Data Zone
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). The population size may be small, 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). 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). For these reasons the species is evaluated as Least Concern.
Population justification
The population has not been quantified directly, but it is suspected to number 2,500-9,999 mature individuals (see Freile et al. 2019). The subpopulation structure is not known.
Trend justification
The population trend has not been quantified directly. Habitat within the range is lost and degraded, but the species is able to tolerate heavily disturbed habitats (Clement 2020). Over the past ten years, 2% of tree cover within the range has been lost (Global Forest Watch 2020). Tentatively, a slow population decline is suspected based on habitat degradation, the rate of which does not exceed 10% over ten years (see Freile et al. 2019).
Spinus siemiradzkii is confined to western Ecuador (Manabí, Santa Elena, Guayas, Azuay, Cañar, Chimborazo, El Oro and Loja) and adjacent north-west Peru (Tumbes).
It inhabits semi-arid scrub and dry deciduous and second-growth forest and forest-edge from near sea-level to 800 m, locally up to 1,300 m. It has also been recorded in grassland, weedy patches, along roadsides and near cultivations (Clement 2020). During fieldwork in July-September 1996, it was not encountered within intact forest (Pople et al. 1997). The species is reasonably tolerant of heavily disturbed habitats, with records from suburban parks and urban areas in central Guayaquil, Ecuador's largest city (Pople et al. 1997; Clement 2020). However, it may depend on deciduous forest during part of its life-cycle. Breeding is apparently during the wet season in January-May. It may undertake seasonal or nomadic movements, and may respond to climatic events such as El Niño (Pople et al. 1997). It is generally seen in groups, sometimes as large as 30 individuals (Pople et al. 1997).
Threats to this little-known species are unclear but, if it is dependent on deciduous forest during part of its life-cycle, it is probably threatened by forest loss and degradation. Between 1958 and 1988, the rate of deforestation in lowland western Ecuador has been 57% per decade, as a result of clearance for agriculture and intense grazing by goats and cattle (Dodson and Gentry 1991; Pople et al. 1997). In recent years however, the rate of forest loss has slowed down considerably, amounting to 2% over the last ten years (Global Forest Watch 2020). Even if the species is not entirely dependent on deciduous forest during part of its life-cycle, the complete loss of forest patches is still likely to be leading to declines in overall habitat suitability (Clement 2020). Changes in agricultural practice, e.g. pesticide use, could also influence this species if it uses semi-agricultural habitats.
Conservation Actions Underway
It occurs in several protected areas in Ecuador and Peru.
11 cm. Small, bright yellow-and-black finch. Male yellow with black hood, tail and wings, and yellow covert fringes and primary bases. Female is duller and lacks hood. Similar spp. Hooded Siskin C. magellanica has an olive, not yellow, mantle with black markings, both sexes are much less yellow. Voice A high twittering flight-call. Hints Favours weedy areas in quebradas and washes.
Text account compilers
Hermes, C.
Contributors
Agreda, A., Freile, J., Gilroy, J., Pople, R. & Sharpe, C.J.
Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Species factsheet: Saffron Siskin Spinus siemiradzkii. Downloaded from
https://datazone.birdlife.org/species/factsheet/saffron-siskin-spinus-siemiradzkii 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.