Data Zone
Justification of Red List category
This recently described species is only known from a very small range in east-central Peru. Accelerating rates of deforestation in the known range are reducing the area of available habitat. The species is therefore listed as Vulnerable.
Population justification
The population size has not been quantified, but the species was found to be common, with up to eight individuals recorded daily (O'Neill et al. 2000). It is suspected that the population numbers less than 1,000 mature individuals (per SERFOR 2018).
Trend justification
There are no data on the population trend, but declines are suspected on the basis of the species' dependence on humid forests and ongoing deforestation within the known range (Global Forest Watch 2022, Short et al. 2022).
Within the range, up to 9% of tree cover is lost over three generations (10.9 years; Global Forest Watch 2022, using Hansen et al. [2013] data and methods disclosed therein). The species is only recorded in forests; it is not known whether it is able to tolerate habitat loss, degradation and disturbance. Precautionarily, it is assumed that the species is sensitive to tree cover loss, and that population declines may consequently exceed the rate of tree cover loss substantially. Population declines are here tentatively placed in the band 10-19% over three generations.
Capito wallacei is known only from the area of the Cordillera Azul in San Martín, Loreto and possibly Ucayali, Peru (O'Neill et al. 2000). Large tracts of unexplored, potentially suitable habitat remains near known sites and it cannot be ruled out that the species is more widespread than currently known (SERFOR 2018).
The species is known from wet cloud forest on ridges and slopes (O'Neill et al. 2000, Schulenberg et al. 2007, Short et al. 2022). Epiphytes, especially bryopytes, bromeliads and orchids, cover most of the trunks and large branches of the short trees (10-20 m). The predominant trees are melastomes and clusias. The forest floor has a deep (up to 1 m) spongy cover of mosses intermixed with leaf litter and soil, with the understory being sparse with palms and woody vegetation, also low trees, shrubs and ferns (Short et al. 2022). The wet, epiphyte-covered montane forest changes abruptly to taller and drier subtropical forest below 1,250 m.
Deforestation is extensive on the north and west slope of the Cordillera Azul, especially in the drainage of the Río Biavo. Logging activities are increasing within the species' known range (Global Forest Watch 2022). Nevertheless, parts of the known range are currently undisturbed and remain in pristine condition (Global Forest Watch 2022). The species is infrequently trapped in low numbers as a cage bird.
Conservation Actions Underway
Parts of the range are protected within Cordillera Azul National Park.
19 cm. Very striking, recently discovered barbet. Cap and nape scarlet. Broad white supercilium starting from just in front of eye. Black lores, area below eye and ear-coverts. Scapulars mostly black (yellow "V" in female). Back yellow, large white rump and black tail. Throat and upper breast white, bordered below by a broad scarlet band. Lower breast and belly bright yellow, fading to yellowish-white in undertail coverts. Similar spp. No congeners within range. Voice A hollow purr or trill.
Text account compilers
Hermes, C.
Contributors
Benstead, P., Lane, D., Pilgrim, J., Schulenberg, T., Sharpe, C.J., Symes, A. & Wege, D.
Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Species factsheet: Scarlet-banded Barbet Capito wallacei. Downloaded from
https://datazone.birdlife.org/species/factsheet/scarlet-banded-barbet-capito-wallacei 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.