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

Taxonomic source(s)
del Hoyo, J., Collar, N.J., Christie, D.A., Elliott, A., Fishpool, L.D.C., Boesman, P. and Kirwan, G.M. 2016. HBW and BirdLife International Illustrated Checklist of the Birds of the World. Volume 2: Passerines. Lynx Edicions and BirdLife International, Barcelona, Spain and Cambridge, UK.

Red List criteria met

Critically Endangered	Endangered	Vulnerable
-	B2ab(i,ii,iii,iv,v); C2a(ii)	A2bc+3bc+4bc; B2ab(i,ii,iii,iv,v); C2a(ii)

Red List history

Year	Category	Criteria
2020	Endangered	B2ab(i,ii,iii,iv,v); C2a(ii)
2017	Endangered	B2ab(i,ii,iii,iv,v)
2016	Endangered	B1ab(i,ii,iii,iv,v)+2ab(i,ii,iii,iv,v)
2015	Endangered	B1ab(i,ii,iii,iv,v)+2ab(i,ii,iii,iv,v)
2012	Endangered	B1ab(i,ii,iii,iv,v)+2ab(i,ii,iii,iv,v)
2008	Endangered	B1a+b(i,ii,iii,iv,v); B2a+b(i,ii,iii,iv,v)
2007	Endangered
2004	Endangered
2000	Endangered
1996	Endangered
1994	Endangered
1988	Threatened

Migratory status	not a migrant	Forest dependency	does not normally occur in forest
Land-mass type	continent	Average mass	-

	Estimate	Data quality
Extent of Occurrence (breeding/resident)	26,800 km2	medium
Area of Occupancy (breeding/resident)	424 km2	good
Number of locations	3-5	-
Severely fragmented?	no	-

	Estimate	Data quality	Derivation	Year of estimate
Population size	1300-9999 mature individuals	good	estimated	2016
Population trend	decreasing	medium	inferred	2014-2024
Rate of change over the past 10 years/3 generations (longer of the two periods)	30-49%	-	-	-
Rate of change over the future 10 years/3 generations (longer of the two periods)	30-49%	-	-	-
Rate of change over the past & future 10 years/3 generations (longer of the two periods)	30-49%	-	-	-
Generation length	2.6 years	-	-	-
Number of subpopulations	2-3	-	-	-
Percentage of mature individuals in largest subpopulation	95-99%	-	-	-

Population justification: In 1997 it was estimated that 5,380-6,150 adults were occupying the key site for this species. There were reportedly a small number of individuals at other locations. Densities of 2.9 territories/ha have been recorded at La Cima (Oliveras de Ita et al. 2001), and later surveys have suggested a density of 2 individuals/ha (V. Rodríguez and H. Berlanga in litt. 2016). This later estimate would imply a population of c. 2,000 individuals, roughly equivalent to 1,300 mature individuals. Therefore, using the maximum and minimum estimates provided for this species this site may hold 1,300-6,150 mature individuals. Given the uncertainty over populations elsewhere, the population size is put into the range 1,300-9,999 mature individuals.

Trend justification: Global population trends have not been accurately estimated but the area of suitable habitat at the principal site for the species, where over 90% of the global population occurs, has declined by c. 50% in the last 10 years. In addition the species has disappeared from three out of four historic localities in the north of its range (Oliveras de Ita and Gómez de Silva 2007). Overall, the species is feared to be declining rapidly. It is in danger of being extirpated from further portions of its range (Aguirre et al. 2012).

Country/Territory	Presence	Origin	Resident	Breeding visitor	Non-breeding visitor	Passage migrant
Mexico	extant	native	yes

Country/Territory	IBA Name
Mexico	Piélagos
Mexico	Río Presidio - Pueblo Nuevo
Mexico	Sierra de Taxco - Nevado de Toluca
Mexico	Sur del Valle de México

Habitat (level 1)	Habitat (level 2)	Importance	Occurrence
Artificial/Terrestrial	Pastureland	major	non-breeding
Grassland	Subtropical/Tropical High Altitude	major	resident
Shrubland	Subtropical/Tropical High Altitude	major	resident
Altitude	2800 - 3050 m	Occasional altitudinal limits	(min) 2285 m

Threat (level 1)	Threat (level 2)	Impact and Stresses
Agriculture & aquaculture	Annual & perennial non-timber crops - Agro-industry farming	Timing		Scope		Severity		Impact
		Ongoing		Whole (>90%)		Rapid Declines		High Impact: 8
		Stresses Ecosystem degradation, Ecosystem conversion
Agriculture & aquaculture	Livestock farming & ranching - Agro-industry grazing, ranching or farming	Timing		Scope		Severity		Impact
		Ongoing		Whole (>90%)		Rapid Declines		High Impact: 8
		Stresses Ecosystem degradation, Ecosystem conversion
Agriculture & aquaculture	Wood & pulp plantations - Scale Unknown/Unrecorded	Timing		Scope		Severity		Impact
		Ongoing		Minority (<50%)		Rapid Declines		Medium Impact: 6
		Stresses Ecosystem degradation, Ecosystem conversion
Biological resource use	Gathering terrestrial plants - Unintentional effects (species is not the target)	Timing		Scope		Severity		Impact
		Ongoing		Whole (>90%)		Slow, Significant Declines		Medium Impact: 7
		Stresses Ecosystem degradation
Invasive and other problematic species, genes & diseases	Problematic native species/diseases - Unspecified species	Timing		Scope		Severity		Impact
		Ongoing		Majority (50-90%)		Slow, Significant Declines		Medium Impact: 6
		Stresses Reduced reproductive success
Pollution	Agricultural & forestry effluents - Type Unknown/Unrecorded	Timing		Scope		Severity		Impact
		Ongoing		Whole (>90%)		Slow, Significant Declines		Medium Impact: 7
		Stresses Ecosystem degradation
Residential & commercial development	Housing & urban areas	Timing		Scope		Severity		Impact
		Ongoing		Minority (<50%)		Very Rapid Declines		Medium Impact: 7
		Stresses Ecosystem degradation, Ecosystem conversion

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Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Species factsheet: Sierra Madre Sparrow Xenospiza baileyi. Downloaded from https://datazone.birdlife.org/species/factsheet/sierra-madre-sparrow-xenospiza-baileyi 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.