Data Zone
Justification of Red List category
This species is listed as Near Threatened because it has a small population which is thought to be in slow decline. The drivers of the decline remain unknown.
Population justification
The species is described as rare and local. Sightings usually involve small numbers of individuals, and come from a very small number of sites. The population size is therefore expected to be low and tentatively placed in the band 2,500-9,999 mature individuals. This equates to 3,750-14,999 mature individuals, rounded here to 3,500-15,000 mature individuals; however, this may be an underestimate. In recent years, the species is more regularly observed in Chile, which may be attributable to an increase in survey effort, rather than to an increase in population size (F. Schmitt in litt. 2020).
Trend justification
The population trend has not been estimated directly. Even though the impact of potential threats on the population size is virtually unknown, it is precautionarily suspected that the species is undergoing a slow decline, not exceeding 10% over ten years.
Progne murphyi is known from coastal west Peru and extreme northern Chile (Arica). It has a small range, within which it is uncommon and poorly known. There are recent records from San Damián in Ancash (G. Engblom in litt. 2004, D. Geale in litt. 2005, M. Ugarte-Lewis in litt. 2005), Mejía in Arequipa (T. E. Hoegsaas in litt. 2004, M. Ugarte-Lewis in litt. 2005), and the Chao and Corcovado islands (K. Balta in litt. 2005) (Peru), and from the Lluta and Azapa valleys (A. Jaramillo in litt. 2004) in Chile. Birds are recorded in very small numbers, with the most populated sites being Chao and Corcovado islands (resident population of up to 40 individuals [K. Balta in litt. 2005]). In recent years, the species is regularly recorded in the Lluta and Azapa valleys, where it is possibly breeding (Medrano et al. 2018). A male has been photographed in the Camarones valley in 2018 (F. Schmitt in litt. 2020).
The species's biology and ecology is very poorly known. It is found in open and semi-open areas along the coast, but also in pastures, agricultural lands and secondary scrub (Luo 2020). It was thought to nest in holes in cliffs, trees or buildings, but recently discovered colonies were typified by nests built on a substrate of saltpetre or on dry-stone walls. Nests are similar to those of Markham's Storm-petrel (Hydrobates markhami) and Wedge-rumped Storm-petrel (H. tethys), and the colony-holding islands have a low density of guano birds (K. Balta in litt. 2005). The species may undergo local post-breeding movements, as numbers in south Peru increase between January and April.
Threats to the species are unknown. Given the ecology of Peruvian Martin, it has been hypothesised that the species may be impacted by competition for nest sites with seabirds and nest predation, but potentially also intensification of agriculture and subsequent pesticide use (F. Schmitt in litt. 2020). It however remains to be confirmed whether these threats have any impacts on the species.
Conservation Actions Underway
The two known colonies on offshore islands in Peru are protected under the Proabonos Project (Proyecto Especial de Promoción del Aprovechamiento de Abonos Provenientes de Aves Marinas).
Text account compilers
Hermes, C.
Contributors
Balta, K., Engblom, G., Geale, D., Gilroy, J., Harding, M., Hoegsaas, T.E., Jaramillo, A.P., Schmitt, F., Sharpe, C.J. & Ugarte-Lewis, M.
Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Species factsheet: Peruvian Martin Progne murphyi. Downloaded from
https://datazone.birdlife.org/species/factsheet/peruvian-martin-progne-murphyi on 23/11/2024.
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 23/11/2024.