Data Zone
Justification of Red List category
Based on accelerating rates of deforestation within its range, it is suspected that the species is undergoing moderately rapid declines. It is therefore listed as Near Threatened.
Population justification
There is very little data on the population size, but the species is described as rare to locally common, though easily overlooked due to its secretive habits (Martínez-Vilalta et al. 2020). Wetlands International (2022) suspects a population of 10,000-25,000 mature individuals. Based on the high number of observational records throughout its extremely large range however (per eBird 2022, GBIF.org 2022), this value appears to be an underestimate. While the population size remains unquantified here, the population is unlikely to be small.
Trend justification
There are no data on the population trend, but declines are suspected on the basis of the loss, degradation and fragmentation of forests, mangroves and marshes within the range.
Over the past three generations (18.1 years), 9% of tree cover has been lost within the range; since 2016, this has been increasing to a rate equivalent to 12% over three generations (Global Forest Watch 2021, using Hansen et al. [2013] data and methods disclosed therein). The species inhabits forests near water bodies and streams, which are easily accessible for human encroachment and disturbance. It is therefore likely that the species is disproportionately impacted by forest loss and additional habitat degradation, and that population declines are steeper than the rate of tree cover loss suggests. Particularly in proximity to heavily converted or densely populated areas population declines may be steeper (A. Stier per C. Green in litt. 2023). Tentatively, the rate of population decline over the past three generations is here placed in the band 10-19%, while the rate of future declines is suspected at 20-29% over the next three generations.
Agamia agami is a Neotropical species, and is generally scarce throughout its distribution. Its range extends from east Mexico in the north through Guatemala, Belize, Honduras, Nicaragua, Costa Rica and Panama into Colombia. From there, the range extends further south east of the Andes through Ecuador and Peru to Bolivia, and east into Venezuela, Guyana, Suriname, French Guiana and across north and central Brazil.
This species occurs in swampy stream and lake margins within tropical forest, and also in seasonal marshes and coastal mangroves. It tends to remain in lowlands under 300 m in elevation, but has been recorded at 2,600 m in Colombia's east Andes. Fish are its primary food source, with cichlids (Aequidens) and characins (Triportheus, Astyanax) recorded as prey. The breeding season appears to coincide with the arrival of rains; nest building occurs between June and September in both Costa Rica and Venezuela, and between April and June in French Guiana, corresponding to the rainy season (O. Claessens and V. Pelletier in litt. 2020, Martínez-Vilalta et al. 2020). The species is colonial, but individuals may disperse during the non-breeding season (Stier et al. 2017). Nests are built in a tree or bush 1-3 m above water (Martínez-Vilalta et al. 2020).
The primary threat to this species is accelerating deforestation in large parts of its range as land is cleared for logging activities, livestock ranching and agricultural fields, facilitated by expansion of the road network (Soares-Filho et al. 2006, Bird et al. 2011, Global Forest Watch 2021). Due to the species' preference for dense riparian vegetation and mangroves it may be particularly at risk of habitat loss, as riverbanks and forests near water bodies are easily accessible to humans.
The species is described as sensitive to disturbance and noise, e.g. by motorboats, and by water pollution (J. DeLuca in litt. 2023, A. Stier per C. Green in litt. 2023). Poaching for meat and feathers may potentially occur, though there is currently no evidence (J. DeLuca in litt. 2023). Likewise, climate change causing a rise in water levels represents a threat, as colonies are abandoned after changes in water level; it is currently unclear whether individuals affected move on to breed elsewhere, or whether they do not attempt to breed again during that season (A. Stier per C. Green in litt. 2023).
Conservation Actions Underway
The species is listed as Vulnerable at the national level in Ecuador (Freile et al. 2019) and as Near Threatened in French Guiana (UICN France et al. 2017). A conservation action plan was published in 2015 (Stier and Kushlan 2015). It occurs in several protected areas across its range; the main breeding colony in French Guiana is located within the Kaw-Roura National Natural Reserve (O. Claessens and V. Pelletier in litt. 2020).
Conservation Actions Proposed
Survey to accurately quantify the population size and trends. Develop studies to better understand the species' ecological requirements. Monitor the population trend. Monitor rates of habitat loss.
Expand the protected area network to effectively protect key sites, including important breeding and feeding areas. Effectively manage protected areas, utilising emerging opportunities to finance protected area management with the joint aims of reducing carbon emissions and maximizing biodiversity conservation. Incentivise conservation on private lands through expanding market pressures for sound land management and preventing forest clearance on lands unsuitable for agriculture (Soares-Filho et al. 2006).
60-76 cm. Large, rufous heron. Body mainly rufous, with a green back and wings and a white throat. Other distinguishing features include long yellow bill, red iris and yellow legs.
Text account compilers
Hermes, C.
Contributors
Butchart, S., Claessens, O., DeLuca, J., Ekstrom, J., Green, C., Khwaja, N., Lees, A., Panjabi, A., Pelletier, V., Sharpe, C.J., Stier, A. & Symes, A.
Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Species factsheet: Agami Heron Agamia agami. Downloaded from
https://datazone.birdlife.org/species/factsheet/agami-heron-agamia-agami on 04/12/2024.
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 04/12/2024.