Data Zone
Justification of Red List category
This species occurs in a moderately small range, in which suitable habitat is lost at a slow rate. The population is suspected to be in moderately rapid decline as a consequence of habitat loss and the impacts of trapping and hunting. For these reasons, the species is classified as Near Threatened.
Population justification
The global population size has not been quantified directly, but this species is described as fairly common to locally common (Stotz et al. 1996, Short and Sharpe 2020). Its stronghold appears to be in the north and north-central part of the range, with observations becoming less frequent towards the south (per eBird 2023).
Based on density estimates of congeners, the national population in Colombia is inferred to number 2,500-9,999 mature individuals (Renjifo et al. 2014). While the majority of the population is found in Ecuador, there are no density or population estimates available. Based on data from Colombia, the overall population is tentatively suspected to number 10,000-19,999 mature individuals, though a precise estimate is urgently required.
Trend justification
The population is suspected to be in decline, mainly as a consequence of habitat loss and illegal trapping (Renjifo et al. 2014, Basantes Hernández and Yánez Moretta 2021).
Tree cover loss within the range is low (2% over three generations; Global Forest Watch 2022, using Hansen et al. [2013] data and methods disclosed therein). However, for the Colombian part of the range the rate of overall habitat loss is estimated at 7.05% over the ten years to 2014 (Renjifo et al. 2014). This equates to 12% over three generations (17 years). Contrary to the value presented by Global Forest Watch, which measures the loss of tree cover only, Renjifo et al. (2014) report the rate of overall habitat change, which includes the rate of loss of mature, successional and partially degraded forests used by this species. Habitat loss continues to threaten the species (Basantes Hernández and Yánez Moretta 2021), and even though Colombia forms a small part of the range it is precautionarily suspected that this rate is representative for the entire range. Despite being occasionally found in selectively logged and mature secondary forests the species is highly forest-dependent and strongly relies on large trees and standing deadwood for nesting (Short and Sharpe 2020) and as such, population declines may exceed the net rate of habitat loss. The impact of trapping on the population size has not been quantified, but illegal trade is described as 'intensive' in large parts of the range (Renjifo et al. 2014). Precautionarily, the population decline is therefore here placed in the band 20-29% over the past three generations.
Andigena laminirostris occurs along the west Andean slope from Nariño, south-west Colombia, to south Azuay in west Ecuador.
It occurs in humid montane forest with abundant bromeliads and mosses, mainly at 1,200-2,500 m, occasionally down to 300 m and up to 3,500 m (Fjeldså and Krabbe 1990, Parker et al. 1996, Stattersfield et al. 1998). It will also enter secondary and selectively logged forest. It feeds mainly on fruits and may undertake extensive movements in response to fruit availability (Short and Sharpe 2020).
It is primarily threatened by ongoing deforestation, which is largely the result of intensive logging, human settlement, cattle-grazing, mining and coca and palm cultivation, with destruction most severe in the lower parts of its altitudinal range (Stattersfield et al. 1998). A secondary threat, which may become more significant as habitat loss fragments existing populations, is the illegal local and possibly international cage-bird trade (Beltrán 1994, Renjifo et al. 2014, Short and Sharpe 2020). It has moreover been suspected that the species is locally hunted for food, even though this is unconfirmed (Renjifo et al. 2014).
Conservation Actions Underway
It is fairly common at La Planada Nature Reserve, Colombia (del Hoyo et al. 2002). It is listed as Endangered at the national level in Colombia (Renjifo et al. 2014) and as Vulnerable in Ecuador (Freile et al. 2019).
Text account compilers
Hermes, C.
Contributors
Benstead, P., Capper, D., Isherwood, I., Sharpe, C.J. & Symes, A.
Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Species factsheet: Plate-billed Mountain-toucan Andigena laminirostris. Downloaded from
https://datazone.birdlife.org/species/factsheet/plate-billed-mountain-toucan-andigena-laminirostris 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.