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CR
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Colourful
Puffleg Eriocnemis mirabilis
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2006
IUCN Red List Category (as evaluated by BirdLife International - the official Red List
Authority for birds for IUCN): Critically Endangered
Justification The only known location for this species is
subject to small-scale logging, indicating that its extremely small range
and population are declining. It consequently qualifies as Critically
Endangered.
Family/Sub-family Trochilidae
Species name author Meyer de Schauensee, 1967
Taxonomic source(s) SACC (2005), Sibley and Monroe
(1990, 1993), Stotz et al. (1996)
Identification 8 cm. Spectacular, multi-coloured hummingbird. Fairly
short, black bill. Pink feet. Male has glittering green frontlet and
gorget, otherwise dark shining green. Glittering blue belly and glittering
red and coppery-gold undertail-coverts. Enormous white leg-puffs fringed
cinnamon. Dark, bronzy, forked uppertail, coppery-gold undertail. Female
very different. Dark shining green above and sides. White median throat and
underparts, spotted green with indistinct glittering reddish, golden, and
bluish spots on belly, flanks and undertail. Bronze-green tail tipped blackish.
Small white leg-puffs. Similar spp. Female very similar to many
small female hummingbirds in range. Best separated by reddish belly spots. Voice
Unknown.
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Population estimate
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Population trend
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Range estimate
(breeding/resident)
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Country endemic?
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50-249
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decreasing
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3 km2
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Yes
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Range & population Eriocnemis mirabilis remains known only from the
vicinity of the type-locality, Cerro Charguayaco, north-east of Cerro
Munchique on the Pacific slope of the West Andes in Cauca, south-west Colombia. It was known from four specimens (collected in 1967) and two observations
(one doubtful), before being rediscovered at the type-locality in 1997. It
appears to be uncommon and incredibly localised, being known only within 300 m of the type-locality, despite extensive searches within a c.3 km radius at various
altitudes1. Males have been observed in April,
June-August and November, and females in February-April, July and November1,2.
Other areas of suitable habitat do exist in less accessible areas of the West Andes1.
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Important Bird Areas Click here
to view map showing IBAs where species is recorded, including sites where
the species does not meet any IBA criteria.
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Ecology Preliminary studies suggest that it favours the
understorey to mid-levels (to c.5 m) of lower montane, wet forest,
feeding in the forest interior and edges within an extremely limited
altitudinal range of 2,220-2,240 m. It is unclear whether the patchy
distribution of both sexes throughout the year is due to seasonal
altitudinal movements or the paucity of field studies at the type-locality1.
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Threats In the 1960s and 1970s, the local economy was based on
the fruit crop "lulo", which was grown under the forest canopy,
and hence deterred logging. However, a fungal disease and lepidopteran pest
destroyed the crop in the 1980s, and logging recommenced. An old mule-track
below the type-locality has recently been cleared and widened, and
small-scale logging has begun in the immediate vicinity1.
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Conservation measures underway CITES Appendix II. The
type-locality is in Munchique National Park, but logging occurs within the
park boundaries. The replanting of lulo fruits is being encouraged, with
workshops targeting local communities located in impact zones. These are
designed to involve communities in conservation efforts and enable
technology transfers in integrated pest-management practices1.
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Conservation measures proposed Survey other areas of suitable
habitat in Cauca. Research its status and annual ecological requirements at
the type-locality1.
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References Collar et al. (1992). 1.
Mazariegos and Salaman (1999). 2. J. Penhallurick in litt.
(1999).
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Text account compilers Phil Benstead (BirdLife
International)
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IUCN Red List evaluators Phil Benstead (BirdLife
International), David Wege (BirdLife International)
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