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 density descriptions range from uncommon to fairly common but patchily distributed (Stotz et al. 1996, Freile and Restall 2018, Hilty 2021). In view of its large range however, the population is unlikely to be small even if it is limited by the availability of oropendola nests.
Trend justification
The population trend has not been investigated, but the species is known to tolerate edge and degraded habitat (Mobley and Sharpe 2020). Consequently, the current low rate of tree cover loss within the range (5% over ten years; Global Forest Watch 2023, using Hansen et al. [2013] data and methods disclosed therein) may not be driving a population decline. In the absence of evidence for any declines or substantial threats, the population is suspected to be stable.
Conopias cinchoneti has a disjunct range in the Andes of north-west South America. It occurs from the Sierra de Perijá and Cordillera de Mérida in west Venezuela through the three ranges of the Andes in Colombia to northwest Ecuador, east Ecuador and Peru, south to La Paz, Bolivia.
This is a species of clearings and edges in montane cloud-forest, and is thought to be tolerant of some forest degradation. It feeds on insects and small fruits. There is little information on breeding, though the species is likely to make use of old Psarocolius and Cacicus nests. One nest found in southeast Ecuador was located in abandoned Yellow-rumped Cacique (Cacicus cela) nest (Freile and Moscoso 2008). Individuals have been observed at an old Russet-backed Oropendola (Psarocolius angustifrons) colony, and may have bred in the disused nest sites (del Hoyo et al. 2004, Mobley and Sharpe 2020).
The species' tolerance of clearings, edges and degraded habitat suggest that it is not impacted by the current slow range of habitat loss through deforestation for agricultural expansion (Mobley and Sharpe 2020, Global Forest Watch 2023): in fact there is a suggestion that logging may have increased the suitable habitat for the species (M. Sanchez-Nivicela in litt. (2024). However it is found in association with cloud forest and it is likely that conversion and degradation of forest habitat beyond a certain point will affect the population.
Conservation Actions Underway
It occurs in several protected areas across its range, including Sierra Nevada and Sierra de la Culata National Parks (Venezuela), Farallones de Cali National Park (Colombia), Podocarpus National Park (Ecuador), and Machu Picchu Historical Sanctuary (Peru).
Conservation Actions Proposed
Quantify the population size. Monitor the population trend. Protect areas of suitable habitat within the range.
16 cm. Head is mostly olive-green, with bright yellow forehead and wide, pale yellow supercilia. Upperparts are mostly olive, apart from wings and tail, which are dusky brownish. Bright yellow underparts. Dark iris. Bill is relatively long and black, legs also blackish. Voice A distinctive, high pitched, nasal whee-ee-ee-ee, wheedidididídí or pa-treeer-pa-treeer-pa-treeer.
Text account compilers
Hermes, C.
Contributors
Butchart, S., Ekstrom, J., Khwaja, N., Sharpe, C.J., Symes, A. & Sánchez-Nivicela, M.
Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Species factsheet: Lemon-browed Flycatcher Conopias cinchoneti. Downloaded from
https://datazone.birdlife.org/species/factsheet/lemon-browed-flycatcher-conopias-cinchoneti 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.