
Abundance, distribution and conservation of Rio Branco Antbird Cercomacra carbonaria and Hoary-throated Spinetail Synallaxis kollari
Cercomacra carbonaria and Synallaxis kollari are passerine birds endemic to the gallery forests of Roraima state in northernmost Brazil and adjacent Guyana. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species lists both as Vulnerable but they have been removed from Brazil's list of threatened species because of data deficiency. They are poorly known, reflecting both Roraima state's distance from Brazil's main population centres and the inaccessibility of their habitat. In 2004 and 2005, we conducted bird surveys along the major rivers that provided previous sightings, and expanded records from only a handful to several dozens. We found C. carbonaria at 29% of the points surveyed, and estimated its local population density at approximately 80 individuals km-2 and total population size to exceed 15,000 individuals. The species has 723 km2 of available habitat, 8% of which is inside conservation units. We found S. kollari at 44% of the points surveyed, and estimated its local population density as approximately 60 individuals km2, with an estimated total population size exceeding 5,000 individuals. It has 206 km2 of available habitat, none of which is inside conservation units. We recommend that C. carbonaria be down-listed on the IUCN Red List to the Near Threatened category, and that S. kollari be listed as Endangered. Both species live in areas vulnerable to habitat loss. We also recommend that both species re-enter the Brazilian list of threatened species and highlight the importance of indigenous reserves to their conservation. © 2007 Birdlife International.
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Published In
DOI
EISSN
ISSN
Publication Date
Volume
Issue
Start / End Page
Related Subject Headings
- Ornithology
- 41 Environmental sciences
- 31 Biological sciences
- 06 Biological Sciences
- 05 Environmental Sciences