Data Zone
Justification of Red List category
Although this species may have a small range, it is not believed to 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). 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). The population size has not been quantified, 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). For these reasons the species is evaluated as Least Concern.
Population justification
The population size has not been quantified, but the species has been described as the most abundant species within its habitat, with local densities of at least 4-5 pairs/km2 (del Hoyo et al. 1999), at least in the rainy season (Hilty 2003).
Trend justification
The population is suspected to be in decline owing to ongoing habitat destruction through over-grazing (del Hoyo et al. 1999).
Found in the Andes of northwest Venezuela, where it is restricted to the states of Merida and Trujillo, typically between 3,600 m and 4,500 m though it may descend to 2,300 m during the dry season (del Hoyo et al. 1999, Hilty 2003).
In high paramo during the rainy season, though very few remain during the dry season when descend to paramo-forest ecotone (Hilty 2003). Breeds in rainy season (ca. June to October) on a rocky cliff, steep bank near water or in Espeletia on paramo (Hilty 2003). Nectar plants include Siphocampylus, Castilleja, Draba, Espeletia and Echeveria, also feeds heavily on tiny insects picked from Espeletia flowers (Hilty 2003).
A medium-sized hummingbird with a prominent crest and elongated chin and throat feathers forming a 'beard'. Crest and throat are mostly white, and broad white collar from breast side behind ear coverts to back of head contrasts strongly with blackish face. Bill is fairly short and straight. The 'beard' is mostly white with just a few green discs, and the tail has limited white restricted to the shaft of the outer retrices. Similar spp. O. cyanolaemus, O. guerinii, and O. stuebelii were previously lumped with the present species. O. cyanolaemus has an extensive buff-white area on the outer retrices, and the beard of the male is purplish-blue. O. guerinii has more extensive green feathering in the beard and more white in the outer retrices. O. stuebelii differs in having the white areas replaced by a tan colour, a reduced crest and beard and larger whitish area on the outer retrices.
Text account compilers
Butchart, S., Ekstrom, J., Martin, R, Symes, A. & Taylor, J.
Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Species factsheet: White-bearded Helmetcrest Oxypogon lindenii. Downloaded from
https://datazone.birdlife.org/species/factsheet/white-bearded-helmetcrest-oxypogon-lindenii on 22/12/2024.
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 22/12/2024.