• Summary
• Text account
• Data table and detailed info
• Distribution map
• Reference and further resources

Justification of Red List category
This species has a small range with an extent of occurrence of only 8,600 km². Within this, there is limited evidence of habitat degradation assumed precautionarily to causing a continuing decline in the quality and extent of suitable habitat. Nonetheless, much of its habitat remains in very remote and inaccessible areas and, where found, it can occur at relatively high densities. Accordingly, it is assessed as Near Threatened.

Population justification
The population size of this species has not been quantified. It was previously assumed to be very small owing to its occurrence at just one locality, however more recent efforts indicate that it is relatively widespread along the Mishmi Road (eBird 2023) and in adjacent forest. Within its undoubtedly limited range, it occurs at a relatively high density, with King and Donahue (2006) describing the species as 'common' on south-facing slopes, encountering eight birds in half a day along a 3-km stretch of road in response to playback. On current knowledge of its distribution, there is c.2,000 km² of suitable habitat (based on a crude GIS exercise), although some of this lies on north-facing slopes where the species is apparently much scarcer (King and Donahue 2006). If birds were detectable using playback to a distance of c.50 m (an arbitrary value), the population density of birds on south-facing slopes would be c.25 singing males/km², or 50 mature individuals/km², suggesting the population size likely numbers in the tens of thousands. Somewhat precautionarily therefore, the population size is suspected to number 20,000-49,999, although this figure is surrounded by much uncertainty.

Trend justification
The principal threat to this forest-dependent species is the clearance and degradation of forest for agricultural expansion. However this is occurring on only a minor scale, since although none of its range lies within protected areas (UNEP-WCMC and IUCN 2022), the remoteness and ruggedness of its habitat renders commercial logging activity impossible. In the ten years to 2022, forest cover loss in the species' range amounted to <2%, at least some of which was attributable to natural landslides (Global Forest Watch 2022, based on Hansen et al. [2013] and methods disclosed therein). Nonetheless, localised satellite data (Google Earth 2022) indicate that there has been some clearance at sites that probably host the species, principally for the construction of new roads (and landslides associated with them) as well as the expansion of local villages. Consequently, the species is suspected to be declining at a very slow rate, set here to 1-9% over ten years.

Spelaeornis badeigularis was known from one specimen, collected at Dreyi in the Mishmi Hills of eastern Arunachal Pradesh, India, in 1947. It was rediscovered in 2004 along Mayodia Pass in the Mishmi Hills, where it was recorded as common (King and Donahue 2006) and is now regularly observed in the hills above Roing. It was recently (in 2021) discovered in Tibet, China (eBird 2023). 

Occurs in forest (including secondary forest, which it might even favour) between 1,800 and 2,550 m, although the type specimen was collected (in winter) at c.1,600 m. It is very active, typically remaining within 1 m of the ground. It has been noted in a mixed-species flock (A. Rahman in litt. 2016).

Localised satellite data (Google Earth 2022) indicate that there has been some clearance at sites that probably host the species, principally for the construction of new roads (and landslides associated with them) as well as the expansion of local villages. Nonetheless this is occurring at a very slow rate (<2% of the species' range between 2011 and 2021; per Global Forest Watch [2022]) and the impact on the species is presumed to be small.

Conservation Actions Underway
None is known.

Conservation Actions Proposed
Conduct surveys for the species across Lohit, Anjaw, Lower Dibang Valley and Dibang Valley districts, Arunachal Pradesh, including Dibang Wildlife Sanctuary, and also adjacent China and north-west Myanmar, to establish its distribution, status, habitat requirements and threats. Conduct studies to determine the extent of tolerance of secondary habitat, focussing in particular on whether populations persist in areas where primary habitat has been completely removed. Make recommendations for its conservation, based on survey findings, including the establishment of protected areas supporting populations of this and other threatened species, linked if possible to existing reserves.

9 cm. Tiny, tailed wren-babbler with white chin and dark, streaked rusty-chestnut throat. Rest of underparts dark, scaled whitish, especially on flanks. Brown upperparts. Small black bill. Similar spp. Rufous-throated Wren-babbler S. caudatus has rufous-orange throat without dark streaks, less white on chin and greyer ear-coverts. Browner scaling on flanks and belly.

Text account compilers
Berryman, A.

Contributors
Eames, J.C., Pilgrim, J., King, B., Rahman, A., Choudhury, A., Martin, R., Allinson, T, Tobias, J., Taylor, J., Gilroy, J., Butchart, S., Davidson, P., Peet, N., Bird, J., Westrip, J.R.S. & Benstead, P.

---

Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Species factsheet: Rusty-throated Wren-babbler Spelaeornis badeigularis. Downloaded from https://datazone.birdlife.org/species/factsheet/rusty-throated-wren-babbler-spelaeornis-badeigularis on 22/12/2024.
Recommended citation for factsheets for more than one species: BirdLife International (2024) IUCN Red List for birds. Downloaded from https://datazone.birdlife.org/species/search on 22/12/2024.