Gallinago imperialis

Taxonomy

Assessment Information

Geographic Range

Population

Habitat and Ecology

Threats

Conservation Actions

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Taxonomy [top]

Kingdom	Phylum	Class	Order	Family
ANIMALIA	CHORDATA	AVES	CHARADRIIFORMES	SCOLOPACIDAE

Scientific Name:

Gallinago imperialis

Species Authority:

Sclater & Salvin, 1869

Common Name/s:

English

–

Imperial Snipe

Assessment Information [top]

Red List Category & Criteria:

Near Threatened ver 3.1

Year Published:

2008

Assessor/s:

BirdLife International

Reviewer/s:

Symes, A., Butchart, S.

Justification:
This little-known and elusive species apparently has a small population, and in some areas it is likely to be declining owing to destruction and degradation of its páramo habitat. It is consequently classified as Near Threatened, but may be downlisted to Least Concern if it is found to be more common and widespread than is currently known.

History:

2004

–

Near Threatened

Geographic Range [top]

Range Description:	Gallinago imperialis was considered extinct for over half a century, but has been found at approximately six sites in Peru since 1967, and at 12 locations in Ecuador since 1988^1,3,4,5,8. In Ecuador, it probably occurs continuously along the east and west slopes, on massifs from Carchi to Cotopaxi⁴. In Peru, it is perhaps equally widespread on the east slope, although it apparently occurs at very low densities (4-5 displaying within 1.6 km² of suitable ridge-top habitat)⁷, and known populations are small and localised^2,3. Also recorded in Colombia. If the number of records and known sites continue to increase, it may be downlisted to Least Concern.
Countries:	Native: Colombia; Ecuador; Peru
Range Map:	Click here to open the map viewer and explore range.

Population [top]

Population:	Preliminary population estimate require further documentation.
Population Trend:	Decreasing

Habitat and Ecology [top]

Habitat and Ecology:	It occurs around the tree-line at 2,745-3,700 m, where it is probably largely restricted to bogs and moist elfin forest intermixed with tree-ferns and tall grass, but is also found in bamboo-fringed glades with extensive Sphagnum mosses^3,5.
Systems:	Terrestrial; Freshwater

Threats [top]

Major Threat(s):	Burning, grazing and conversion for agriculture of the páramo has negatively affected areas adjacent to the tree-line, consequently destroying and degrading its preferred habitat mosaic⁶.

Major Threat(s):

Burning, grazing and conversion for agriculture of the páramo has negatively affected areas adjacent to the tree-line, consequently destroying and degrading its preferred habitat mosaic⁶.

Conservation Actions [top]

Conservation Actions:	Conservation Actions Underway None is known. Conservation Actions Proposed Research its biology. Effectively protect remaining core areas of páramo. Search for the species in potentially suitable habitat.

Conservation Actions:

Conservation Actions Underway
None is known.

Conservation Actions Proposed
Research its biology. Effectively protect remaining core areas of páramo. Search for the species in potentially suitable habitat.

Citation:	BirdLife International 2008. Gallinago imperialis. In: IUCN 2011. IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2011.2. <www.iucnredlist.org>. Downloaded on 26 May 2012.
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