Justification Recent survey work has revealed that this species is much more abundant, and more widespread, than previously thought. However, habitat loss is ongoing within its moderately small range, and it is therefore listed as Near Threatened.

Family/Sub-family Furnariidae

Species name author (Carriker, 1935)

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

Identification 19 cm. Large-billed furnariid. Dark rufous-brown head, upperparts and wings, with buff supercilium and prominent buff streaking on head, neck and back. Underparts buffy-rufous. Bright rufous tail. Upturned bill. Similiar spp. Other similar arboreal furnariids have different bill-shapes. Voice Harsh, accelerating and slightly rising rattle lasting 2-3 seconds.

Population estimate

Population trend

Range estimate (breeding/resident)

Country endemic?

50,000-99,999

decreasing

37,130 km²

Yes

Range & population Simoxenops striatus is restricted to the Yungas (east Andean foothills) of La Paz, Cochabamba and Santa Cruz, central and west Bolivia, and extreme south west Puno, Peru. Although it was previously thought to be rather rare, and indeed was "lost" for 48 years, a recent study has found it to be not uncommon in the Cordillerea Mosetenes, where its occurs at a density of 20 pairs per km².⁷

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

Ecology: It inhabits foothill evergreen forests in a narrow elevational band between 640 and 1,500 m ². Despite reports to the contrary, it shows a strong association with Guadua bamboo⁷. However, it is not an obligate bamboo specialist and persists (albeit at much lower densities) in humid and semi-deciduous forest without Guadua bamboo, where it forages in dense understorey or vine tangles, often near treefall gaps⁷.

Threats It is threatened by deforestation within its small geographic and elevational range, especially in La Paz and Cochabamba. Its preferred forest habitat is more accessible and easier to burn than true montane forest, and the soils are suited to domestic agriculture and the cultivation of cash crops. Consequently, the region is a favoured target for colonists from the altiplano, and encroachment into protected areas is occurring. Exploration for natural resources is undertaken in Bolivia's national parks, making mining a potential future threat². Nevertheless, vast amounts of pristine forest remain in inaccessible areas within the species's elevational range, although it may be excluded by the harsh climate in some of these areas^1,2.

Conservation measures underway It occurs in Pilón Lajas Biosphere Reserve and Indigenous Territory, La Paz², Carrasco National Park, Cochabamba² and Amboró National Park, Santa Cruz⁵, and is predicted to occur in Madidi National Park, La Paz^2,4.

Conservation measures proposed Carry out surveys to assess the species's population size. Monitor rates of deforestation within its range. Maintain the integrity of Amboró and Carrasco National Parks, particularly with respect to encroachment by settlers.

References Collar et al. (1992). 1. J. Fjeldså in litt. (1999). 2. B. Hennessey in litt. (1999). 3. Parker et al. (1992). 4. Remsen and Parker (1995). 5. Wege and Long (1995). 6. Whitney et al. (1994). 7. Herzog et al. (in press).

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 David Capper (BirdLife International), Simon Mahood (BirdLife International), Rob Pople (BirdLife International - European Division), Rob Pople (BirdLife International), Tom Stuart (BirdLife International)

Contributors Jon Fjeldså (University of Copenhagen), A. Bennett Hennessey (Asociación Armonía), Ross MacLeod (University of Glasgow), Joe Tobias (BirdLife International)

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

Recommended citation BirdLife International (2009) Species factsheet: Simoxenops striatus. 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

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