Data Zone
Justification of Red List category
This species has a small population, which is suspected to decline slowly owing to continuing habitat loss and degradation. It is known from a few widely-spread sites, likely forming several small, disconnected subpopulations. The species is therefore listed as Near Threatened.
Population justification
The species appears to be rare and local, and is only observed singly, in pairs or small groups of up to three individuals (Renjifo et al. 2014). In Colombia, the species was found to occur at a density of 3 individuals/km2 (Renjifo et al. 2014 and references therein). Assuming that this density is representative for the entire range, and furthermore precautionarily assuming that only 10% of the range is occupied to account for the species' apparent rarity (i.e. c.1,800 km2), the global population may number 5,400 individuals. This is equivalent to 3,600 mature individuals. To account for uncertainty, the population is here placed in the band 2,500-9,999 mature individuals.
Trend justification
The species is suspected to be in decline as a consequence of habitat loss and degradation. In Colombia, the species lost 5.2% of suitable habitat during the ten years prior to 2014 (Renjifo et al. 2014). Assuming that the rate of habitat loss is similar across the range, and that it is continuing at this rate to the present day and into the future, this equates to a loss of 6% over three generations (11.6 years; Bird et al. 2020). Further assuming that population declines are roughly equivalent to the rate of habitat loss, the population may be declining at <10% over three generations.
Doliornis remseni was first recorded in 1989, and is now known from the Central Andes of Colombia and the eastern slope of the Andes of Ecuador. It has a localised distribution from Quindío (Colombia) south to Zamora-Chincipe (southern Ecuador). Distribution models identified suitable habitat in Peru, suggesting that the species may potentially occur there (Jiguet et al. 2010, Acevedo-Charry and Coral-Jaramillo 2017), though as yet there are no known records.
This secretive species is confined to dense thickets on the páramo-forest ecotone at elevations of 2,875-3,650 m. Typical habitat in Ecuador consists of dense, moist montane forest comprising trees 5-10 m tall, heavily covered with epiphytes, mosses and lichens and interspersed with thick bushes (Robbins et al. 1994, Henry 2008). In Ecuador, most records are from the crown of Escallonia spp., but these trees are not a common feature of treeline forest in Peru (Robbins et al. 1994) which may explain the lack of records from there. Escallonia seeds and a large, unidentified fruit were taken from specimens, and Miconia chlorocarpa fruit are eaten in Colombia (Renjifo 1994, Robbins et al. 1994). The species has only been recorded singly, in pairs or small groups of three individuals (Renjifo et al. 2014).
Timberline habitats in the Andes have been diminishing for millennia, primarily through human use of fire (Kessler and Herzog 1998). Pre-Columbian sustainable land-use systems were largely replaced with unsustainable agricultural techniques during the colonial period (Kessler and Herzog 1998). The main drivers of recent habitat loss are conversion for cattle pastures (Renjifo et al. 2014). Regular burning of páramo grassland adjacent to elfin forest, to promote the growth of fresh shoots for livestock, has lowered the treeline by several hundred metres. Large areas of suitable habitat have been, and continue to be, destroyed in this way (Kessler and Herzog 1998). Other threats include firewood-gathering and potato cultivation (P. G. W. Salaman in litt. 1999). In Colombia, less than 10% of original timberline habitat is estimated to remain (P. G. W. Salaman in litt. 1999). It has been estimated that the species has lost a total of 54% of its original habitat (Renjifo et al. 2014), but significant quantities of continuous habitat remain in Ecuador (J. F. Freile in litt. 2004).
Conservation Actions Underway
The species is listed as Endangered at the national level in Colombia (Renjifo et al. 2014) and as Vulnerable in Ecuador (Freile et al. 2019). It occurs in several protected areas within its range, including Podocarpus, Llanganates and possibly Cotopaxi national parks (Ecuador), as well as Cañon del Quindío Nature Reserve (Colombia).
21.5 cm. Largely dark cotinga with very obvious rich rufous-chestnut on underparts. Male has upperparts, including tail and wings, largely very dark grey-black, with semi-concealed orange-red crest and black rest of crown contrasting with face. Deep rufous-chestnut underparts, from lower breast to undertail-coverts. Female very similar, but crown greyer and less contrasting with rest of head, and has slight spectacled appearance owing to black lores. Similar spp. Bay-vented Cotinga D. sclateri is similar, but paler overall with less rich underparts colouration confined to undertail-coverts.
Text account compilers
Hermes, C.
Contributors
Benstead, P., Capper, D., Freile, J., Harding, M., Henry, P.Y.H., Honick, M., Isherwood, I., Krabbe, N., Salaman, P.G.W., Sharpe, C.J., Stuart, T., Symes, A. & Taylor, J.
Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Species factsheet: Chestnut-bellied Cotinga Doliornis remseni. Downloaded from
https://datazone.birdlife.org/species/factsheet/chestnut-bellied-cotinga-doliornis-remseni 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.