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The site was identified as internationally important for bird conservation in 2008 because it was regularly supporting significant populations of the species listed below, meeting ('triggering') IBA criteria.

Populations meeting IBA criteria ('trigger species') at the site:

Species	Red List	Season (year/s of estimate)	Size	IBA criteria
Purple-throated Sunangel Heliangelus viola	LC	resident (2003)	present	A2, A3
Ecuadorian Hillstar Oreotrochilus chimborazo	LC	resident (2003)	present	A3
Rainbow-bearded Thornbill Chalcostigma herrani	LC	resident (2003)	present	A3
Viridian Metaltail Metallura williami	LC	resident (2003)	rare	A3
Violet-throated Metaltail Metallura baroni	VU	resident (2003)	present	A1, A2, A3
Glowing Puffleg Eriocnemis vestita	LC	resident (2003)	rare	A3
Rainbow Starfrontlet Coeligena iris	LC	resident (2003)	present	A2
Grey-breasted Mountain-toucan Andigena hypoglauca	LC	resident (2003)	present	A1
Carunculated Caracara Phalcoboenus carunculatus	LC	resident (2003)	present	A2, A3
Red-faced Parrot Hapalopsittaca pyrrhops	EN	resident (2003)	rare	A1, A2, A3
Golden-plumed Parakeet Leptosittaca branickii	LC	resident (2003)	rare	A1
Spillmann's Tapaculo Scytalopus spillmanni	LC	resident (2003)	present	A3
Paramo Tapaculo Scytalopus opacus	LC	resident (2003)	present	A3
Stout-billed Cinclodes Cinclodes excelsior	LC	resident (2003)	present	A2, A3
Flammulated Treehunter Thripadectes flammulatus	LC	resident (2003)	frequent	A3
Mouse-colored Thistletail Asthenes griseomurina	LC	resident (2003)	present	A2, A3
Agile Tit-tyrant Uromyias agilis	LC	resident (2003)	rare	A3
Turquoise Jay Cyanolyca turcosa	LC	resident (2003)	common	A3
Rufous Wren Cinnycerthia unirufa	LC	resident (2003)	present	A3
Pale-naped Brushfinch Atlapetes pallidinucha	LC	resident (2003)	present	A3
Black-chested Mountain-tanager Cnemathraupis eximia	LC	resident (2003)	rare	A3
Black-headed Hemispingus Pseudospingus verticalis	LC	resident (2003)	rare	A3
Giant Conebill Conirostrum binghami	NT	resident (2003)	present	A1
Black Flowerpiercer Diglossa humeralis	LC	resident (2003)	present	A3

Year	Protected Area	Designation (management category)	% coverage of IBA
1982	Rio Dudayhuaico	Protected Forest (-)	6
2013	Macizo del Cajas	UNESCO-MAB Biosphere Reserve (UA)	89

Habitat	% of IBA	Habitat detail
Grassland	91	Paramo
Forest	5	Elfin forest; Polylepis woodland; Montane broadleaf evergreen forest
Wetlands (inland)	4	Freshwater lakes and pools; Freshwater marshes/swamps; Rivers; Streams
Caves and Subterranean Habitats (non-aquatic)	minor (<10)
Rocky areas (eg. inland cliffs, mountain peaks)	minor (<10)
Shrubland	minor (<10)	Second-growth or disturbed scrub

Land use	% of IBA
rangeland/pastureland	5
tourism/recreation	major (>10)
water management	major (>10)
nature conservation and research	major (>10)
urban/industrial/transport	minor (<10)
fisheries/aquaculture	minor (<10)

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Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Important Bird Area factsheet: Cajas-Mazán (Ecuador). Downloaded from https://datazone.birdlife.org/site/factsheet/cajas-mazán-iba-ecuador on 23/12/2024.