Range extension for the endangered Cochabamba Mountain-Finch (Compsospiza garleppi) in Bolivia and new avifaunal records for Potosí department

Abstract

The Cochabamba Mountain-Finch (Compsospiza garleppi) is an endemic bird of Bolivia, inhabiting open woodlands in the transitional zone between dry inter-Andean valleys and Puna from 2,700 m to 3,900 m (Hennessey et al. 2003, BirdLife International 2009). It is also found in crops surrounded by native vegetation (Fjeldsa & Krabbe 1990, Balderrama et al. 2009). The Cochabamba Mountain- Finch is currently considered as Endangered (BirdLife International 2004, 2009) due to its restricted distribution and ongoing habitat fragmentation. It is also considered as zoogeographic endemic to the Central Andes (Stotz et al. 1996, Hennessey et al. 2003), and it is found in Endemic Bird Area 056 (High Andes of Bolivia and Argentina; Stattersfield et al. 1998, Hennessey et al. 2003). The Tunari National Park is the only protected area where it occurs (Hjarsen 1997, Balderrama & Ramirez 2001, Hennessey et al. 2003, BirdLife International 2009).