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

Justification of Red List category
This species is suspected to undergo moderately rapid declines as a consequence of trapping pressure and habitat loss. It is consequently classified as Near Threatened.

Population justification
The global population size has not been quantified, but density descriptions range from 'uncommon' (Stotz et al. 1996) to 'abundant' (Rueda et al. 2020).
Surveys at La Planada Nature Reserve, Colombia, in the 1980s suggested an world population of c.73,000 individuals (Restrepo and Mondragón 1987), but this number is now considered an overestimate (Rueda et al. 2020 and references therein). Considering this, and accounting for past population declines, the population is tentatively placed in the band 20,000-49,999 mature individuals, though an accurate quantification is urgently required.

Trend justification
The species has been suffering from local declines or extinctions, particularly in Colombia (Renjifo et al. 2014). The main drivers of the decline appear to be illegal trapping, followed by the loss and degradation of its habitat (Renjifo et al. 2014, Rueda et al. 2020).
Tree cover within the range is lost at a rate of 3% over three generations (12.3 years; Global Forest Watch 2022, using Hansen et al. [2013] data and methods disclosed therein). Given the species' dependence on mature forests, particularly during the breeding season, population declines may be steeper than the rate of tree cover loss alone suggests. The impact of trapping has not been quantified but is described as locally severe, particularly given the species' cooperative breeding behaviour as this enables trappers to capture a large number of individuals at once (Renjifo et al. 2014, Rueda et al. 2020). Tentatively, it is suspected that the combined impact of habitat loss, habitat degradation and trapping is causing declines of 20-29% over three generations.

Semnornis ramphastinus occurs on both slopes of the West Andes from Antioquia, Colombia south to Cotopaxi, Ecuador.

It is found in the canopy of premontane to montane evergreen forest, but also occurs in dense second growth, overgrown pastures and dense growth with scattered trees around gardens (Rueda et al. 2020). Fruits of Cecropia and Ficus are particularly important food resources (Freile and Chaves 2004). They breed cooperatively; nests are excavated in the trunks of standing deadwood (Rueda et al. 2020).

A major threat to the species is trapping for the local and national cage-bird trade (Hilty and Brown 1986, Renjifo et al. 2014, Rueda et al. 2020). The impact on the population size has not been quantified, but it is described as locally severe (Renjifo et al. 2014, Rueda et al. 2020).
Furthermore, uncontrolled colonisation following the completion of roads and massive logging concessions have cleared or degraded over 40% of original Chocó forests (Salaman 1994). Logging, human settlement, cattle grazing, mining and coca and palm cultivation pose threats to remaining forests (Dinerstein et al. 1995), though tree cover loss within the range is currently low (Global Forest Watch 2022).
Locally, there is low reproductive success owing to competition for nest-sites with, and predation of young by, Plate-billed Mountain-toucan Andigena laminirostris (Restrepo and Mondragón 1987, Renjifo et al. 2014).

Conservation Actions Underway
CITES III in Colombia. At the national level, it is listed as Near Threatened in both Colombia and Ecuador (Renjifo et al. 2014, Freile et al. 2019). It is present in several protected areas throughout its range, including La Planada Nature Reserve and Río Ñambi Natural Reserve, Colombia.

Conservation Actions Proposed
Accurately quantify the population size and trend. Study its ecology and its ability to persist in degraded and fragmented habitats. Research the extent of trapping and trade. Quantify the impact of trapping on the population size. Monitor the population trend.
Protect areas of suitable habitat within the range. Raise awareness for the species with the aim of reducing trapping pressure. Control illegal trapping and trade.

Text account compilers
Hermes, C.

Contributors
Benstead, P., Capper, D., Sharpe, C.J. & Symes, A.

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Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Species factsheet: Toucan Barbet Semnornis ramphastinus. Downloaded from https://datazone.birdlife.org/species/factsheet/toucan-barbet-semnornis-ramphastinus 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.