Justification This species has a moderately small population which is suspected to be declining moderately rapidly owing to habitat loss. It is consequently classified as Near Threatened.

Family/Sub-family Cotingidae

Species name author Vieillot, 1816

Taxonomic source(s) SACC (2005 + updates), Sibley and Monroe (1990, 1993), Stotz et al. (1996)

Identification 21-22 cm. A beautiful and strongly patterned cotinga with a long, forked tail. The male has a blackish head with blue gloss. Small red crown patch and blurred brownish grey supercilium. Bright golden yellow throat and cheeks. White line from behind auriculars connect with white breast heavily barred black. Rest of underparts yellow, brighter on crissum, with sparse shaft-like streaks. Upperparts yellowish olive coarsely barred blackish, more dense on nape. Blackish wings, pale grey spots on tertials. Long and forked tail blackish with olivaceous base to outer rectrices; often held separated, in a 'V' shape. Pinkish eyering. Female is duller; greyer on head, less white on neck, more olive on wings and the shorter tail. Similar spp. Unmistakable. Voice Mostly silent, but a high guttural whistle ghewt ghewt has been reported. Hints Perches still for long periods high in the edge of forets, open woodlands and gardens.

Population estimate

Population trend

Range estimate (breeding/resident)

Country endemic?

10,000

decreasing

1,080,000 km²

No

Range & population Phibalura flavirostris was found in south-east Brazil (from Bahia and central Minas Gerais south to Rio Grande do Sul; also in south Goiás, perhaps as an austral migrant), north-east Argentina (Misiones, three sites but no records since 1977), east Paraguay (Canindeyú, Alto Paraná, Guairá and possibly Itapúa, but only four records and none since 1977) and Bolivia (two specimens from the foothills of La Paz and another specimen lacking locality data were the only records prior to its rediscovery in 2000)^1,2,3,4,5,6. It is apparently an austral migrant (at least to some extent), occurring in Rio Grande do Sul only during the austral summer^3,5. It is locally uncommon in Itatiaia National Park, on the Rio de Janeiro/Minas Gerais border, at Intervales State Park, São Paulo, and at Caraça, Minas Gerais, but is generally rare and has apparently declined³ for reasons that are unclear. The first Bolivian observation of Phibalura flavirostris for 98 years was seen at the edge of a small (2-4 km²) forest fragment near Pata, north-west of Apolo in Madidi National Park in September 2000⁶. Surveys in 2002 found at least 35 individuals but the species only appeared common in the Pata area (c.25,000 ha) which is subject to continued forest loss⁸. 2,200 km separate P. f. boliviana from the nominate race in south-east Brazil and, given the lack of recent records from Argentina and Paraguay, it is likely that the two subspecies are genetically isolated⁶. If P. f. boliviana is indeed a separate species it could warrant Critical status according to its small range and small population. However, populations might exist in extensive areas of unstudied, suitable mid-montane forest in Madidi National Park (the original specimen site at Aten has not been surveyed⁸), and possibly in the poorly studied south-east part of adjacent Tambopata National Reserve, Peru⁶.

Important Bird Areas Click here to view map showing IBAs where species is recorded and triggers any of the IBA criteria.

Ecology: P. f. flavirostris is not dependent on primary forest, apparently preferring forest borders, partially or lightly wooded areas, and clearings and gardens with scattered trees (where it often nests)³, from near sea level to 2,000 m. It is an altitudinal migrant, nesting in montane regions and descending during the austral winter^3,5. P. f. bolivianus is known from the edge of moist forest fragments on a large intermontane plateau believed to originally have been covered with semi-humid forest with marshes in valley bottoms and savanna-like mountain ridge vegetation, but now highly degraded, heavily grazed and frequently burned with only fragments of moist forest remaining⁸.

Threats Extensive deforestation within the range of P. f. flavirostris has presumably had some impact, but its preference for forest borders, partially or lightly wooded areas, and clearings and gardens suggests that it can tolerate some habitat degradation. Forest cover in the Apolo area, Bolivia (the only known stronghold of bolivianus) has been drastically reduced over the past century and losses are still continuing. Habitat here largely consists of highly eroded and degraded grazing land which is subject to annual burning⁸.

Conservation measures underway In Brazil it is uncommon in Itatiatia National Park and Intervales State Park and rare in Serra dos ãosNational Park and Chapada Diamantina National Park (possibly only non-breeding birds at the latter site. Part of the highly restricted known range of P. f. boliviana is within Madidi National Park, but it is currently designated as a management area (which permits agricultural activity including clearance by burning)⁸.

Conservation measures proposed Study its ecology, migration and ablity to persist in degraded and fragmented habitats and attempt to establish reasons for its apparent decline. Carry out further surveys of known and potential sites for bolivianus and attempt to elucidate its taxonomic status. Develop and implement an action plan for bolivianus within Madidi National Park. Effectively protect significant areas of suitable habitat for both subspecies, in both strictly protected areas and community led multiple use areas.

References 1. Hayes (1995). 2. Parrini et al. (1999). 3. Ridgely and Tudor (1994). 4. Saibene et al. (1996). 5. Snow (1982). 6. A. B. Hennessey in litt. (2002). 7. del Hoyo et al. (2004). 8. Bromfield et al. (2004).

Text account compilers David Capper (BirdLife International), E.F. Mansur (Universidade do Estado do Rio de Janeiro), Andrew O'Brien (BirdLife International), Andy Symes (BirdLife International)

Contributors A. Bennett Hennessey (Asociación Armonía)

IUCN Red List evaluators Stuart Butchart (BirdLife International), Andy Symes (BirdLife International)

Recommended citation BirdLife International (2010) Species factsheet: Phibalura flavirostris. Downloaded from http://www.birdlife.org on 30/7/2010

This information is based upon, and updates, the information published in BirdLife International (2000) Threatened birds of the world. Barcelona and Cambridge, UK: Lynx Edicions and BirdLife International, BirdLife International (2004) Threatened birds of the world 2004 CD-ROM and BirdLife International (2008) Threatened birds of the world 2008 CD-ROM. These sources provide the information for species accounts for the birds on the IUCN Red List.

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