Data Zone
Justification of Red List category
Although this species may have a restricted range, it is not believed to approach the thresholds for Vulnerable under the range size criterion (Extent of Occurrence under 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 size has not been quantified, but it is not believed to approach the thresholds for Vulnerable under the population size criterion (under 10,000 mature individuals with a continuing decline estimated to be over 10% in ten years or three generations, or with a specified population structure). Despite the fact that the population trend appears to be decreasing, the decline is not believed to be sufficiently rapid to approach the thresholds for Vulnerable under the population trend criterion (over 30% decline over ten years or three generations). 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 common (Hilty and Brown 1986, McMullan et al. 2010). The population is suspected to be in decline owing to ongoing habitat destruction through over-grazing (del Hoyo et al. 1999).
Trend justification
The population is suspected to be in decline owing to ongoing habitat destruction through over-grazing (del Hoyo et al. 1999).
Oxypogon guerinii occurs in the east Andes of Colombia, south to Cundinamarca, where it is described as locally common in high mossy paramo with Espeletia spp. present (Hilty and Brown 1986, McMullan et al. 2010).
Present year-round in humid paramo with Espeletia vegetation between 3,000 m and 5,200 m. Breeding is closely related to the flowering of Espeletia and the relatively large nest is constructed from the fibres of plants of this genus. Often this is along riverbanks underneath overhanging structures near waterfalls; often reused for several years (del Hoyo et al. 1999). Several nests may be found close together, indicating a lack of female territoriality (del Hoyo et al. 1999). Clutch size is 2, incubation is 21-23 days undertaken by the female, and fledging occurs 35-38 days after hatching (del Hoyo et al. 1999).
A medium-sized hummingbird with a prominent crest and elongated chin and throat feathers forming a 'beard'. Crest and throat are mostly white, and broad white collar from breast side behind ear coverts to back of head contrasts strongly with blackish face. Bill is fairly short and straight. Central feathers of the 'beard' are metallic green, and the tail has obvious white stripe including the shafts of the outer retrices. Similar spp. O. cyanolaemus, O. lindenii, and O. stuebelii were previously lumped with the present species. O. cyanolaemus has an extensive buff-white area on the outer retrices, and the beard of the male is purplish-blue. O. lindenii has a longer crest and greatly reduced green feathering in the beard. O. stuebelii differs in having the white areas replaced by a tan colour, a reduced crest and beard and larger whitish area on the outer retrices.
Text account compilers
Rutherford, C.A.
Contributors
Cortes, O.
Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Species factsheet: Green-bearded Helmetcrest Oxypogon guerinii. Downloaded from
https://datazone.birdlife.org/species/factsheet/green-bearded-helmetcrest-oxypogon-guerinii on 26/11/2024.
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 26/11/2024.