Modelling the distribution of a key habitat feature to guide future on‐ground habitat assessment for an endangered specialist songbird

Species distribution models (SDMs) are often used during the planning stage of reintroduction programmes to model species' occurrence with aim selecting potential release sites. However, for many endangered species, only a low number records available, leading accuracy. When reintroductions rare an alternative approach may be surrogate species that more abundant or easier locate. Here, we modelled white gum (Eucalyptus viminalis), preferred food tree forty-spotted pardalote (Pardalotus quadragintus), songbird which has been proposed. Using boosted regression trees, under current and future climate conditions identifying areas high probability later can plan on ground habitat assessments reintroductions. Our show outside its currently mapped distribution, indicating there opportunities pardalotes beyond their range. Predictions scenarios showed space shifts, not some decrease but also substantial increase in suitability scenarios. spatial predictions design survey ground-truth our undertake comprehensive assessment other features need persist. The study highly specialized context general management data-poor specialist depend common resource.