• Summary
• Text account
• Data table and detailed info
• Distribution map
• Reference and further resources

Justification of Red List category
This species has a very 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 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). 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 (>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 'fairly common' (Stotz et al. 1996).

Trend justification
An analysis of forest loss from 2000-2012 found that forest was lost within the species's range at a rate equivalent to 7% over three generations (Tracewski et al. 2016), and so the species is inferred to be in decline.

Augastes scutatus is relatively common in the Serra do Espinhaço, north Minas Gerais, from Montes Claros, Grão Mogol and Diamantina, to Serra do Cipó, Belo Horizonte, Ouro Preto and Conselheiro Lafaiete, in east-central Brazil (Sick 1993, Parker et al. 1996). The hundreds of specimens from old collecting expeditions (Stattersfield et al. 1998) suggest that it was formerly more common.

There are two distinct races with differing habitat requirements: A. s. scutatus occurs in arid montane scrub and on rocky outcrops within undulating grassland at 900-2,000 m, while A.s. ilseae prefers gallery forest at 1,000-1,200 m (Pearman 1990, Sick 1993).

Much of the species's range was colonised when diamonds and gold were found there in the 19th century. Up to date, small gold mining operations persist. Moreover, quartz crystals and manganese are mined. The principal threat to the species is now increasing conversion of land for cattle ranching, with its restricted range rendering it vulnerable to any form of disturbance (Vasconcelos 1999).

Conservation Actions Underway
CITES Appendix II. The species occurs in the Serra do Cipó National Park.

Conservation Actions Proposed
Study its ecology and attempt to obtain an accurate estimate of its population size and trends. Quantify the extent of habitat losses. Increase the area of suitable habitat that has protected status.

Text account compilers
Symes, A., Wheatley, H., Benstead, P., Sharpe, C.J., Capper, D.

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Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Species factsheet: Hyacinth Visorbearer Augastes scutatus. Downloaded from https://datazone.birdlife.org/species/factsheet/hyacinth-visorbearer-augastes-scutatus on 22/12/2024.
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 22/12/2024.