Oreomanes fraseri

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	PASSERIFORMES	THRAUPIDAE

Scientific Name:

Oreomanes fraseri

Species Authority:

Sclater, 1860

Common Name/s:

English

–

Giant Conebill

Assessment Information [top]

Red List Category & Criteria:

Near Threatened ver 3.1

Year Assessed:

2008

Assessor/s:

BirdLife International

Reviewer/s:

Gilroy, J., Butchart, S.

Justification:
This species is listed as Near Threatened, as it is suspected to be declining moderately rapidly owing to habitat loss and fragmentation throughout its range. Populations should be monitored carefully for any future changes in the rate of decline.

History:

2004	–	Near Threatened
1988	–	Near Threatened

Geographic Range [top]

Range Description:	Oreomanes fraseri is rare and local within a relatively large range in the high Andes^5,9,10 of south-west Colombia (Nariño⁶, but perhaps extirpated), Ecuador (three sites in Azuay, Pichincha, and on the Pichincha/Napo border²), Peru (Ancash south to Puno and Tacna³) and west Bolivia (La Paz, Cochabamba and Potosí¹), with recent records from north Chile⁷ and Salta, Argentina⁸.
Countries:	Native: Argentina; Bolivia; Chile; Colombia; Ecuador; Peru
Range Map:	Click here to open the map viewer and explore range.

Population [top]

Population:	The global population size has not been quantified, but this species is described as 'uncommon and patchily distributed' (Stotz et al. 1996).
Population Trend:	Decreasing

Habitat and Ecology [top]

Habitat and Ecology:	This species is restricted to Polylepis woodland, which is now highly fragmented⁹. It occurs at 2,700-4,850 m ³, usually above the timberline, but is not numerous even in apparently optimal habitat⁹. It is highly dependent on stands of Polylepis with dense canopies and tall trees, and may be limited to larger patches due to an avoidance of the dense foliage found in woodland edge habitats¹¹.
Systems:	Terrestrial

Habitat and Ecology:

This species is restricted to Polylepis woodland, which is now highly fragmented⁹. It occurs at 2,700-4,850 m ³, usually above the timberline, but is not numerous even in apparently optimal habitat⁹. It is highly dependent on stands of Polylepis with dense canopies and tall trees, and may be limited to larger patches due to an avoidance of the dense foliage found in woodland edge habitats¹¹.

Systems:

Terrestrial

Threats [top]

Major Threat(s):	Its decline is attributed to the destruction and fragmentation of Polylepis woodland as a result of uncontrolled use of fire, firewood collection, intense grazing (particularly by sheep and cattle), unsound agricultural techniques and afforestation with exotic tree species (especially Eucalyptus)⁴.

Major Threat(s):

Its decline is attributed to the destruction and fragmentation of Polylepis woodland as a result of uncontrolled use of fire, firewood collection, intense grazing (particularly by sheep and cattle), unsound agricultural techniques and afforestation with exotic tree species (especially Eucalyptus)⁴.

Conservation Actions [top]

Conservation Actions:	Conservation Actions Underway Conservation Actions Proposed Monitor populations at known sites and repeat surveys throughout the range to determine rates of range contraction and population decline. Campaign for the protection of remaining Polylepis woodlands, as well as appropriate reforestation programmes.

Conservation Actions:

Conservation Actions Underway

Conservation Actions Proposed
Monitor populations at known sites and repeat surveys throughout the range to determine rates of range contraction and population decline. Campaign for the protection of remaining Polylepis woodlands, as well as appropriate reforestation programmes.

Citation:	BirdLife International 2008. Oreomanes fraseri. In: IUCN 2011. IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2011.2. <www.iucnredlist.org>. Downloaded on 04 February 2012.
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