Justification This species has an extensive range but is thought to have a small global population and is therefore classified as Near Threatened. Further information on its population is required to clarify its status.

Family/Sub-family Accipitridae

Species name author (Des Murs, 1845)

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

Synonyms Oroaetus isidori Stotz et al. (1996), Oroaetus isidori Sibley and Monroe (1990, 1993), Oroaetus isidori BirdLife International (2004), Oroaetus isidori Collar et al. (1994), Oroaetus isidori Collar and Andrew (1988)

Taxonomic note Oroaetus isidori (Sibley and Monroe 1990, 1993) is transfered to the genus Spizaetus following SACC (2006).

Identification

Population estimate

Population trend

Range estimate (breeding/resident)

Country endemic?

250-999

unset

469,000 km²

No

Range & population Oroaetus isidori has an extensive, but narrow and altitudinally restricted, linear distribution from the coastal ranges of north-west Venezuela (Carabobo and Aragua) and north-east Colombia (Santa Marta Mountains), and on the subtropical slopes of the Andes from Venezuela (Mérida and Perijá Mountains) through Colombia, Ecuador and Peru to west-central Bolivia and north-west Argentina^1,2. It appears rare and patchily distributed but its status is very poorly known, although it is thought to be susceptible to the loss of continuous forest habitat². A recent population estimate indicated that the total population may not exceed 1,000 individuals³, which would qualify the species for listing as Vulnerable, however it has been estimated that a population in the low hundreds remains in Venezuela⁴ which would suggest that the global population is still somewhat larger than 1,000.

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

Ecology: It is found on heavily forested mountain slopes, probably occurring mostly in large valleys, usually at 1,500-2,800 m, but recorded from sea-level to 3,500 m ^1,2. It has been observed in some partially logged tracts of forest, but this is perhaps as a direct result of extensive primary forest loss in the subtropical zone².

Threats It apparently requires at least part of its home range to include undisturbed primary forest, which has been subject to huge losses in many parts of its extensive range, primarily due to conversion for agriculture.

Conservation measures underway It occurs in several national parks and other protected areas in Venezuela⁴.

Conservation measures proposed Research its ecological requirements and tolerance of habitat fragmentation. Attempt to obtain an accurate global population estimate of this difficult to survey species. Expand network of protected areas to include large core areas of mountain slope primary forest.

References 1. Fjeldså and Krabbe (1990). 2. Thiollay (1994). 3. Ferguson-Lees and Christie (2001). 4. C. J. Sharpe in litt. (2003).

Text account compilers Phil Benstead (BirdLife International), David Capper (BirdLife International), Rob P Clay (Guyra Paraguay), E.F. Mansur (Universidade do Estado do Rio de Janeiro), Andy Symes (BirdLife International)

Contributors Chris J. Sharpe

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

Recommended citation BirdLife International (2009) Species factsheet: Spizaetus isidori. 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.

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