• 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). 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 (>30% decline over ten years or three generations). The population size is very large, and hence does not 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 population size has not been quantified, but the species is described as rare, local and patchily distributed (Freile and Restall 2018, Schulenberg and Kirwan 2020).
Assuming that it occurs at a similar density to a congener (H. zosterops in Peru: 5 pairs/km²; Santini et al. 2018), and further assuming that only 25% of forests within the range are occupied to account for its rarity (i.e. 13,500-14,500 km²; Global Forest Watch 2022), the global population may number c. 60,000-70,000 pairs. This equates to 120,000-140,000 mature individuals.

Trend justification
There are no data on the population trend, but based on the species' forest dependence it is suspected to be in decline as a consequence of the loss and fragmentation of its habitat.
Tree cover within the range is lost at a rate of 5% over ten years (Global Forest Watch 2022, using Hansen et al. [2013] data and methods disclosed therein). Population declines are therefore likely equally low and localised; they are here tentatively placed in the band 1-9% over ten years.

Hemitriccus rufigularis occurs disjunctly in the east Andes of southern Colombia (Putumayo), Ecuador (Sucumbíos, Napo, Orellana, Morona-Santiago and Zamora-Chinchipe), Peru (San Martín, Ucayali, and from Huánuco south to Puno) and west Bolivia (La Paz).

It occurs in the undergrowth and mid-storey of humid forest on low ridges, where it is found both in tall and in low, semi-stunted forest, as well as along edges and in treefall gaps (Schulenberg et al. 2010, Freile and Restall 2018, Schulenberg and Kirwan 2020, Hilty 2021).

The species is sensitive to habitat loss. Forest destruction is most prevalent in the foothills, mainly as a consequence of conversion for agriculture and logging, amplified by ongoing human encroachment (Dinerstein et al. 1995, Global Forest Watch 2022).

Conservation Actions Underway
The species is listed as Near Threatened at the national level in Peru (SERFOR 2018) and as Vulnerable in Ecuador (Freile et al. 2019).

Conservation Actions Proposed
Survey suitable habitat within its potential range to accurately quantify the population size. Study the species' ecology and determine its ability to persist in degraded and fragmented habitats. Monitor the population trend. Monitor rates of habitat loss.
Designate and effectively protect areas of foothill forest within its range. Promote conservation of forests among local communities.

Text account compilers
Hermes, C.

Contributors
Capper, D., O'Brien, A., Schulenberg, T., Sharpe, C.J., Symes, A. & Wheatley, H.

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Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Species factsheet: Buff-throated Tody-tyrant Hemitriccus rufigularis. Downloaded from https://datazone.birdlife.org/species/factsheet/buff-throated-tody-tyrant-hemitriccus-rufigularis on 24/12/2024.
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 24/12/2024.