VU
Plumbeous Forest-falcon Micrastur plumbeus



Taxonomy

Taxonomic source(s)
del Hoyo, J., Collar, N.J., Christie, D.A., Elliott, A. and Fishpool, L.D.C. 2014. HBW and BirdLife International Illustrated Checklist of the Birds of the World. Volume 1: Non-passerines. Lynx Edicions 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
- - C2a(ii)

Red List history
Year Category Criteria
2023 Vulnerable C2a(ii)
2016 Vulnerable A2c+3c+4c
2012 Vulnerable A2c+3c+4c
2008 Vulnerable A2c; A3c; A4c
2004 Vulnerable
2000 Vulnerable
1996 Endangered
1994 Endangered
1988 Threatened
Species attributes

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

Estimate Data quality
Extent of Occurrence (breeding/resident) 42,800 km2 medium
Severely fragmented? no -
Population
Estimate Data quality Derivation Year of estimate
Population size 3600-5000 mature individuals medium estimated 2023
Population trend decreasing poor inferred 2015-2033
Rate of change over the past 10 years/3 generations (longer of the two periods) 10-19% - - -
Rate of change over the future 10 years/3 generations (longer of the two periods) 10-19% - - -
Rate of change over the past & future 10 years/3 generations (longer of the two periods) 10-19% - - -
Generation length 6.07 years - - -
Number of subpopulations 1 - - -
Percentage of mature individuals in largest subpopulation 100% - - -

Population justification: The species is described as rare and local. Assuming that densities observed in Colombia (1 individual/km2; Renjifo et al. 2014 and references therein) are representative for the entire range, and further assuming that 50% of forests in the range are occupied to account for the species' strict requirements for undisturbed forest interior (i.e., 5,500-7,500 km2; Global Forest Watch 2023), the total population may number 5,500-7,500 individuals. This equates to 3,600-5,000 mature individuals. However, given that the species is described as easily overlooked (Bierregaard et al. 2020), the population size may be larger and an accurate quantification is urgently required.

Trend justification: Population declines are believed to be ongoing because of accelerating habitat loss, degradation and fragmentation, and may be further aggravated by the impacts of agrochemicals and pesticides (Renjifo et al. 2014, Bierregaard et al. 2020). Observational records appear to have become rarer over the past ten years, particularly in the southern part of the range in Ecuador (per eBird 2023).
Over three generations (18.2 years), up to 7% of tree cover are lost within the range (Global Forest Watch 2023, using Hansen et al. [2013] data and methods disclosed therein). This value however does not account for the impacts of habitat degradation nor of pesticide use. Total population declines are therefore here tentatively placed in the band 10-19% over three generations. This is confirmed by an analysis of overall habitat loss in the Colombian part of the range, which predict a rate of decline of 13% over the three generations from 2015 onward (Negret et al. 2021).


Country/territory distribution
Country/Territory Presence Origin Resident Breeding visitor Non-breeding visitor Passage migrant
Colombia extant native yes
Ecuador extant native yes

Important Bird and Biodiversity Areas (IBA)
Country/Territory IBA Name
Colombia Munchique Natural National Park and southern extension
Colombia Reserva Natural El Pangán
Colombia Reserva Natural Río Ñambí
Ecuador Cayapas-Santiago-Wimbí
Ecuador Corredor Awacachi
Ecuador Los Bancos - Milpe
Ecuador Mache Chindul Ecological Reserve and surrouding areas (Reserva Ecológica Mache-Chindul IBA)
Ecuador Mashpi-Pachijal
Ecuador Reserva Ecológica Cotacachi-Cayapas
Ecuador Territorio Étnico Awá y alrededores
Ecuador Verde-Ónzole-Cayapas-Canandé

Habitats & altitude
Habitat (level 1) Habitat (level 2) Importance Occurrence
Forest Subtropical/Tropical Moist Lowland major resident
Forest Subtropical/Tropical Moist Montane major resident
Altitude 0 - 1780 m Occasional altitudinal limits  

Threats & impact
Threat (level 1) Threat (level 2) Impact and Stresses
Agriculture & aquaculture Annual & perennial non-timber crops - Small-holder farming Timing Scope Severity Impact
Ongoing Minority (<50%) Slow, Significant Declines Low Impact: 5
Stresses
Ecosystem degradation, Ecosystem conversion
Agriculture & aquaculture Wood & pulp plantations - Agro-industry plantations Timing Scope Severity Impact
Ongoing Minority (<50%) Slow, Significant Declines Low Impact: 5
Stresses
Ecosystem degradation, Ecosystem conversion
Agriculture & aquaculture Wood & pulp plantations - Small-holder plantations Timing Scope Severity Impact
Ongoing Minority (<50%) Slow, Significant Declines Low Impact: 5
Stresses
Ecosystem degradation, Ecosystem conversion
Biological resource use Logging & wood harvesting - Unintentional effects: (subsistence/small scale) [harvest] Timing Scope Severity Impact
Ongoing Minority (<50%) Slow, Significant Declines Low Impact: 5
Stresses
Ecosystem degradation, Ecosystem conversion
Energy production & mining Mining & quarrying Timing Scope Severity Impact
Ongoing Minority (<50%) Slow, Significant Declines Low Impact: 5
Stresses
Ecosystem degradation, Ecosystem conversion
Pollution Agricultural & forestry effluents - Herbicides and pesticides Timing Scope Severity Impact
Ongoing Minority (<50%) Unknown Unknown
Stresses
Ecosystem degradation, Species mortality
Transportation & service corridors Roads & railroads Timing Scope Severity Impact
Ongoing Minority (<50%) Slow, Significant Declines Low Impact: 5
Stresses
Ecosystem degradation, Ecosystem conversion

Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Species factsheet: Plumbeous Forest-falcon Micrastur plumbeus. Downloaded from https://datazone.birdlife.org/species/factsheet/plumbeous-forest-falcon-micrastur-plumbeus 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.