Data Zone
Justification of Red List category
This species is listed as Near Threatened, as it is thought to be experiencing a moderately rapid population decline owing to the combined effects of habitat degradation and persecution for the cagebird trade.
Population justification
The global population size has not been quantified, but this species is described as 'fairly common but patchily distributed' (Stotz et al. 1996).
Trend justification
Slow to moderate declines are suspected to be occurring, owing to on-going habitat loss, as well as persecution in the wild bird trade.
Sporophila ruficollis occurs in Bolivia (Beni, Santa Cruz, La Paz and Tarija), south Brazil (records from south Mato Grosso, south Goiás, west Minas Gerais, west São Paulo and Rio Grande do Sul), Paraguay (south-east and even in Chaco), north Uruguay (Artigas and Paysandú) and north Argentina (south to Tucumán, north Córdoba, Santa Fe and rarely to north Buenos Aires) (Ridgely and Tudor 1989, Armonía 1995, R. P. Clay in litt. 2000). There has been a clear decline in north-east Argentina, where it is also found in scrubbier habitats, not necessarily near water (Ridgely and Tudor 1989, Pearman and Abadie 1995, A. S. Di Giácomo in litt. 1999). It is fairly common to common in north Bolivia (Mitchell et al. 1997, Killeen and Schulenberg 1998, R. C. Brace in litt. 1999), and has been found relatively commonly on migration in Concepcíon, north-east Paraguay (R. P. Clay in litt. 2000).
This species is locally common up to 1,200 m in grasslands and dry savannah.
There has been extensive conversion of grasslands for agriculture and Eucalyptus and Pinus spp. plantations, especially in the south of its range. The use of pesticides and annual burning on adjacent agricultural land have detrimental effects on breeding sites (A. S. Di Giácomo in litt. 1999). Habitat loss compounds the threat from trade by concentrating birds in a few sites easily accessible to trappers (Lowen et al. 1996, A. S. Di Giácomo in litt. 1999).
Conservation Actions Underway
Conservation Actions Proposed
Conduct studies to identify habitat requirements and tolerance of agricultural habitats. Survey known historical locations to determine rates of population decline and range contraction. Monitor the magnitude of trade in this species through bird markets. Effectively protect significant areas of suitable grassland habitat at key sites.
Text account compilers
Gilroy, J., Sharpe, C.J., Butchart, S.
Contributors
Clay, R.P., Brace, R., Di Giácomo, S.
Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Species factsheet: Dark-throated Seedeater Sporophila ruficollis. Downloaded from
https://datazone.birdlife.org/species/factsheet/dark-throated-seedeater-sporophila-ruficollis 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.