EN
Fernandina's Flicker Colaptes fernandinae



Taxonomy

Taxonomic source(s)
del Hoyo, J., Collar, N.J., Christie, D.A., Elliott, A. and Fishpool, L.D.C. 2014. HBW and BirdLife International Illustrated Checklist of the Birds of the World. Volume 1: Non-passerines. Lynx Edicions BirdLife International, Barcelona, Spain and Cambridge, UK.

IUCN Red List criteria met and history
Red List criteria met
Critically Endangered Endangered Vulnerable
- A2bcde+3bcde+4bcde; C2a(i) A2bcde+3bcde+4bcde; C2a(i); D1

Red List history
Year Category Criteria
2021 Endangered A2bcde+3bcde+4bcde; C2a(i)
2016 Vulnerable A2c+3c+4c;B1ab(i,ii,iii,iv,v);C2a(i);D1
2012 Vulnerable A2c+3c+4c;B1ab(i,ii,iii,iv,v);C2a(i);D1
2008 Vulnerable B1a+b(i,ii,iii,iv,v); C2a(i); D1
2005 Vulnerable
2004 Endangered
2000 Endangered
1996 Endangered
1994 Endangered
1988 Threatened
Species attributes

Migratory status not a migrant Forest dependency medium
Land-mass type Average mass 135 g
Range

Estimate Data quality
Extent of Occurrence (breeding/resident) 105,000 km2 medium
Area of Occupancy (breeding/resident) 11,000 km2
Number of locations 11-100 -
Severely fragmented? yes -
Population
Estimate Data quality Derivation Year of estimate
Population size 600-800 mature individuals medium estimated 2000
Population trend decreasing poor inferred 2016-2026
Rate of change over the past 10 years/3 generations (longer of the two periods) 50-79% - - -
Rate of change over the future 10 years/3 generations (longer of the two periods) 50-79% - - -
Rate of change over the past & future 10 years/3 generations (longer of the two periods) 50-79% - - -
Generation length 3.3 years - - -
Number of subpopulations 8 - - -
Percentage of mature individuals in largest subpopulation 1-89% - - -

Population justification: The population is estimated to number 600-800 mature individuals (A. Mitchell in litt. 1998; A. Kirkconnell in litt. 1999).
The population structure has not been assessed. Based on its localised distribution (Winkler and Christie 2020; eBird 2021), it is likely that the species forms roughly eight small subpopulations. The largest subpopulation of 350-400 individuals is found in the Zapata Swamp (Kirkconnell 2013), which roughly equates to 230-270 mature individuals.

Trend justification: The species is undergoing a decline, mainly as a consequence of ongoing habitat loss. Observations from the Zapata Swamp however show that the number of breeding pairs declined from 30 in 1995 to 4 in 2012 in Bermeja and from 5 breeding pairs in 2007 to 2 in 2012 in Mera-Molina (Kirkconnell and Wiley 2017). Assuming that these declines are representative for the subpopulation in the Zapata Swamp, this subpopulation would be declining by 75% over ten years.
There is no information on the rate of population change in other subpopulations. However, the species is facing the same threats across its range and as such, it is conceivable that all subpopulations are declining at a similar rate. Preliminarily, it is inferred that the species has declined by 50-79% over the past ten years. In view of ongoing threats, declines are suspected to continue into the future (C. Sharpe and G. Kirwan in litt. 2021).


Country/territory distribution
Country/Territory Presence Origin Resident Breeding visitor Non-breeding visitor Passage migrant
Cuba extant native yes

Important Bird and Biodiversity Areas (IBA)
Country/Territory IBA Name
Cuba Cayo Sabinal, Ballenatos y Manglares de la Bahía de Nuevitas
Cuba Ciénaga de Zapata
Cuba Delta del Cauto
Cuba Desembarco del Granma
Cuba Hatibonico - Baitiquirí - Imías
Cuba Limones - Tuabaquey
Cuba Mil Cumbres
Cuba Río Máximo
Cuba Sierra del Chorrillo
Cuba Sierra del Rosario
Cuba Turquino - Bayamesa

Habitats & altitude
Habitat (level 1) Habitat (level 2) Importance Occurrence
Artificial/Terrestrial Pastureland suitable resident
Forest Subtropical/Tropical Dry major resident
Savanna Dry major resident
Wetlands (inland) Bogs, Marshes, Swamps, Fens, Peatlands suitable resident
Altitude   Occasional altitudinal limits  

Threats & impact
Threat (level 1) Threat (level 2) Impact and Stresses
Agriculture & aquaculture Annual & perennial non-timber crops - Small-holder farming Timing Scope Severity Impact
Ongoing Majority (50-90%) Rapid Declines Medium Impact: 7
Stresses
Ecosystem degradation, Ecosystem conversion
Biological resource use Hunting & trapping terrestrial animals - Intentional use (species is the target) Timing Scope Severity Impact
Ongoing Majority (50-90%) Rapid Declines Medium Impact: 7
Stresses
Species mortality
Biological resource use Hunting & trapping terrestrial animals - Unintentional effects (species is not the target) Timing Scope Severity Impact
Ongoing Majority (50-90%) Rapid Declines Medium Impact: 7
Stresses
Species disturbance, Ecosystem degradation, Reduced reproductive success, Species mortality
Climate change & severe weather Storms & flooding Timing Scope Severity Impact
Ongoing Majority (50-90%) Rapid Declines Medium Impact: 7
Stresses
Ecosystem degradation
Invasive and other problematic species, genes & diseases Invasive non-native/alien species/diseases - Felis catus Timing Scope Severity Impact
Ongoing Minority (<50%) Slow, Significant Declines Low Impact: 5
Stresses
Ecosystem degradation, Species mortality
Invasive and other problematic species, genes & diseases Invasive non-native/alien species/diseases - Sus scrofa Timing Scope Severity Impact
Ongoing Minority (<50%) Slow, Significant Declines Low Impact: 5
Stresses
Ecosystem degradation, Species mortality
Invasive and other problematic species, genes & diseases Problematic native species/diseases - Colaptes auratus Timing Scope Severity Impact
Ongoing Minority (<50%) Slow, Significant Declines Low Impact: 5
Stresses
Competition
Invasive and other problematic species, genes & diseases Problematic native species/diseases - Melanerpes superciliaris Timing Scope Severity Impact
Ongoing Minority (<50%) Slow, Significant Declines Low Impact: 5
Stresses
Competition
Invasive and other problematic species, genes & diseases Problematic native species/diseases - Xiphidiopicus percussus Timing Scope Severity Impact
Ongoing Minority (<50%) Slow, Significant Declines Low Impact: 5
Stresses
Competition

Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Species factsheet: Fernandina's Flicker Colaptes fernandinae. Downloaded from https://datazone.birdlife.org/species/factsheet/fernandinas-flicker-colaptes-fernandinae on 22/11/2024.
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 22/11/2024.