VU
Little Inca-finch Incaspiza watkinsi



Taxonomy

Taxonomic source(s)
del Hoyo, J., Collar, N.J., Christie, D.A., Elliott, A., Fishpool, L.D.C., Boesman, P. and Kirwan, G.M. 2016. HBW and BirdLife International Illustrated Checklist of the Birds of the World. Volume 2: Passerines. Lynx Edicions and BirdLife International, Barcelona, Spain and Cambridge, UK.
SACC. 2005 and updates. A classification of the bird species of South America. Available at: https://www.museum.lsu.edu/~Remsen/SACCBaseline.htm.

IUCN Red List criteria met and history
Red List criteria met
Critically Endangered Endangered Vulnerable
- - D1

Red List history
Year Category Criteria
2022 Vulnerable D1
2016 Near Threatened B1ab(i,ii,iii,v)
2012 Near Threatened B1ab(i,ii,iii,v)
2008 Near Threatened B1a+b(i,ii,iii,v)
2004 Near Threatened
2000 Lower Risk/Near Threatened
1994 Lower Risk/Near Threatened
1988 Near Threatened
Species attributes

Migratory status not a migrant Forest dependency does not normally occur in forest
Land-mass type continent
Average mass 20 g
Range

Estimate Data quality
Extent of Occurrence (breeding/resident) 4,300 km2 medium
Area of Occupancy (breeding/resident) 2,752 km2
Number of locations 11-100 -
Severely fragmented? no -
Population
Estimate Data quality Derivation Year of estimate
Population size 250-999 mature individuals medium estimated 2008
Population trend decreasing poor suspected 2015-2025
Rate of change over the past 10 years/3 generations (longer of the two periods) 1-9% - - -
Rate of change over the future 10 years/3 generations (longer of the two periods) 1-9% - - -
Rate of change over the past & future 10 years/3 generations (longer of the two periods) 1-9% - - -
Generation length 3 years - - -
Number of subpopulations 1 - - -
Percentage of mature individuals in largest subpopulation 100% - - -

Population justification: The global population is estimated to number 1,292 individuals (Angulo et al. 2008 per García Bravo 2020), which roughly equates to 860 mature individuals. To account for uncertainty, the population is here placed in the band 250-999 mature individuals. The species is described as 'fairly common' (Stotz et al. 1996).
Based on observational records (per eBird 2021), the species is assumed to form one subpopulation.

Trend justification: The population is suspected to be in decline owing to on-going habitat degradation and conversion within the range (García Bravo 2011, 2020). The rate of decline has not been quantified, but it is tentatively suspected that declines do not exceed 10% over ten years.


Country/territory distribution
Country/Territory Presence Origin Resident Breeding visitor Non-breeding visitor Passage migrant
Peru extant native yes

Important Bird and Biodiversity Areas (IBA)
Country/Territory IBA Name
Peru Bagua
Peru Chinchipe

Habitats & altitude
Habitat (level 1) Habitat (level 2) Importance Occurrence
Shrubland Subtropical/Tropical Dry major resident
Altitude 350 - 900 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 Livestock farming & ranching - Agro-industry grazing, ranching or farming Timing Scope Severity Impact
Ongoing Majority (50-90%) Slow, Significant Declines Medium Impact: 6
Stresses
Ecosystem degradation, Ecosystem conversion
Agriculture & aquaculture Livestock farming & ranching - Small-holder grazing, ranching or farming Timing Scope Severity Impact
Ongoing Majority (50-90%) Slow, Significant Declines Medium Impact: 6
Stresses
Ecosystem degradation, Ecosystem conversion
Agriculture & aquaculture Wood & pulp plantations - Agro-industry plantations Timing Scope Severity Impact
Ongoing Majority (50-90%) Slow, Significant Declines Medium Impact: 6
Stresses
Ecosystem degradation, Ecosystem conversion
Agriculture & aquaculture Wood & pulp plantations - Small-holder plantations Timing Scope Severity Impact
Ongoing Majority (50-90%) Slow, Significant Declines Medium Impact: 6
Stresses
Ecosystem degradation, Ecosystem conversion
Biological resource use Logging & wood harvesting - Unintentional effects: (subsistence/small scale) [harvest] Timing Scope Severity Impact
Ongoing Minority (<50%) Negligible declines Low Impact: 4
Stresses
Ecosystem degradation
Energy production & mining Mining & quarrying Timing Scope Severity Impact
Future Minority (<50%) Causing/Could cause fluctuations Low Impact: 3
Stresses
Ecosystem degradation, Ecosystem conversion

Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Species factsheet: Little Inca-finch Incaspiza watkinsi. Downloaded from https://datazone.birdlife.org/species/factsheet/little-inca-finch-incaspiza-watkinsi on 24/12/2024.
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 24/12/2024.