Justification This newly described species qualifies as Critically Endangered because it is known from a single location and has an extremely small Area of Occupancy within which habitat quality is continuing to decline owing to conversion for agriculture (particularly coca cultivation).

Family/Sub-family Trochilidae

Species name author Cortes-Diago et al., 2007

Taxonomic source(s) SACC (2005 + updates)

Identification The male is blackish-green, with iridescent blue-green rump and blue-black tail, bluish-violet undertail, and white leg puffs, and differs from other Eriocnemis in having a bicoloured blue-violet and green gorget. Females are similar to E. nigrivestis and E. vestitus but underparts are more intensively fringed rufous with turquoise reflections on the belly centre¹.

Population estimate

Population trend

Range estimate (breeding/resident)

Country endemic?

unknown

decreasing

44 km²

No

Range & population Eriocnemis isabellae has been recently described from Cauca Department, south-west Colombia, where it occurs in a tiny area of the Serraníadel Pinche¹. Three birds (one male and two females) were mist-netted in 2005 and a total of six further males were caught in 2006¹. The global population has not been quantified but is presumably very small given that the area of suitable habitat is thought to be less than 10 km², and it is suspected to be decreasing as elfin forest habitat is converted for agriculture and illegal coca plantations.

Ecology: It inhabits the cloud and temperate forest zone, within which the species appears to be associated with elfin forest on steep slopes along mountain ridges¹. Elfin forest at the type locality averages 6-8 m in height with frequent natural clearings and is found at around 2,600-2,900 m¹.

Threats The primary threat is the shifting of the agricultural border towards remaining primary forests, causing a loss of vegetation cover, contamination of watersheds and soil degradation¹. Illegal coca cultivation is a major threat due to the lack of governmental presence, with 8.3 % of potentially suitable habitat reportedly damaged annually by coca cultivation. The potential completion of a road from El Estrecho in the PatíaValley to Guapi on the Pacific coast would hold serious implications for Serraníadel Pinche¹.

Conservation measures underway There is an ongoing conservation plan involving local authorities, community leaders, Ministry of Environment, The Hummingbird Conservancy, Ecohabitats foundation and local residents.

Conservation measures proposed Carry out further studies to determine status and population size. Develop a Species Action Plan. Continue and extend local conservation and education initiatives. Work towards the creation of a protected area in the Serraníadel Pinche.

References 1. Cortés-Diago et al. (2007).

Text account compilers Andy Symes (BirdLife International)

Contributors Oswaldo Cortes (Grupo Aves de Soata), 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 isabellae. Downloaded from http://www.birdlife.org on 10/2/2010

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