Perija Metaltail
VU

Perija Metaltail

Metallura iracunda

Unknown

Photo: Wikimedia Commons (CC) via https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Perij%C3%A1_metaltail

Overview

A detailed profile for this species is sourced from the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species as assessments become available.

The Perija Metaltail faces severe habitat loss due to agricultural expansion and cattle ranching in the cloud forests of the Cordillera de Perijá. Mining activities and infrastructure development further fragment its already restricted montane habitat. Climate change poses an additional threat by shifting the altitudinal zones where suitable cloud forest conditions exist, potentially forcing this high-altitude specialist into increasingly smaller refugia.

Threat summary

Habitat

This hummingbird inhabits cloud forests and elfin woodlands at elevations between 1,800-3,200 meters in the Cordillera de Perijá along the Colombia-Venezuela border. It requires dense, humid montane forests with abundant flowering plants and is particularly associated with areas of persistent cloud cover.

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Frequently asked questions

Why is Perija Metaltail classified as Vulnerable?
Perija Metaltail is classified as Vulnerable because the population is declining and the species faces a high risk of extinction in the medium-term future if current pressures continue. The Perija Metaltail faces severe habitat loss due to agricultural expansion and cattle ranching in the cloud forests of the Cordillera de Perijá. Mining activities and infrastructure development further fragment its already restricted montane habitat. Climate change poses an additional threat by shifting the altitudinal zones where suitable cloud forest conditions exist, potentially forcing this high-altitude specialist into increasingly smaller refugia.
Where does Perija Metaltail live?
Perija Metaltail 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 Perija Metaltail?
The main threats to Perija Metaltail 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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