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 global population size has not been quantified, but this species is described as 'rare and patchily distributed' (Stotz et al. 1996).
Trend justification
The population is suspected to be in decline owing to ongoing habitat destruction and the use of agrochemicals (del Hoyo et al. 1999).
This species occurs in the south Cauca valley, in Valle and Cauca, south-west Colombia (Collar et al. 1992). Since 1990 a spate of records has extended its range south through Ecuador, with localities in Napo (N. Krabbe in litt. 1995, S. N. G. Howell in litt. 1996, López-Lanús 2001), Morona-Santiago (M. Reid in litt. 1997) and perhaps Manabí (López-Lanús 2001), and into Amazonas, north-east Peru (Schulenberg and Awbrey 1997). It has apparently declined in Colombia, where there have been only five records at two sites since 1966, perhaps as a result of overuse of agrochemicals in the Cauca valley, where flocks of 20-25 were reported in the 1950s and early 1960s (Collar et al. 1992). Recent records suggest that it is more common elsewhere within its range, and its apparent preference for degraded habitats implies that deforestation may actually benefit the species (at least) in the short term (Chantler and Driessens 1995).
This species occurs in open bushy grassland, pastures and hilly, eroded areas with bare soil and sparse grasses and shrubs (Collar et al. 1992).
The species has apparently declined in Colombia, where there have been only five records at two sites since 1966, perhaps as a result of overuse of agrochemicals in the Cauca valley, where flocks of 20-25 were reported in the 1950s and early 1960s (Collar et al. 1992). Recent records suggest that it is more common elsewhere within its range, and its apparent preference for degraded habitats implies that deforestation may actually benefit the species (at least) in the short term (Chantler and Driessens 1995).
Text account compilers
Ekstrom, J., Butchart, S., Harding, M.
Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Species factsheet: White-chested Swift Cypseloides lemosi. Downloaded from
https://datazone.birdlife.org/species/factsheet/white-chested-swift-cypseloides-lemosi on 26/12/2024.
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 26/12/2024.