LC
Peruvian Recurvebill Syndactyla ucayalae



Taxonomy

Taxonomic note
Syndactyla ucayalae (del Hoyo and Collar 2016) was previously listed as Simoxenops ucayalae.

Taxonomic source(s)
del Hoyo, J., Collar, N.J., Christie, D.A., Elliott, A., Fishpool, L.D.C., Boesman, P. and Kirwan, G.M. 2016. HBW and BirdLife International Illustrated Checklist of the Birds of the World. Volume 2: Passerines. Lynx Edicions and BirdLife International, Barcelona, Spain and Cambridge, UK.
SACC. 2005 and updates. A classification of the bird species of South America. Available at: https://www.museum.lsu.edu/~Remsen/SACCBaseline.htm.

IUCN Red List criteria met and history
Red List criteria met
Critically Endangered Endangered Vulnerable
- - -

Red List history
Year Category Criteria
2024 Least Concern
2016 Near Threatened C2a(i)
2013 Near Threatened C2a(i)
2012 Near Threatened C2a(i)
2008 Near Threatened C2a(i)
2004 Near Threatened
2000 Lower Risk/Near Threatened
1994 Lower Risk/Near Threatened
1988 Near Threatened
Species attributes

Migratory status not a migrant Forest dependency high
Land-mass type continent
Average mass 50 g
Range

Estimate Data quality
Extent of Occurrence (breeding/resident) 1,320,000 km2 medium
Severely fragmented? no -
Population
Estimate Data quality Derivation Year of estimate
Population size 5000-30000 mature individuals - - 2024
Population trend decreasing poor suspected 2017-2027
Rate of change over the past 10 years/3 generations (longer of the two periods) 1-9% - - -
Rate of change over the future 10 years/3 generations (longer of the two periods) 1-9% - - -
Rate of change over the past & future 10 years/3 generations (longer of the two periods) 1-9% - - -
Generation length 3.26 years - - -
Number of subpopulations 3-100 - - -
Percentage of mature individuals in largest subpopulation 1-89% - - -

Population justification: The global population size has not been formally quantified, but this species is described as rare to uncommon, though difficult to detect due to its preference for dense thickets (Remsen Jr. 2020). The western subpopulation has been studied. Investigation of bamboo associated species in southeastern lowland Peru indicated there were between 1,043-3,961 mature individuals in PN Bahuaja-Sonene and RN Tambopata and up to 8,285 mature individuals within Tambopata province (Lloyd 2004). This represents around one third by area of the western portion of the range, hence a total of between 3,000-12,000 mature individuals for this subpopulation. However, the other subpopulations (Serra dos Carajas and any that remain in Alta Floresta) may well be at far lower densities, and occupy a smaller total area, hence the lower bound of the overall population size may fall below 10,000, although this is an uncertain value. Given the very large area of potential occurrence, a tentative population size of 5,000-30,000 mature individuals is estimated. Assuming that the known sites of occurrence are indeed isolated subpopulations, it can be deduced that the western, presumable largest, subpopulation contains considerably more than 1,000 mature individuals, even should the total population fall below 10,000 mature individuals.

Trend justification: The population trend has not been investigated, but declines are suspected on the basis of large-scale habitat loss.
Within the known range, tree cover loss amounts to 3% over ten years; even assuming a contiguous range across the Amazonian basin tree cover loss would be similarly low at 5% over ten years (Global Forest Watch 2023, using Hansen et al. [2013] data and methods disclosed therein). Due to the species' strong preference for Guadua spp. bamboo thickets (Remsen Jr. 2020) population declines may be steeper than the rate of tree cover loss due to additive impacts of habitat degradation. Nevertheless, it is unlikely that population declines exceed 10% in ten years; they are here tentatively placed in the band 1-9% over ten years. In combination with the apparent recent loss of the species from the well-studied Alta Floresta region a continuing decline in the number of mature individuals can be inferred.


Country/territory distribution
Country/Territory Presence Origin Resident Breeding visitor Non-breeding visitor Passage migrant
Bolivia extant native yes
Brazil extant native yes
Peru extant native yes

Important Bird and Biodiversity Areas (IBA)
Country/Territory IBA Name
Bolivia Reserva Nacional Amazónica Manuripi Heath
Bolivia Tahuamanu
Brazil Alto Juruá
Brazil Baixo Rio Xingu
Brazil Serra dos Carajás
Brazil Tabocais
Peru Alto Purus
Peru Bahuaja-Sonene
Peru Cordillera Vilcabamba
Peru Los Amigos
Peru Manu
Peru Tambopata

Habitats & altitude
Habitat (level 1) Habitat (level 2) Importance Occurrence
Forest Subtropical/Tropical Moist Lowland major resident
Wetlands (inland) Permanent Rivers/Streams/Creeks (includes waterfalls) suitable resident
Altitude 0 - 1300 m Occasional altitudinal limits  

Threats & impact
Threat (level 1) Threat (level 2) Impact and Stresses
Biological resource use Logging & wood harvesting - Unintentional effects: (large scale) [harvest] Timing Scope Severity Impact
Ongoing Minority (<50%) Slow, Significant Declines Low Impact: 5
Stresses
Ecosystem degradation
Energy production & mining Mining & quarrying Timing Scope Severity Impact
Ongoing Minority (<50%) Rapid Declines Medium Impact: 6
Stresses
Ecosystem degradation, Ecosystem conversion
Energy production & mining Oil & gas drilling Timing Scope Severity Impact
Ongoing Minority (<50%) Rapid Declines Medium Impact: 6
Stresses
Ecosystem degradation, Ecosystem conversion
Residential & commercial development Housing & urban areas Timing Scope Severity Impact
Ongoing Minority (<50%) Slow, Significant Declines Low Impact: 5
Stresses
Ecosystem degradation, Ecosystem conversion
Transportation & service corridors Roads & railroads Timing Scope Severity Impact
Ongoing Minority (<50%) Rapid Declines Medium Impact: 6
Stresses
Ecosystem degradation, Ecosystem conversion

Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Species factsheet: Peruvian Recurvebill Syndactyla ucayalae. Downloaded from https://datazone.birdlife.org/species/factsheet/peruvian-recurvebill-syndactyla-ucayalae 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.