Data Zone
Justification of Red List category
This species is only known from a small range in northern Peru and south-eastern Ecuador. Its habitat is lost at an accelerating rate, especially in easily accessible sites along roads and rivers. The species is therefore listed as Vulnerable.
Population justification
The species is uncommon and local (Schulenberg et al. 2007, N. Krabbe in litt. 2010). Due to the low number of records within the range (eBird 2023), the population is tentatively suspected to number 2,500-9,999 mature individuals; the species may however be underrecorded and an accurate quantification of the population is urgently required.
Trend justification
The population trend has not been investigated, but declines are suspected on the basis of widespread forest destruction within the range.
Over the past three generations (11.1 years), a total of 4% of tree cover has been lost within the range; since 2017 this has been increasing to a rate equivalent to 6% over three generations (Global Forest Watch 2023, using Hansen et al. [2013] data and methods disclosed therein). Logging hotspots appear to be concentrated along rivers (Global Forest Watch 2023); deforestation may accelerate further given that riverbanks are relatively easy to access, spreading inland from there. The rate of tree cover loss (as per Global Forest Watch 2023) does not account for additional impacts of forest degradation and disturbance, and consequently the overall rates of habitat loss and subsequent population decline may be steeper. In the absence of exact data on the population trend, it is here tentatively placed in the band 10-19% over the past three generations and over the three generations from 2017 onward, noting that declines may accelerate in the future and that a direct quantification is necessary.
Wetmorethraupis sterrhopteron is a poorly-known species of the Cordillera del Cóndor in Zamora-Chinchipe, Ecuador, and north Amazonas, Peru. It occurs above the río Nangaritza in Ecuador (Balchin and Toyne 1998); in Peru it is found above ríos Cenapa, Marañón and its tributaries (O'Neill 1969, Begazo et al. 2001), as well as along the río Nieva and its headwaters, according to natives from the Aguaruna tribe (J. P. O'Neill in litt. 2000). The species appears to occur localised within its range, though it may be underrecorded due to low survey effort in parts of its distribution (see eBird 2023).
It primarily occupies mature, humid forest in the upper tropical zone, where forested slopes are neither steep nor wet. It shows some tolerance to habitat degradation and also occurs in disturbed mature forest, tall secondary forest and along forest edge (Marín et al. 1992, Freile and Restall 2018), foraging in pairs or small groups of up to five, occasionally joining mixed-species flocks. Fruit and insects constitute its diet.
The only known threat is accelerating forest clearance especially along rivers and new extensions of the road network, for the creation of settlements and for agricultural activities by settlers attracted to the region.
Conservation Actions Underway
Parts of the species' range lie within the territory of the Aguaruna native community, who are well organised and prevent immigration to their land (B. P. Walker per C. Bushell in litt. 1999, Begazo et al. 2001). The species is listed as Vulnerable under Criteria B1+2 at the national level in Peru (SERFOR 2018) and as Critically Endangered under Criterion B1 in Ecuador (Freile et al. 2019).
Conservation Actions Proposed
Conduct thorough surveys throughout the distribution range to clarify the exact population density and size. Research the species' ecology, behaviour and genetic structure. Monitor the population trend. Monitor rates of habitat change.
Protect areas of suitable habitat within the range. Safeguard forests, especially at key sites, from logging activities. Involve local people in the decision making process to ensure land is managed sustainably. Raise awareness for the species and its habitat.
17 cm. Striking black, orange and blue tanager. Black head, mantle, tail and much of wings, with violet-blue wing-coverts, tertials and secondaries. Orange throat and breast, with rest of underparts pale ochre-yellow. Similar spp. Unmistakable. Voice A deliberate in-chee-tooch and penetrating seet call.
Text account compilers
Hermes, C.
Contributors
Bushell, C., Capper, D., Hornbuckle, J., Isherwood, I., Krabbe, N., O'Neill, J., Pople, R., Sharpe, C.J., Stuart, T., Symes, A. & Walker, B.P.
Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Species factsheet: Orange-throated Tanager Wetmorethraupis sterrhopteron. Downloaded from
https://datazone.birdlife.org/species/factsheet/orange-throated-tanager-wetmorethraupis-sterrhopteron 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.