CR

Santa Marta Sabrewing

Campylopterus phainopeplus

Declining

Overview

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

The Santa Marta Sabrewing faces severe threats from ongoing deforestation and agricultural expansion within its extremely restricted range in Colombia's Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta. Coffee cultivation and cattle ranching have fragmented the remaining cloud forest habitat, while climate change is causing upslope shifts in suitable temperature and humidity conditions. The species' dependence on specific flowering plants for nectar makes it particularly vulnerable to habitat degradation that disrupts these ecological relationships.

Threat summary

Habitat

This hummingbird inhabits humid montane cloud forests and forest edges between 1,200-2,000 meters elevation in the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta. It requires dense canopy cover with abundant epiphytes and native flowering plants that provide nectar sources throughout the year.

Forest· majorGrassland· major

Conservation measures underway

Site/area protectionSpecies recoveryLegislation

Other threatened species in TROCHILIDAE

VU

Mexican Woodnymph

Eupherusa ridgwayi

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Black IncaVU

Black Inca

Coeligena prunellei

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VU

Tolima Blossomcrown

Anthocephala berlepschi

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VU

Outcrop Sabrewing

Campylopterus calcirupicola

Declining

Threatened in Colombia

EN

Helena's Marsupial Frog

Gastrotheca helenae

Stable
VU

Cavendishia macrocephala

Unknown
EN

Cavendishia sessiliflora

Unknown
VU

Macleania crassa

Unknown

Frequently asked questions

Why is Santa Marta Sabrewing classified as Critically Endangered?
Santa Marta Sabrewing is classified as Critically Endangered — facing an extremely high risk of extinction in the wild — because population sizes are very small, declining sharply, or restricted to a tiny range. The Santa Marta Sabrewing faces severe threats from ongoing deforestation and agricultural expansion within its extremely restricted range in Colombia's Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta. Coffee cultivation and cattle ranching have fragmented the remaining cloud forest habitat, while climate change is causing upslope shifts in suitable temperature and humidity conditions. The species' dependence on specific flowering plants for nectar makes it particularly vulnerable to habitat degradation that disrupts these ecological relationships.
Where does Santa Marta Sabrewing live?
Santa Marta Sabrewing occurs in Colombia. Country-level distribution data is sourced from the IUCN Red List and cross-referenced with GBIF occurrences.
What are the main threats to Santa Marta Sabrewing?
The main threats to Santa Marta Sabrewing are 11.1, 2.1, 2.3, and 5.3. The full IUCN-classified threat record for this species is detailed on the species page.

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