Data Zone
Justification of Red List category
This species is likely to have a very small population size. Its population is likely to comprise very small isolated subpopulations due to habitat fragmentation. Its population size is inferred to be declining as a result of ongoing deforestation. For these reasons, the species is listed as Vulnerable.
Population justification
The species is locally common (CEMAVE 2018), but there are few recent records from Espírito Santo or Minas Gerais (2018). Based on the minimum and median recorded densities of the congener Glaucis hirsutus (2 and 3.3 individuals per km2, respectively), the area of tree cover with at least 50% canopy cover within the species's range in 2010 (28,600 km2; Global Forest Watch 2021), and assuming that between 5 and 25% of the tree cover is occupied by the species (based on the species having a localised distribution), the population size is suspected to fall within the range of 2,800 - 24,000 individuals, roughly equating to 1,900 - 16,000 mature individuals. The species appears to require well-preserved forest (Silveria 2008), of which little remains in southern Bahia (B. Phalan in litt. 2021). Furthermore, G. hirsutus is a much commoner species than G. dohrnii, so the population density of the latter species may be expected to be lower. The true population size may therefore be expected to fall towards the lower end of the band, and is estimated to be smaller than 10,000 mature individuals.
The species's remaining habitat is fragmented and there are no records of individuals moving between sites, so there are assumed to be multiple subpopulations, with fewer than 1,000 individuals in the largest subpopulation (CEMAVE 2018).
Trend justification
Local extinctions have occurred, including at localities formerly thought to be strongholds of the species, such as the Córrego Grande Biological Reserve (Hinkelmann 1999). Remote sensing data on tree cover loss within the species's range indicates that approximately 9% of tree cover with at least 50% canopy cover was lost over ten years from 2009-2019 (Global Forest Watch 2021). Extrapolating forward, it is estimated that up to 12% may be lost over the next decade, assuming that the rate of forest loss remains constant. The species is generally found in primary forest and so its population is inferred to be undergoing an ongoing continuing decline as a result of this habitat loss, at a rate of 4-14% over the past ten years, and 5-17% over the next ten years.
Glaucis dohrnii occurs in east Brazil, where there have been recent records from a few widely scattered localities in Bahia, Minas Gerais and Espírito Santo. In Bahia, there are recent reports from Pau Brasil National Park (Hinkelmann and Kirwan 2018) and Rio do Brasil Private Natural Heritage Reserve in Porto Seguro; Estação Veracel Private Natural Heritage Reserve (F. Olmos in litt. 1999, CEMAVE 2018, eBird 2020) in Porto Seguro and Santa Cruz Cabrália; Una Biological Reserve in Una (Hinkelmann and Kirwan 2018); Serra Bonita Reserve in Camacan (Cavarzere et al. 2019, WikiAves 2018, eBird 2020); Boa Nova National Park in Boa Nova (Lima et al. 2018), Michelin Ecological Reserve in Igrapiúna (eBird 2020); Serra do Conduru State Park in Uruçuca (WikiAves 2018, eBird 2020); Jequié (WikiAves 2018, eBird 2020); Macarani (WikiAves 2018); Poções (WikiAves 2018, eBird 2020); and Fazenda Palmeiras in Itapebi (Freitas et al. 2007). In Minas Gerais, the species has been recorded at fazenda Duas Barras and Mata dos Muriquis Wildlife Refuge in Santa Maria do Salto (Silveira and Straube 2008, eBird 2020). In Espírito Santo, there was a record in 1988 from Reserva Natural Vale (Linhares) and there have been recent records from the municipalities of Colatina and Marilândia (WikiAves 2018).
It occurs humid primary forest, particularly along streambeds with flowering Heliconia, and appears to require high-quality habitat (Silveira 2008). It is generally seen in the forest interior, but has been recorded visiting ornamental flowers in areas adjacent to forest. It feeds on nectar and small arthropods. It is reported to breed from September to February.
The majority of the lowland forests of east Brazil have been fragmented and destroyed, largely as a result of logging and conversion to pasture, sugarcane plantations and more recently, eucalyptus plantations. Although there are recent records from reserves, these are under pressure from settlers, suffer from fire and road construction and generally provide inadequate protection. Perhaps most importantly, they protect few watercourses and consequently little suitable habitat for this species.
Conservation Actions Underway
CITES Appendix I and II. It is considered nationally Endangered and protected under Brazilian law (Silveira and Straube 2008, ICMBio 2018). It is included in the National Action Plan for the Conservation of the Birds of the Atlantic Forest (ICMBio 2017). It survives in Descobrimento, Monte Pascoal, Alto Do Cariri, Boa Nova and Pau Brasil National Parks, RPPN Estação Veracel and Una and Córrego do Veado Biological Reserves.
Conservation Actions Proposed
Survey historical localities and other areas of suitable habitat to gain estimates of the species's population density, current distribution and population size. Study its ecological requirements.
Effectively manage protected areas where the species occurs. Protect further areas of habitat, promoting connectivity between remaining fragments of habitat. Enforce legislation preventing forest clearance.
12 cm. Dull coloured hermit hummingbird. Greenish-bronze upperparts. Cinnamon underparts. White supercilium and malar, with dusky face and lower border to malar. Metallic bronze tail with outer rectrices tipped white. Almost straight bill with whitish mandible. Similar spp. Saw-billed Hermit Ramphodon naevius is larger with bold streaks on underparts. Rufous-breasted Hermit Glaucis hirsuta has slightly decurved bill, rufous base to outer four rectrices and black subterminal tail-band. Voice Descending high-pitched phrase.
Text account compilers
Wheatley, H.
Contributors
Kirwan, G.M., Olmos, F., Oniki, Y., Willis, E.O., Williams, R., Clay, R.P., Sharpe, C.J., Capper, D., Benstead, P., Symes, A. & Phalan, B.
Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Species factsheet: Hook-billed Hermit Glaucis dohrnii. Downloaded from
https://datazone.birdlife.org/species/factsheet/hook-billed-hermit-glaucis-dohrnii 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.