VU
Highland Guan Penelopina nigra



Taxonomy

Taxonomic source(s)
del Hoyo, J., Collar, N.J., Christie, D.A., Elliott, A. and Fishpool, L.D.C. 2014. HBW and BirdLife International Illustrated Checklist of the Birds of the World. Volume 1: Non-passerines. Lynx Edicions BirdLife International, Barcelona, Spain and Cambridge, UK.

IUCN Red List criteria met and history
Red List criteria met
Critically Endangered Endangered Vulnerable
- - A2cd+3cd+4cd

Red List history
Year Category Criteria
2020 Vulnerable A2cd+3cd+4cd
2016 Vulnerable A2cd+3cd+4cd
2012 Vulnerable A2cd+3cd+4cd
2008 Vulnerable A2c,d; A3c,d; A4c,d
2007 Vulnerable
2004 Near Threatened
2000 Lower Risk/Near Threatened
1994 Lower Risk/Least Concern
1988 Threatened
Species attributes

Migratory status not a migrant Forest dependency high
Land-mass type continent
Average mass 890 g
Range

Estimate Data quality
Extent of Occurrence (breeding/resident) 198,000 km2 medium
Area of Occupancy (breeding/resident) 13,000 km2 medium
Number of locations 11-100 -
Severely fragmented? no -
Population
Estimate Data quality Derivation Year of estimate
Population size 20000-49999 mature individuals good suspected 2016
Population trend decreasing good inferred 2002-2024
Rate of change over the past 10 years/3 generations (longer of the two periods) 30-49% - - -
Rate of change over the future 10 years/3 generations (longer of the two periods) 30-49% - - -
Rate of change over the past & future 10 years/3 generations (longer of the two periods) 30-49% - - -
Generation length 7.51 years - - -
Number of subpopulations 2-100 - - -
Percentage of mature individuals in largest subpopulation 1-89% - - -

Population justification: The most recent estimate places the global population of mature individuals at <50,000 (Partners in Flight 2019) although this figure is declining rapidly, a trend that is likely to continue (Eisermann et al. 2006).

Trend justification: The area of remaining habitat is declining with a ~6% reduction in forest area recorded throughout its range throughout the past three generations (Tracewski et al. 2016); such trends are likely to continue (Eisermann et al. 2006). Further to habitat alteration, hunting pressures are also a principal threat with both threats increasing owing to an expanding human population. The species is therefore inferred to be declining rapidly, with Brooks (2006) estimating rates of decline of up to 30% every 10 years.


Country/territory distribution
Country/Territory Presence Origin Resident Breeding visitor Non-breeding visitor Passage migrant
El Salvador possibly extinct native yes
Guatemala extant native yes
Honduras extant native yes
Mexico extant native yes
Nicaragua extant native yes

Important Bird and Biodiversity Areas (IBA)
Country/Territory IBA Name
El Salvador Alotepeque Range
El Salvador Montecristo Forest
Guatemala Antigua Guatemala
Guatemala Atitlan
Guatemala Cerro El Amay
Guatemala Cuchumatanes
Guatemala Cuilco
Guatemala Guatemalan Caribbean Slope
Guatemala Montecristo
Guatemala Sacranix
Guatemala Santiaguito Volcano
Guatemala Sierra de las Minas - Motagua
Guatemala Tacana - Tajumulco
Guatemala Yalijux
Honduras Azul Meambar
Honduras Botaderos
Honduras Celaque
Honduras Cerro Azul Copan - Quebrada Grande
Honduras Dipilto
Honduras El Boquerón
Honduras El Carbón
Honduras El Chile
Honduras Güisayote
Honduras La Muralla
Honduras Mixcure
Honduras Montaña de Comayagua
Honduras Montaña de Santa Bárbara
Honduras Montaña Verde
Honduras Montecillos
Honduras Opalaca
Honduras Patuca
Honduras Pico Bonito
Honduras Pico Pijol
Honduras Puca
Honduras Sierra de Agalta
Honduras Sierra de Omoa - Cusuco
Honduras Sierra Lenca
Honduras Texiguat
Mexico Corredor Laguna Bélgica - Sierra Limón - Cañón Sumidero
Mexico El Tacaná
Mexico El Triunfo
Mexico La Sepultura
Mexico Sierra Chixtontic, Sierra Canjá
Mexico Sierra de Zongolica-Tenango
Nicaragua Arenal Hill
Nicaragua Bosawas
Nicaragua El Jaguar
Nicaragua Miraflor

Habitats & altitude
Habitat (level 1) Habitat (level 2) Importance Occurrence
Forest Subtropical/Tropical Moist Lowland major resident
Forest Subtropical/Tropical Moist Montane major resident
Altitude 700 - 3300 m Occasional altitudinal limits  

Threats & impact
Threat (level 1) Threat (level 2) Impact and Stresses
Agriculture & aquaculture Annual & perennial non-timber crops - Agro-industry farming 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
Biological resource use Hunting & trapping terrestrial animals - Intentional use (species is the target) Timing Scope Severity Impact
Ongoing Majority (50-90%) Slow, Significant Declines Medium Impact: 6
Stresses
Species mortality
Climate change & severe weather Habitat shifting & alteration Timing Scope Severity Impact
Future Majority (50-90%) Slow, Significant Declines Low Impact: 5
Stresses
Ecosystem degradation
Energy production & mining Mining & quarrying Timing Scope Severity Impact
Ongoing Minority (<50%) Negligible declines Low Impact: 4
Stresses
Ecosystem degradation, Ecosystem conversion

Utilisation
Purpose Scale
Food - human subsistence, national
Pets/display animals, horticulture international

Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Species factsheet: Highland Guan Penelopina nigra. Downloaded from https://datazone.birdlife.org/species/factsheet/highland-guan-penelopina-nigra 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.