Data Zone
Justification of Red List category
This species is listed as Endangered because it occurs at very few locations within its very small range, which is presumably declining in response to the impact of changing agricultural techniques and conversion to plantations.
Population justification
Population densities on Cerro Humo were found to be low (0.8 individuals/ha; Evans et al. 1994). Precautionarily assuming that only around 10-20% of the area of mapped range are occupied to account for the species's rarity (per Remsen 2020), the population may number 1,840-3,680 individuals, roughly equating to 1,230-2,450 mature individuals. To account for uncertainty, the population size is here placed in the band 1,000-2,499 mature individuals. However, given the age of this estimate and the suspected slow decline of the population, an up-to-date estimate is required.
The subpopulation structure has not been formally assessed, but based on its very small range it is tentatively assumed that the species functions as one subpopulation.
Trend justification
This species's population is suspected to be declining slowly. Tree cover within the range is lost at a rate of 3% over ten years (Global Forest Watch 2021). Given the species's strict requirements for wet montane forest, the population may decline faster than the rate of tree cover loss suggests due to the compounding impacts of understorey degradation. Nevertheless, population declines are unlikely to exceed 10% over ten years.
Premnoplex pariae occurs on the Paria Peninsula, Sucre, north-east Venezuela, where it is known from cerros Humo, El Olvido and Azul. However, there have been few recent records.
It inhabits the understorey (up to 2 m from the ground) of montane humid forest, where there is extensive epiphytic, mossy growth (Areta 2007). On Cerro Humo, it occurs at 1,100-1,200 m and, on Cerro El Olvido, at 800-885 m.
The main threats to this species are habitat loss and fragmentation for agricultural expansion. On Cerro Humo, increases in cash-crop agriculture since the mid to late 1980s have resulted in uncontrolled burning and forest degradation.
Conservation Actions Underway
It is formally protected in the Paria Peninsula National Park.
Text account compilers
Hermes, C.
Contributors
Capper, D., Gallardo, A., García Rawlins, A., Pople, R., Pérez-Emán, J., Rodríguez, J.-P., Rojas-Suárez, F., Sharpe, C.J., Sharpe, C J, Symes, A. & Taylor, J.
Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2025) Species factsheet: Paria Barbtail Premnoplex pariae. Downloaded from
https://datazone.birdlife.org/species/factsheet/paria-barbtail-premnoplex-pariae on 08/01/2025.
Recommended citation for factsheets for more than one species: BirdLife International (2025) IUCN Red List for birds. Downloaded from
https://datazone.birdlife.org/species/search on 08/01/2025.