Species

Justification
This species is listed as Vulnerable because it has a very small range and has recently been recorded from just two locations. An improved assessment of its range and the threats affecting montane habitats in the Cordillera de Mérida may result in a downlisting to Near Threatened.

Taxonomic source(s)
SACC. 2006. A classification of the bird species of South America. Available at: http://www.museum.lsu.edu/~Remsen/SACCBaseline.html.
Sibley, C. G.; Monroe, B. L. 1990. Distribution and taxonomy of birds of the world. Yale University Press, New Haven, USA.
Stotz, D. F.; Fitzpatrick, J. W.; Parker, T. A.; Moskovits, D. K. 1996. Neotropical birds: ecology and conservation. University of Chicago Press, Chicago.

Identification
14.5 cm. Well-marked tanager. Slaty upperparts with black crown, cheeks and throat. White supercilium and small mark on lower eyelid. Cinnamon-rufous underparts. Similar spp. Black-eared Hemispingus H. melanotis lacks black crown and conspicuous supercilium, and has duller underparts. Voice Continuous stream of moderate-pitched, harsh notes, ch-d-d-d-d-d-d, and more pleasant stream of musical chi-ti-tee chi-ti-tee, probably given as a duet.

Distribution and population
Hemispingus goeringi occurs in the south-western half of the Cordillera de Mérida in Táchira and Mérida, west Venezuela. It is locally uncommon along the higher reaches of the Pico Humboldt trail in Sierra Nevada National Park, and has regularly been seen on Páramo Batallón since first reports in 1998 (Boesman 1998) and Páramo Zumbador (with records in the 1980s and in 2003) (C. J. Sharpe in litt. 1997, 2003, Hilty 2003). In 2011, it was found to be "strikingly common" in elfin forest at Boca de Monte at 2855 m on the eastern slope of the Mérida Andes (C. Rengifo in litt. 2012). It has been recorded from just two other discrete areas, but not since 1950. Nevertheless, habitat loss is unlikely to have extirpated it from these areas, and it presumably also occupies contiguous tracts of habitat.




Population justification
The population is estimated to number 2,500-9,999 individuals based on an assessment of known records, descriptions of abundance and range size. This is consistent with recorded population density estimates for congeners or close relatives with a similar body size, and the fact that only a proportion of the estimated Extent of Occurrence is likely to be occupied. This estimate is equivalent to 1,667-6,666 mature individuals, rounded here to 1,500-7,000 mature individuals.

Trend justification
Its population is believed to be decreasing due to deforestation and fragmentation of its habitat, although much of the loss of Andean forests has been concentrated in areas below the species's altitudinal range (Sharpe 2008).

Ecology
It inhabits cloud and elfin forest, mainly at elevations of 2,600-3,200 m, but in some areas down to 2,300 m (Hilty 2003). It is most common towards the treeline, and in areas of scattered trees at the edge of humid páramo. It was particularly common in elfin forest at Boca de Monte at 2855 m on the eastern slope of the Mérida Andes where several individuals were caught in mist nets and more than ten observed (C. Rengifo in litt. 2012). It forages for insects and berries on or near the ground, usually under dense cover and apparently closely associated with bamboo. Birds are typically encountered in pairs or small groups, sometimes in the company of mixed-species flocks (C. J. Sharpe in litt. 2011, C. Rengifo in litt. 2012).

Threats
There has been extensive habitat loss in the Cordillera de Mérida for agricultural conversion, potentially to be compounded by proposed mining and road construction (M. L. Goodwin in litt. 1993, C. J. Sharpe in litt. 1997, 2003). However, this destruction has been concentrated in areas below the species's altitudinal range, although it may begin to affect its montane forests significantly in the near future. It has been classified as nationally Vulnerable in Venezuela (Sharpe 2008).


Conservation actions underway
Most of its range is within Sierra Nevada and Páramos del Batallón y La Negra National Parks (Wege and Long 1995, Sharpe 2008), but none provide adequate protection.

Conservation actions proposed
Survey Páramos de Aricagua and La Negra to determine its persistence in these areas. Survey tracts of habitat connecting known areas. Survey habitat to the north-east of its known range, e.g. in Sierra de la Culata National Park. Survey elfin forest on the eastern slopes of the Mérida Andes (C. Rengifo in litt. 2012). Study the species's ecology to determine its dependence on bamboo (Sharpe 2008). Assess the current impact of threats to its habitat. Provide adequate protection for Sierra Nevada and Páramos del Batallón y La Negra National Parks. 

References
Collar, N. J.; Gonzaga, L. P.; Krabbe, N.; Madroño Nieto, A.; Naranjo, L. G.; Parker, T. A.; Wege, D. C. 1992. Threatened birds of the Americas: the ICBP/IUCN Red Data Book. International Council for Bird Preservation, Cambridge, U.K.

Wege, D. C.; Long, A. J. 1995. Key Areas for threatened birds in the Neotropics. BirdLife International, Cambridge, U.K.

Further web sources of information
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 taxonomoa y la categora de la Lista Roja de la UICN pudo haber cambiado desde esta publicacin.

View photos and videos, and hear sounds of this species from the Internet Bird Collection

Text account compilers
Capper, D., Isherwood, I., Pople, R., Sharpe, C J, Symes, A.

Contributors
Goodwin, M., Rengifo, C., Sharpe, C J

IUCN Red List evaluators
Butchart, S., Symes, A.

Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2013) Species factsheet: Hemispingus goeringi. Downloaded from http://www.birdlife.org on 23/05/2013. Recommended citation for factsheets for more than one species: BirdLife International (2013) IUCN Red List for birds. Downloaded from http://www.birdlife.org on 23/05/2013.

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.