Justification Although now known from two locations, this species still has an extremely small and decreasing range in which habitat fragmentation is severe owing to small-scale logging and cultivation. It consequently qualifies as Critically Endangered.

Family/Sub-family Trochilidae

Species name author Meyer de Schauensee, 1967

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

Identification 8 cm. Spectacular, multi-coloured hummingbird. Fairly short, black bill. Pink feet. Male has glittering green frontlet and gorget, otherwise dark shining green. Glittering blue belly and glittering red and coppery-gold undertail-coverts. Enormous white leg-puffs fringed cinnamon. Dark, bronzy, forked uppertail, coppery-gold undertail. Female very different. Dark shining green above and sides. White median throat and underparts, spotted green with indistinct glittering reddish, golden, and bluish spots on belly, flanks and undertail. Bronze-green tail tipped blackish. Small white leg-puffs. Similar spp. Female very similar to many small female hummingbirds in range. Best separated by reddish belly spots. Voice Unknown.

Population estimate

Population trend

Range estimate (breeding/resident)

Country endemic?

250-999

decreasing

31 km²

Yes

Range & population Eriocnemis mirabilis was until recently only known from the vicinity of the type-locality, Cerro Charguayaco, north-east of Cerro Munchique on the Pacific slope of the west Andes in Cauca, south-west Colombia. It was known from four specimens (collected in 1967) and two observations (one doubtful), before being rediscovered at the type-locality in 1997. It appears to be uncommon and incredibly localised, and perhaps difficult to detect; despite not being found further than 300 m from the type-locality during extensive searches within a c.3 km radius at various altitudes,¹ it has now been found elsewhere in Munchique National Park^3,4. It has now also been discovered in the Serrania del Pinche (2,800-3,000 m), c.30 km south of the type locality³, and at El Planchón in the Cordillera Occidental, Cauca Department⁶. Males have been observed in April, June-August and November, and females in February-April, July and November^1,2. Other areas of suitable habitat do exist in less accessible areas of the west Andes¹.

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

Ecology: Preliminary studies suggest that it favours the understorey to mid-levels (to c.5 m) of lower montane, wet forest, feeding in the forest interior and edges. It is unclear whether the patchy distribution of both sexes throughout the year is due to seasonal altitudinal movements or the paucity of field studies at the type-locality¹. It has now been recorded from 2,200-2,600 m at least (possibly higher in the Serrania del Pinche).

Threats In the 1960s and 1970s, the local economy was based on the fruit crop "lulo", which was grown under the forest canopy, and hence deterred logging. However, a fungal disease and lepidopteran pest destroyed the crop in the 1980s, and logging recommenced. An old mule-track below the type-locality has recently been cleared and widened, and small-scale logging has begun in the immediate vicinity¹. The Serrania del Pinche and Munchique National Park are threatened by habitat clearance for illegal coca cultivation; fires lit to clear forest at lower elevations spread to higher areas destroying sensitive habitats^3,5. Other areas of forest which potentially hold the species are threatened by clearance by slash and burn³.

Conservation measures underway CITES Appendix II. The type-locality is in Munchique National Park, but logging occurs within the park boundaries. The replanting of lulo fruits is being encouraged, with workshops targeting local communities located in impact zones. These are designed to involve communities in conservation efforts and enable technology transfers in integrated pest-management practices¹. Funding from Swarovski Optik allowed the purchase of 5,000 acres of forest which could potentially hold the species. There are plans to extend the reserve by planting key tree species. The Hummingbird Conservancy is supporting research on the ecology and population dynamics of this species both in Munchique and Serrania del Pinche³.

Conservation measures proposed Survey other areas of suitable habitat in Cauca. Research its status and annual ecological requirements at the type-locality¹. Continue to support the establishment and expansion of the newly formed reserve. Designate additional areas of suitable habitat as reserves. Improve the protection of Munchique National Park. Carry out habitat restoration in Munchique National Park.

References Collar et al. (1992). 1. Mazariegos and Salaman (1999). 2. J. Penhallurick in litt. (1999). 3. L. Marzariegos in litt. (2007). 4. T. Donegan in litt. (2008). 5. P. Salaman in litt. (2008). 6. Lóoez-Ordóñez et al. (2008).

Further web sources of information

Alliance for Zero Extinction (AZE) species/site profile. This species has been identified as an AZE trigger due to its IUCN Red List status and limited range.

Fully detailed species account from the Threatened birds of the Americas: the BirdLife International Red Data Book (BirdLife International 1992). Please note, taxonomic treatment and IUCN Red List category may have changed since publication.

Recuento detallado de la especie tomado del libro Aves Amenazadas de las Americas, Libro Rojo de BirdLife International (BirdLife International 1992). Nota: la taxonomoía y la categoría de la Lista Roja de la UICN pudo haber cambiado desde esta publicación.

Text account compilers Phil Benstead (BirdLife International), Jeremy Bird (BirdLife International), Stuart Butchart (BirdLife International), David Capper (BirdLife International), Isabel Isherwood (BirdLife International), Simon Mahood (BirdLife International)

Contributors Oswaldo Cortes (Grupo Aves de Soata), Thomas Donegan (University of Cambridge), Juan Pablo Ordonez, J Penhallurick, Paul G. W. Salaman (World Land Trust-US)

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

Recommended citation BirdLife International (2009) Species factsheet: Eriocnemis mirabilis. Downloaded from http://www.birdlife.org on 9/2/2010

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.

To provide new information to update this factsheet or to correct any errors, please email BirdLife

To contribute to discussions on the evaluation of the IUCN Red List status of Globally Threatened Birds, please visit BirdLife's Globally Threatened Bird Forums