• Summary
• Text account
• Data table and detailed info
• Distribution map
• Reference and further resources

Justification of Red List category
This species is listed as Near Threatened because its population is thought to be small and suspected to be in decline due to the loss and degradation of habitat.

Population justification
Previously, the total population had been estimated to number 85,000-250,000 individuals (O. Jahn in litt. 2009). More recent estimates placed the population in the band 6,000-10,000 mature individuals (Fundación ProAves in litt. 2020). The species is generally considered uncommon, but can be locally fairly common (Parker et al. 1996, P. G. W. Salaman in litt. 1999, R. Strewe in litt. 1999, Ridgely and Greenfield 2001, P. G. W. Salaman in litt. 2008).

Trend justification
The population trend has not been estimated directly. The species is threatened by habitat loss; however, deforestation across the range has been negligible over the past ten years (c. 1%; Global Forest Watch 2020). Particularly within the range in Ecuador, forest loss has been larger however (M. Moens in litt. 2020, M. Schaefer in litt. 2020). Despite its tolerance of disturbed and secondary habitats, the species relies on forest cover and does not occupy heavily degraded areas (O. Jahn in litt. 2009, J. Freile in litt. 2020, Short and Horne 2020); it is therefore tentatively suspected that population declines are further compounded by habitat degradation and may approach 20% over ten years.

Capito quinticolor occurs in a narrow range in the lowlands and foothills of Chocó forest in Colombia (Valle del Cauca south to Nariño) and north Ecuador (Esmeraldas). It is mostly observed around Buenaventura (Valle del Cauca, Colombia), Tumaco (Nariño, Colombia) and San Lorenzo (Esmeraldas, Ecuador). Sightings further north in the Chocó department have not been confirmed; it is possible that the species occurs in this area, but confirmation is required (Fundación ProAves in litt. 2020).

The species inhabits a variety of habitats, preferring wet lowland primary forests, but is regularly seen in edges, tall secondary forest and disturbed habitats (Fundación ProAves in litt. 2020, Short and Horne 2020). It is mostly found below 400 m, but locally ranges up to 600 m (Short and Horne 2020). It forages for fruits and insects almost exclusively in the canopy of large trees (P. G. W. Salaman in litt. 1999, 2008).

Extensive areas of lowland forest remain in Colombia, however the rate of forest loss in the lowland Chocó region of Colombia is presently accelerating as oil palm plantations, agricultural expansion, timber extraction, illegal gold-mining along rivers and streams and coca production is stimulating immigration and colonisation to the region (Fundación ProAves in litt. 2020). Areas in Nariño where the species was frequently seen have in recent years been completely cleared (P. G. W. Salaman in litt. 1999, 2008). In northwestern Ecuador, habitat loss has been more severe, with only 32% of the original lowland forests remaining (Finer and Mamani 2019). The principal driver has been conversion for oil palm plantations, and rising demand for biofuels means that pressure on remaining forests is likely to increase (O. Jahn in litt. 2009). The species tends to reach unnaturally high population densities in remaining (secondary) forest fragments in areas where large-scale deforestation has occurred, but it is not known how quickly these will revert to more normal densities, and it is uncertain if the barbet can persist in forest fragments in the long-term or if it will eventually disappear from them altogether (O. Jahn in litt. 2009).

Conservation Actions Underway
Potentially suitable habitat is present in Cotacachi-Cayapas National Park and Awá Ethnographic Reserve, Ecuador, but the species has not yet been found in either (and effective protection at these sites is uncertain). It has been recorded in Cooperativa Tesoro Esmeraldeño, sector Cristóbal Colón, Esmeraldas, Ecuador, a forest protected by a community cooperative (J. Freile in litt. 2012).

Conservation Actions Proposed
Effectively protect and manage protected areas where the species occurs. Monitor population at strongholds and search for the species in potentially suitable habitat at new sites. Study its ecology and particularly its ability to persist in degraded and fragmented habitats.

Text account compilers
Hermes, C.

Contributors
Benstead, P., Capper, D., Freile, J., Fundación ProAves, Isherwood, I., Jahn, O., Moens, M., Salaman, P.G.W., Schaefer, H.M., Sharpe, C.J., Strewe, R., Stuart, T., Symes, A., Wege, D. & Williams, R.

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Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Species factsheet: Five-colored Barbet Capito quinticolor. Downloaded from https://datazone.birdlife.org/species/factsheet/five-colored-barbet-capito-quinticolor on 19/12/2024.
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 19/12/2024.