根據IUCN紅皮書合作夥伴國際鳥盟在6月7日所發表的《2011 IUCN瀕危鳥類紅皮書》指出，全球最大的鳥類正面臨滅絕的威脅。
南亞鴇( Ardeotis nigriceps )已被列入極危等級(CR)，是受威脅的最高等級。狩獵、人為干擾、棲地流失與破碎讓這種鳥類數量減少到僅剩250隻。
身高1米，體重近15公斤，南亞鴇曾經廣泛分布於印度與巴基斯坦的草原，但現在只存在於小型且孤立破碎的棲地。
在今年度的鳥類紅皮書更新中，共有1253種鳥類被列入受威脅名單，佔全球鳥類物種數目的13%。
IUCN全球物種計畫副主任Jean-Christophe Vié表示，「短短一年內，受威脅的鳥類增加了13種。」
國際鳥盟全球研究與指標協調員布查特(Stuart Butchart)說，「鳥類為自然提供了一個觀察的窗口，他們是判斷生態系健康情況非常有用的指標。如果鳥類狀況不好，其他野生動物的情況亦難倖免。」
另一個瀕危的物種是巴哈馬黃鸝(Bahama Oriole，Icterus northropi )，也是極危(CR)名單中的新面孔，根據最近的調查，這種黃黑相間的加勒比海鳥類可能僅剩下180隻。
這種黃鸝鳥生長在成熟林地，在椰子樹上築巢。致命的椰子樹黃化病讓巴哈馬黃鸝過去築巢的椰子樹不復存在。黃鸝鳥也受到最近燕八哥( shiny cowbird，Molothrus bonariensis )入侵的威脅，他們會將卵產在別的鳥類的巢內。
在非洲，蛇鷲( Sagittarius serpentarius )的受威脅等級從少受關注(LC)被改成易危(VU)。布查特說，2009年的時候這種鳥類因為「分布廣泛」而被IUCN瀕危物種紅皮書評定為少受關注(LC)，儘管事實上族群的數量在下降，降幅卻沒有達到評定為易危(VU)的標準，也就是在三個世代或是10年內族群量降幅大於30%。
坎貝爾島水鴨( Anas nesiotis )則受惠於大規模的滅鼠方案，加上對存活個體的人工養殖，現在該物種已經回到紐西蘭的坎貝爾島，並且在那裡順利繁衍，其受威脅等級也被重新調整成瀕危(EN)。
國際鳥盟的科學與政策主任班南(Leon Bennun)說，「鳥類與全球人類的文化緊緊地交織在一起，牠們讓大自然狀態更鮮明的展現在人類眼前。我們能夠挽救受威脅鳥類的例子比比皆是。我們必須加倍努力，否則我們可能不只會失去像南亞鴇這類偉大的動物，人類整個生命支持系統都將瓦解。」
其他地區鳥類的最新評估結果：
- 美洲
白頭藪雀( Atlapetes pallidiceps )，由極危(CR)升為瀕危(EN)。
黑被刺嘴鶯( Ramphomicron dorsale )，由少受關注(LC)升至瀕危(EN)。
- 大洋洲
領海燕( Pterodroma brevipes )，由易危(VU)升至瀕危(EN)。
薩摩亞鶲( Myiagra albiventris )，由易危(VU)降至接近威脅(NT)。
- 亞洲
蘇拉塚雉( Megapodius bernsteinii )，由接近威脅(NT)升至易危(VU)。
白頷鷦鷯( Rimator pasquieri )，由少受關注(LC)升至瀕危(EN)。
- 非洲
蛇鷲( Sagittarius serpentarius )，由少受關注(LC)升至易危(VU)。
巾冠兀鷲( Necrosyrtes monachus )，由少受關注(LC)升至瀕危(EN)。
- 歐洲和中東
小紅隼( Falco naumanni )，由易危(VU)降至少受關注(LC)。
索科特拉鵟( Buteo socotraensis )是新描述種，被列為易危(VU)等級。
One of the planet's largest species of bird is on the edge of extinction, according to the 2011 IUCN Red List of Threatened Species for Birds, released today by BirdLife International, an IUCN Red List partner.
The Great Indian Bustard, Ardeotis nigriceps, has been uplisted to Critically Endangered, the highest level of threat. Hunting, disturbance, habitat loss and fragmentation have reduced this species to as few as 250 individuals.
Standing a meter (39 inches) in height and weighing in at nearly 15 kg (33 pounds), the Great Indian Bustard was once widespread across the grasslands of India and Pakistan but is now restricted to small and isolated fragments of habitat.
This year's update brings the total number of threatened bird species to 1,253, or 13 percent of the world's total number of bird species.
"In the space of a year, another 13 bird species have moved into the threatened categories," said Jean-Christophe Vié, deputy director, IUCN Global Species Programme.
"Birds provide a window on the rest of nature. They are very useful indicators of ecosystem health. If they are faring badly, then so is wildlife more generally," said Dr. Stuart Butchart, BirdLife's Global Research and Indicators coordinator.
Another species on the brink is the Bahama Oriole, Icterus northropi, also newly listed as Critically Endangered. Recent survey work suggests the population of this black and yellow Caribbean bird could be as low as 180 individuals.
These orioles live in mature woodland, and nest in coconut palms. Lethal yellowing disease of these palms has wiped out nesting trees in areas where the Bahama oriole was previously common but is now absent. The oriole is also threatened by the recent arrival of the shiny cowbird, Molothrus bonariensis, a brood parasite that lays its eggs in other species' nests.
In Africa, the Secretarybird, Sagittarius serpentarius, has been uplisted from Least Concern to Vulnerable. In 2009, this species was assessed as Least Concern due to its "extremely large range" wrote Butchart in Secretarybird's listing in the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. "Despite the fact that the population trend appears to be decreasing, the decline is not believed to be sufficiently rapid to approach the thresholds for Vulnerable under the population trend criterion (>30% decline over 10 years or three generations)."
The Campbell Island teal, Anas nesiotis, has benefitted from a massive programme to eradicate rats, plus captive breeding of remaining individuals. The species has now returned to New Zealand's Campbell Island and the majority of birds are now thriving, resulting in a reclassification of the threat status to Endangered.
Dr. Bennun said, "Birds are so intertwined with human culture all around the world that they present a very visible picture of the state of nature. Good examples abound of how we can save threatened birds. We need to redouble our efforts to do so, otherwise we risk not just losing magnificent creatures like the Great Indian Bustard, but unravelling the whole fabric of our life support systems."
Other regional highlights of the newest bird assessment:
- Americas
Pale-headed Brush-finch, Atlapetes pallidiceps,, has been downlisted from Critically Endangered to Endangered.
Black-backed Thornbill, Ramphomicron dorsale, has been uplisted from Least Concertn to Endangered.
- Pacific
Collared Petrel, Pterodroma brevipes, has been uplisted from Near Threatened to Endangered.
Samoan Flycatcher, Myiagra albiventris, has been downlisted from Vulnerable to Near Threatened
- Asia
Sula Megapode, Megapodius bernsteinii, has been uplisted from Near Threatened to Vulnerable
White-throated Wren-babbler, Rimator pasquieri, has been uplisted from Least Concern to Endangered
- Africa
Secretarybird, Sagittarius serpentarius, has been uplisted from Least Concern to Vulnerable.
Hooded Vulture, Necrosyrtes monachus, has been uplisted from Least Concern to Endangered.
- Europe and the Middle East
Lesser Kestrel, Falco naumanni, has been downlisted from Vulnerable to Least Concern
Socotra Buzzard, Buteo socotraensis, is newly described and has been listed as Vulnerable.
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