. 1990. Checklist of the birds of New Zealand. Ornithological Society of New Zealand, Wellington.
15 cm. Small, pure black bird. Plumage of sexes alike, but female slightly smaller. Short, slender, black bill. Voice Male song simple phrase of 5-7 notes. Call notes are distinct and full.
The species appears to be intrinsically more extinction-prone than Petroica relatives, most of which have survived pressures which rapidly eliminated black robin populations (E. S. Kennedy in litt. 2012). The introduction of rats Rattus spp. and cats, following human settlement, extirpated the birds from all but Little Mangere Island (Butler and Merton 1992). The accidental introduction of mammalian predators to the islands where it currently survives could cause local extinctions. Introduced Common Starlings Sturnus vulgaris, which now number over 1,000 pairs on Rangatira, may provide a serious future threat through introduced disease, competition for nest sites and direct predation (Waugh 2009). Other potential predators include introduced mice Mus spp. and pigs Sus scrofa, as well as the native Weka Gallirallus australis (E. S. Kennedy in litt. 2012). A potential future threat to this highly inbred species is the arrival of new pathogens. Fire, catastrophic storm events and natural processes of forest recovery, exacerbated perhaps by climate change, are key extrinsic threats to habitat quality and extent. Chronic inbreeding and extensive loss of genetic diversity appear to compromise reproductive output and may yet threaten long-term viability in unforeseen ways. Hybridisation with congeneric Chatham Island Tomtits P. macrocephala chathamensis remains a concern, although the probability of recurrence may be low. The species remains susceptible to outright loss owing to stochastic events (E. S. Kennedy in litt. 2012).
Conservation Actions Underway
In 1976, following forest deterioration on Little Mangere Island, the seven surviving birds were relocated to Mangere Island. Prior to reintroduction, thousands of trees were planted to provide future habitat. In 1979, productivity failed to offset losses for the first time, and the population declined to five adults. In 1980-81, eggs and chicks were cross-fostered to the Chatham Island Warbler Gerygone albofrontata in order to induce Black Robin females to renest. Supplementary feeding commenced, along with protection of nests from seabirds and Common Starlings. The warblers proved unsuitable as foster-parents. In 1981-82, Old Blue’s eggs were cross-fostered to congeneric Tomtits P. macrocephala chathamensis on Rangatira Island. The chicks were returned to Mangere Island to assist future breeding there. Fostering to Tomtits proved successful, and in 1983 a permanent population of Black Robins was founded on Rangatira Island (E. S. Kennedy in litt. 2012). Intensive management ceased after 1989 (D. V. Merton in litt. 1994, Heather and Robertson 1997). Annual monitoring of numbers, reproductive success and distribution within habitats continues in both island populations (E. S. Kennedy in litt. 2012). Reforestation on both islands is on-going, and both island habitats are subject to strict quarantine measures to avoid introducing predators, pathogens and other threats. Further research into genetic threats is on-going, and reproductive success is being measured through the closer study of a large population sample on one island (E. S. Kennedy in litt. 2012).Conservation Actions Proposed
Continue to monitor population and demographic trends. Manage inbreeding threats by expanding populations sizes through reforestation of Mangere Island and infill planting on Rangatira Island . Protect populations on Mangere and Rangatira Islands (E. S. Kennedy in litt. 2012). Establish a third population within the Chatham Islands. Reintroduce birds to Little Mangere Island with landowners' support (H. Aikman in litt. 1999). Continue to work with landowners and Department of Conservation to provide safe habitat on Chatham Island.
Related state of the world's birds case studies
Aikman, H.; Davis, A.; Miskelly, C.; O'Connor, S.; Taylor, G. 2001. Chatham Islands threatened birds: recovery and management plans. Department of Conservation, Wellington, New Zealand.
Butler, D.; Merton, D. 1992. The Black Robin: saving the world's most endangered bird. Oxford University Press, Auckland.
del Hoyo, J.; Elliott, A.; Christie, D. 2007. Handbook of the Birds of the World, vol. 12: Picathartes to Tits and Chickadees. Lynx Edicions, Barcelona, Spain.
Department of Conservation. 2002. Black robin recovery plan 2001-2011. Department of Conservation, Wellington, NZ.
Heather, B. D.; Robertson, H. A. 1997. The field guide to the birds of New Zealand. Oxford University Press, Oxford, UK.
Kennedy, E. S. 2009. Extinction vulnerability in two small, chronically inbred populations of Chatham Island black robin Petroica traversi. PhD thesis. Lincoln University.
King, W. B. 1981. Endangered birds of the world: the ICBP bird Red Data Book. Smithsonian Institution Press and International Council for Bird Preservation [bound reissue of King 1978-1979], Washington, D.C.
Text account compilers
Benstead, P., Khwaja, N., Mahood, S., McClellan, R., Taylor, J., Temple, H., Symes, A.
Aikman, H., Houston, D., Kennedy, E., Merton, D., O'Connor, S.
BirdLife International (2014) Species factsheet: Petroica traversi. Downloaded from http://www.birdlife.org on 24/11/2014. Recommended citation for factsheets for more than one species: BirdLife International (2014) IUCN Red List for birds. Downloaded from http://www.birdlife.org on 24/11/2014.
This information is based upon, and updates, the information published in BirdLife International (2000) Threatened birds of the world. Barcelona and Cambridge, UK: Lynx Edicions and BirdLife International, BirdLife International (2004) Threatened birds of the world 2004 CD-ROM and BirdLife International (2008) Threatened birds of the world 2008 CD-ROM. These sources provide the information for species accounts for the birds on the IUCN Red List.
To provide new information to update this factsheet or to correct any errors, please email BirdLife
To contribute to discussions on the evaluation of the IUCN Red List status of Globally Threatened Birds, please visit BirdLife's Globally Threatened Bird Forums.
Additional resources for this species
|Current IUCN Red List category||Endangered|
|Family||Petroicidae (Australasian robins)|
|Species name author||(Buller, 1872)|
|Population size||230 mature individuals|
|Distribution size (breeding/resident)||4 km2|
|Links to further information|
|- Additional Information on this species|