Data Zone
Justification of Red List category
With a patchy occurrence within a moderately-sized range, this species is suspected to have a small to medium population size that is inferred to be declining. Previous very rapid rates of habitat loss have slowed dramatically, but many remaining forest patches are now small and continue to be degraded. With subpopulations that exceed 1,000 mature individuals the species does not meet thresholds for listing as threatened, but is assessed as Near Threatened. Securing the future of remaining forest patches and working to restore habitat connectivity will reduce extinction risk in the species.
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.
Attila torridus occurs from extreme southwest Colombia (Nariño) through west Ecuador to extreme northwest Peru (Tumbes).
A modelling approach estimated a lower area of habitat at 17,152 km2 (M. Sánchez Nivicela in litt. 2024). A value provided for area of occupancy (AOO) based solely on recorded presences is reported as 1,512 km2 but assumes the species is absent from all intervening but apparently suitable habitat, despite limited survey effort. Consequently it is not plausible that the lower bound of the AOO falls below 2,000 km2 (the threshold for listing as threatened under Criterion B2). However, it is clear that the species is not evenly distributed through forest habitat within the range and rather occurs patchily, such that an AOO value very likely falls below the area of habitat estimated. Rapid habitat loss has seen the species apparently become extinct across moderately large areas surrounding Guayaquil since the 1980s (eBird 2024). Forest cover loss is continuing at a slow rate, but many areas are now small and degraded fragments. Accordingly, it is inferred that the AOO is continuing to decline.
Forest cover in this area, taken as a proxy for habitat loss, reduced by between 2-4% between 2012-2022 (Global Forest Watch 2023, using Hansen et al. [2013] data and methods disclosed therein).
At least two subpopulations are assumed to be present based on the clustered distribution of records, although intervening areas are poorly sampled (eBird 2024).
National assessments of the species for Colombia and Peru (Renjifo et al. 2014, SERFOR 2018) estimate respectively 3,240 km2 and 791 km2 of suitable habitat are present in those countries, with an AOO for Colombia estimated at 886 km2(Renjifo et al. 2014).
It inhabits lowland humid and semi-humid forest, forest borders, secondary forest, adjacent clearings and occasionally cocoa plantations (Ridgely and Greenfield 2001, Freile and Restall 2018, Hilty 2021). The diet consists of fruit and arthropods, especially spiders, although vertebrates (frogs and lizards) made up nearly half of the food fed to nestlings (Greeney 2006). Breeding is thought to occur in the wet season, between January and March (Walther 2020), and a nest has been found in February (Greeney 2006). Most records are from below 1,000 m (GBIF 2023) with the typical upper elevation given as 1,400 m (Walther 2020) though it has been recorded up to 2,400 m (Ridgely and Greenfield 2001).
Below 900 m, the rate of deforestation in west Ecuador in 1958-1988 was 57% per decade (Dodson and Gentry 1991). Habitat loss continues, at least in unprotected areas of both Ecuador and Peru, albeit at a much slower rate, and most remaining lowland forests are in various stages of degradation (Dodson and Gentry 1991, Global Forest Watch 2023). As a result the species appears to have become extinct across moderately large areas surrounding Guayaquil since the 1980s, while further sites with recorded occurrences also appear to have lost the species (eBird 2024). Between 2-4% of forest cover is estimated to have been lost within the range over the past three generations (Global Forest Watch 2023, using Hansen et al. [2013] data and methods disclosed therein), but many areas are now small and degraded fragments. Forests in higher parts of the species' range are suffering from less disturbance, but are likewise under pressure from logging and conversion of land for agriculture and plantations (Dodson and Gentry 1991) and the species appears to favour lower elevations (GBIF 2023).
Disturbance and degradation of remaining forest patches through grazing by goats and cattle also poses a threat, particularly in deciduous forests. Even protected areas are affected by illegal settling, logging and livestock-grazing.
Conservation Actions Underway
The species occurs in several protected areas, including Machalilla National Park, Ecuador, and Northwest Peru Biosphere Reserve, Peru. It is listed as Vulnerable at the national level in Colombia, Peru and Ecuador (Renjifo et al. 2014, SERFOR 2018, Freile et al. 2019).
Conservation Actions Proposed
Survey to accurately quantify the population size. Research its ecological requirements and population structure. Research its tolerance of habitat disturbance and the impacts of forest loss and degradation on the population size. Monitor the population trend. Protect areas of suitable habitat within the range.
20.5 cm. Large, yellowish-cinnamon flycatcher. Pale ochraceous above with yellowish rump and ochraceous-yellow underparts, black greater-coverts and primaries. Similar spp. Rufous Mourner Rhytipterna holerythra is much more rufous. Voice Distinctive whoeeeer, sometimes shortened to wheerk or lengthened with additional notes.
Text account compilers
Hermes, C., Martin, R.
Contributors
Berg, K., Bushell, C., Isherwood, I., Pople, R., Sharpe, C.J., Stuart, T., Symes, A., Wheatley, H. & Sánchez-Nivicela, M.
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.