• 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 and and continues to suffer from habitat loss that is likely to be causing population declines. It is thus listed as Vulnerable.

Population justification
The species can locally reach high densities of 102 individuals/km² (Kattan and Beltrán 1999, Renjifo et al. 2014). Assuming that about one-third of suitable habitat is occupied, the population was estimated at roughly 50,000 individuals (Renjifo et al. 2014), which equates to 33,000 mature individuals. This population size value is however described as a potential overestimate (Renjifo et al. 2014) and therefore precautionarily the population is here placed in the band 10,000-19,999 mature individuals.

Trend justification
A slow and ongoing population decline is suspected as a consequence of habitat loss. Within the range, tree cover is lost at a rate of 3% over three generations (12.2 years; Global Forest Watch 2021, using Hansen et al. [2013] data and methods disclosed therein). Despite being restricted to forest, the species appears to tolerate some habitat degradation (Kattan and Beltrán 1999, Greeney 2020) and population declines are therefore tentatively placed in the band 1-9% over three generations.

Grallaria milleri occurs in the Volcán Ruíz-Tolima massif of the Central Andes, Colombia, (Caldas, Risaralda, Quindío and Tolima).
A misidentified Grallaria specimen taken at Santa Elena, 8 km east of Medellín, Antioquia in 1878 has provisionally been described as a new subspecies, G. m. gilesi (Salaman et al. 2009). Its type locality is 140 km north of the nearest occurrence of G. m. milleri and no longer appears to have habitat to support a population (Salaman et al. 2009). Recent surveys suggest the subspecies is likely to be extinct (P. G. W. Salaman in litt. 2011).

The species has been recorded in three types of habitat: early secondary growth vegetation with a high density of herbs and shrubs; the understorey of 30-year-old alder (Alnus) plantations; and the understorey of 30-year-old secondary forest (Kattan and Beltrán 1997), with no significant difference in population density between the three. Primary forest in Ucumarí is inaccessible (Kattan and Beltrán 1999). A radio-tracked individual in Ucumarí used a territory of 4.1 ha (Kattan and Beltrán 2002). Vocal activity apparently peaks in May-June in the Toche valley (P. G. W. Salaman in litt. 1999, 2000).

Most forest below 3,300 m in the Central Andes has long been converted to agricultural land-use. In the Toche valley, this has primarily taken place since the 1950s, mostly for coffee plantations, potatoes, beans and cattle-grazing (López-Lanús et al. 2000, P. G. W. Salaman in litt. 1999, 2000). Some forest clearance continues, albeit at a low rate, and mature secondary forest patches are now scattered (Global Forest Watch 2021). Natural vegetation cover is judged to have been reduced to c.15% between 1,900 and 3,200 m, with most remnants occurring above 2,200 m (López-Lanús et al. 2000, P. G. W. Salaman in litt. 1999, 2000). Searches for G. m. gilesi in remnant forests have so far failed, suggesting that this subspecies may already be extinct (Salaman et al. 2009).

Conservation Actions Underway
A significant proportion of the population occurs in protected areas, including Ucumarí Regional Park and Río Blanco Nature Reserve (Renjifo et al. 2014).

Conservation Actions Proposed
Conduct additional surveys of the Volcán Ruíz-Tolima massif and adjacent areas of the Central Andes to better determine the distribution range. Accurately quantify the population size. Investigate the subpopulation structure. Monitor the population trend.  Protect suitable habitat in the Toche valley.

18 cm. Medium to large antpitta with breast-band. Uniform dark brown with dingy white lores, throat and belly, forming broad, brown breast-band. Similar spp. Tawny Antpitta G. quitensis is ochraceous-buff below, with paler mottling and no breast-band. Voice Territorial and alarm call a loud, whistled wooee rising slightly. Infrequently-heard soft whistle puuh, pü-pü, with third note higher.

Text account compilers
Hermes, C.

Contributors
Cortés, O., Donegan, T., Isherwood, I., Khwaja, N., López-Lanús, B., Molina-Martínez, Y.G., Pople, R., Salaman, P.G.W., Sharpe, C.J., Stuart, T. & Symes, A.

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Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Species factsheet: Brown-banded Antpitta Grallaria milleri. Downloaded from https://datazone.birdlife.org/species/factsheet/brown-banded-antpitta-grallaria-milleri on 23/12/2024.
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 23/12/2024.