Species

Justification
This species is classified as Vulnerable as it is suspected to have suffered a rapid and ongoing decline owing to a reduction in suitable habitat (Collar et al. 1992). Recent information suggests that it may in fact tolerate or even favour degraded areas and if further evidence confirms that this is the case across its range it may be downlisted to Least Concern.

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
13 cm. Small, greyish finch. Pale plumbeous upperparts. Loral area slightly darker. Dusky wings and tail, edged grey. Tail with white tip to outer rectrices. White throat and underparts. Blackish bill. Reddish iris. Immature washed brown on head. Similar spp. White-banded Tanager Neothraupis fasciata has obvious black mask and immatures are strongly tinged brown. Voice High-pitched and spirited warbles.

Distribution and population
Poospiza cinerea is scarce and local in interior Brazil. There are recent records from Minas Gerais (Machado et al. 1998, Simon et al. 1999, Lopes et al. 2010), Chapada dos Veadeiros, Emas, Alta Paraiso and Minaçu in Goiás, and near Brasília in Distrito Federal. It may have been extirpated in Mato Grosso (no records since 1904), Mato Grosso do Sul (one record in 1937) and São Paulo (none since 1901). There is evidence that this has always been a rather scarce bird, but the extent of habitat loss indicates suggests that it has probably declined significantly; however recent reports that it is frequent at a number of degraded sites may indicate that it is more numerous than previously believed.

Population justification
The population size is preliminarily estimated to fall into the band 10,000-19,999 individuals. This equates to 6,667-13,333 mature individuals, rounded here to 6,000-15,000 mature individuals.

Trend justification
This species's population has until recently been suspected to be declining rapidly due to rates of habitat loss, however if further information confirms its apparent tolerance of degraded areas this trend will need to be revised and the species may prove to be stable or even increasing. Suspected declines are precautionarily retained until more data can be obtained.

Ecology
It was previously thought to inhabit campo cerrado grasslands and possibly open deciduous woodland but recent reports suggest that it favours degraded areas, including burnt areas of campo rupestre, orchards, old pastures and abandoned mines (M. F. Vasconcelos in litt. 1999, 2007), mostly at 600-1,400 m. It may be semi-nomadic in response to fire succession and is extending its range towards degraded areas in eastern Minas Gerais (M. F. Vasconcelos in litt. 1999, 2007). The only breeding record was in September (A. Whittaker in litt. 1999).

Threats
The combined effects of grazing, invasive grasses, annual burning and conversion to agriculture for Eucalyptus plantations, soybeans and pastures for exportable crops (encouraged by government land reform) (Stotz et al. 1996, Parker and Willis 1997) had heavily or moderately altered two-thirds of the Cerrado region by 1993 (Conservation International 1999), with most of the destruction having occurred since 1950 (Cavalcanti 1999). Mining activities are reportedly affecting habitat in the south Cadeia do Espinhaço (M. F. Vasconcelos in litt. 1999, 2007). However, recent information indicates that this species not only persists in, but may in fact favour, modified habitats such as degraded and burnt cerrado, orchards, old pastures and abandoned mines (M. F. Vasconcelos in litt. 1999, 2007). In the Atlantic Forest region of eastern Minas Gerais the species appears to be extending its range as the amount of degraded habitat increases (M. F. Vasconcelos in litt. 1999, 2007). Brood-parasitism by Shiny Cowbird Molothrus bonariensis has been recorded in the Serra do Cipó and will presumably increase with conversion to pastures (Simon et al. 1999).

Conservation actions underway
It is protected under Brazilian law and occurs in Emas, Brasília, Serra do Cipó and Chapada dos Veadeiros National Parks, Peti Reserve, Serra do Brigadeiro State Park and Mangabeiras Park (Machado et al. 1998, M. Bornschein per J. Mazar Barnett in litt. 1999, Simon et al. 1999, A. Whittaker in litt. 1999).

Conservation actions proposed
Survey areas with historical records and any additional habitat fragments. Determine its tolerance of degraded habitats across its range. Study to determine the likely causes of its scarcity. Protect known sites in west Minas Gerais. Reverse the aspects of government land reforms that encourage habitat loss.

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.

Stotz, D. F.; Fitzpatrick, J. W.; Parker, T. A.; Moskovits, D. K. 1996. Neotropical birds: ecology and conservation. University of Chicago Press, Chicago.

Parker, T. A.; Willis, E. O. 1997. Notes on three tiny grassland flycatchers, with comments on the disappearance of South American fire-diversified savannas. Ornithological Monographs 48: 549-555.

Machado, A. B. M.; da Fonseca, G. A. B.; Machado, R. B.; Aguiar, L. M. De S.; Lins, L. V. 1998. Livro Vermelho: das espécies ameaçadas de extinça1o da fauna de Minas Gerais. Fundaça1o Biodiversitas, Belo Horizonte.

Simon, J. E.; Ribon, R.; Mattos, G. M.; Abreu, C. R. M. 1999. A avifauna do Parque Estadual da Serra do Brigadeiro, Minas Gerais. Revista Arvore 23: 33-48.

Cavalcanti, R. B. 1999. Bird species richness and conservation in the Cerrado region of central Brazil. Studies in Avian Biology 19: 244-249.

Conservation International. 1999. Açoes prioritárias para a conservaçao da biodiversidade do Cerrado e Pantanal.

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.

Hear sounds for this species from xeno-canto, the community database of shared bird sounds from around the world.

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., Pople, R., Sharpe, C J, Symes, A.

Contributors
Bornschein, M., Davis, B., de Vasconcelos, M., Kirwan, G., Lopes, L., Mahood, S., Mazar Barnett, J., Neto, S., Whittaker, A.

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

Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2013) Species factsheet: Poospiza cinerea. Downloaded from http://www.birdlife.org on 22/05/2013. Recommended citation for factsheets for more than one species: BirdLife International (2013) IUCN Red List for birds. Downloaded from http://www.birdlife.org on 22/05/2013.

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.

Additional resources for this species

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