Black-backed Thornbill
EN

Black-backed Thornbill

Ramphomicron dorsale

Unknown

Photo: Wikimedia Commons (CC) via https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Black-backed_thornbill

Overview

The black-backed thornbill is an Endangered species of hummingbird in the "coquettes", tribe Lesbiini of subfamily Lesbiinae. It is endemic to the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta of northern Colombia.

The Black-backed Thornbill faces severe population declines primarily due to habitat loss from agricultural expansion, mining activities, and urban development in its restricted Andean range. Climate change poses an additional threat by altering the specific temperature and precipitation conditions required for its high-altitude cloud forest habitat.

Threat summary

Habitat

The black-backed thornbill is restricted to the isolated Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta in far northern Colombia, where it inhabits the edges of humid and elfin forest and also páramo. In elevation it ranges from as high as the snowline at about .

Other threatened species in Trochilidae

Andean HillstarCR

Andean Hillstar

Oreotrochilus estella

Unknown
Hoary PufflegVU

Hoary Puffleg

Haplophaedia lugens

Unknown
Perija MetaltailVU

Perija Metaltail

Metallura iracunda

Unknown
Pink-throated BrilliantVU

Pink-throated Brilliant

Heliodoxa gularis

Unknown

Frequently asked questions

Why is Black-backed Thornbill classified as Endangered?
Black-backed Thornbill is classified as Endangered — facing a very high risk of extinction in the wild — because population numbers are declining steeply and key habitats are under sustained pressure. The Black-backed Thornbill faces severe population declines primarily due to habitat loss from agricultural expansion, mining activities, and urban development in its restricted Andean range. Climate change poses an additional threat by altering the specific temperature and precipitation conditions required for its high-altitude cloud forest habitat.
Where does Black-backed Thornbill live?
Black-backed Thornbill occurs in across multiple regions. Country-level distribution data is sourced from the IUCN Red List and cross-referenced with GBIF occurrences.
What are the main threats to Black-backed Thornbill?
The main threats to Black-backed Thornbill are ai-1, ai-2, ai-3, and ai-4. The full IUCN-classified threat record for this species is detailed on the species page.

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