VU
Atlantic Woodcreeper Xiphorhynchus atlanticus



Taxonomy

Taxonomic note

Xiphorhynchus fuscus and X. atlanticus (del Hoyo and Collar 2016) were previously lumped as X. fuscus following SACC (2005 and updates), Sibley and Monroe (1990, 1993) and Stotz et al. (1996).

 

Taxonomic source(s)
del Hoyo, J., Collar, N.J., Christie, D.A., Elliott, A., Fishpool, L.D.C., Boesman, P. and Kirwan, G.M. 2016. HBW and BirdLife International Illustrated Checklist of the Birds of the World. Volume 2: Passerines. Lynx Edicions and BirdLife International, Barcelona, Spain and Cambridge, UK.

IUCN Red List criteria met and history
Red List criteria met
Critically Endangered Endangered Vulnerable
- - C2a(i)

Red List history
Year Category Criteria
2021 Vulnerable C2a(i)
2016 Least Concern
2012 Not Recognised
2008 Not Recognised
2004 Not Recognised
2000 Not Recognised
1994 Not Recognised
1988 Not Recognised
Species attributes

Migratory status not a migrant Forest dependency high
Land-mass type Average mass -
Range

Estimate Data quality
Extent of Occurrence (breeding/resident) 266,000 km2 medium
Population
Estimate Data quality Derivation Year of estimate
Population size 5000-11000 mature individuals medium estimated 2021
Population trend decreasing - inferred 2012-2022
Rate of change over the past 10 years/3 generations (longer of the two periods) 5-10% - - -
Rate of change over the future 10 years/3 generations (longer of the two periods) 5-10% - - -
Rate of change over the past & future 10 years/3 generations (longer of the two periods) 5-10% - - -
Generation length 3.3 years - - -
Number of subpopulations 20-31 - - -
Percentage of mature individuals in largest subpopulation 1-89% - - -

Population justification: This species is described as 'fairly common to common' (del Hoyo et al. 2020). In Alagoas, the species was found in only two (13%) of 15 surveyed forest fragments (Silveira et al. 2003). It is considered common in the Serra de Baturité, Ceará (Albano and Girão 2008).

The population density has been estimated at 0.14 individuals per ha (14 individuals per km2) in the Guaribas Biological Reserve, Paraíba, in 2018-2019 (ICMBio/CEMAVE, in D. Mendes Lima in litt. 2021). Based on this density, the estimated area of tree cover with at least 75% canopy cover within the species's mapped range in 2020 (c. 5,880 km2; Global Forest Watch 2021), and assuming the tree cover to be 10-20% occupied, the population size is estimated to fall within the range 8,000 - 17,000 individuals, roughly equating to 5,000 - 11,000 mature individuals.

The subpopulation structure is not known, but based on its distribution, the species is thought to have between 20 and 31 subpopulations (ICMBio/CEMAVE 2019 in R. Subirá in litt. 2021). Studies have shown that the sister species X. fuscus is able to easily disperse short distances of 75 m between forest patches, and is able to travel at least 150 m between forest patches by using isolated trees as 'stepping stones' (Boscolo et al. 2008). If all subpopulations were of equal size, the largest may have up to 550 mature individuals, so it is reasonable to assume that the largest subpopulation is smaller than 1,000 mature individuals.

Trend justification: Remote-sensing data on tree cover loss indicates that approximately 5% of tree cover with at least 75% canopy cover was lost from within the species's mapped range over the past decade from 2010-2020 (Global Forest Watch 2021). Although this species occurs in secondary forest, it appears to prefer well-preserved habitat (Silveira et al. 2003). The species is therefore inferred to be declining. The rate of decline may be higher than indicated by the rate of forest loss due to habitat degradation. The population size is therefore suspected to be declining at a rate of 5-10% over ten years.


Country/territory distribution
Country/Territory Presence Origin Resident Breeding visitor Non-breeding visitor Passage migrant
Brazil extant native yes

Important Bird and Biodiversity Areas (IBA)
Country/Territory IBA Name

Habitats & altitude
Habitat (level 1) Habitat (level 2) Importance Occurrence
Artificial/Terrestrial Subtropical/Tropical Heavily Degraded Former Forest suitable resident
Forest Subtropical/Tropical Moist Lowland major resident
Forest Subtropical/Tropical Moist Montane suitable resident
Altitude 0 - 700 m Occasional altitudinal limits (max) 1300 m

Threats & impact
Threat (level 1) Threat (level 2) Impact and Stresses
Agriculture & aquaculture Annual & perennial non-timber crops - Agro-industry farming Timing Scope Severity Impact
Ongoing Majority (50-90%) Slow, Significant Declines Medium Impact: 6
Stresses
Ecosystem degradation, Ecosystem conversion
Agriculture & aquaculture Livestock farming & ranching - Agro-industry grazing, ranching or farming Timing Scope Severity Impact
Ongoing Majority (50-90%) Slow, Significant Declines Medium Impact: 6
Stresses
Ecosystem degradation, Ecosystem conversion
Agriculture & aquaculture Livestock farming & ranching - Small-holder grazing, ranching or farming Timing Scope Severity Impact
Ongoing Majority (50-90%) Slow, Significant Declines Medium Impact: 6
Stresses
Ecosystem degradation, Ecosystem conversion
Biological resource use Logging & wood harvesting - Unintentional effects: (subsistence/small scale) [harvest] Timing Scope Severity Impact
Ongoing Majority (50-90%) Slow, Significant Declines Medium Impact: 6
Stresses
Ecosystem degradation
Residential & commercial development Housing & urban areas Timing Scope Severity Impact
Ongoing Majority (50-90%) Slow, Significant Declines Medium Impact: 6
Stresses
Ecosystem degradation, Ecosystem conversion

Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Species factsheet: Atlantic Woodcreeper Xiphorhynchus atlanticus. Downloaded from https://datazone.birdlife.org/species/factsheet/atlantic-woodcreeper-xiphorhynchus-atlanticus on 22/12/2024.
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 22/12/2024.