Data Zone
Justification of Red List category
This species has an extremely large range, and hence does not 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 has not been quantified, 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). 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 uncommon to fairly common (Stotz et al. 1996, del Hoyo et al. 2003, Restall et al. 2006).
Trend justification
There are no data on the population trend. The only threat known to the species is the loss and degradation to its forest habitat. Over three generations (10.3 years), 2% of tree cover is lost within the range (Global Forest Watch 2022, using Hansen et al. [2013] data and methods disclosed therein). Given the species' tolerance of secondary, shrubby habitat, the low rate of tree cover loss is unlikely to be driving any declines, and the population is therefore suspected to be stable.
Myrmotherula surinamensis has a large range in the Guyana Shield region of South America. It occurs from central Venezuela and eastern Colombia through Guyana, Suriname and French Guiana, and south to northern Brazil.
This is an understorey and middle storey species of Amazonian lowland "várzea" (seasonally flooded forest), "igapó" (permanently flooded forest) and shrubby secondary growth, occurring up to 450 m. It forages in tangles and other dense foliage overhanging water, usually in pairs or individually, but occasionally in mixed-species flocks. It is usually confined to the bands of shrubby vegetation that immediately border rivers, streams and oxbow lakes. The ability of this species to persist in shrubby second-growth habitats makes it less sensitive to disturbance than many other forest species (del Hoyo et al. 2003, Zimmer et al. 2020).
The primary threat to this species is accelerating deforestation, as land is cleared for logging, cattle ranching and soy production, facilitated by expansion of the road network (Soares-Filho et al. 2006, Bird et al. 2011). Deforestation is overall low and large tracts of pristine forests persist, but it may be locally high, especially in the Brazilian part of the range (Global Forest Watch 2022). An emerging threat is gold mining which is destroying forests near riverbanks; it cannot be ruled out that this is causing local population declines (O. Ottema in litt. 2020).
Conservation Actions Underway
The species occurs in several protected areas within its range, including Parima Tapirapecó and Canaima national parks (Venezuela) and Central Suriname Nature Reserve (Suriname).
Conservation Actions Proposed
Quantify the population size. Research the species' ecology and behaviour. Monitor the population trend. Monitor rates of habitat loss.
Expand the protected area network to effectively protect key sites. Effectively manage protected areas, utilising emerging opportunities to finance protected area management with the joint aims of reducing carbon emissions and maximizing biodiversity conservation. Incentivise conservation on private lands through expanding market pressures for sound land management and preventing forest clearance on lands unsuitable for agriculture (Soares-Filho et al. 2006).
9-10 cm. Small, dimorphic, relatively long-billed antwren. Male streaked black and white. Black wings with two white wing-bars. Black tail with narrow white streaks. Underparts whiter, with more sparse black streaks. Female is rufous-cinnamon on the crown and face, scaling to orange-buff on throat. Belly and flanks paler buff; wings similar to male. Similar spp. Male Cherrie's Antwren M. cherriei is more heavily streaked black, and hence looks blacker. Female M. cherrei has a much paler orange colouration than that of M. surinamensis. Voice A rattle of unmusical notes.
Text account compilers
Hermes, C.
Contributors
Butchart, S., Ekstrom, J., Khwaja, N., Lees, A., Ottema, O., Phalan, B., Pilgrim, J., Sharpe, C.J. & Symes, A.
Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Species factsheet: Guianan Streaked Antwren Myrmotherula surinamensis. Downloaded from
https://datazone.birdlife.org/species/factsheet/guianan-streaked-antwren-myrmotherula-surinamensis on 26/12/2024.
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 26/12/2024.