North-eastern Venezuela: eastern coastal Cordillera de la Costa in Sucre, and Cerro Negro in Monagas.
Population
Estimated population is 2,500 - 9,999 (2010) and decreasing.
Status EN
Habitat destruction and degradation through clearance for agriculture and pasture is the main threat.
For more information see BirdLife International Species Factsheet.
Venezuelan Sylph (Aglaiocercus berlepschi) [XC18443]
by Hans Matheve from Cerro Negro, Caripe, Monagas, Venezuela (call)
Venezuelan Sylph (Aglaiocercus berlepschi) [XC209962]
by id from Cerro Negro, Monagas, Venezuela (call)
Subspecies
Aglaiocercus kingi (Sibley and Monroe 1990, 1993) has been split into Long-tailed Sylph (Aglaiocercus kingii) and Venezuelan Sylph (Aglaiocercus berlepschi) following SACC (2005).
Genus name formerly given as Cyanolesbia, but this is not applicable. Forms a superspecies with Long-tailed Sylph (Aglaiocercus kingii) and Violet-tailed Sylph (Aglaiocercus coelestis) and all may be parapatric in some parts of their ranges but hybridization does not appear to be common. Has been treated as a subspecies of Long-tailed Sylph (Aglaiocercus kingii) by several authors, but based on morphological distinctions and isolation of the population it is best considered a separate species. The female is strikingly different. Has alternatively been considered a subspecies of Violet-tailed Sylph (Aglaiocercus coelestis), although this would appear difficult to justify.
No subspecies.
Similar Species
Very similar to Long-tailed Sylph (Aglaiocercus kingii). Subspecies kingi and margarethae have some blue on the crown and green tips to the tail feathers in males, while females are cinnamon below. Subspecies caudatus has a blue tail and lacks blue on the throat of males.
References
See References.
BirdLife International Species Factsheet