Current view: Data table and detailed info
Taxonomic note
Previously sometimes considered conspecific with African C. brevirostris but that was shown by Alström et al. (2018) to be better placed in its own genus. Distinct differences exist between birds from N of range (larger, duller and greyer above, contrasting reddish-brown wings, whiter below) and those from S (rather smaller, darker reddish-brown above, buff below); significance of this, which apparently is not due to plumage wear, unclear and requires investigation. Monotypic.
Taxonomic source(s)
del Hoyo, J., Collar, N.J., Christie, D.A., Elliott, A., Fishpool, L.D.C., Boesman, P. and Kirwan, G.M. 2016. HBW and BirdLife International Illustrated Checklist of the Birds of the World. Volume 2: Passerines. Lynx Edicions and BirdLife International, Barcelona, Spain and Cambridge, UK.
IUCN Red List criteria met and history
Red List criteria met
Red List history
| Migratory status |
altitudinal migrant |
Forest dependency |
does not normally occur in forest |
| Land-mass type |
continent
|
Average mass |
- |
Population justification: No robust population estimate has been made. In Belgaum, nests were densely distributed, with 16 nests found in only 60 ha of habitat, and a broader population density of one male per 1-2 hectares estimated (=50-100 males/km2) (Sant et al. 2017, 2018). However, this population density is considered unusually high (Krishnan 2021) and is unlikely to be representative of the species across its range. This is supported by citizen science data (eBird 2023), which has good coverage across the species' range and shows that at most sites, observers find no more than 2-3 singing males. An analysis of available records sound this species to have a range size of c. 11,200 km2 but not all of this is occupied (SoIB 2023).
Any attempt to extrapolate a global population size from these data is naturally difficult and surrounded with considerable uncertainty. A broad population size of 2,500-9,999 mature individuals is precautionarily accepted in the absence of more precise data, but this requires confirmation.
Trend justification: No data. Evidently this species has declined considerably from historical baselines, when more widespread (see BirdLife International 2001). An analysis of citizen science data to produce more recent trends was inconclusive (SoIB 2023). The main threat to this species is habitat loss and modification (Maheswaran 2001), although the extent to which this is driving declines is unclear, in part because Broad-tailed Grassbird is evidently tolerant of some degradation (Rahane et al. 2016, Sant et al. 2018, Krishnan 2021) and its cryptic nature makes it difficult to determine whether a failure to detect it is a sign of genuine absence. Precautionarily, threats identified 20 years ago (BirdLife International 2001, Maheswaran 2001) are assumed to be ongoing, at least on a local scale, such that continuing declines (albeit slow ones) are suspected. More data are urgently needed, however, particularly pertaining to this species' tolerances of grassland modification.
Country/territory distribution
Important Bird and Biodiversity Areas (IBA)
Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Species factsheet: Broad-tailed Grassbird Schoenicola platyurus. Downloaded from
https://datazone.birdlife.org/species/factsheet/broad-tailed-grassbird-schoenicola-platyurus on 23/11/2024.
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 23/11/2024.
