NT
Varzea Piculet Picumnus varzeae



Taxonomy

Taxonomic note
Hybridizes occasionally with P. cirratus. Monotypic.

Taxonomic source(s)
del Hoyo, J., Collar, N.J., Christie, D.A., Elliott, A. and Fishpool, L.D.C. 2014. HBW and BirdLife International Illustrated Checklist of the Birds of the World. Volume 1: Non-passerines. Lynx Edicions BirdLife International, Barcelona, Spain and Cambridge, UK.

IUCN Red List criteria met and history
Red List criteria met
Critically Endangered Endangered Vulnerable
- - -

Red List history
Year Category Criteria
2022 Near Threatened D2
2016 Endangered A3c
2013 Endangered A3c
2012 Endangered A3c
2009 Least Concern
2008 Least Concern
2004 Least Concern
2000 Lower Risk/Least Concern
1994 Lower Risk/Least Concern
1988 Lower Risk/Least Concern
Species attributes

Migratory status not a migrant Forest dependency high
Land-mass type Average mass -
Range

Estimate Data quality
Extent of Occurrence (breeding/resident) 97,500 km2 medium
Number of locations 2 -
Severely fragmented? no -
Population
Estimate Data quality Derivation Year of estimate
Population size unknown - - -
Population trend decreasing - suspected 2016-2026
Rate of change over the past 10 years/3 generations (longer of the two periods) 1-9% - - -
Rate of change over the future 10 years/3 generations (longer of the two periods) 1-9% - - -
Rate of change over the past & future 10 years/3 generations (longer of the two periods) 1-9% - - -
Generation length 2.67 years - - -
Number of subpopulations 1 - - -
Percentage of mature individuals in largest subpopulation 100% - - -

Population justification: The population size has not been quantified. The species appears to be common in suitable habitat within its range (M. Cohn-Haft in litt. 2022).
While density estimates are available for congeners, including P. exilis, P. rufiventris and P. spilogaster, these are not considered representative for this species due to ecological differences (D. M. Lima in litt. 2022).

Trend justification: The species is feared to be in decline as forested habitat within the range is lost.
Over ten years from 2010 to 2020, approximately 7% of tree cover with at least 50% canopy cover was lost from within the species' range; based on the rate of tree cover loss within the range over five years to 2020, up to 10% of tree cover is projected to be lost over the next decade (Global Forest Watch 2021, using Hansen et al. [2013] data and methods disclosed therein). The species is thought to have some tolerance of disturbance (del Hoyo et al. 2002; M. Cohn-Haft in litt. 2011, 2022), so the population size is unlikely to exceed 10% over ten years. It is here tentatively placed in the band 1-9% over ten years.


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

Important Bird and Biodiversity Areas (IBA)
Country/Territory IBA Name
Brazil Reserva Biológica do Rio Trombetas
Brazil Várzeas do Médio Rio Amazonas

Habitats & altitude
Habitat (level 1) Habitat (level 2) Importance Occurrence
Forest Subtropical/Tropical Swamp major resident
Altitude 0 - 50 m Occasional altitudinal limits  

Threats & impact
Threat (level 1) Threat (level 2) Impact and Stresses
Agriculture & aquaculture Livestock farming & ranching - Agro-industry grazing, ranching or farming Timing Scope Severity Impact
Ongoing Majority (50-90%) Slow, Significant Declines Medium Impact: 6
Stresses
Ecosystem degradation, Ecosystem conversion
Energy production & mining Renewable energy Timing Scope Severity Impact
Ongoing Whole (>90%) Unknown Unknown
Stresses
Ecosystem degradation, Ecosystem conversion
Invasive and other problematic species, genes & diseases Problematic native species/diseases - Picumnus cirratus Timing Scope Severity Impact
Ongoing Minority (<50%) No decline Low Impact: 4
Stresses
Hybridisation

Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Species factsheet: Varzea Piculet Picumnus varzeae. Downloaded from https://datazone.birdlife.org/species/factsheet/varzea-piculet-picumnus-varzeae 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.