LC
Fiery-throated Fruiteater Pipreola chlorolepidota



Justification

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). The population trend appears to be decreasing, although the rate of reduction does not 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 this species is described as locally uncommon and rare across most of its range (Snow and Sharpe 2020). However, the species’ inconspicuous behaviour and inaccessible habitat sites suggest that the species may be less rare than considered (Snow and Sharpe 2020), and as such it is not thought that the population is small.

Trend justification
The species is suspected to be undergoing a slow decline due to habitat loss and degradation. Tree cover loss within the species range equated to c. 4-5%  over 10 years (Global Forest Watch 2021, using Hansen et al. [2013] data and methods disclosed therein). The species is highly dependent on forest cover, albeit its inconspicuous nature may suggest that the species is more numerous than known (Snow and Sharpe 2020). Rates of population decline are therefore not thought to exceed 10% but are tentatively placed here in the band of 1-9% over ten years.

Distribution and population

Pipreola chlorolepidota occurs in the east foothills of the Andes from south Colombia, Ecuador to north and central Peru south to Pasco (Ridgely and Tudor 1994). It is known from west Caquetá, Cauca, Putumayo, and La Quisayá in Colombia (Hilty and Brown 1986, P. G. W. Salaman in litt. 1999, Gómez-Bernal et al. 2016), and is rare in Ecuador (Ridgely et al. 1998) and Peru (Parker et al. 1982), but locally uncommon at some sites (Parker et al. 1982).

Ecology

It inhabits the lower and middle growth of humid forest, principally at 600-1,200 m, but has been observed at 300 m in Ecuador and Peru (Ridgely and Greenfield 2001, Schulenberg et al. 2007). It was also recorded in the Cerros del Sira of Peru at 1,450-1,500 m (Mee et al. 2002).

Threats

Many of the foothill forests within the range are considered to be under threat from conversion to agriculture and cattle pasture, mining operations, oil exploration and logging, with widespread destruction being caused by peasant farmers and tea and coffee growers (Dinerstein et al. 1995). However, habitat loss is considered to be low as tree cover loss has equated to c. 4% over the past 10 years; with the rate accelerating to 5% since 2016 (Global Forest Watch 2021, using Hansen et al. [2013] data and methods disclosed therein). The loss of connectivity in adjoining sites may however create localised losses (Gómez-Bernal et al. 2016). 

Conservation actions

Conservation Actions Underway
The species occurs in Cueva de los Guácharos, Alto Fragua Indi-Wasi, Serranía de los Churumbelos, and Complejo Volcánico Doña Juana-Cascabel National Parks in Colombia; Sumaco Napo-Galeras and Sangay National Parks in Ecuador; and Cordillera Azul National Park in Peru (Snow and Sharpe 2020).

Conservation Actions Proposed
Search for the species at new sites. Quantify the population size. Monitor population trends. Study its ecology and its ability to persist in degraded and fragmented habitats.
Effectively protect and manage protected areas where the species occurs.

Acknowledgements

Text account compilers
Fernando, E.

Contributors
Capper, D., Harding, M., Isherwood, I., O'Brien, A., Salaman, P.G.W. & Sharpe, C.J.


Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Species factsheet: Fiery-throated Fruiteater Pipreola chlorolepidota. Downloaded from https://datazone.birdlife.org/species/factsheet/fiery-throated-fruiteater-pipreola-chlorolepidota 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.