Justification This species has been downlisted to Vulnerable because a better understanding of its distribution indicates it has a larger range and population than previously thought. Nonetheless, its range is still highly fragmented and habitat patches are decreasing in size and quality through ongoing degradation and clearance for agriculture.

Family/Sub-family Trochilidae

Species name author (Bourcier, 1843)

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

Identification 11 cm. Dark hummingbird with long, needle-like bill. Mainly black with conspicuous white patch on each side of chest and postocular spot. Glittering blue shoulders. Small greenish-blue throat patch. White-edged undertail-coverts. Black and forked tail. Long, slender, straight black bill. Rosy-red legs. Female slightly duller overall. Similar spp. White pectoral patches are unique. Voice Rarely heard ick when feeding.

Population estimate

Population trend

Range estimate (breeding/resident)

Country endemic?

2,500-9,999

decreasing

6,400 km²

Yes

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

Ecology: This is principally a species of mature humid montane forest, especially areas with a predominance of oak Quercus humboldti and Trigonobalanus excelsa. Although birds have also been recorded in open parkland and riverine gallery forest the species is a trap liner and probably relies on the persistance of mature oak forest¹¹. Most observations have been at 1,675-2,500 m, but it is known between 1,000 and 2,800 m ^4,7. Breeding is thought to take place between June and October.

Threats The upper Magdalena valley and the Sagamosa drainage have been undergoing habitat loss, fragmentation and alteration since the 17th century⁵. The primary causes are human settlement and urbanisation, with associated logging and agricultural land-use including coffee and, to a lesser extent, plantain and sugarcane plantations and pastures⁵. As a result, tiny remnant forest patches are restricted to steep slopes and along streams⁵, with the significant exception of Guanentá-Alto Río Fonce⁶. However, there are still extensive forests that are poorly known to ornithology in the Serranía de las Quinchas, west Boyacá⁵.

Conservation measures underway CITES Appendix II. It is protected at Guanentá-Alto Río Fonce Fauna and Flora Sanctuary¹.

Conservation measures proposed Conduct surveys in relatively inaccessible and well forested parts of the Serranía de las Quinchas⁵. Study its ecology and breeding behaviour⁷. Prepare a management plan for the species⁷. Augment conservation activities in Guanentá-Alto Río Fonce Fauna and Flora Sanctuary³. Protect areas of the favoured habitat holding significant populations^3,7.

References Collar et al. (1992). 1. Andrade and Repizzo (1994). 2. A. J. Negret in litt. (1995). 3. P. G. W. Salaman in litt. (1999). 4. Schuchmann (1999). 5. Stiles et al. (1999). 6. Wege and Long (1995). 7. T. Züchner in litt. (1999). 8. Donegan et al. (2003). 9. Donegan and Avendaño (2006). 11. P. Salaman in litt. (2007).

Further web sources of information

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), Isabel Isherwood (BirdLife International), Simon Mahood (BirdLife International), Tom Stuart (BirdLife International), Andy Symes (BirdLife International)

Contributors Thomas Donegan (University of Cambridge), A.J Negret, Paul G. W Salaman (World Land Trust-US), Thomas Züchner

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

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

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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