Data Zone
Justification of Red List category
This newly-split species has a very small population and range, both of which are thought to be declining due to the loss and conversion of habitat. The species is therefore listed as Vulnerable.
Population justification
Santa Marta Blossomcrown is described as common to uncommon (Renjifo et al. 2016, Züchner et al. 2019). It is tentatively estimated to have a population size between 500 and 2,500 mature individuals, based on the population estimate of the Blossomcrown before the taxonomic split into Santa Marta Blossomcrown and Tolima Blossomcrown.
Trend justification
The species is thought to be declining slowly due to the degradation, fragmentation and loss of its forested habitat. The rate of decline has not been quantified.
Anthocephala floriceps occurs in north-east Colombia on the north and possibly south-east slopes of the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta. It is described as common to uncommon (Renjifo et al. 2016, Züchner et al. 2019).
The species is found in humid premontane evergreen forest and secondary growth in the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta at 600-1,700 m. It inhabits humid premontane forests, but is also found in old secondary growth and occasionally even in coffee plantations and along roads or field edges (Hilty and Brown 1986, Renjifo et al. 2016).
The species is threatened by forest loss, as it does not tolerate heavily converted habitats (Züchner et al. 2019). Forests in the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta have been heavily logged in the past, with only around 15% of the original vegetation remaining (Renjifo et al. 2016). However, an analysis of the rate of forest loss between 2000 and 2012 found that deforestation in the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta was only minor (per Tracewski et al. 2016), indicating that the area of remaining forests is relatively stable, albeit small and fragmented.
Conservation Actions Underway
CITES Appendix II. It occurs in the following protected areas: Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta National Park, El Congo reserve (owned by Fundación Pro-Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta), El Dorado bird reserve and Los Besotes Eco Park (J. E. Orejuela in litt. 1986, Strewe and Navarro 2004, Morales-Rozo et al. 2016, Züchner et al. 2019). The protective designations in the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta have been ineffective. It is listed as nationally Vulnerable in Colombia (Renjifo et al. 2016).
8.4 cm. Short-billed hummingbird, with white and chestnut crown. Short, straight black bill. Male has buffy-white forecrown. Rufous-chestnut hindcrown. Shining green above with white postocular streak. Greyish-buff underparts. Bronzy-green central tail-feathers, rest with broad, dusky subterminal band and white or buff tips. Female similar with brownish crown. Similar spp. Many hummingbirds with pollen dusted foreheads appear similar. Female like Speckled Hummingbird Adelomyia melanogenys but lacks black cheeks and white postocular streak. Voice Persistent chip at leks.
Text account compilers
Stuart, T., Symes, A., Elliott, N., Wheatley, H., Benstead, P., Capper, D., Sharpe, C.J.
Contributors
Fjeldså, J., Kirwan, G.M., López-Lanús, B., Olarte, L.G., Orejuela, J.E., Pearman, M., Renjifo, L. & Salaman, P.G.W.
Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Species factsheet: Santa Marta Blossomcrown Anthocephala floriceps. Downloaded from
https://datazone.birdlife.org/species/factsheet/santa-marta-blossomcrown-anthocephala-floriceps on 22/11/2024.
Recommended citation for factsheets for more than one species: BirdLife International (2024) IUCN Red List for birds. Downloaded from
https://datazone.birdlife.org/species/search on 22/11/2024.