Data Zone
Justification of Red List category
This species has an extremely 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 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 the species is described as generally common (Stotz et al. 1996). In the forested interior of French Guiana the species is very common; the national population is estimated at more than 80,000 pairs (Thiollay 1994, O. Claessens and V. Pelletier in litt. 2020). In Suriname, the species is very common in both primary and logged secondary forest (O. Ottema in litt. 2020).
Trend justification
The population trend has not been assessed directly. Locally, the population is described as stable (e.g. in Suriname; O. Ottema in litt. 2020); however in parts of the range the species is reportedly becoming scarce, likely as a consequence of trapping pressure (S. Bruslund in litt. 2022). Overall, due to the species's preference for undisturbed forests and the reports of the species becoming rarer as a consequence of hunting and trapping, the population is inferred to be in continuing decline.
Tree cover within the range is lost at a rate of 4% over three generations (17.2 years; Global Forest Watch 2021, using Hansen et al. [2013] data and methods disclosed therein). While the species is described as being less common in logged forests, it also occurs near forest edges, clearings and in small forest patches in savanna (del Hoyo et al. 2002); therefore, habitat loss is unlikely to drive a significant population decline. The impact of hunting and trapping on the population size has not been quantified; however overall, the impacts are likely not large due to the remoteness and inaccessibility of large parts of the range. Locally, declines may be higher in areas of gold mining and logging operations and near settlements due to hunting and trapping pressure (O. Ottema in litt. 2020). Tentatively, population declines are here placed in the band 1-19% over three generations, but an accurate quantification of the population trend is required.
Ramphastos vitellinus has an extensive range from easternmost Colombia, east through Venezuela, Trinidad and Tobago, Guyana, Suriname and French Guiana, to northern Amazonian Brazil (Amazonas, Roraima, Pará and Amapá states).
This species inhabits forested lowlands, most often near water, forest edge, swamp forest, clearings, riverine forest, patches in savannas and cerrado, up to c.1,700 m. It is less common in secondary and selectively cut forest, even a decade after cutting (del Hoyo et al. 2002).
The primary threat to this species is accelerating deforestation in the Amazon basin as land is cleared for cattle ranching and soy production, facilitated by expansion of the road network (Soares-Filho et al. 2006, Bird et al. 2011). Gold mining is a further threat to the species (O. Ottema in litt. 2020). Nevertheless, large parts of the range are still in pristine conditions and are considered safe. In Suriname, the impact of logging is currently low as logged areas are often relatively small and surrounded by rainforest; however the intensity of logging appears to be increasing in recent years (O. Ottema in litt. 2020).
Hunting pressure is a serious threat in populated areas, e.g. in the vicinity of settlements and near mining and logging areas (del Hoyo et al. 2002, Thiollay 2005, O. Ottema in litt. 2020), although consumption of this species by forest dwellers in Amazonia is rare (T. Haugaasen in litt. 2016). The species is trapped for trade and large numbers are exported in particular to Asia, which has caused the species to become scarce in parts of its range (S. Bruslund in litt. 2022).
Conservation and Research Actions Underway
The species occurs in several protected areas throughout its range, including Central Suriname Nature Reserve (Suriname) and Canaima National Park (Venezuela).
Conservation and Research Actions Proposed
Accurately quantify the population size. Quantify the impact of hunting on the population size. Monitor levels of hunting. Monitor habitat loss. Expand the protected area network to effectively protect key sites. Effectively manage protected areas, utilising emerging opportunities to finance protected area management with the joint aims of reducing carbon emissions and maximizing biodiversity conservation. Limit trapping. Raise awareness for the species with the aim of decreasing hunting pressure. Incentivise conservation on private lands through expanding market pressures for sound land management and preventing forest clearance on lands unsuitable for agriculture (Soares-Filho et al. 2006).
Text account compilers
Hermes, C.
Contributors
Bruslund, S., Butchart, S., Claessens, O., Ekstrom, J., Haugaasen, T., Ottema, O., Pelletier, V., Symes, A., Taylor, J. & Wheatley, H.
Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Species factsheet: Channel-billed Toucan Ramphastos vitellinus. Downloaded from
https://datazone.birdlife.org/species/factsheet/channel-billed-toucan-ramphastos-vitellinus on 23/11/2024.
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 23/11/2024.