Current view: Data table and detailed info
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
Red List history
Migratory status |
not a migrant |
Forest dependency |
high |
Land-mass type |
|
Average mass |
- |
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
Important Bird and Biodiversity Areas (IBA)
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.