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

Justification of Red List category
This species has a very large range, and hence does not approach the thresholds for Vulnerable under the range size criterion (Extent of Occurrence <20,000 km² combined with a declining or fluctuating range size, habitat extent/quality, or population size and a small number of locations or severe fragmentation). Despite the fact that the population trend appears to be decreasing, the decline is not believed to be sufficiently rapid to approach the thresholds for Vulnerable under the population trend criterion (>30% decline over ten years or three generations). The population size may be moderately small to large, but it is not believed to approach the thresholds for Vulnerable under the population size criterion (<10,000 mature individuals with a continuing decline estimated to be >10% in ten years or three generations, or with a specified population structure). For these reasons the species is evaluated as Least Concern.

Population justification
The global population is suspected to number fewer than 50,000 mature individuals (Partners in Flight 2019); thus it is here placed in the band 20,000-49,999 mature individuals.

Trend justification
The species is undergoing a moderate decline (Partners in Flight 2019).

Xenotriccus mexicanus is found in the interior of south-western Mexico from central Michoacán and Morelos to Oaxaca (Howell and Webb 1995). Reports from Laguna del Tigre National Park and southern Petén, Guatemala, are thought to be erroneous (Eisermann and Avendaño 2007). It is common at Monte Albán, Oaxaca, in summer, but rare or absent in winter when birds may migrate into the Balsas drainage (Howell and Webb 1995). It is also reported to be common during summer in scrub and oak woodland around Oaxaca city and in Tehuacan Cuicatlan Biosphere Reserve, ranging north of Cuernavaca (M. Grosselet in litt. 2010). 

This species is fairly common at 900-2,000 m in arid montane scrub, oak woodland and scrub (M. Grosselet in litt. 2010), and particularly mesquite in arid scrub (Howell and Webb 1995; Stattersfield et al. 1998). It feeds on insects, foraging from a low branch and sallying out to capture prey from the air or foliage (del Hoyo et al. 2004). Its nest, in which it lays two or three eggs, is made of grasses and other plant fibres, and is bound to a fork in a low thorny thicket using spider silk (del Hoyo et al. 2004).

Much suitable habitat has been affected by agricultural expansion, including conversion to coffee and citrus plantations and cattle-ranching (Dinerstein et al. 1995).

Conservation Actions Underway
There are very few protected areas within the species's restricted range to mitigate threats to its habitat (Stattersfield et al. 1998); however, Pileated Flycatcher is common in Tehuacan Cuicatlan Biosphere Reserve (M. Grosselet in litt. 2010).

Conservation Actions Proposed
Conduct surveys to assess the total population size. Assess the species's potential occurrence in Guatemala. Carry out regular surveys to monitor population trends. Monitor rates of habitat loss and degradation across its range. Increase the area of suitable habitat with protected status.

Text account compilers
Hermes, C.

Contributors
Capper, D., Grosselet, M., O'Brien, A. & Taylor, J.

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Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Species factsheet: Pileated Flycatcher Xenotriccus mexicanus. Downloaded from https://datazone.birdlife.org/species/factsheet/pileated-flycatcher-xenotriccus-mexicanus on 26/11/2024.
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 26/11/2024.