• Summary
• Text account
• Data table and detailed info
• Distribution map
• Reference and further resources

Justification of Red List category
This species has a very large range, and hence does not approach the thresholds for Vulnerable under the range size criterion (Extent of Occurrence <20,000 km² combined with a declining or fluctuating range size, habitat extent/quality, or population size and a small number of locations or severe fragmentation). The population trend is stable and hence does not approach the thresholds under the population trend criterion (>30% decline over ten years or three generations). The population size has not been quantified, but it is not believed to approach the thresholds for Vulnerable under the population size criterion (<10,000 mature individuals with a continuing decline estimated to be >10% in ten years or three generations, or with a specified population structure). For these reasons the species is evaluated as Least Concern.

Population justification
The global population size has not been quantified, but this species is described as 'uncommon and patchily distributed' (Stotz et al. 1996).

Trend justification
The species is currently considered stable as habitat loss is considered negligible across the species’s range. Tree cover loss within the species range equates to <2% over ten years (Global Forest Watch 2021, using Hansen et al. [2013] data and methods disclosed therein). The species is unlikely to be significantly threatened by habitat degradation due to its adaptability and occurrence in a wide variety of habitats, such as woodlands, scrubland, forest edges, and disturbed woodlands (Hilty and de Juana 2020). There is evidence of domestic trade (per Nóbrega Alves et al. 2013) but any impacts are considered negligible.

Conothraupis speculigera breeds on the west slope of the Andes up to 1,700 m in west Ecuador, and north-west Peru, migrating to Amazonia where it is found very locally on the east slope in east Peru (Isler and Isler 1987, Ridgely and Tudor 1989, Hilty and de Juana 2020), as well as western parts of Brazil and Bolivia (Hilty and de Juana 2020). It is generally rare to uncommon throughout its range.

This species breeds during February-May in deciduous woodland, gallery forest and riparian thickets from 500 m up to 1,700 m (and occasionally up to 1,950 m) west of the Andes (Parker et al. 1996, Ridgely and Greenfield 2001, Schulenberg et al. 2007, Hilty and de Juana 2020), with its occurrence in north-west Peru dependent on whether sufficient rain has fallen for vegetation to develop (O'Neill 1966). After breeding it migrates to Amazonia where it is found in forest-edge, second growth, disturbed woodland and river-edge forest from June to September (Schulenberg et al. 2007). It is an adaptable species in that it will disperse widely over drier and arid regions in search of rainfall for the purpose of foraging and breeding (Hilty and de Juana 2020).  The species feeds on a mixture of plant and animal matter (Hilty and de Juana 2020). 

It is generally threatened by deforestation and understorey degradation (Stattersfield et al. 1998), which is considered to be isolating populations within its already disjunct range. However, recent deforestation analysis has shown that tree cover loss amounted to <2% within 10 years across the species range (Global Forest Watch 2021, using Hansen et al. [2013] data and methods disclosed therein). There is evidence of some domestic trade, where one individual was found to be traded in a Brazilian market (Nóbrega Alves et al. 2013). 

Conservation Actions Underway
None are known.

Conservation Actions Proposed
Conduct repeated surveys to determine seasonal movements, with a particular focus on identifying whether breeding populations occur on the east slope of the Andes. Conduct studies to identify precise habitat requirements and responses to habitat degradation or fragmentation. Protect areas of suitable habitat (in addition to the private reserves the species probably occurs in). Monitor the impact of domestic trade on the species. 

Text account compilers
Fernando, E.

Contributors
Brusland, S., Butchart, S., Gilroy, J., O'Brien, A. & Sharpe, C.J.

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Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Species factsheet: Black-and-white Tanager Conothraupis speculigera. Downloaded from https://datazone.birdlife.org/species/factsheet/black-and-white-tanager-conothraupis-speculigera 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.