NT
Ochraceous Attila Attila torridus



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
- - -

Red List history
Year Category Criteria
2024 Near Threatened C2a(i)
2016 Vulnerable A2c+3c+4c;B1ab(i,ii,iii,v);C2a(i)
2012 Vulnerable A2c+3c+4c;B1ab(i,ii,iii,v);C2a(i)
2008 Vulnerable A2c; A3c; A4c; B1a+b(i,ii,iii,v); C2a(i)
2004 Vulnerable
2000 Vulnerable
1996 Vulnerable
1994 Vulnerable
1988 Lower Risk/Least Concern
Species attributes

Migratory status not a migrant Forest dependency medium
Land-mass type continent
Average mass -
Range

Estimate Data quality
Extent of Occurrence (breeding/resident) 109,700 km2 medium
Severely fragmented? no -
Population
Estimate Data quality Derivation Year of estimate
Population size 5000-15000 mature individuals poor inferred 2024
Population trend decreasing poor inferred 2017-2027
Rate of change over the past 10 years/3 generations (longer of the two periods) 3-9% - - -
Rate of change over the future 10 years/3 generations (longer of the two periods) 3-9% - - -
Rate of change over the past & future 10 years/3 generations (longer of the two periods) 3-9% - - -
Generation length 3.25 years - - -
Number of subpopulations 2-100 - - -
Percentage of mature individuals in largest subpopulation 1-96% - - -

Population justification: The species is described as uncommon (Freile and Restall 2018, Walther 2020, Hilty 2021); it appears to occur patchily within its range (eBird 2024). Using a density (based on surveys of territorial individuals) of 3.1 mature individuals per km2 and assuming that it is present in only 10% of the modelled area of suitable habitat, 17,152 km2 (M. Sánchez Nivicela in litt. 2024), an indicative precautionary population size is around 5,300 mature individuals. The national population size in Colombia is estimated at 2,747 mature individuals (Renjifo et al. 2014), based on an occupied habitat area of 886 km2 out of 3,240 km2 apparently suitable habitat (27%) and the same density. Using this proportion of occupied habitat increases the overall preliminary population size to 14,400 mature individuals, such that a preliminary suggested population size falls between 5,000-15,000 mature individuals.  
The population is inferred to be declining due to ongoing slow forest loss and additive impacts of fragmentation and continued degradation of remaining forest after very rapid deforestation last century (Dodson and Gentry 1991). A suspected rate of reduction exceeding 30% was applied to the Colombian population based on 18% habitat loss between 2000-2010, with the additional loss suspected due to the impact of very small-scale but relevant clearance not being detected (Renjifo et al. 2014).

Trend justification: The population trend has not been investigated, but declines are suspected on the basis of ongoing the loss and degradation of forests within its range. Up until the 1980s, deforestation in western Ecuador proceeded rapidly at a rate of 57% per decade (Dodson and Gentry 1991), so that now mostly small fragments remain (see Global Forest Watch 2023). Forest loss has however since slowed down; currently tree cover within the range is lost at a rate of 2-4% over ten years (Global Forest Watch 2023, using Hansen et al. [2013] data and methods disclosed therein). The species tolerates some habitat degradation; it is not strictly dependent on forests, but is also found along edges, in clearings, secondary forest and plantations (Renjifo et al. 2014, Freile and Restall 2018, Walther 2020). But the occurrence records indicate the species is now absent from a large area around Guayaquil subject to habitat conversion and there are further previously occupied sites in the range with recent observer effort but where the species now appears absent (eBird 2024). Therefore, while current population declines are likely slow, it is inferred that there is continuing decline in the number of mature individuals. Rates of population reduction are placed in the band 3-9% over ten years.


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

Important Bird and Biodiversity Areas (IBA)
Country/Territory IBA Name
Ecuador Alamor-Celica
Ecuador Bosque Protector Jatumpamba-Jorupe
Ecuador Bosque Protector Molleturo Mullopungo
Ecuador Cañón del río Catamayo
Ecuador Centro Científico Río Palenque
Ecuador Cerro de Hayas-Naranjal
Ecuador Corredor Awacachi
Ecuador La Tagua
Ecuador Mache Chindul Ecological Reserve and surrouding areas (Reserva Ecológica Mache-Chindul IBA)
Ecuador Mataje-Cayapas-Santiago
Ecuador Parque Nacional Machalilla y alrededores
Ecuador Reserva Buenaventura
Ecuador Reserva Ecológica Comunal Loma Alta
Ecuador Reserva Natural Tumbesia-La Ceiba-Zapotillo
Ecuador Utuana-Bosque de Hanne
Peru Parque Nacional Cerros de Amotape

Habitats & altitude
Habitat (level 1) Habitat (level 2) Importance Occurrence
Artificial/Terrestrial Plantations suitable resident
Artificial/Terrestrial Subtropical/Tropical Heavily Degraded Former Forest suitable resident
Forest Subtropical/Tropical Moist Lowland major resident
Forest Subtropical/Tropical Moist Montane suitable resident
Altitude 0 - 1400 m Occasional altitudinal limits (max) 2400 m

Threats & impact
Threat (level 1) Threat (level 2) Impact and Stresses
Agriculture & aquaculture Annual & perennial non-timber crops - Small-holder farming Timing Scope Severity Impact
Ongoing Minority (<50%) Negligible declines Low Impact: 4
Stresses
Ecosystem degradation
Agriculture & aquaculture Livestock farming & ranching - Small-holder grazing, ranching or farming Timing Scope Severity Impact
Ongoing Minority (<50%) Negligible declines Low Impact: 4
Stresses
Ecosystem degradation
Agriculture & aquaculture Wood & pulp plantations - Small-holder plantations Timing Scope Severity Impact
Ongoing Minority (<50%) No decline Low Impact: 4
Stresses
Ecosystem degradation
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
Residential & commercial development Housing & urban areas Timing Scope Severity Impact
Ongoing Minority (<50%) Negligible declines Low Impact: 4
Stresses
Ecosystem degradation, Ecosystem conversion

Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Species factsheet: Ochraceous Attila Attila torridus. Downloaded from https://datazone.birdlife.org/species/factsheet/ochraceous-attila-attila-torridus 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.