VU
Golden Swallow Tachycineta euchrysea



Taxonomy

Taxonomic source(s)
del Hoyo, J., Collar, N.J., Christie, D.A., Elliott, A., Fishpool, L.D.C., Boesman, P. and Kirwan, G.M. 2016. HBW and BirdLife International Illustrated Checklist of the Birds of the World. Volume 2: Passerines. Lynx Edicions and BirdLife International, Barcelona, Spain and Cambridge, UK.

IUCN Red List criteria met and history
Red List criteria met
Critically Endangered Endangered Vulnerable
- - C2a(i)

Red List history
Year Category Criteria
2021 Vulnerable C2a(i)
2016 Vulnerable B1ab(i,ii,iii,iv,v)
2012 Vulnerable B1ab(i,ii,iii,iv,v)
2008 Vulnerable B1a+b(i,ii,iii,iv,v)
2004 Vulnerable
2000 Vulnerable
1994 Lower Risk/Near Threatened
1988 Near Threatened
Species attributes

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

Estimate Data quality
Extent of Occurrence (breeding/resident) 35,200 km2 medium
Severely fragmented? no -
Population
Estimate Data quality Derivation Year of estimate
Population size 2000-3000 mature individuals poor estimated 2021
Population trend decreasing poor inferred 2017-2027
Rate of change over the past 10 years/3 generations (longer of the two periods) 1-19% - - -
Rate of change over the future 10 years/3 generations (longer of the two periods) 1-19% - - -
Rate of change over the past & future 10 years/3 generations (longer of the two periods) 1-19% - - -
Generation length 2.39 years - - -
Number of subpopulations 3-4 - - -

Population justification:

This species is described as locally common (Turner and de Juana, 2020). Based on this, taking the lowest of seven estimates for congeners, including Lesser Striped-swallow Hirundo abyssinica and Rufous-chested Swallow Hirundo semirufa of 2 individuals/km2 (Vernon 1985), and assuming it inhabits 20% of the forest within its range (9,380 km2 [Global Forest Watch 2021]), the population is may be 3,752 individuals. This is roughly equivalent to 2,500 mature individuals. The population is therefore estimated to fall in the band 2,000-3,000 mature individuals.

Trend justification: Population trends have shown evidence of decline over the past few decades, owing to habitat loss and degradation from shifting agriculture and predation by invasive mammals (Dod 1992, Keith et al. 2003, Townsend 2006). No data are available to estimate recent population trends, however, this species is suspected to be declining in line with ongoing habitat loss and degradation. Data from Global Forest Watch (2021) showed that forest cover throughout the species's range declined by 4.7% over the last three generations (10 years). Based on forest loss data between 2017-2020 (Global Forest Watch 2021), and projected forward over three generations, the species habitat is likely to decline by <2%. With the additional threat of invasive predators, the species is suspected to be declining at a rate of between 1-19% over three generations.


Country/territory distribution
Country/Territory Presence Origin Resident Breeding visitor Non-breeding visitor Passage migrant
Dominican Republic extant native yes
Haiti extant native yes
Jamaica possibly extinct native yes

Important Bird and Biodiversity Areas (IBA)
Country/Territory IBA Name
Dominican Republic Armando Bermudez National Park
Dominican Republic Eastern Bahoruco
Dominican Republic Ebano Verde Scientific Reserve
Dominican Republic Nalga de Maco-Río Limpio
Dominican Republic Parque Nacional Dr Juan Bautista Pérez Rancier (Valle Nuevo)
Dominican Republic Sierra de Bahoruco National Park
Dominican Republic Sierra de Neyba
Haiti Aux Becs-Croisés
Haiti Aux Cornichons
Haiti Aux Diablotins
Haiti Bois Musicien
Jamaica Blue Mountains
Jamaica Cockpit Country

Habitats & altitude
Habitat (level 1) Habitat (level 2) Importance Occurrence
Artificial/Terrestrial Arable Land suitable resident
Artificial/Terrestrial Pastureland suitable resident
Artificial/Terrestrial Urban Areas suitable resident
Forest Subtropical/Tropical Dry suitable resident
Forest Subtropical/Tropical Moist Lowland suitable resident
Forest Subtropical/Tropical Moist Montane major resident
Grassland Subtropical/Tropical Dry suitable resident
Altitude 800 - 2000 m Occasional altitudinal limits (min) 0 m

Threats & impact
Threat (level 1) Threat (level 2) Impact and Stresses
Agriculture & aquaculture Annual & perennial non-timber crops - Shifting agriculture Timing Scope Severity Impact
Ongoing Majority (50-90%) Slow, Significant Declines Medium Impact: 6
Stresses
Ecosystem degradation, Ecosystem conversion
Agriculture & aquaculture Annual & perennial non-timber crops - Small-holder farming Timing Scope Severity Impact
Ongoing Majority (50-90%) Slow, Significant Declines Medium Impact: 6
Stresses
Ecosystem degradation, Ecosystem conversion
Invasive and other problematic species, genes & diseases Invasive non-native/alien species/diseases - Rattus rattus Timing Scope Severity Impact
Past, Likely to Return Minority (<50%) Slow, Significant Declines Past Impact
Stresses
Reduced reproductive success, Species mortality
Invasive and other problematic species, genes & diseases Invasive non-native/alien species/diseases - Sturnus vulgaris Timing Scope Severity Impact
Unknown Unknown Unknown Unknown
Stresses
Competition

Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Species factsheet: Golden Swallow Tachycineta euchrysea. Downloaded from https://datazone.birdlife.org/species/factsheet/golden-swallow-tachycineta-euchrysea 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.