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

Justification of Red List category
This little-known and elusive species apparently has a small population, and in some areas it is likely to be declining owing to destruction and degradation of its páramo habitat. It is consequently classified as Near Threatened.

Population justification
Poorly known, but evidently rare and highly localised, notwithstanding its low detectability. Boyla and Estrada (2005) estimated the global population size to number fewer than 10,000 birds, but a review of available records and effort by Lesterhuis et al. (in prep.) led them to conclude the population probably numbers 3,000-6,000 individuals. A majority of these individuals are assumed to be mature, given counts are based largely on detections of displaying birds. Assuming 0.7-0.9 of these are mature, this suggests a global population size of 2,100-5,400 mature individuals. However, this is based on very few data, and at some sites it is evidently not very rare; e.g., in Ecuador 4-5 were found displaying within 1.6 km² of suitable ridge-top habitat (Terborgh and Weske 1972).

Trend justification
Inferred to be declining due to habitat loss and degradation, and perhaps other threats not yet elucidated. Forest cover loss within this species' range has been minimal over the past three generations (Global Forest Watch 2024), but degradation is thought to be ongoing, and there are reportedly several areas where the species was previously recorded that no longer hold good habitat (D. C. Heredia in litt. 2024).

Gallinago imperialis was considered extinct for over half a century, but was rediscovered in Peru in 1967 since when it has been found at several sites, and in Ecuador since 1988 (Fjeldså and Krabbe 1990, Krabbe 1992, Piersma 1996b, Krabbe et al. 1997, Williams et al. 1997). In Ecuador, it probably occurs continuously along the east and west slopes, on massifs from Carchi to Cotopaxi (Krabbe et al. 1997). In Peru, it is perhaps equally widespread on the east slope, although it apparently occurs at very low densities and known populations are small and localised (Johnsgard 1981, Krabbe 1992). Very marginally occurs in Colombia.

It occurs around the tree-line at 2,745-3,700 m, where it is probably largely restricted to bogs and moist elfin forest intermixed with tree-ferns and tall grass, but is also found in bamboo-fringed glades with extensive Sphagnum mosses (Krabbe 1992, Piersma 1996).

Burning, grazing and conversion for agriculture of the páramo has negatively affected areas adjacent to the tree-line, consequently destroying and degrading its preferred habitat mosaic (Stattersfield et al. 1998).

Conservation Actions Underway
None is known, although it occurs in numerous protected areas.

Conservation Actions Proposed
Research its biology. Effectively protect remaining core areas of páramo. Search for the species in potentially suitable habitat.

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

Contributors
Cisneros-Heredia, D.F.

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Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Species factsheet: Imperial Snipe Gallinago imperialis. Downloaded from https://datazone.birdlife.org/species/factsheet/imperial-snipe-gallinago-imperialis 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.