Data Zone
Justification of Red List category
This species was formerly known from only a very limited number of locations, but it continues to be found at new localities, expanding its known range. Although this species may have a small range, it is not believed to 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 stable, and hence the species does not approach the thresholds for Vulnerable under the population trend criterion (>30% decline over ten years or three generations). The population size may be small, 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). Therefore, it is now listed as Least Concern.
Population justification
Given its limited distribution, the population was previously thought unlikely to exceed 10,000 individuals, and placed in the range 2,500-9,999 individuals (roughly equivalent to 1,500-7,000 mature individuals). Given the continued discovery of this species from new localities, the population may be larger than previously thought, and so is now placed in the range 2,500-9,999 mature individuals.
Trend justification
Data are lacking on the population size and trend, but there is no clear evidence of any current active threats to populations at known sites.
Incaspiza ortizi is very local, but not uncommon, with records from four sites in north-west Peru: Palamba, north of Huancabamba, extreme north-east Piura; La Esperanza, north-east of Santa Cruz, on the Pacific slope of central Cajamarca, and Hacienda Limón, east of Celendín, in the Marañón drainage, south-central Cajamarca (Begazo et al. 2001). It was also recently found to the east of the Marañón near the town of Longotea, close to the border of Amazonas and La Libertad (F. Lambert and F. Angulo in litt. 2006, Angulo et al. 2008). This discovery, and continued further discoveries from the Huanacabamba area and on Zapaltago, suggest that the range may be larger than currently thought (Angulo et al. 2008, F. Lambert in litt. 2007, F. Angulo in litt. 2007, 2017).
It occurs at 1,800-2,600 m in arid montane scrub (Parker et al. 1996). Near Huancabamba, it occurs on a single rocky hilltop covered by dense herbaceous scrub (averaging 1.5 m high), small Acacia, various cacti, and numerous terrestrial bromeliads. Hacienda Limón is characterised by open Acacia woodland, grass and thorny scrub, but no cacti or bromeliads, and it has been observed in dense, thorny hedgerows. It appears to be tolerant of habitat degradation, including logging and grazing, and commonly occurs in burnt areas (F. Lambert and F. Angulo in litt. 2006, F. Lambert in litt. 2007). It feeds on seeds, plant matter and insects. Breeding appears to last from at least May-July (October), with young observed in July-September.
Slopes adjacent to Huancabamba have been extensively cleared for cultivation and pasture, and there appears to be no other suitable habitat in the vicinity. Consequently, if this hilltop were to be burnt, the northernmost population would surely be lost. However, further south, it survives on heavily disturbed, steep slopes, which appear unlikely to be usable to any greater degree (R. Webster and R. A. Rowlett in litt. 1998).
Conservation Actions Underway
It is listed as an endangered species in Peru. Local NGO Asociación Ecosistemas Andinos (ECOAN) and American Bird Conservancy (ABC) have undertaken a project to determine the distribution of the species on the Marañón drainage and to find a priority area for the conservation of the species (Angulo et al. 2008).
16.5 cm. Strikingly plumaged, dumpy finch. Greyish-brown upperparts streaked dusky on scapulars and mantle. Head sides and neck also greyish. Narrow black forehead and ocular areas, and small black throat patch, enhanced by orange bill. Grey breast grading to white on belly and undertail-coverts. Black with largely white outertail feathers. Similar spp. Great Inca-finch I. pulchra and Rufous-backed Inca-finch I. personata both have rufous on mantle and wings, and slightly differently-marked face patterns. Voice A series of sharp whistles consisting of thee parts: an introductory ascending triplet of whistles (0.5 seconds duration) followed by three slower descending whistles (1 second duration) and a closing short trill of 0.5 seconds (F. Angulo in litt. 2007).
Text account compilers
Symes, A., Gilroy, J., Sharpe, C.J., Westrip, J., Pople, R.
Contributors
Rowlett, R., Lambert, F., Angulo Pratolongo, F., Webster, R.
Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Species factsheet: Grey-winged Inca-finch Incaspiza ortizi. Downloaded from
https://datazone.birdlife.org/species/factsheet/grey-winged-inca-finch-incaspiza-ortizi 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.