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

Justification of Red List category
This species is classed as Near Threatened because it has a small range, which may be in decline owing to habitat degradation and infrastructure development. Further research is required to assess the impact of these potential threats. If they are found to be serious, the species may qualify for a higher threat category.

Population justification
Partners in Flight (2019) estimated the population to number fewer than 50,000 mature individuals, thus it is placed in the band 20,000-49,999 mature individuals here. The species is estimated to occur at densities of ~98 indiv./km² in the Sierra Tolistoque, Oaxaca, Mexico where ~30% of the global population is thought to occur (Monroy-Ojeda et al. 2018).

Trend justification
The population is suspected to be stable in the absence of evidence for any declines, despite the current threats to the species's habitat. However the State of North America's Birds 2016 assessed the population as declining (NABCI 2016). Further information is required to ascertain the trend direction and the impact of potential threats within its range.

This species has a small range in south-east Oaxaca (Isthmus de Tehuantepec region west to the Chivela, Matías Romero and Juchitán areas) and southern Chiapas (El Triunfo), Mexico (Binford 1989, AOU 1998, Monroy-Ojeda et al. 2016). It is locally fairly common to common in suitable habitat (Binford 1989). It is known to occur at densities of ~98 indiv./km² in the Sierra Tolistoque, Oaxaca, Mexico where ~30% of the global population is thought to occur (Monroy-Ojeda et al. 2018). The recent discovery of three individuals in the Finca Arroyo Negro ranch at the El Triunfo Biosphere Reserve extends the south-eastern limit of the species's range by 97 km (Monroy-Ojeda et al. 2016). The discovery raises the possibility that other marginal populations may exist in patches of suitable habitat in the Sierra de Chiapas (A. Monroy-Ojeda in litt. 2016).

This species inhabits swamp forest, denser portions of deciduous forest (Binford 1989), semi-humid deciduous gallery woodland and forest edge in hilly areas at 150-800 m (Howell and Webb 1995). It has been found to use ravines as nesting sites (Pérez-Sánchez et al. 2011) although it is thought to be equally common on hillsides as it is in ravines (Monroy-Ojeda et al. 2018).

The Pan-American Highway has fragmented habitat within this species's restricted range (Stattersfield et al. 1998). The establishment of thousands of wind turbines has also caused habitat fragmentation and degradation within the species's range (Monroy-Ojeda et al. 2013, A. Monroy-Ojeda in litt. 2016). Many forests are now degraded or secondary and forest loss within the species's range is estimated at ~1.8% across a ten year period (Tracewski et al. 2016). Whether this has had a significant impact on this species is unclear, however recent work suggests the species shows a preference for preserved habitat in which to breed (Monroy-Ojeda et al. in press). It may also be susceptible to the side-effects of the hurricanes that influence the region; modelled results show that populations of the species could be reduced by 15-43% under severe hurricane pressure alone, an increasing threat given ongoing climate change (Monroy-Ojeda et al. 2018).

Conservation Actions Underway
The species is included on the 'Watch List' of the State of North America's Birds as a species of high conservation concern (NABCI 2016).
 

Conservation Actions Proposed
Carry out surveys to assess the species's population size. Monitor population trends through regular surveys. Study the species's ecology, including habitat use to feed into the development of conservation strategies for this species (Pérez-Sánchez et al. 2011). Investigate the cumulative impact of the Pan-American Highway, establishment of wind turbines and habitat degradation on the species (A. Monroy-Ojeda in litt. 2016). Effectively protect significant areas of suitable habitat at key sites, in both strictly protected areas and community led multiple use areas, protecting ravines as well as the remaining forested areas within the region (Monroy-Ojeda et al. 2013). Survey for further populations in the Sierra de Chiapas (A. Monroy-Ojeda in litt. 2016).

Text account compilers
Everest, J.

Contributors
Ashpole, J, Benstead, P., Capper, D., Isherwood, I., Monroy-Ojeda, A., O'Brien, A., Sharpe, C.J. & Taylor, J.

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Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Species factsheet: Rose-bellied Bunting Passerina rositae. Downloaded from https://datazone.birdlife.org/species/factsheet/rose-bellied-bunting-passerina-rositae on 24/12/2024.
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 24/12/2024.