Data Zone
Justification of Red List category
This species has a large range, albeit within a narrow elevational band, which exceeds the thresholds of the range size criterion. A slow population reduction is suspected to be taking place due to habitat conversion and degradation due to agricultural expansion and timber extraction. The decline is not believed to be sufficiently rapid to approach threatened thresholds. The population size has not been quantified, but given the moderately large area of remaining montane forest within its range it is not believed to approach thresholds under the population size criterion. The species is assessed as Least Concern.
Population justification
The global population size has not been quantified, but the species is described as uncommon and local (Freile and Restall 2018, Hilty 2021).
Trend justification
This species is suspected to be declining slowly owing to the effects of habitat loss. Over ten years, 2% of tree cover is lost within the range (Global Forest Watch 2023, using Hansen et al. [2013] data and methods disclosed therein). Population declines are therefore likely equally low and localised; they are here tentatively placed in the band 1-9% over ten years. There is concern that the southern edge of the distribution in Ecuador has contracted northwards, with no recent records south of the Mira river (M. Sanchez-Nivicela in litt. 2024).
Margarornis stellatus occurs on the west slope of the West Andes from Antioquia, Colombia south to Pichinchia, Ecuador (Freile and Restall 2018, Hilty 2021, eBird 2023). Despite the species' narrow elevational range, the overall range is large, with the extent of occurrence exceeding 80,000 km2, but the area of suitable moist montane forest within the range estimated at 300 m resolution is only 9,500 km2 (calculated using sRedList [2024]). Rates of forest cover loss over the past ten years have been slow, around 2% (Global Forest Watch 2023, using data from Hansen et al. [2013] and methods disclosed therein), but the southern end of the distribution is suspected to have contracted, with no confirmed recent records south of the Mira river (M. Sanchez-Nivicela in litt. 2024).
It inhabits humid montane forest, especially mossy cloud forest, from the midstorey to the canopy, at 1,200-2,400 m, but mostly above 1,600 m (Fjeldså and Krabbe 1990, Ridgely and Tudor 1994, Hilty 2021).
It is primarily threatened by ongoing deforestation within its range, largely owing to small-scale logging and conversion into agricultural fields and cattle pastures (Stattersfield et al. 1998).
Conservation Actions Underway
The species is listed as Vulnerable at the national level in Ecuador (Freile et al. 2019).
Conservation Actions Proposed
Carry out surveys to quantify the population size. Monitor the population trend. Protect remaining primary forest within the range.
Text account compilers
Hermes, C., Martin, R.
Contributors
Butchart, S., Gilroy, J., Sharpe, C.J. & Sánchez-Nivicela, M.
Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Species factsheet: Fulvous-dotted Treerunner Margarornis stellatus. Downloaded from
https://datazone.birdlife.org/species/factsheet/fulvous-dotted-treerunner-margarornis-stellatus 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.