Tawny Piculet (Picumnus fulvescens) - BirdLife species factsheet

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NT	Tawny Piculet Picumnus fulvescens

2010 IUCN Red List Category (as evaluated by BirdLife International - the official Red List Authority for birds for IUCN): Near Threatened

Justification This species is classified as Near Threatened because, although it is known to tolerate some habitat disturbance, it is suspected to be declining moderately rapidly. However, further research is needed regarding the impact of habitat degradation on this species.

Family/Sub-family Picidae

Species name author Stager, 1962

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

Identification 10 cm. Tiny, fulvous-brown and black woodpecker. Rich fulvous-brown underparts, with faint pale streaks on breast. Brown upperparts and wings. Black crown, dotted white. Brown ear-coverts. Male presumed to have some red on forehead and/or crown. Voice Descending series of calls driée driée driée ... n

Population estimate	Population trend	Range estimate (breeding/resident)	Country endemic?
	decreasing	77,400 km²	Yes

Range & population Picumnus fulvescens was, until recently, considered to have a disjunct range in the Atlantic forest and Caatinga of north-east Brazil. Recent surveys, however, found it at four new widely distributed sites: Vale do Catimbau, Pernambuco¹³; Ubajara National Park, Ceara¹⁸; Fazenda Tamanduá, Paraíba¹⁴; and Usina Serra Grande, Alagoas¹⁵. The new records suggest that its distribution is not as disjunct as first thought. Observations made at Murici¹⁶ and Usina Serra Grande suggest that, in the Atlantic Forest region, this piculet uses drier second-growth forest and may be colonizing regenerating cleared areas. The species has been recorded in low secondary caatinga, and seems to be adaptable to human disturbance (as other Picumnus). Its occurrence in southern Piauí seems marginal, as its possible competitor, the Spotted Piculet P. pygmaeus is common there¹⁷. The number of localities (13) and extent of occurrence, are now estimated to exceed the B criterion at the Vulnerable level. Similarly the rate of population decline is now not thought to be so rapid, and the species has been reclassified as Near Threatened, and indeed may warrant downlisting to Least Concern. It is scarce, with most records pertaining to one or two birds^1,4,5,10,11. It inhabits deciduous, semi-deciduous and secondary forest, and is regularly observed in degraded secondary scrub, from the lowlands to c.950 m ^3,6,11. There has been massive deforestation in Alagoas and Pernambuco, largely as a result of logging and conversion to sugarcane plantations and pastureland. The extent of forest at Murici has been reduced from 70 km² in the 1970s to 30 km² of highly disturbed and fragmented habitat in 1999². In January 1999,new logging roads were evident and such forest fragments are severely threatened by fires spreading from adjacent plantations^2,11. The species has not been relocated around Serra da Capivara National Park, and significant areas outside the park have been degraded by cattle raising and wood collection to fuel the local brick factories¹⁷, a problem widespread in northeastern Brazil. Potentially suitable habitat in the Caatinga has been reduced through agricultural expansion, grazing and burning. It occurs in Pedra Talhada, Guaribas and Serra Negra Biological Reserves, Seridó Ecological Station, Tapacurá Ecological Station, Serra da Capivara National Park and Araripe National Forest^1,10. At Pedra Talhada, significant areas are being reforested with native trees⁹. Protection at this reserve is enforced by guards and apparently welcomed by local communities⁹. Vale do Catimbau is expected to become a National Park soon.

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

Ecology: It inhabits deciduous, semi-deciduous and secondary forest, and is regularly observed in degraded secondary scrub, from the lowlands to c.950 m ^3,6,11.

Threats There has been massive deforestation in Alagoas and Pernambuco, largely as a result of logging and conversion to sugarcane plantations and pastureland. The extent of forest at Murici has been reduced from 70 km² in the 1970s to 30 km² of highly disturbed and fragmented habitat in 1999². In January 1999,new logging roads were evident and such forest fragments are severely threatened by fires spreading from adjacent plantations^2,11. Potentially suitable habitat in the Caatinga has been reduced through agricultural expansion, grazing and burning, but the species's distribution in the region (and consequently potential threats) is poorly known.

Conservation measures underway It occurs in Pedra Talhada and Serra Negra Biological Reserves, Tapacurá Ecological Station, Serra da Capivara National Park and Araripe National Forest^1,10. At Pedra Talhada, significant areas are being reforested with native trees⁹. Protection at this reserve is enforced by guards and apparently welcomed by local communities⁹.

Conservation measures proposed Survey sites in east Pernambuco to ascertain its current status. Survey potentially suitable habitat in the caatinga. Designate a biological reserve at Murici and ensure its de facto protection². Continue conservation efforts at Pedra Talhada. Resolve the confusing taxonomic relationship between the saturatus subspecies and P. limae.

References 1. F. Brammer in litt. (1998). 2. J. M. Goerck in litt. (1999). 3. G. M. Kirwan in litt. (1999). 4. J. Minns in litt. (1998). 5. Olmos (1993). 6. Parker et al. (1996). 7. Pinto (1978). 8. Short (1982). 9. A. Studer per A. Whittaker in litt. (1999). 10. Wege and Long (1995). 11. A. Whittaker in litt. (1999). 12. Winkler et al. (1995). 13. SNE (2002). 14. Neves et al. (1999). 15. Silveira et al. (2003). 16. J. M. Barnett in litt. (2003). 17. F. Olmos in litt. (2003). 18. A. Renaudier in litt. (2005).

Text account compilers Phil Benstead (BirdLife International), David Capper (BirdLife International), Simon Mahood (BirdLife International), Rob Williams (BirdLife International)

Contributors J.M Barnett, F. Brammer, Marcelo da Silva, Sidnei de Melo Dantas (Observadores de aves de Pernambuco), J. M. Goerck (SAVE Brasil), G. M. Kirwan, Jeremy Minns, Fabio Olmos, Alex Renaudier, Francisco Sagot-Martin, A Studer, A Whittaker

IUCN Red List evaluators Stuart Butchart (BirdLife International), Simon Mahood (BirdLife International)

Recommended citation BirdLife International (2010) Species factsheet: Picumnus fulvescens. Downloaded from http://www.birdlife.org on 9/9/2010

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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