Justification This species has a very small population and range. It is thought to be declining rapidly, owing to loss and degradation of its severely fragmented habitat. All subpopulations are suspected to be extremely small, and some have been extirpated over the last few decades. This combination of factors result in its classification as Endangered.

Family/Sub-family Troglodytidae

Species name author Chapman, 1914

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

Identification 12 cm. Small, streaked wren. Buffish with short, grey supercilium. Back and rump streaked black and buff-white. Dingy grey underparts, washed buff on flanks and undertail. Voice Short series of bubbling toe-a-twée interspersed with churrs. Also a scolding churr call.

Population estimate

Population trend

Range estimate (breeding/resident)

Country endemic?

1,000-2,499

decreasing

1,600 km²

Yes

Range & population Cistothorus apolinari is found locally in the East Andes of Colombia (Boyacá and Cundinamarca). Current strongholds are at Laguna de Tota (Boyacá) and Laguna de Fúquene (Cundinamarca) - the population in each probably exceeding 50 pairs - and several populations of up to 20 pairs are present in the remnant wetlands around Bogotá². It has been extirpated from at least two sites since 1950, and numbers have fallen at several formerly important sites.

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

Ecology: It inhabits tall, dense, emergent vegetation fringing marshes and lakes (mostly reedbeds), between 1,800-3,600 m, but principally above 2,500 m ⁴. In páramo habitats, it is limited to areas with riparian vegetation, especially Espletia spp.^5,6. It gleans aquatic insects from reed stems, and is usually found in pairs or family groups. Breeding seems to occur between February and October, and eggs have been found in July.

Threats It is declining rapidly owing to the drainage and burning of wetlands for agriculture, mainly onion cultivation, but also cattle-farming³. Siltation, because of erosion on deforested hillsides in the region³, and pollution by agrochemicals and sewage alter the wetland vegetation, and insecticide use may reduce food availability or directly poison birds. In the Bogotá area, several relict wetlands are threatened by human settlement and highway projects^2,3. Reed-harvesting and tourism are possibly minor threats, and nest parasitism by Shiny Cowbird Molothrus bonariensis may increasingly be a threat⁴. Degradation of páramo habitats continues even within protected areas, e.g. El Cocuy National Park^5,6.

Conservation measures underway It occurs in El Cocuy National Park, Boyacá, and in Sumapáz National Park, Cundinamarca^2,4.

Conservation measures proposed Survey and monitor known populations. Census and study the poorly-known páramo population², especially within national parks³. Protect wetland habitats¹. Assess the taxonomic status of the páramo population. Control Shiny Cowbird Molothrus bonariensis populations at breeding sites⁴. Ensure the continued protection of páramo habitats within existing national parks.

References Collar et al. (1992). 1. P. G. W. Salaman in litt. (1999). 2. F. G. Stiles in litt. (1999). 3. Wege and Long (1995). 4. Renjifo et al. (2002). 5. Cortes-Herrera & Briceño (2004). 6. O. Cortes 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 James Gilroy (BirdLife International)

Contributors Oswaldo Cortes (Grupo Aves de Soata), Paul G. W. Salaman (Fundación ProAves), Eric Stiles (New Jersey Audubon Society)

IUCN Red List evaluators Stuart Butchart (BirdLife International), James Gilroy (BirdLife International)

Recommended citation BirdLife International (2009) Species factsheet: Cistothorus apolinari. 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.

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