• Summary
• Text account
• Data table and detailed info
• Distribution map
• Reference and further resources

Justification of Red List category
This species has a very small range, within which it is known from very few locations. Its high elevation habitats are highly restricted and recent evidence suggests that its habitat is declining and being fragmented as a result of illegal cultivation. Consequently it is classified as Endangered.

Population justification
The population is estimated to number 250-999 individuals based on an assessment of known records, descriptions of abundance and range size. This is consistent with recorded population density estimates for congeners or close relatives with a similar body size, and the fact that only a proportion of the estimated Extent of Occurrence is likely to be occupied. This estimate is equivalent to 167-666 mature individuals, rounded here to 150-700 mature individuals.

Trend justification
It is suspected that the slow, but ongoing degradation of its habitat through cattle grazing and agriculture is driving a slow population decline (Sharpe and Lentino 2015; Renjifo et al. 2016). The rate of decline has not been quantified, but it is not thought to exceed 10% over ten years.

Asthenes perijana only occurs in the Sierra de Perijá (and particularly Cerro Pintado) on the border of Colombia (Guajira) and Venezuela (Zuila) (Meyer de Schauensee and Phelps 1978; Hilty and Brown 1986). In Colombia, it has been observed in July 2008 (López-O. et al. 2014) and regularly since 2014, particularly in the Chamicero del Perijá Reserve (Remsen et al. 2020). There have been no records in Venezuela for several decades (Sharpe and Lentino 2015).

It inhabits subparámo and shrubbery vegetation at elevations of 2,950-3,400 m (Hilty and Brown 1986; A. Viloria per J. Fjeldså in litt. 1998; Hilty 2003; Remsen et al. 2015; Sharpe and Lentino 2015). There have been suggestions that it may favour bamboo (A. Viloria per J. Fjeldså in litt. 1998), but its close relative, the White-chinned Thistletail A. fuliginosa, does not inhabit bamboo stands (F. G. Stiles in litt. 1999). Birds are often seen in pairs, foraging for arthropods and occasionally berries (Fjeldså and Krabbe 1990). Immatures and breeding-condition adults have been recorded in July (Fjeldså and Krabbe 1990).

Habitat below 2,000 m in the Sierra de Perijá is threatened by narcotics cultivation, uncontrolled colonisation, cattle-ranching and mineral exploitation, which are all facilitated by the many roads approaching the sierra from the Colombian side (C. J. Sharpe in litt. 1997, 2000; A. Viloria per J. Fjeldså in litt. 1998; López-O. et al. 2014; Sharpe and Lentino 2015). The species's high-elevation habitat was thought to be less affected by these developments, but the area of suitable habitat is now believed to be fragmented and declining as a result of illegal cultivation (C. J. Sharpe in litt. 2003) and cattle grazing (López-O. et al. 2014). Only patches of montane forest remain on the steepest slopes of the Cerro Pintado. Forest is still being lost to burning and the cultivation of Papaver. Security problems are making access very difficult (R. Strewe in litt. 2003). Temperature increase and habitat alteration caused by climate change may push the species upslope (Sharpe and Lentino 2015).

Conservation Actions Underway
The species is considered nationally Endangered in both Colombia (Renjifo et al. 2016) and Venezuela (Sharpe and Lentino 2015). Some of its range is formally protected by Sierra de Perijá National Park, Venezuela, but there is no active management (A. Viloria per J. Fjeldså in litt. 1998; Sharpe and Lentino 2015). In Colombia, it is protected by ProAves's dedicated Chamicero del Perijá Reserve, preserving 750 ha of prime habitat. Cerro Pintado lies to the north of the park, but the inhabitants of the Villanueva village, Colombia, attempt to protect the natural habitat (A. Viloria per J. Fjeldså in litt. 1998).

Conservation Actions Proposed
Estimate the population size (C. J. Sharpe, J-P. Rodríguez and F. Rojas-Suárez in litt. 1999). Determine its global distribution. Study its ecological requirements (C. J. Sharpe, J-P. Rodrígiez and F. Rojas-Suárez in litt. 1999). Assess habitat availability using aerial photographs (C. J. Sharpe, J-P. Rodrígiez and F. Rojas-Suárez in litt. 1999). Evaluate the state of the high-altitude páramo throughout Sierra de Perijá in order to see whether it is necessary to create a strict protected area in Colombia or enforce the existing Sierra de Perijá National Park in Venezuela  (C. J. Sharpe in litt. 2015). Manage and effectively protect Sierra de Perijá National Park (Rodríguez and Rojas-Suárez 1995, Sharpe and Lentino 2015). Expand Sierra de Perijá National Park to encompass more of the species's range (Sharpe and Lentino 2015).

19 cm. Small furnariid with long, pointed tail. Uniform greyish-brown, with long greyish supercilium. Cinnamon-buff chin spot. Chestnut-edged wing-coverts. Long, pointed, graduated, light brown tail feathers. Similar spp. White-chinned Thistletail A. fuliginosa is dark chestnut-brown above with white eye-ring. Voice Song 3-5 drawn-out, high-pitched "pee" notes followed by a short, descending dry trill (Remsen et al. 2020).

Text account compilers
Hermes, C.

Contributors
Benstead, P., Capper, D., Fjeldså, J., Gallardo, A., García Rawlins, A., Harding, M., Rodríguez, J.-P., Rojas-Suárez, F., Sharpe, C.J., Sharpe, C J, Stiles, F.G., Strewe, R., Symes, A. & Viloria, A.

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Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Species factsheet: Perija Thistletail Asthenes perijana. Downloaded from https://datazone.birdlife.org/species/factsheet/perija-thistletail-asthenes-perijana 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.