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

Justification of Red List category
This species has a large range, and hence does not approach the thresholds for Vulnerable under the range size criterion (Extent of Occurrence under 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 size is very large, and hence does not approach the thresholds for Vulnerable under the population size criterion (under 10,000 mature individuals with a continuing decline estimated to be over 10% in ten years or three generations, or with a specified population structure). Despite the fact that the population trend appears to be decreasing, the decline is not believed to be sufficiently rapid to approach the thresholds for Vulnerable under the population trend criterion (over 30% decline over ten years or three generations). For these reasons the species is evaluated as Least Concern.

Population justification
Herzog et al. (2008) calculated the population to be c.100,000 individuals, which is precautionarily placed in the band 50,000-99,999 individuals. This species is considered to have a high dependency on forest habitat, and tree cover is estimated to have declined by 3% within its mapped range over the past 10 years (Global Forest Watch 2022, using Hansen et al. [2013] data and methods disclosed therein). It is therefore tentatively suspected that this rate of cover loss may have led to a decline of between 1-19% in the species' population size over the same time frame, with a best estimate of reduction being less than 5%.

Trend justification
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Simoxenops striatus is restricted to the Yungas (east Andean foothills) of La Paz, Cochabamba and Santa Cruz, central and west Bolivia, and extreme south west Puno, Peru. Although it was previously thought to be rather rare, and indeed was "lost" for 48 years, a recent study has found it to be not uncommon in the Cordillerea Mosetenes, where its occurs at a density of 20 pairs per km²  (Herzog et al. 2008).

It inhabits foothill evergreen forests in a narrow elevational band between 640 and 1,500 m  (B. Hennessey in litt. 1999). Despite reports to the contrary, it shows a strong association with Guadua bamboo (Herzog et al. 2008). However, it is not an obligate bamboo specialist and persists (albeit at much lower densities) in humid and semi-deciduous forest without Guadua bamboo, where it forages in dense understorey or vine tangles, often near treefall gaps (Herzog et al. 2008).

It is threatened by deforestation within its small geographic and elevational range, especially in La Paz and Cochabamba. Its preferred forest habitat is more accessible and easier to burn than true montane forest, and the soils are suited to domestic agriculture and the cultivation of cash crops. Consequently, the region is a favoured target for colonists from the altiplano, and encroachment into protected areas is occurring. Exploration for natural resources is undertaken in Bolivia's national parks, making mining a potential future threat (B. Hennessey in litt. 1999). Nevertheless, vast amounts of pristine forest remain in inaccessible areas within the species's elevational range, although it may be excluded by the harsh climate in some of these areas (J. Fjeldså in litt. 1999, B. Hennessey in litt. 1999).

Conservation Actions Underway
It occurs in Pilón Lajas Biosphere Reserve and Indigenous Territory, La Paz (B. Hennessey in litt. 1999), Carrasco National Park, Cochabamba (B. Hennessey in litt. 1999) and Amboró National Park, Santa Cruz (Wege and Long 1995), and is predicted to occur in Madidi National Park, La Paz (Remsen and Parker 1995, B. Hennessey in litt. 1999).

Conservation Actions Proposed
Carry out surveys to assess the species's population size. Monitor rates of deforestation within its range. Maintain the integrity of Amboró and Carrasco National Parks, particularly with respect to encroachment by settlers.

19 cm. Large-billed furnariid. Dark rufous-brown head, upperparts and wings, with buff supercilium and prominent buff streaking on head, neck and back. Underparts buffy-rufous. Bright rufous tail. Upturned bill. Similiar spp. Other similar arboreal furnariids have different bill-shapes. Voice Harsh, accelerating and slightly rising rattle lasting 2-3 seconds.

Text account compilers
Rutherford, C.A.

Contributors
Fjeldså, J., Hennessey, A., MacLeod, R., Tobias, J., Rheindt, F. & Herzog, S.

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Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Species factsheet: Bolivian Recurvebill Syndactyla striata. Downloaded from https://datazone.birdlife.org/species/factsheet/bolivian-recurvebill-syndactyla-striata on 23/12/2024.
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 23/12/2024.