Priorities for Future Research

Undoubtedly the greatest threat to the future of Banded Ground-Cuckoo is the rapid and uncontrolled loss of suitable habitat throughout its distribution. Indeed, its dependence on wet foothill primary forests in the Chocó Ecoregion, an area known for high levels of diversity and endemism (Karubian et al. 2007), places Banded Ground-Cuckoo among the highest conservation concerns in the Americas (López-Lanús et al. 1999).

Banded Ground-Cuckoo has been observed in a number of protected areas in Colombia and Ecuador (See Distribution in the Americas), but existing reserves are insufficient to provide a hedge against extinction due, in part, to the species’ inherent low density and large home range requirements (Karubian et al. 2007). Thus, it is imperative that additional reserves are established to safeguard the species, and that the reserves and their buffer zones are adequately patrolled and protected against illegal activities by loggers, poachers, and colonizers (Jahn 2011).

Furthermore, the lack of information on Banded Ground-Cuckoo’s behavior and ecology has hampered the efforts of conservation workers to assess the species’ conservation status and specific habitat requirements. As such, more field study is needed to fill the gaps in our knowledge. In addition, it is critical that suitable habitat within the distribution of Banded Ground-Cuckoo be surveyed to locate and record additional isolated subpopulations in order to provide a more accurate estimate of global population and specific distribution. This information will be critical should additional protected areas be proposed.